New Zealand is an Antipodean land which attracts lovers of vast spaces and wild nature. Though it is mostly mountainous, the country has a diverse range of landscapes and environments: icy summits, plains with mirror-like lakes, wild coastline licked by the Pacific waters... The nature here is absolutely majestic. And fortunately ecology takes pride of place here.

New Zealand, an intense natural paradise

A lively town, surrounded by dozens of volcanoes and black sand beaches.

Oceania

Welcome to the New Zealand travel pages. In this faraway country, you can expect a harmonious mixture of lakes, mountainous and volcanic landscapes, and tropical vegetation... New Zealand is isolated in the middle of the ocean and is located halfway between the South Pole and the Equator. Even though it’s small in area (about the size of the UK), it has extremely diverse flora and fauna. Nature lovers are in paradise here. But this paradise is earned: you’ll have to spend long hours on an airplane to get here, and you can count on having 10 to 12 hours of jet lag once you arrive, depending on the season... But this land, which the Maori first called “Aotearoa,” the land of the long white cloud, is really worth the trip: abundant and diverse nature, beautiful landscapes, and outdoor activities… It’s all convenient for travellers: one of the advantages of this destination is the small size of the country, which makes all this beauty accessible, starting from your first trip to New Zealand. Your hunger for the great outdoors and desire for peace and serenity will be satisfied.

New Zealand

Auckland

Sitting by a lake in a region steeped in Maori culture, this town is a hive of geothermal activity.

Rotorua

Taupo is a small, lively town best known for its lake, which bears the same name and is the largest in New Zealand.

Taupo

With three active volcanoes, the Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park is a must for any hiking fan or visitors interested in exploring a volcanic landscape.

Tongariro National Park

Known for its caves that are inhabited by glowworms, Waitomo offers a wide range of activities for subterranean explorers.

Waitomo Caves

Samoa

Fiji

Europe

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North America

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Asia

Middle East

With an international reputation as one a fascinating destination, the Waitomo Caves open the door to an enchanted underground world. In fact, the caves are home to millions of glowworms and I had the impression of being six feet underground beneath a starry night sky! For the occasion, I had booked a package that included abseiling into a 35-meter deep cave, followed by cave exploration combined with canyoning and gently floating through the cave's waterways on large air tubes before completing a gentle climb back to the surface. This trip to the bottom of the caves took place under the watchful eyes of the glow worms, that covered most of the cave walls. It all went very well and the route is well-known. However, I did find it rather expensive for what it is. In New Zealand, other, less tourist-focused caves exist, where you can also find colonies of glow worms, perhaps not in the same numbers - but the sight is no less impressive for that.

Known for its caves that are inhabited by glowworms, Waitomo offers a wide range of activities for subterranean explorers.

Waitomo Caves Vacations

Waitomo Caves: How to get there?

Waitomo Caves: See when to go ?

Waitomo Caves: For how long?

Waitomo Caves: What to see nearby?

New Zealand: our articles for your vacations