• TRY 2 FREE PREVIEW ISSUES
• SUBSCRIBE
• GIVE A GIFT

Getting There

Air New Zealand (800-369-6867) and Qantas (800-227-4500) both fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Auckland, a 13-hour flight. In June, Air New Zealand will also start nonstop service from San Francisco.

Tour Details

Backroads offers the 10-day-long New Zealand Multisport Trip eight times a year (three reserved for families, five for individuals and couples); it includes most meals, use of sports equipment and transportation within the country. The next family trip is April 5 to 12; the next one for individuals and couples is December 22 to 30 ($4,000 per adult; 800-GO-ACTIVE or backroads.com).

Where to Stay and Eat

Most visitors to New Zealand pass through Auckland. Here are some travel tips while you're there:

Alta This new restaurant offers such robust dishes as pan-fried artichoke hearts with aged balsamic vinegar, caperberries and Parmigiano Reggiano in a loftlike space (St. Patrick's Sq.; 011-64-9-368-4129).

Euro This formal, white-tablecloth restaurant is a highlight of the redeveloped Viaduct Harbor area (Shed 22, Princes Wharf; 011-64-9-309-9866).

Harbourside The large terrace on the second floor of the Ferry Building is the perfect setting for a breezy lunch of oysters and grilled fish (99 Quay St.; 011-64-9-307-0486 or harboursiderestaurant.co.nz).

Mollies Decorated with a mix of antiques and modern furniture, this new 15-room boutique hotel is near the Ponsonby shopping area (doubles from $185; 6 Tweed St.; 011-64-9-376-3489 or mollies.co.nz).

White This restaurant in the harborfront Hilton serves Pacific Rim dishes like roast hapuku (a local whitefish) in coconut broth (Princes Wharf; 011-64-9-978-2020).