Are these really New Zealand’s most beautiful towns and cities? – Stuff.co.nz

Its that special time of year again when New Zealand towns and cities lacking what many might call classic good looks, are named the most beautiful in the country.

Last year, Foxton perhaps best known for producing a soft drink known as Foxton Fizz was named the most beautiful town in New Zealand. In previous years, Hamilton and Pukekohe have been in the running.

DAVID WHITE/STUFF

Kaitia was named the most beautiful small town in NZ.

This years Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards also threw up a few surprises: Most visitors to the Far North probably arent there primarily to hang out in Kaitia.

The winners make more sense when you bear in mind that these are sustainability awards designed to recognise places which provide a benchmark for environmental excellence. This year, finalists were judged across five categories litter prevention and waste minimisation, community beautification, recycling projects, sustainable tourism and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we take a look at the winners.

READ MORE:* The most popular destinations in New Zealand this summer * New Zealand's friendliest small towns: Does Hokitika really reign supreme? * One of the 'most beautiful' bike rides in Hawke's Bay

Not a knock-out beauty at first glance, Kaitia is often used as a pit stop en route to the Far North, but judges reckon its a pretty special place.

The town was shortlisted for the public artworks and placemaking projects the community has developed under the Te Hiku Open Places Revitalisation Project.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF

Kaitaia residents have beautiful beaches such as Ahipara on their doorstep.

A collaboration between local artists and iwi, the community board and the Kaitia Business Association, the Te Ara Toi (Katia Artwork) project is designed to tell stories, shine a light on the areas diversity, landscapes, flora and fauna, and create beautiful spaces for people to meet up.

The town boasts a beauty of a cultural centre in the form of Te Ahu: a museum, library, art space, cinema, theatre, caf and tourist information centre in one. In the museum, youll find wood carvings and greenstone-adorned weapons dating back to the 19th century along with other artefacts, movies, virtual tours and exhibitions that endeavour to explain why Kaitia is an unsung leader in New Zealands history.

If youre a wine lover, youre also in luck. About 3.5km south youll find Okaku Estate Winery, where you can taste award-winning wines in a cosy cellar door near the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach. To the north, youll find New Zealands northernmost vineyard Karikari Estate, with an al fresco eating and drinking area with sweeping views across the peninsula. And the Far Norths famously beautiful beaches are just a short drive away.

Judges said the Kaitia community and Far North District Council had worked together to procure $7 million.

The community partnered with an enthusiastic council to manage the projects themselves, and this has resulted in a waterfall effect across the entire region. Local contractors have received training to bid on the council projects, ensuring the funding and jobs stay in the community.

Love Taupo/Stuff

You can reach the Mine Bay Mori rock carvings by boat or kayak.

Named New Zealands most beautiful large town for the second year in a row, Taups win probably comes as less of a surprise to most.

Head into Taup along the northeastern shore of the lake on a sunny day and its good looks are undeniable: The seasonably snowy peaks of Tongariro National Park could have been positioned behind the Singapore-sized inland sea solely for our viewing pleasure.

Add to that thermal landscapes complete with silica terraces, boiling mud and hot pools, the liquid power surge that is Huka Falls, ancient forests and trout-filled rivers, and its not hard to comprehend why the town is named a finalist in the awards every year.

Taups beauty as a destination goes way beyond surface appearances though. Rivalling Rotorua as the adventure capital of the North Island, it boasts so many ways to boost your adrenaline, visitors can pretty much remain on a permanent high.

Skydiving, bungy jumping, swinging off a cliff over the Waikato on the suitably named Cliffhanger swing, jet boating and white water rafting are among the many ways to (over)excite yourself, while more sedate activities include canoeing, kayaking and taking a cruise to the 10-metre-high Mori rock carvings near Mine Bay.

lovetaupo.com

Taup was commended for its work to divert waste from landfill.

Ultra-scenic walks and bike rides abound (try the Aratiatia Rapids Walking/Cycling Track and the walk around the perimeter of the Craters of the Moon geothermal area), as do places to laze around in naturally warm water. Taup DeBretts Hot Springs are a good option if youd like to follow your soak with a spa treatment or have kids to entertain (the heated slide is a winner), while Spa Thermal Park Hot Spring under a bridge where the Waikato River meets the Otumuheke Stream is an excellent free option.

With its active geysers, colourful silica terraces and a geothermal cave, rkei Krako is well worth the 30-minute drive out if town: its undoubtedly one of the best geothermal attractions in New Zealand.

In shortlisting the town, judges commended it for upgrading the Great Lake Pathway, a mostly flat walking and biking trail with spectacular views across the lake to the triplet peaks of Tongariro National Park. It was also praised for a project that will see car-free pedestrian and cycle-friendly zones introduced to the town centre.

Judges also congratulated the local community for working with businesses to conduct waste audits, resulting in a 90 per cent diversion from landfill.

They have also created a new natural burial zone which provides people in the Taup District a greater choice in how they wish their remains to be returned to the earth, whilst also reducing environmental pollution that is created by the embalming process and/or cremation.

John Cowpland/Alphapix

Hastings won the Supreme Award in last years Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards.

The engine room of the Hawkes Bay economy isnt everyones first choice for a holiday in the region. But with art deco architecture to rival Napier and just as many orchards and vineyards in its backyard, it can make just as a good a base.

