The top 10 places in New Zealand you’ve never heard of, but have to go to

You’re only just scratching the surface of what N-Zed offers, come check out these ‘secret’ places and get away from your countryfolk.

Words by Craig Tansley for EScape.com.au.

1. Northland

NZ doesn’t come to a sudden stop at The Bay Of Islands (three-and-a-half hours north of Auckland). But few Aussies ever go beyond. You’ll love it: they call this The Winterless North – there’s empty islands and coastline literally everywhere up here.

It’s also very rich in Maori culture (the Maori knew this was the warmest NZ region). And if you like diving, the Poor Knights Island are one of the world’s best dive spots.

2. Dunedin

Wake up and smell the porridge, readers; Dunedin is the Southern Hemisphere’s best Scottish city. And it’s drop-dead gorgeous, located right on the natural harbour of a peninsula that’s called ‘the wildlife capital of New Zealand’ for its rare creatures.

It’s not hard to get to either; and it’s a university city, so it’s full of culture and pubs with beer specials and live music.

3. Taranaki

The surfing’s sick in NZ, ay bro? While NZ doesn’t have the reputation for waves we have, come to Taranaki’s Surf Highway 45 and you’ll get a pleasant surprise. There’s 12 truly world-class surf breaks here – and the coolest surf towns south of Byron Bay.

You’ll find it on the west coast halfway between Auckland and Wellington: it’s also the country’s artist capital.

4. Stewart Island

Located 30 kilometres south of the South Island, you can be here in an hour by catamaran, but it feels like you’re travelling way back in time. It’s the bird capital of New Zealand, and the star capital too – it’s the world’s southern-most Dark Sky Sanctuary, and the Maori used to call it Land Of The Glowing Skies.

It’s also probably the only place in NZ you’re likely to see a kiwi in the wild. There’s also plenty of nature-based accommodation.

5. West Coast, South Island

It’s truly wild out here – it’s the country’s most sparsely populated area – and it’s got beaches as good as ours, but with massive snowy mountains and glaciers next to them. It’s actually pretty easy to get to – next time you’re in Queenstown or Wanaka, take a two hour drive west on surely the country’s most spectacular road till you hit the ocean.

There’s 600 kilometres of empty coastline going north from there. Go wild!

6. Great Barrier Island

Fly in a small plane from Auckland or take a four-and-a-half-hour ferry ride. Just over 1000 people live here on an island which is 70 percent conservation park, and runs entirely off-grid. Its whole west coastline is full of calm-water bays offering the best diving and boating in the country.

There’s great restaurants on the island – and the hiking is sweet as.

7. East Cape

Few Aussies think to come this way; but it’s got to be one of the best places for a road trip in NZ. Located up high on the North Island’s east coast, this is where the fishermen are, in tiny towns sprinkled around natural harbours, beneath the tallest non-volcanic mountains in the country.

There’s a NZ Great Walk here, and the best historic pub you’ll find in NZ (Le Puka Tavern).

8. The Catlins

The where? Yep, no-one’s heard of this place, even Kiwis. It’s a wild chunk of coastline below Dunedin in the South Island that’s full of rugged but beautiful bays teeming with shipwrecks set between rainforest and farming pastures.

There’s barely 1000 people living here, so take your time to drive through, checking out rare sea life like Hector’s dolphins and elephant seals.

9. Marlborough Sounds

Forget those grassy smelling Sauv Blancs – yep, this is where they grow, but this northern tip of the South Island is a paradise few know to come to. It’s home to one-tenth (or 1500 kilometres) of NZ’s entire coastline; and to get to some towns here you’ll have to go by boat.

It’s a hiker’s dream up here too; and a sailor’s.

10. Bay of Plenty

Rotorua hogs all the attention here, but the coastal parts of this region are what earned it the name. This is where some of the best NZ beaches are – with lots of dolphins and humpbacks whale paying a visit. There’s over 250 kilometres of coastline here at one of the warmest regions in NZ – so you can have a genuine beach holiday in New Zealand.

This article first appeared in Escape as The top 10 places in New Zealand you’ve never heard of, but have to go to.