New Zealand Honeymoon

Don't skip the "Garden City" of Christchurch if big-city romance is your thing. Catch an arthouse film at any of the three independent cinemas, or glide along as an experienced punter deftly navigates through the River Avon and the city's other waterways. End the night with dinner at a waterfront restaurant on New Brighton Beach.

A short ferry ride from Auckland, gorgeous Waiheke offers honeymooners the bluest waters and top-notch vineyards. Hire a retro scooter or a car to explore the island.

A must for its golden beaches fringed by giant Kauri trees and breathtaking coastal walks, Coromandel beckons outdoorsy couples with its kayaking, diving, boating, and hiking options.

The Dart River Safari is an absolute must if you and your partner are Lord of the Rings fans. This jet boat cruises past some of the film's most iconic shooting locales. Get those cameras ready!

A penguin tour will fetch you a close encounter with yellow-eyed penguins returning to their shore side nests each evening after a round of fishing. Sea lions, sea elephants, and seals are often part of this little seaside coterie.

Aoraki Village's vast skies transform into a star-studded spectacle once night falls. If you're serious stargazers, consider joining an organized tour, where participants can access high-tech telescopes.

You may have heard of the fantastical northern lights, but did you know that New Zealand is home to the southern lights? Plan your trip in winter, and if you're lucky, you'll catch a spectral dance of light (streaks of blue, green, yellow, and purple) in the night skies. The areas around Dunedin, Stewart Island, and Lake Tekapo are popular haunts.

A scenic flight is perhaps the best way to experience New Zealand's spectacular geography. See glaciers sliding down the Southern Alps or the water-filled volcanic crater, Lake Taupo. For something more adventurous, consider a helicopter landing on an active volcano, or a heli-hike on Fox Glacier with a local guide.

There's nothing like a romantic tandem skydiving jump to get your adrenaline pumping. Popular skydiving locales include Queenstown, Wanaka, and Lake Taupo. What's more, you'll have a video of the two of you together, at 12,000 feet above the ground.

New Zealand sits on two tectonic plates, which explains its profusion of thermal pools. Butcher's Pool, near Reporoa, attracts visitors with its free-of-charge entry, while Kerosene Creek near Lake Rotowhero entices them with its hot waterfall and thermal pool with a sandy bottom. You can also de-stress in the mineral and sulfur freshwater pools at Hanmer Springs.