WAIPOUA FOREST: North of Aranga on the west coast north of Auckland. Waipoua Forest is one of the best examples of Kauri forest in New Zealand. It is famous for having the two largest living Kauris (Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere), which are easily accessible. Associated with the neighbouring Waima and Mataraua Forests it is also the largest remaining tract of native forest in Northland. The Waipoua Sanctuary was created in 1952 to protect 9105 hectares (22,762 acres) of unlogged forest, after one of New Zealand's earliest conservation controversies.

TIRITIRI MATANGI: Tiritiri Matangi Island, an open sanctuary, is the place for birdwatching and unusual and rare fauna and is located 30 kilometres (20 miles) north east of central Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf. Tiritiri Matangi was a base for early Maori, who exploited the coast for food. Lying some 4 km east offshore from the tip of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, this bare island is reverting back to its original forest nature under an extensive planting programme. Some 218 hectares in area with steeply rising cliffs and only one good sandy beach, it is home to the oldest lighthouse in the Gulf, erected in 1864.

MIRANDA NATURALISTS' TRUST: Jim and Rosemary stayed here for a visit. The Miranda Naturalists' Trust was formed to encourage people to visit the coastline and appreciate its wide range of flora and fauna. The Trust encourages research and other educational activities. The Trust is involved with studying bird migration and owns and operates the Miranda Shorebird Centre which offers arange of events and education programmes through the year.

COROMANDEL: New Zealanders favourite destination, is within an hours drive of the major centres of Auckland and Hamilton and their International Airports and yet the region is a world away from the hustle and bustle of those cities. Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged, forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored are just some of the natural attractions that have people returning to The Coromandel time after time.

ROTORUA: Jim and Rosemary soaked themselves in hot springs and took a trip in a cable car returning in a large luge. The Rotorua caldera is circular in shape and about 10 miles (16km) in diameter. Lake Rotorua is in th caldera. The caldera formed about 140,000 years ago as the Mamaku Ignimbrite erupted. The ignimbrite (welded and non-welded pyroclastic flows) covers about 4,000 square km and is the youngest and most widespread ignimbrite in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Rhyolite lava domes extruded after the caldera formed. The Whakarewarewa geothermal area contains numerous geysers, hot springs, and boiling mud pots.

LAKE TAUPO: Jim and Rosemary stayed on a smallholding owned by Heather and Brett. Lake Taupo itself was created by the largest known eruption of the past 5,000 years, it was so big the sun went hazy in China. Today, what remains is a lake the size of Singapore and the largest fresh water lake in Australasia.

PICTON-SOUTH ISLAND: Picton is a small seaport at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound with beautiful beaches, easy bush walks and an outstanding climate. The Marlborough Sounds is renown for its 1500km's of coastline, The Queen Charlotte Track, Dolphn Watching, fishing and a peaceful retreat. Daily ferry services link Picton to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, situated at the southern end of the North Island.

MOUNT BRUCE: Pukaha Mount Bruce is 30km north of Masterton and 10km south of Eketahuna on State Highway 2. In the 1870s the Crown purchased the greater part of the Seventy Mile Bush and the bush was subsequently surveyed, sold and cleared. The Mount Bruce block (942 hectares) was retained as Forest Reserve; bounded by Maori land across the north eastern boundaries, and otherwise by farms in private ownership. For the next hundred years the NZ Forest Service was the primary agency responsible for the Mount Bruce forest although the Wildlife Service was responsible for the birds within the 55 hectares separately gazetted as a Native Bird Reserve.

TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK: For centuries Te Urewera has been home to the Tuhoe people or the 'Children of the Mist'. Tuhoe traditions are strong and their links with this land run deep. The area is formed from young mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, mostly about 10-15 million years old. Erosion has since created major valleys like Aniwaniwa and extensive ridges like Panekiri. In the southern part of the park lie, Lakes Waikaremoana and the smaller Lake Waikareiti. Waikaremoana was formed 2200 years ago by a huge landslide. There are more than 650 species of native plant present in the park.

ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK: At only 23,000 hectares this is New Zealand's smallest national park, but one of its most famous. Along with the coastal bays, lagoons and sparkling golden beaches of the famous 'Great Walk', the Abel Tasman also contains beautiful Beech forests, bizarre marble 'karst' landscapes and a spectacular system of caves in its lesser known interior.

BULLER GORGE: The Buller River reaches the Tasman Sea at Westport. Scene of earthquakes, floods, and home to hundreds of transient workers during goldmining times, the gorge with its rapids was a challenge to the early population. The Buller Gorge swingbridge is 110 metres long and is the best place to get photos of the Buller River. It was the first commercial long distance high speed flying fox in New Zealand. Buller Gorge Iron Bridge: Built in 1890 the bridge replaced a punt that operated on the river for many years. Town of Lyell: Lyell was once a thriving town and goldmine. Gold was found in Lyell Creek late in 1862, resulting in some of the richest discoveries in New Zealand.

