New Zealand reminds me of the beautiful scenic landscape of my home country, Canada. Here are some of my favourite scenic spots so far:
1. Piha
Located approximately one hour west of Auckland, Piha is home to the famous Lion's Head Rock. The beach is frequented by surfers for the perfect afternoon break. However, the rips are quite strong here, consider yourself warned when swimming and surfing.
2. Cathedral Cove
Sometimes I wonder if these places are even real. Cathedral Cove is about a 2.5 hour drive from Auckland. From the main parking lot, the cove is actually about a 45 minute walk up and down a spiraling path, when you finally walk down the final set of stairs and get to the cove you realize it was worth it.
3. Rotorua
There's one thing to find a view, and another to find a heard of majestic deer. Rotorua is located about three hours south of Auckland, known for it's geothermal grounds, the smell sulfur fills the air. In addition to the visiting the hot springs, I'm a huge fan of the Red Wood Forest, which provides a place for tranquil hikes among the silver ferns.
4. Auckland
One of the larger cities in the North Island, the of Auckland and Rangitoto Island from Mount Eden makes you want to jump into the ocean!
5. Wellington
Settled in the southern point of the North Island, Wellington is New Zealand's capital. This vibrant city is home to one of my favourite buildings, the Beehive, aka the Parliament Building. If you're up for the physical activity, the hike up Mount Victoria provides spectacular views of the city - or for a few dollars you can take a uber up to the top. Whichever way you get there, just remember, it's worth it.
