Which island is better north or south NZ?

The South Island is very different from the North Island. For starters it's larger than the North Island and generally considered more beautiful. It also has gorgeous coastline, though it's best known for the many mountains and fjords that define its inland.



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Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.

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A Scot has set a new world record for the fastest swim across the Cook Strait - the waters between New Zealand's North and South Islands. Andy Donaldson, 31, swam through the night to complete the 23km route in four hours and 33 minutes. It was the third leg of seven comprising the Oceans Seven challenge.

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December to February - Summer Season Firstly, the weather is just perfect for roaming around and the cities are bustling with crowds. The overall atmosphere is lively and delightful. The month of February has the best weather in NZ. Also, you are more likely to get better accommodation at cheaper rates during February.

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10 Most Picturesque Places in New Zealand
  1. Bay of Islands. Photo: photo.eccles / Adobe Stock. ...
  2. The Coromandel. Another beautiful beach area on the North Island is the Coromandel Peninsula. ...
  3. Hobbiton. ...
  4. Rotorua. ...
  5. Tongariro National Park. ...
  6. Wellington. ...
  7. Mount Aspiring National Park. ...
  8. Queenstown.


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Divided by the backbone of mountain ranges aptly called the Southern Alps, the South Island is renowned for spectacular snow-topped peaks, fiords, large beech forests, golden sand beaches and fertile, broad plains. There are no active volcanoes – but hot pools abound.

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How much time on NZ North Island? Two weeks is the optimal amount of time for a New Zealand North Island road trip. 10 days is the minimum amount of time you need to see the highlights of New Zealand's North Island. Less than 10 days would mean rushing and skipping a lot, and that is not something we advocate for.

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5-10 days will mean you can take a tour with more time to explore and more 2 nights stops on one island 10-14 days will allow you to visit both the North and South Island starting on one and finishing on the other.

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Essentially it totally depends on what you're looking for and what you want to do. If you're looking for adventure activities then you should head to Auckland. If you're looking for culture then Wellington has the edge. If you want a bit of everything then either city would do!

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Is New Zealand expensive to visit? New Zealand isn't cheap! Activities, car rentals and accommodations can really add up, making a trip to New Zealand very expensive. Eating in Aotearoa, whether in restaurants or even buying things from the grocery store, can be pricy as many of their goods are imported.

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So if you're planning on traveling New Zealand without a car, don't worry! I know most people recommend renting/buying a car, but it is definitely not necessary. I enjoyed traveling New Zealand by bus and I don't feel like it made it any more difficult to see the country the way I wanted to.

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