NZ rates highly as a natural destination for sustainable tourism

Auckland, Queenstown, Cape Reinga, Lake Taupo, Rotorua and Queen Charlotte Sound all rate a mention n the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2009 Guide just released.

New Zealand tops travellers’ must-see list for its whale-watching, wineries, hiking and bungy jumping, Lonely Planet says.

``It’s a natural destination for sustainable tourism, with eco-tours and low-impact hiking, and renewed interest in experiencing Maori culture beyond a staged performance. ‘’

Auckland is also among the top 10 cities in the world that are not the capital. Under the heading: ‘These cities don’t need a label; they know how good they are’, Lonely Planet says Auckland is great.

`` ‘He’s a JAFA, mate’ is something you hear a lot travelling around New Zealand and it’s easy to see why the rest of the population refers to the inhabitants of the country’s largest city as Just Another Fucking Aucklander – they’re jealous! Auckland has the best weather, fanciest restaurants and the coolest bars.’’ ...Auckland’s got the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. So there! ’’

The guide also ranks Sky Tower among one of the best things in the world to Throw Yourself Off. They say jumpers from all corners of the world head to Sky Tower to jump off. Skydiving over Lake Taupo also rates – as one of the cheapest adventure falls around.

Under Elemental Travel – Rotorua ranks No.1 in the world just behind the bright neon lights of Tokyo.

``If you arrive in Rotorua thinking this town sure does like its egg sandwiches, you’d be forgiven – but off the mark entirely....the land in Rotorua is alive: it rumbles, gurgles, spits and hisses like a pre-historic creature of sorts. ‘’

The Kiwi mountain biking tracks of Queen Charlotte Sound, Tongariro National Park’s 42 Traverse are rated among the best eco tours in the world. ``And if you want to party after peddling, Queenstown remains NZ’s number one adventure-sports resort.

Rafting in the Waitomo Caves is a leader in the best underground experiences; Cape Palliser has the flashiest lighthouses in the world;

Landing on the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers gets a plug in the below-zero travel zones. The sheer scale of the glaciers is best observed from the hot east of a helicopter. The giddy heights achieved by flying the length of these rivers of frozen ice are only topped by actually landing on one. Circle the peak of magnificent Aoraki (Mt Cook) on the way back to base.

Cape Reinga is listed as one of the top places in the world for a liquid blessing. `Watch the Tasman Sea and Pacific collide at Reinga (underworld), where Maori believe dead souls enter the afterlife’.