Hire a bike and cycle between Marlborough's vineyards. Photo / Supplied

35. Drink sauvignon blanc at the source

Sauvignon blanc accounts for more than 86 per cent of the wine New Zealand exports, so while we might take it for granted, international drinkers know our winemakers are doing something pretty special. Marlborough is the country’s largest sauv region and the conditions are just right to produce the wines for which we’ve become famous the world over — low rainfall, consistently high sunshine hours, and big temperature shifts during the ripening period. The region is home to many wonderful wineries with cellar door tastings and gourmet restaurants — hire a bike and cycle between a few, or take a guided tour so someone else does the driving for you.

Coastal Pacific: The best way to arrive in Kaikōura. Photo / Supplied, KiwiRail

36. Ride the rails on the South Island’s east coast

Whether travelling from Picton or Christchurch, the best way to arrive in Kaikōura is on the Coastal Pacific train. The service was suspended as the country has worked its way through alert levels, but will resume from October 13, operating on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays. The five-hour journey takes you through Marlborough wine country, along the Kaikōura coastline, and down to the Canterbury plains. Some of the journey’s highlights are crossing the Okarahia Viaduct and the Kahutara River Bridge, rounding the southern end of Mangamaunu Bay, and travelling through the salt plains at Lake Grassmere. greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/coastal-pacific

Tuck in at Kaikōura famous food truck: Nins Bin. Photo / Geoff Wilson; CC

37. Eat fresh crayfish from Nins Bin

Ranked seventh out of 500 global experiences on Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist, the famous blue and white caravan 20km north of Kaikōura is a third-generation family food truck which has been serving the day’s catch to locals and tourists since 1977. Grab an uncooked cray to take away, or indulge in one freshly cooked in garlic butter while you sit on a picnic table looking out to sea. The perfect Kiwi experience? We think so. Just make sure you check opening hours before you visit — hours vary, and we’d hate you to be disappointed. facebook.com/ninsbin

Sperm whales, fur seals, and pods of dusky dolphins swim along the Kaikoura coast. Photo / Supplied

38. Meet the marine mammals of Kaikōura

Kaikōura is one of the few places in the world where sperm whales can be seen year-round and close to shore, thanks to the 3km deep Kaikōura Canyon, which has a rich marine food chain for the majestic mammals to feed on. Tours with Whale Watch Kaikōura operate Fridays to Mondays (daily during school holidays) and they have a 95 per cent success rate, so you can be pretty confident you’ll see at least one whale while out on the water (if not, you’ll receive an 80 per cent refund). As well as giant sperm whales, you might see New Zealand fur seals, pods of dusky dolphins, endangered albatross and, depending on the season, humpback, pilot, blue and southern right whales. whalewatch.co.nz

Thrills 'n spills: Hurunui is home to New Zealand’s largest waterslide. Photo / Supplied

39. Get soaked in Hurunui

Cantabrians have been soaking up the mineral-rich waters of Hanmer for generations. There is something for everyone, from family pools to private pools, to a lap pool and even a river, all filled with geothermally warmed waters that began life as snow, seeped its way into the earth’s basement rock to be warmed by the earth’s core. Visit to soak your bones and relax, or throw yourself down New Zealand’s largest waterslide if you’re there for thrills. hanmersprings.co.nz

Finiky vines: Pegasus Bay's pinot noir won't just grown anywhere. Photo / Jocey Kinghorn, Flickr

40. Take a wine tour in North Canterbury

Pinot noir is a fussy grape. It has thin skin, and grows in tight clusters which make it susceptible to disease. It likes cool weather and is sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and it likes to stay on the vine for longer than other varieties. Which means the places this finicky plant thrives are very special indeed. The North Canterbury wine region spans 200km of coastline, and is best known for its pinot noir and aromatics. A tour of the region will take you to the cellar doors of dozens of producers, large and small.

Big fun: Margaret Mahy Family Playground is the Southern Hemisphere's largest. Photo / Supplied

41. Let the kids run riot at the Margaret Mahy Playground

When it comes to playgrounds, Christchurch ain’t playing. The newish Margaret Mahy Family Playground (it opened in 2015) is the largest playground in the entire Southern Hemisphere and is suitable for all ages and all abilities. There’s all manner of fun stuff for the kids to climb, swing, slide and jump on as well as a water play area and electric barbecues so you can really make a meal of your time there. If you’ve ever been in charge of any amount of children for any period of time then you’ll know that a good playground is worth its weight in gold, and here you’ve really struck it rich.