Romantic Getaway in New Zealand - A Guide to NZ Vacations & Honeymoons Custom Search
By Greg Mattson, ERV Editor - Updated: Dec 30, 2011
From the beautiful Bay of Islands to cosmopolitan Auckland, to Christchurch and the scenic South Island, New Zealand has rare a mix of charm, solitude and beauty.
Our Top 3 Romantic Places in New Zealand:1. Akaroa, South Island - this small village 75 kms east of Christchurch will simply floor you with it's beauty: surrounded by the high grassy hills of the Banks Penninsula, great ocean views, and a touch of French history centered around Rue Lavaud. Spend a sunny afternoon here relaxing at a waterfront pub with a Steinlager, spotting boats sailing by or sheep high up in the hills, and you'll see what we mean.
2. Dunedin, South Island - perhaps even more English than Christchurch, funky Dunedin is a romantic NZ destination you'll want to put on your list right away. Check out some of the great cafes and architecture, and don't miss a daytrip out to the Otago Peninsula. Some say this is New Zealand at it's best; it's hard to disagree...
3. Coromandel Peninsula, North Island - Auckland's a great city, but don't stay there too long and miss out on a chance for a day excursion to this fantastic strip of mountains and coast. Along the hair-pin turns, you'll encounter hot springs ready for a dip, interesting little towns and cafes, and beautiful wind-swept beaches where you could very well be wonderfully alone!
Too Many Honorable Mentions: Arrowtown, Bay of Islands, Te Anau, Waiheke Island, and many more...
NZ Romantic Destinations
New Zealand Vacation Sights in the North IslandWe take a look at Auckland, The Bay of Islands, Roturua and Wellington in New Zealand's North Island. Also, see our newest page on the most romantic Auckland hotels. 
Romantic Places to Visit in New Zealand - South IslandScenic highways, alpine scenery, fjords and glaciers are what to expect in the South Island. We'll also tell you about a romantic way to float down the river in Christchurch...
Plus: Plan a New Zealand North & South Island Honeymoon - Ideas for an awesome first vacation together downunder, including recommendations on the best New Zealand destinations, tour packages and all-inclusive NZ holidays for couples. There are some pretty good reasons to plan a romantic getaway in New Zealand for your next overseas vacation. Maureen and I have been fortunate enough to travel to both the North Island and South Island, and they are great places. In fact, we would rate our New Zealand vacations as some of the best South Pacific trips we’ve ever done!
The rest of the world is starting to notice New Zealand from movies like Lord of the Rings, but that’s just flavor of the month stuff. New Zealand has never attracted huge amounts of overseas tourists, and that is part of its charm. Here are some reasons we love romantic New Zealand getaways so much:
The Best Time for a Romantic Getaway in New ZealandThe New Zealand summer runs November to March, and that brings warm weather throughout most of the country. The Bay of Islands is the only “tropical” part of the country, and it stays pleasant even through winter. In general, the North Island is a few degrees warmer than the South.
Winter can bring some snow, but mostly to higher elevations in the South Island. You can travel and enjoy your New Zealand vacation pretty much any time of the year. It has a maritime climate, with the western sides of both islands receiving more rain than the east. It’s good to be aware of school holidays, as that is the time many New Zealanders become travelers in their own country and accommodation can book up fast. Major school holidays run from mid-December to the end of January, and also around the usual times such as Easter and Labor Day. Travel To and Around New ZealandAuckland International Airport is the main gateway for overseas visitors to begin their New Zealand vacation. There are a number of different international airlines with flights to Auckland (AKL) - Qantas, Air New Zealand, United, Singapore Airlines and JAL are some of the big ones.
Flying Times: Flight Time from Los Angeles to Auckland is 12 hours, and the flight time from Sydney, Australia to Auckland is 3 hours.
Air New Zealand is the main national air carrier and has flights between major centers. Also, there is an extensive bus network run by several different bus lines.
Driving in New Zealand is actually pretty easy once you master the art of driving on the left (if you’re from the UK or Australia, you’ve got no problem of course!). If you’ve never done it before, it can be daunting at first! Try to start off slow, perhaps just driving around the block a few times to get the feel of steering the car from the other side. Your confidence will grow though, and pretty soon you’ll tackle the motorways with ease! New Zealand roads are good and generally uncrowded, especially in the South Island. Driving in Auckland can get a little hectic around rush hour though.
Some driving distances:
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More Romantic New Zealand Getaway Info:Experience New Zealand Travel - New Zealand vacation services and recommended accommodation guide - when it comes to travel, your experience counts.
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