Nz gay

The darkness of the night sky and minimal light pollution around Aoraki/Mount Cook make it one of the best places in the country for Stargazing.

There are always plenty of tours, experiences, and activities for all tastes and interests. It's an awesome way to quickly make new squirrel friends.

The capital of New Zealand, adorable Wellington is also its second largest city—and despite what Aucklanders may tell you, it's considered the country's cultural capital as well, with a remarkable array of museums, galleries and theatres for a city of its relatively small size (about 420,000 people). Auckland is sometimes called the "City of Sails" thanks to the large number of sailboats always on view in its gorgeous harbor—making good use of the country's warmest and sunniest urban climate.

WELLINGTON

Move over, Chicago—the world's true Windy City is Wellington, thanks to its position on the strait separating the North and South Islands.

As rebuilding continues, the city is experiencing a dramatic and very creative rebirth. Explore the Shire in Hobbiton

HeTravel is offering our readers an valid for any tour booked on their website. Right turns on a red traffic signal are not permitted.

Renting a car or a camper is a popular way to enjoy New Zealand's natural beauty, but if you are unfamiliar with local conditions, you should be extremely careful.

In terms of no-to-miss top experiences, there are tons. The hot springs, mud pools, and geysers were considered sacred sites by the Māori. They are usually spaced out so they don't clash, for example, Auckland Pride is in February, Wellington's in early March, and Christchurch's in late March.

Auckland Pride Festival in February

February is Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community of Auckland and includes the grand Auckland Pride.

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2. The gay hangouts are concentrated along the gritty Karangahape Road (nicknamed ‘K-Road’) and include Eagle, GAY Auckland, Caluzzi Cabaret, Family, and Centurian Sauna. It’s also super easy to book and they have fantastic 24/7 customer support.

When to visit: Since New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere the best time to visit is during the summer, which corresponds to winter in North America and Europe.

The rolling green hills and breathtaking landscapes provided LOTR Director Peter Jackson with the ideal backdrop to recreate Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

However, there is so much more to New Zealand than Hobbits, elves, orcs, and Gandalf. See the complete glory on a leisurely cruise, or by your own steam on a kayak tour—then head beneath the surface to the fascinating Milford Sound Underwater Observatory.

ROTORUA

The geothermal wonders at Rotorua have been sacred to the Māori for centuries, and today they're still a popular destination for travelers who come not just for the steaming geysers, thermal mud pools and soothing spas, but also for the Māori cultural experiences at sites like Whakarewarewa, Tamaki and Te Puia.

New Zealand Gastronomy

A mixture of Māori heritage, British infusion and Kiwi ingenuity, New Zealand's cuisine makes ample use of local ingredients, especially the bounty of seafood that comes from having 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) of natural coastline.

Sadly, food options in the Mount Cook area are pretty dismal and overpriced, so either bite the bullet for a few days or bring a stash from a supermarket on your drive over here from Queenstown.

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