There are some great hotspots around New Zealand that people migrate to so they can enjoy New Years Eve and the arrival of the New Year. Most hotspots have outdoor concerts that night and events over the next couple of days to keep all the visitors entertained. Auckland has a great day at the races on New Years day but a lot of Aucklanders head towards Mount Maunganui, Whangamata on the Coromandal Peninsula or Gisborne. The "Mount" (Mount Maunganui) as it is know, is one of the most popular spots for New Years Eve celebrations in the North Island. The "Mount" is a younger persons party town for New Years. Whangamata is a coastal town on the Coromandal Peninsula that is around 2 hours drive from Auckland that swells to 60,000 people over the New Years period.

Gisborne was a large outdoor concert and festival around New Years. Gisborne is also the first city to see the New Years sun in the world.

The South Island offers, Nelson, Takaka, Wanaka and Queenstown. Nelson has Tahuna Beach that is the main party area. The alternate life-stylers usually head to Takaka not far from Nelson over the Takaka Hill. This has become more popular for mainstream New Years partygoers and holds a massive party on the Takaka Hill every year.

Wanaka in Central Otago is an hour away from Queenstown and the home to the mainly younger New Years party seekers (13-20years old). Queenstown is the main party spot in the South Island and is the home to all ages and types of partygoers. The town centre is closed off and bands are set up around the town to offer something for everyone.

Whichever place you choose you will have a great time.

These are my picks of your New Zealand New Years hotspots.