Now New Zealand has lifted
travel restrictions for UK
travellers, what’s a good itinerary
for a second-time visitor?
New Zealand’s borders have
reopened to travellers who are
fully vaccinated against Covid- 19 ,
with exemptions for those who
cannot be vaccinated for medical
reasons, and under 1 6s. You’ll
need to provide a negative PCR,
LAMP, or rapid antigen test before
departing the UK, and a negative
rapid antigen test result both on
arrival and after five or six days
in the country. If you have a UK
passport, you won’t need an entry
visa, but you’ll need to complete a
NZeTA. immigration.govt.nz
The ‘winterless north’, with its
charming seaside towns scatteredbetween ancient kauri forests,
is a year-round playground
for travellers returning to the
North Island. Make a beeline to
Whangarei, a two-hour drive north
of Auckland, to see contemporary
Māori art at the recently opened
Hundertwasser Art Centre.
Alternatively, stretch your legs
and visit the remains of an ancient
Māori fortified settlement on
Mount Parihaka, laced with walking
and cycling trails. Learn how to surf
in nearby Tutukaka and set aside a
full day to paddleboard or snorkel
around the Poor Knight Islands.
A road trip through the South
Island is another great way to
discover lesser-known gems.
Starting from Christchurch, follow
the coast north to Kaikoura tomeet whales and seals, stop in at
Marlborough’s verdant vineyards
to taste world-class Sauvignon
Blanc, then set up base in Nelson
and explore pristine Abel Tasman
National Park by foot or kayak.
If you prefer mountain vistas
over scenic coastlines, do the
opposite. Take the highway south
alongside the cloud-piercing
Southern Alps, stopping in at
delightful towns like Lake Tekapo,
Omarama and Wanaka. From there,
either skirt north to see the West
Coast’s famous glaciers with their
challenging yet rewarding hikes, or
veer south to Queenstown where
you can tempt fate with a bungee
jump or romp through the town’s
craft breweries. newzealand.com
JUSTIN MENEGUZZI IMAGES:GETT
Y
ASK THE EXPERTS
TRAVEL TALK
NEED ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS,
TIPS AND GUIDANCE? THE TRAVEL GEEKS HAVE THE ANSWERS...
Justin Meneguzzi
Travel writer &
photographer
Andy Montgomery
Walking enthusiast &
Inntravel route-finder
Vicky Smith
Travel journalist
& content creator
Sarah Barrell
Senior editor,
National Geographic
Traveller (UK)
THE
EXPERTS
Clockwise from above:
Mangawhai Heads,
Northland, New Zealand;
the Parthenon temple,
Athens, Greece; hikers
tackle a coastal path
in the UK