Stewart Island - Māori name: Rakiura, meaning. 'glowing skies', is New Zealand's third-largest island, located 30 kilometres (16 nautical miles) south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land area of 1,746 km2 (674 sq mi). Its 164-kilometre (102 mi) coastline is deeply indented by Paterson Inlet (east), Port Pegasus (south), and Mason Bay (west). The island is generally hilly (rising to 980 metres or 3,220 feet at Mount Anglem) and densely forested. Flightless birds, including penguins, thrive because there are few introduced predators. Almost all the island is owned by the New Zealand government, and over 80 per cent of the island is set aside as the Rakiura National Park.

Slope Point is the southernmost point on the South Island of New Zealand and is accessible via a 20 minute walk across private farmland. Once there, a yellow AA signpost shows the distance to the equator and the south pole. The views of the surrounding ocean and coastline off of the point's steep rugged cliffs are spectacular.

Slope Point is the southernmost point of the South Island of New Zealand. Slope Point lies 24 kilometres south of the small settlement of Waikawa, near the southwestern edge of the Catlins and Toetoes Bay and 70 kilometres east of Invercargill.

Manapouri is a small town in Southland / Fiordland, in the southwest corner of the South Island, in New Zealand. The township is the westernmost municipality in New Zealand. Located at the edge of the Fiordland National Park, on the eastern shore of Lake Manapouri, close to its outflow into the Waiau River, tourist boat services are based in the town.

Manapouri township is a 20-minute drive from Te Anau via State Highway 95 The town is the gateway to both Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound and the starting point for many local walking tracks. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the summer months.

Doubtful Sound Patea spans a staggering 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the head of the fiord to the Tasman Sea. It is the deepest of New Zealand’s 14 fiords and its immense size leaves all who visit feeling humbled yet uplifted by its powerful physical presence.

The fiord branches into three arms which provide opportunity for scenic cruise boat passengers to explore up-close sheer cliff faces, impressive waterfalls and tranquil overnight moorings. Doubtful Sound Patea also provides shelter to New Zealand’s southernmost population of bottlenose dolphins and tawaki, the Fiordland Crested Penguin.

At Huka Falls you can witness the phenomenon of natural hydro power with more than 220,000 litres of water per sec barreling over an 11 metre high waterfall.

Te Puia’s Pohutu Geyser, Rotorua.

Wai O Tapu is an active geothermal area at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, just north of the Reporoa caldera, in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone - it is a spectacular showcase of the most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of geothermal activity, in New Zealand.

Walk this at your own pace, you will be given a map to take a look around. Kids love this thermal park. Has it’s own cafe. Toilets are right by the entrance prior to the tour. Would recommend taking bottles of water, can get pretty hot down here not just because it’s a thermal park.

The entire loop can be covered in around 45 minutes but I would recommend 90 minutes to take in all the spots, get some great photos and just immerse in the wonder of this place!

Lots of parking, areas and up a bit further for motorhomes, campervans and other larger vehicles.

Can pre purchase tickets that are valid for a few months so you aare not restricted to a specific booking date and time.

Open seven days a week, 8:30am - 4:30pm, with the final admission at 3pm. Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland is a cashless site. All major credit cards and EFTPOS are accepted.

201 Waiotapu Loop Road, Rotorua 3073

If you are heading from Rotorua and your next stop is Taupo, this is on the way.

Interested in seeing our Maori culture live?

Powhiri - welcome onto a marae (meeting house)

Traditionally, a pōwhiri begins at the waharoa (entrance to the marae), starting with an initial karanga (ceremonial call of welcome) usually conducted by the kaikaranga (women caller) who stands at the front. The manuhiri (visitors) are called on by a kaikaranga who begins the karanga, to which the manuhiri kaikaranga responds to. The manuhiri move up slowly behind the kaikaranga, until they reach the mahau (porch). The karanga will continue until the manuhiri reach the mahau of the marae.

This removes the tapu (sacredness) from the manuhiri, who are referred to as waewae tapu (sacred feet) if they are first-time visitors to that particular marae.

Wero/Waerea

A challenge that attempts to determine the intent of the manuhiri (visitors), which, once established, clears the way for the rest of the welcome ceremony. They may carry a taiaha (spear-like weapon) and will lay down a token, often a small branch, for the visitors to pick up to show they come in peace.

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