New Zealand’s North Island is full of natural beauty and a vibrant urban lifestyle Looking down over Auckland across the sparkling blue waters of the Hauraki Gulf is a great way to get over jet lag.
Even for a seasoned traveller, the idea of more than 24 hours on a plane and a completely messed up body clock is not the most thrilling of prospects.
So there’s got to be something special about New Zealand to regularly get thousands of Brits making the epic journey.
I’d already seen one of its most popular tourist attractions on the drive in from the airport – the 1,076-foot high Sky Tower, which is the southern hemisphere’s tallest structure.
And I wasted no time getting up there to check out the incredible views, thinking a bit of altitude and adrenaline would help keep me awake.
I managed to resist the urge to make my way back down via the SkyJump (a kind of abseil/bungee/freefall hybrid).
Next, I wanted to explore the place at ground level. Recently voted the third most liveable city in the world, I soon saw why.
The North Island metropolis really does have it all – stunning natural beauty and a vibrant urban lifestyle.
There are not many cities where you can find beaches, islands, volcanoes, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries alongside skyscrapers, museums, art galleries, top-class shopping and great food and nightlife.
Down by the waterfront are Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter – two new, modern areas full of great restaurants and bars, where you can enjoy meals from pretty much any cuisine you can think of, overlooking the water and soaking up the atmosphere.
There are activities galore to try from the waterfront, including sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking.
Or take a day trip out from Waitematã Harbour.
The seaside village of Devonport is just 12 minutes away by ferry, and has a couple of lovely beaches and a cute high street lined with cafés and boutique shops.
There are many easily accessible islands dotted all over the Hauraki Gulf.
A 40-minute ferry ride took me to one of the most popular, Waiheke – a gorgeous emerald island covered in olive groves, lush rolling hills and sandy beaches.
A wine tour gave me the chance to travel all over Waiheke (with someone else doing the driving) and sample some of the world-class wines produced by the island’s 30 boutique vineyards.
Elsewhere in the Gulf is Rangitoto – a 3.4-mile wide volcanic island formed 6,000 years ago where, after exploring the native bush and sandy coves, I climbed the 300 scenic boardwalk steps to the summit of the volcanic cone for a (literally) breathtaking panorama.
There are several other islands close to the city, including wildlife sanctuaries Rotoroa and Coromandel Peninsula.
You might even be lucky and see dolphins or whales as you sail through the Gulf, New Zealand’s largest marine reserve.
Back on dry land, I discovered Auckland’s surrounding areas have even more delights in store.
A short drive out of the city and you reach the heart of wine country, the golden sands of the north shore or the black volcanic beaches of the west coast.
In every direction there’s spectacular scenery and fun things to do: great surfing, rugged coastal walks, hiking through rainforests to waterfalls and exploring vineyards set among rolling hills and winding rivers.
It’s here, an hour northwest from Auckland city centre, where drama series The Brokenwood Mysteries is set.
A kind of New Zealand Midsomer Murders meets Death In Paradise, it uses the lush surroundings perfectly.
And while a place where people get bumped off every week (on screen only, I hasten to add) might not be everyone’s choice of holiday destination, after spending some time in this beautiful part of the world I’m already dying to go back.
For more on New Zealand, visit newzealand.com/uk. The Brokenwood Mysteries series three starts on Drama on Friday.
