Take the northern island for example; a town called Rotorua looks like it has come straight from a Star Wars movie scene with bubbling lakes of sulphur, mud pools and geysers lying in and around the town centre. It is a spectacular geothermal wonderland which sits on a volcanic plateau and is a must see for any visitors passing through.

The very north of the same island which appears very British in terms of the green countryside actually has a group of islands near the tip known as the “Bay of Islands” which resemble a tropical beach paradise featuring clear blue waters and light sand. It is sometimes hard to believe there are snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the country’s South Island at the same time. These mountains have become famous in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and provide the opportunity to offer visitors breathtaking glacier climbing experiences with fantastic high views over the landscape on glaciers such as the Franz Josef Glacier. So you can get sunburnt at the beach in one part of the small country while somebody else is skiing and climbing ice in another part.

Read the full blog on: http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2012/02/22/new-zealand-contrasting-places-to-visit/