Southern North Island

Wellington, apart from housing the country's politicians, is also the arts capital of New Zealand.  A small, windy city perched on a number of ridges sloping down to the sea, it has many fans - mostly of the cafe and restaurant scene and the excellent Te Papa museum.  A short drive up the West Coast is the pristine nature reserve of Kapiti Island, while up the East Coast (wilder, more remote) are the vineyards of Martinborough and the rural expanse of the Wairarapa.