Bay of Islands and Northland have featured on Lonely Planet's top 10 places in the Asia Pacific to visit, coming in at third.
The region's rich history and "extraordinary surf" were some of the reasons it was chosen.
A blurb outlines the region's "endless extraordinary surf beaches, myriad islands and forests of giant trees" that "are the hallmarks of the northernmost part of New Zealand".
It also describes the area as "the cradle of the country’s culture and history – both for the indigenous Māori people and for the European settlers who followed them".
It talks about New Zealand's signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, as well as events which showcase New Zealand, including Waitangi Day festivities, and a new museum devoted to the Māori Battalion who fought in the World Wars.
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