The Art Deco Hastings walk leaflet from the local i-SITE will take you past the cream of the crop of the old buildings, which include the Hawkes Bay Opera House with its fine Spanish Mission-style facade. The city embraced the California-inspired style after the same 1931 earthquake that reduced much of Napier to rubble destroyed its own buildings. Squint and you could almost believe you were in Santa Barbara.

With Hawkes Bay wine country just beyond the town limits, why wouldnt you venture out? You could spend a happy few days, if not weeks, eating and drinking your way around the regions vineyards, restaurants, breweries, farmers markets and seasonal fruit stands. If that makes you feel a bit porky, explore the vineyards by bike or take a hike up Te Mata Peak.

SUPPLIED

Splash Planet is among the towns key attractions.

Judges commended Hastings for building on its child-friendly waste and litter prevention campaigns featuring mascots Luke the Litter Legend and Colin the Cheeky Chucker, and continued focus on beautification and sustainable tourism.

Hastings has also established an eco-committee, initiated a New Zealand-first analysis into the trees in their parks and reserves and has a continued focus on sustainable tourism and community beautification.

Some might say Wellys worlds coolest little capital title is no longer apt, but you can be good-looking without being cool. Cases in example: Paris Hilton and Tom Cruise.

With elegant Victorian buildings running down bushy hillsides toward a hook-shaped harbour where wildlife such as dolphins and whales can often be seen, Wellington is undeniably a pretty city.

What visitor hasnt felt compelled to grab hold of their camera when standing atop Mt Victoria for the first time, riding the Cable Car to the Botanic Gardens, or winding their way past the ruggedly good-looking bays of the south coast and Miramar Peninsula?

ROSA WOODS/Stuff

Its coolest little capital title has been called into question, but its still a pretty city (on a good day and from the right angle).

If youre a culture vulture or like your coffee, craft beer or food (and who doesnt like to indulge in at least one of these things), Welly is a beaut of a city too.

Stuff senior travel reporter Siobhan Downes reckons Wellingtons a beautiful city even on a bad day if you take the time to scratch the surface.

Head down Hannahs Laneway, she said, and youll find a bean-to-bar chocolate factory, a hole-in-the-wall selling gourmet peanut butter, a gem of a caf that does the citys best brownies, and a pizza joint producing authentic Neapolitan pies. Feel like cosying up in a wine bar, brewpub or classic cocktail spot? Visit Ghuznee Street. Into vintage clothes and homewares or clothes by Kiwi designers? Make a beeline to Cuba St (where, it must be said, you will also find some exceptionally seedy bars).

The judges noted that Wellington has gained global recognition and US$1 million in prize money as one of 15 cities worldwide to win the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors challenge, designed to recognise the boldest and most ambitious urban innovations to emerge from the pandemic.

Wellingtons winning project was a virtual twin of the city designed to help residents better understand the impacts of climate change.

The Keep New Zealand Beautiful judges noted that the project was designed to be open source so that other councils, in New Zealand and globally, can utilise this technology as well.

Chosen from across all categories, the Supreme Towns and Cities Award winner is the judges pick of the bunch.

One of the sunniest spots in the country, the eastern Bay of Plenty town doesnt draw the same crowds as its western neighbours, but thats not because it isnt beautiful. Just a bit further away from the likes of Auckland and Hamilton.

Its relative remoteness is an advantage for holidaymakers who prefer their days on long, pohutukawa-lined beaches to begin without a battle for a car park, and not to have to wait for a table in the top cafs.

Bay of Plenty Tourism

Whakatne was commended for its focus on biodiversity.

One of the sunniest towns in New Zealand, its a great place to get active outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, seals, little blue penguins and rare native birds on a guided tour of Moutohor Wildlife Sanctuary on Whale Island, swim or surf at 11km of hope Beach (which has been named one of the most beautiful in New Zealand), kayak or stand-up paddleboard on hiwa Harbour, or hit up one of the many hiking and biking trails.

Whakatne is also one of the best places in New Zealand to spot a kiwi it markets itself as the kiwi capital of the world. Their calls can be heard from the town centre and theyve been known to trespass on properties next to reserves. For the best chance of spotting one, join a night walking tour.

For a dose of culture, head to Mtaatua Wharenui, aka the house that came home. The spectacularly carved meeting house spent decades overseas including 40 years in the cellars of Londons Victoria & Albert Museum and 70 years in Dunedin before finally making its way home in 2011.The hour-long express tour begins with a pwhiri and includes an award-winning digital experience that brings traditions of the Ngti Awa people to life before concluding with cups of kawakawa tea and kmara brownies in the wharekai (dining hall).

Chris Hillock/Stuff

A dolphin cavorting in Otarawairere Bay, near Whakatne.

Other highlights include picnic-perfect Wairere Falls, the 16km Ng Tapuwae o Toi (Footprints of Toi) walk with its clifftop views of the hidden gem of a beach that is Otarawairere Bay, and biodiversity hotspot Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tne Conservation Park.

The judges noted that biodiversity is a big focus for the local community.

The community underwent a tree audit and created tree policies so that people have a better understanding of the value of trees and how their lifespan impacts us. They have also closed the gaps in understanding between rural areas and the township, bringing a tighter cohesion to environmental efforts. The community have also created a Seed Library, and are getting local children and youth involved in plantings around 4,800 per year.

Visit link:

Are these really New Zealand's most beautiful towns and cities? - Stuff.co.nz