Gateway Motel Holiday Park

Your first stop should be Lake Ferry, five minutes from Gateway and on the shores of Lake Onoke and Palliser Bay. The sunsets around here are spectacular and the lake is also known for its fishing, its peaceful and scenic setting, and its waterside walks. The Putangirua Pinnacles (10 minutes away) are a top spot for pics and strolls around the weird rock pillars. At Cape Palliser and Palliser Bay (half an hour's drive), climb to the top of the historic Palliser lighthouse for more viewsome scenes, followed by a ramble around the coastline – with camera in hand to snap shots of the seals. Just before the lighthouse is the old fishing village of Ngawi, where you can go spearfishing, hit the surf or land New Zealand's famed paua with their iridescent shells. If you're having a day trip to island capital Wellington, take the five-minute trip on the Wellington Cable Car funicular railway between Lambton Quay and Kelburn for views over the city, and have lazy days wandering around Wellington Museum, the Wellington City Art Gallery and the National Library of New Zealand. Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum, is a top place in the city to pick up affordable necklaces and other jewellery made from paua shells.