Lonely Planet - Lonely Planet Best of New Zealand

Get ready for mammoth national parks, dynamic Mori culture, and world-class mountain biking, surfi ng and skiing. New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, but its always outstanding.

There are just 4.8 million New Zealanders, scattered across 268,021 sq km: bigger than the UK with one-fourteenth of the population. Plenty of room to explore tackle one of the epic Great Walks or spend a few hours wandering along a beach, paddling a canoe or mountain biking through some easily accessible wilderness.

Hungry yet? NZ chefs borrow influences from as far afield as South Pacific islands and Western Europe for creative takes on locally sourced lamb and seafood like abalone, oysters and scallops. Wash it down with craft beer and legendary cool-climate wines (sublime sauvignon blanc and pinot noir).

Next up, check out some indigenous culture: across NZ you can hear Mori language, watch Mori TV, join in a hngi (Mori feast) or catch a cultural performance with song, dance and a blood-curdling haka (war dance).

But fear not: New Zealanders these days are far from warlike. This decent nation is a place where you can relax and enjoy (rather than endure) your holiday.

Hills, harbours and heady nightlife

Held in the embrace of two harbours and built on the peaks of long-extinct volcanoes, isnt your average metropolis. Its never going to challenge NYC or London in the excitement stakes, but this pretty city is blessed with fab beaches, museums and kickin dining, drinking and live-music scenes. Cultural festivals are celebrated with gusto in the City of Sails, which has the biggest Polynesian population of any city in the world.