by: Ramnish Gupta
From Cape Reinga in the north right through to Wellington in the south, New Zealand's North Island offers some unique opportunities to tourist and locals alike.
Auckland city is the busiest New Zealand city and arguably the commercial capital of New Zealand. Being one of the most populated cities, Auckland offers some of the best shopping opportunities in New Zealand.
Wellington is the capital city and has a population of around 400,00. The main attraction in Wellington would have to be Te Papa, which is a museum located in the city. While at Te Papa, make time for a stroll around Queen's wharf or a cruise in the Wellesley or catch a play at Circa theatre. The Interislander ferry can also be caught from Wellington to travel across the Cook strait to Picton in the South Island.
Other attractions in the North Island include the Maori village in Rotorua, ski fields in the central North Island, stunning beaches in the Coromandel and Hawke's Bay, Huka falls near Taupo and Mt Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont), which was the location for the filming of the Tom Cruise flick "The Last Samurai". Lord of the Rings tours are also available and extremely popular with Tolkien fans!