Whilst New Zealand walking will introduce you to stunning vistas and beautiful undulating green hillsides, the best views in the country are often seen from great heights. Luckily New Zealand is also known for its cragged mountainsides and for boasting the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It is these man-made structures that can often provide the best look-outs over the bustling cities and verdant countryside below.

Sky Tower

At 328m high, the Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Its height might have nothing on Aoraki or Mount Cook, which at 3,754m is already over ten times that height, but it’s certainly a lot easier to reach the summit and be rewarded with the view from the top. The Sky Tower contains a revolving restaurant so, after a long day of New Zealand walking, you can grab a table and look out over the towering skyscrapers below. The main observation area even has thick glass flooring which enables you to see all the way down to the pavement below – this is obviously not recommended if you suffer from vertigo. Traditionally, New Zealand has always been popular with tourists craving adventure sports and the country’s tallest structure holds no exceptions. Adventure junkies may want to attempt the famous SkyJump, a bungee jump from the observation deck, where participants can expect to meet speeds of up to 53mph.

Titahi Bay Transmitter

New Zealand’s second tallest structure is a radio transmitter that stands at 212m tall, against the backdrop of Titahi Bay. The bay situated on the North Island in the area of Porirua was used as the setting for the famous New Zealand film “Eagle vs Shark”. If you’re after an area steeped in history, Titahi Bay is absolutely perfect for New Zealand walking and still relatively unknown to tourists. The area was used to house military personnel during WW2 and the recreation hall used by US forces is now a local theatre.

Titahi Bay also features the fossilised remains of an ancient forest, dating from the last interglacial period from over 150,000 to 70,000 years ago. The trees make up an intertidal reef, which makes the bay popular with boarders as it can be surfed on all tides.

New Plymouth Power Station

Located on the shores of Port Taranaki, New Zealand’s third tallest structure is not exactly scenic and the deep water port where it is situated is not really known for walking, however it is certainly worth taking a look. At 198m high, the building claims to have been built using one million bricks and the tall chimney contains five separate flumes.

Vero Centre

Auckland’s second largest structure is the fourth largest building in New Zealand. Walking from the Sky Tower you’ll come across a road called Shortland Street, and at the end of this road a tall, halo-fringed office block. This building, known as the Vero Centre, contains a selection of office buildings and a gymnasium and health centre at the top -which makes it perhaps the most scenic place in the country to enjoy a hot-stone massage after your New Zealand walking trip.

Author Bio: Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. While in New Zealand walking with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can see the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Category: Travel
Keywords: New Zealand. Walking