New Zealand, 'Land of the Long White Cloud', is a small, sparsely populated country consisting of two major islands, North and South Island, and a scattering of smaller ones. Despite its small size it is crammed with magnificent natural beauty and has an incredible amount to offer; the only complaint travellers have is that they haven't allowed enough time in the country. Fresh air, breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities are the main attractions of New Zealand, with a tremendously friendly, honest and helpful population, colloquially nicknamed after their country's distinct symbol, the unusual but amiable flightless kiwi bird.

The two islands have surprisingly different characters. The North Island has dramatic volcanic landscapes and highly active thermal areas, long stretches of beautiful beaches and excellent sailing, ancient indigenous forests and a strong Maori cultural influence. The South Island has a slower pace of life dominated by a magnificent spine of mountains, the snow-covered Southern Alps, and the spectacular scenery of the southern waterways of the fjord lands, with glaciers, deep lakes and verdant forests.

The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was New Zealand's founding document, an attempt to settle disputes between the European settlers and the Maoris, conceding the country to British rule while guaranteeing the Maori people possession of their land and cultural identity. Today, integration has been replaced by a policy of upholding two different cultures alongside each other. Their shared love of sport, most notably the revered national sport of rugby union, and their enthusiasm for adventure and the outdoors is the unifying factor among the whole population.

New Zealand offers a huge variety of action-packed and laid back activities, from bungee jumping to skiing, swimming with dolphins, scenic flights and boat cruises on the fjords, as well as several world famous walking trails with unrivalled scenery. Alternatively visitors can immerse themselves in culture at the museums and galleries of the country's main cities - Auckland and the capital Wellington in the North, and Christchurch in the south.

New Zealand is an easy and compact place in which to travel and its spectacularly dramatic landscape alone, famous for its setting for the 'The Lord of the Rings' film trilogy, makes the long trip to these southern islands more than worthwhile.

Auckland Museum

Address: Domain Drive, The Domain, Parnell Auckland

Admission: A NZ$10 donation is suggested (adults). The Maori performance requires an admission of NZ$15 (concessions available) and this includes the museum donation. Guided tours are available at an additional fee of NZ$10 per adult and NZ$5 for children. Daily 10am-5pm. Closed on 25 December and 25 April.

Telephone: +64 (0)9 309 0443 or +64 (0)9 306 7067

Hauraki Gulf Islands

Address: Auckland

Telephone: +64 (09) 379 6476 (Department of Conservation, Auckland visitors centre), For Waiheke Island Visitor Information Office, phone +64 (09) 372 9919

Auckland Sky Tower

Address: Sky City Complex, Victoria and Federal Streets Auckland

Admission: NZ$25 (adults), NZ$11 (children). To climb to the Sky Deck level is an extra NZ$3. Other concessions are available. The Sky Tower is open 8:30am-10:30pm from Sunday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays it is open 8:30am-11:30pm. Last tickets are sold half an hour before the closing time.

Telephone: +64 (0)9 363 6000 or 0800 SKYCITY (0800 759 2489) (Free within New Zealand).

Bay of Islands

Address: Auckland

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve

Address: The site is 17 miles (27km) south of Rotorua on SH5 (Rotorua Taupo Highway); 201 Waiotapu Loop Road North Island

Admission: NZ$32.50 (adults), NZ$11 (children 5-15). NZ$80 for a family with up to three children. Daily 8:30am-5pm, last admission is at 3:45pm. Christmas Day 8:30am-1pm, last admission is at 11:45am.

Telephone: +64 (0)7 366 6333

Te Papa Museum

Address: Cable Street, Waterfront Wellington

Admission: Free entry, but some short term exhibitions require a fee. Daily 10am-6pm, Thursdays until 9pm.

Telephone: +64 (0)4 381 7000

Wellington Cable Car

Address: Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay Wellington

Admission: NZ$6 return (adults), NZ$2 return (children), NZ$15 return (family). Single trip tickets as well as multiple trip tickets and other concessions available. Monday to Friday 7am-10pm; Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 9am-10pm. Care run every 10 minutes.

Telephone: +64 (0)4 472 2199

Cathedral Square

Address: Christchurch

Admission: Free admission to the cathedral, tower NZ$4 Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm in winter and 8:30am-7pm in summer. Sundays 7:30am-5pm. Free guided tours available at 11am and 2pm during the week, 11am on Saturdays and 11:30am on Sundays.

Telephone: +64 (0)3 366 0046

Christchurch Tramway

Address: Christchurch

Admission: NZ$17 (adults), NZ$5 (children), NZ$40 (family pass: two adults and up to three children) valid for two consecutive days. Daily from 9am-9pm (1 October to 31 March), 9am-6pm (1 April to 30 September). Trams operate every 8-12 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes after 6pm in the summer months.

Telephone: +64 (0)3 366 7830

Christchurch Gondola

Address: Gondola Base Station, Heathcote Valley Christchurch

Admission: NZ$25 (adults), NZ$12 (children 5-15 years), family pass NZ$65 (two adults and up to three children) Daily 10am-9pm.

Telephone: +64 (0)3 384 0310

Mount Cook National Park

Address: Christchurch

Telephone: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre: +64 (0)3 435 1186

Skyline Gondola

Address: Brecon Street Queenstown

Admission: Gondola: NZ$25 (adults), NZ$14 (children) The gondola is open daily from 9am until late.

Telephone: +64 (0)3 441 0101

Arrowtown

Address: Queenstown

The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

Address: Queenstown

Milford Sound

Address: Fjordland

Akaroa

Address: Christchurch

Telephone: +64 (0)3 304 8600

Lake Wanaka

Address: Queenstown

Taranaki

Address: North Island

Great Barrier Island

Hamilton

Address: Auckland

Bungee Jumping

Swimming with Dolphins

Hiking (Tramping)

Jet Boating

The Milford Track

Golf

Fishing

Skiing

Bodrum Restaurant and Bar

Address: 2 Osborne Street, Newmarket Auckland

Food Type: Turkish

Punjab Palace

Address: 164 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby and 71-D Great South Road, Papakura. Auckland

Food Type: Indian

Saison

Address: 417 Manukau Road, Epsom Auckland

Food Type: French

Industry Zen

Address: 104D Customs Street Auckland

Food Type: Japanese

Bayou

Address: 12 Wakefield Ave Christchurch

Food Type: Creole

Nobanno

Address: Corner of Armagh and Colombo St Christchurch

Food Type: Indian

The Rock

Address: 22A Esplanade, Sumner Beach Christchurch

Food Type: Local

Tiffany's

Address: 95 Oxford Terrace Christchurch

Food Type: Local

Logan Brown Restaurant

Address: Corner of Cuba & Vivian Streets Wellington

Food Type: Local

The Tasting Room

Address: Corner of Courtenay Place and Cambridge Terrace Wellington

Food Type: Local