10 Of The Friendliest Towns In New Zealand
New Zealand has a working definition of friendliness. Strangers become tablemates by the second drink, and visitors get walked through gumboot-throwing technique by locals at Taihape's annual April festival. Gore extends the same warmth through country music weekends in the Brown Trout Fishing Capital. Russell residents have been trading stories with visitors at Long Beach since the town's founding in 1843, while Raglan surfers wave newcomers into the lineup at Manu Bay. The ten New Zealand towns ahead each show a different face of the country's welcome.
Russell
The town of Russell has overlooked the Bay of Islands since its founding in 1843. It carries deep history, from bullet holes in its British colonial architecture as reminders of the New Zealand Land Wars to sordid tales of sailors and whalers on shore leave. Visitors are welcome to take a spin about the Russell Museum in order to learn more. From there, one can stroll down to the beaches at Tapeka Point. A long lounge in the sun or a flight of fancy in a jet ski are both excellent options after a day of exploring this little corner of paradise.
Taihape
Taihape is the Gumboot capital of New Zealand. Of course it is. Set between the Hautapu River and swaths of farmland, one would need a sturdy and reliable pair of gumboots (or rubber boots) to traverse such a landscape. The town has gone all in on the title, featuring a Gumboot Festival every April where gumboot throwing competitions, festival food, and other such joys draw an immense crowd. There's also a thriving art community, with many galleries and museums calling Taihape home. A mobile art festival called the St Margarets Arts and Crafts Exhibition takes place in June with the focus of supporting both local and traveling artists.
Kaikōura
When a place is named after a food, you know you just have to take a bite. Kaikōura is so named from the Māori words for 'food' and 'crayfish.' Of course this town lives up to the name, and has been dubbed one of the best places to eat crayfish in all of New Zealand. Beyond a thriving aquatic ecosystem lies the Kaikōura Range, where visitors can explore a dense forest teaming with native life. There is also Mount Lyford, paradise of ski enthusiasts, and Clarence River, home to rafters and boaters. After a long day of adventuring, enjoy a plate and a drink while you chat with some strangers. Perhaps as you look over the beautiful ocean water, you'll see dolphins or whales breach the surface as they swim along their migratory paths through the Pacific Ocean.
Gore
Don't let the name spook you off, else you'll miss out on what this little town has to offer. Gore is situated along the Mataura River, known for its bounty of fresh water tasties. In fact, Gore is the World's Brown Trout Fishing Capital. For the fishing fanatics, this is the prime location to take up the rod and plunk yourself down in some quiet spot. Share a drink with a stranger. Make some conversation. However, if you're more of the lively-event sort, Gore hosts a plethora of different events and festivals. There's the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards, the Line Dancing Championship, the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, and so much more. This is a place that opens its arms to the world and says, 'come here and take a spell. We have so much to share.'
Raglan
There isn't much else quite like a summer in Raglan. Beautiful black sand beaches take in the ebb and flow of the Tasman Sea. This is the place to sunbathe and surf. This is the place to soak up the sun and split a bar tab with strangers who will swiftly become friends. Even if you are not the beach lover sort, there are a near endless number of forest trails that, if you trust them, will fully weave you into the fabric of this gorgeous landscape, Bridal Veil Falls and Te Toto Gorge Lookout being just a few examples. Further out, you could encounter the dancing wind turbines at any number of energy farms that feed this scenic landscape. Raglan is a town that breathes in and out with the breeze off the tides, and anyone there can most certainly feel it.
Whakatāne
Perhaps it's the river that instills Whakatāne with the fervent love of nature and the arts. Perhaps it is the people, who foster such desires. Either way, Whakatāne Museum and Arts facilitates a love of both. It prides itself on showcasing the culture and friendly yet fierce disposition of the area. Such is also exemplified in the Whakaari Waiata Remembrance Concert, which is held every year to commemorate the volcanic eruption of Whakaari on December 9, 2019. It is a moving event, remembering those affected in the eruption while also cherishing the future ahead. You can also find a friendly local or two walking the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi footpaths around the various falls, rock formations, caves, and other natural wonders of the island. Perhaps you'll even be lucky enough to spot a kiwi!
Hokitika
This town overlooking the Tasman Sea has become a destination for those wishing for relaxation and restoration. Somehow, that's fitting of a location that was once a gold-mining town. The quest for luxury is, clearly, deeply embedded in Hokitika. On days crisp and clear, when a sea breeze is able to keep the clouds at bay, it's possible to see Aoraki (otherwise known as Mount Cook), from the main street, and if one is feeling imaginative, one might picture a trailing line of gold prospectors marching towards the mountain, or the various streams running down from it, in search of fortune. The Hokitika Museum is a wonderful place to learn all about this rich history, and features a variety of rotating exhibits and speakers on any given day. After soaking up as much knowledge as possible, visitors can cut loose by enjoying Hokitika's beautiful beaches, especially during events like the Wildfoods Festival.
Akaroa
Founded in 1840, this once French territory is rich in history and culture. Akaroa is a beautiful little town full of french bakeries and cafes that line the rivers found within its borders. The Akaroa Museum is the perfect place to learn not just about the French Occupation, but the centuries of Māori history before European arrival. There's also the Akaroa Harbor, where animal lovers might catch a sight of dolphins frolicking amongst the surf. Even more astonishing, there is the potential to see penguins or alpacas in this area.
Wānaka
A gentle breeze often blows across the lake to grace the town of Wānaka. This town is a prime resort location, one which has been fostered extensively by local efforts including those of the Kāi Tahu Whānui peoples. There's a little bit of everything here. The lake and nearby ocean offer a variety of different boating excursions, fishing trips, and warm sandy spots to put down a towel. If one is feeling more adventurous, the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park with its snowcapped mountains is but a quick jaunt away. This area is peppered with forests and mountain lakes trapped in glacial time. A leisurely wander in any direction will lead you to a natural wonder and some friends you haven't met yet.
Queenstown
Only a short distance away from Wānaka lies the landscape and friendly locals of Queenstown. Open landscapes morph into rolling foothills and then towering, ragged mountains in this beautiful little corner of the world. Film fanatics will recognize it immediately as the site where movies like 'The Lord of the Rings,' 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' and 'Mission Impossible' were filmed. In fact, it is possible to take a tour of the sites and learn all about how such movies were made. Even if you are not a movie buff, the beauty of Soho Basin, Coronet Peak, and the mountain range known as The Remarkables is a beautiful daytrip for those who love high-adrenalin sports or natural beauty. There's also several meandering rivers on which leisurely river cruises, casual fishing, or even jet-skiing can be enjoyed.
Known to the Maori as Aotearoa, New Zealand seems as though plucked from a painting within a dream. This country is full of rolling mountains, dense woods, and broad landscapes whose breezes tug at the imagination. Wildlife and plantlife, most gorgeous and strange, can be found here, featuring rich histories in both native spoken tradition and settler written records. Consistently ranked among the world's friendliest countries, it isn't a wonder why people are flocking to New Zealand to experience the welcome for themselves.
