New Zealand's Best New Travel Experiences 2017

Think you know New Zealand? Think again, these places and experiences will show you a side to the land of the long white cloud that you have never seen or heard of before.

1. Take a walk on the wild side in Wanaka

Wildwire, New Zealand's newest and only waterfall via ferrata (iron way), is Wanaka's latest 'must do' adventure activity. Aimed at visitors with an adventurous spirit, the climb alongside one of the country's most spectacular waterfalls takes participants up ladder-like rungs and across wire bridges to explore hidden canyons and pools.

2. New luxury lodge – Helena Bay, Northland

In the northeast corner of New Zealand's North Island lies Helena Bay Lodge. The property features three kilometres of pristine coastline, four private beaches and many intimate coves. National Geographic Traveller Magazine ranked this location second-equal in The World's Top Rated Islands, Coastlines and Beaches. This magnificent lodge will open in November 2016.

3. New Rotorua Mud Festival

A festival of a different kind is about to be added to the New Zealand international events' calendar in the form of the Rotorua Mud Festival. From 2017 onwards, the event is scheduled to take place in early December - inviting the world to a completely immersive experience of Rotorua's one-in-a-kind mud. The Rotorua Mud Festival will take place in downtown Rotorua and include a mud-arena, spa and wellness experiences, and education and historical story-telling.

4. New thrills - 'Nevis Thriller', Queenstown

Adventure tourism in New Zealand is set to reveal a new level of extreme thrills in early 2017. 

AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand, the world's first commercial bungy jump operator, has announced that a new extreme experience is under development in Queenstown. The 'Nevis Thriller' will be located at the site of the Nevis Bungy and Nevis Swing, near Queenstown. The new experience will, naturally, combine height, speed and flight. The Nevis Thriller will attract visitors to New Zealand to experience an extreme activity that is not available anywhere else in the world.

5. New global campaign featuring filmmaker James Cameron

Tourism New Zealand's new global campaign featuring filmmaker James Cameron is making news around the world, providing yet more inspiration for people to visit New Zealand. The story about Hollywood's highest earner providing a glimpse of the country he loves in a stunning video has attracted worldwide attention. In addition to being s super successful film maker James Cameron owns Food Forest Organics in Greytown. Bet you didn't know that!

6. World class experience, Redwoods – light show, Rotorua

A brand new a night-time light show in the Redwoods, Rotorua will launch in January 2017. The Redwoods Treewalk Night Lights - a night-time light show suspended among trees in the iconic Redwood Forest will run year round and feature illumination of 110-year-old Redwood trees and other forest flora, including the New Zealand silver fern, with spot lights, up-lights and coloured LEDs.

The lighting features include custom designed elements from New Zealand design and sustainability champion David Trubridge. In addition, a purpose-built spiral entry platform will replace the current staircase, highlighting the unique relationship between Trubridge and the natural elements of the treewalk.

7. New generation of cheese makers, Auckland

New Zealand's artisan cheese industry is blooming as a new generation of cheese-makers returns to age-old ways to craft the tastiest cheeses. Just five minutes from the heart of Auckland City is Sabato a fine food and specialist store with a particularly awesome cheese section. Literally a one stop shop to try a huge array of New Zealand made cheese and buy some to have with a wine on an Auckland City culinary adventure. Resident cheesemonger Calum Hodgson is a self confessed 'curd nerd' and is a wealth of information about cheeses from all over the world especially New Zealand.

8. NEW: TRUE Food & Yoga wellness centre, Auckland

This is the latest and notable wellness destination which opened very recently. The restaurant is based on the waterfront, with pohutukawa fringed views across Okahu Bay and back to the city. 

It's a very different concept for New Zealand because it creates a destination that combines, on the one hand, the bistro serving healthy, nutrient dense food (along with some 'naughty' delights, organic wine and coffee) that's open all-day like any café / bar / restaurant with the other side of the yoga / exercise classes and wellness activities such as a lovely treatment room for facials, massage etc using beautiful products and treatments.

newzealand.com