WILD WATER RAFTING: "The Wildest ride - Rangitata Gorge": The site of Jim and Rosemary's rafting epic. Edoras in "Lord of the Rings" was filmed in the Rangitata Valley which provided the spectacular scenery seen in the film.

MOUNT COOK: New Zealands highest peak, the majestic Aoraki Mount Cook (3750m) cuts a domineering figure across the horizon. This famed mountain is favoured by experienced climbers and can be accessed by foot or air. The surrounding mountains form the Southern Alps, with plenty of wild climbing and skiing to be found.

DUNEDIN AND OTAGO PENINSULA: Dunedin spreads around a sheltered habour. The Victorian and Edwardian spires and towers of notable, neo-Gothic buildings and stately homes punctuate Dunedin's cityscape. The city is close to incredible wildlife. Otago PeninsulaThe Peninsula, is home to a colony of the world's rarest penguins, the only mainland breeding colony of the royal albatross, rare New Zealand sea lions, rare Yellow-eyed Penguins, New Zealand Fur Seals, Albatross, Cormorants. The headland is arguably the most precious wildlife habitat in New Zealand.

OAMARU BLUE PENGUIN COLONY: The award winning Oamaru Blue Penguin colony is the easiest place in New Zealand to view Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor) at close range. The local population is around 3000 birds and is increasing by 30% each year. The colony was formed in 1993, due to increasing concern for the Blue Penguins' health and safety. Nesting boxes were made and the area made more habitable for the penguins. The colony is located in an old rock quarry that the Blue Penguins colonised after the quarry was closed. It is likely that penguins have lived in this area for a very long time as 34 million year old fossils of other penguin species have been found here.

THE CATLINS: Dense rain forests, bush walks with native birdlife, stunning coastal scenery, wildlife such as the Hoiho (yellow eyed penguin) and the rare Hectors Dolphins are all found in The Catlins. This wild stretch of coast line reaches from Kaka Point in the North to Fortrose in the South and offers visitors travelling between Balclutha and Invercargill an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breathtaking natural wonders of this region.

FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK: This park is the largest area of wilderness in New Zealand. With only three roads in the park (only one with public access), and only a few tracks, three of the country's Great Walks (the Milford, Routeburn and Kepler tracks) are located within its boundaries. Fiordland remains wild because it is a mountainous and extremely rugged land. Altitudes are highest in the north at 2746m (9009') in the Darran Mountains (Mt Tutoko), which also carry neves and little glaciers. However, few summits rise beyond 2000 m (6560') south of the Darrans, and altitudes decrease southwards down to 1000-1200 m (3280-3940').

QUEENSTOWN: Queenstown lies on the shores of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the peaks of the Southern Alps. Queenstown was named because "it was fit for Queen Victoria". Today Queenstown is recognised as New Zealand's premier visitor destination with the reputation as the Adventure Capital of New Zealand. Queenstown serves as a gateway to Fiordland and destinations such as Milford and Doubtful Sounds, and is within an easy drive of Glenorchy, Wanaka and Arrowtown are all within an easy drive.

JET-BOATING: At the head of Lake Wakatipu is Glenorchy a small, rustic frontier village nestled between two National Parks which have been given World Heritage status. Glenorchy known as the Gateway to Paradise and the famous Routeburn, Caples, Greenstone, Rees and Dart Valley walking tracks. Visitors can enjoy Horse riding, jet boating, kayaking wind surfing, water-skiing and in the Mount Aspiring National Park scenic walks, hiking at all levels, orienteering and mountain climbing, fly-fishing and hunting. More recently the film 'The Lord of the Rings' has highlighted Glenorchy as the mythical Tolkein world of 'Middle-earth' featuring the golden wood of Lothlorien, Armon Hen and Isengard.

MILFORD SOUND: The road to Milford Sound is one of the world's finest alpine drives. From Te Anau the road winds down the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys then through the Homer Tunnel to be met by Mitre Peak towering from the glassy waters of Milford Sound. Milford Sound is the most famous and accessible of the fiords. Boat trips on the Sound allow sightings of dolphins and seals and provide close up views of the awesome scenery.

FRANZ JOSEPH GLACIER: Of the 140 glaciers in the Southern Alps, the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers penetrate into the lower rainforests, the only place outside Argentina where this occurs. The climate is warm/mild in Franz Josef due to the moderating effect of the sea and rainforests. Fox Glacier is also internationally renowned for Lake Matheson's stunning reflections of Aorangi/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. The lake is located 6 kilometres west of the township. Further down the valley, driving through Rimu rainforests, is the old gold mining settlement of Gillespies Beach on the shores of the Tasman Sea.