When it comes to travel destinations, New Zealand is fast becoming a favorite, with the number of Filipinos visiting the country rising year-on-year. And who wouldn’t want to visit New Zealand with its picture-postcard beauty?

But New Zealand is so much more than the sum of its varied landscapes. Take the time to embrace the country’s incredible diversity – from music festivals in the vineyards to terrifying thrill rides and be surprised by this exciting island nation.

Discover a world of contrasts

The main city of Auckland has more than 100 surf beaches right on its doorstep. No surf beach is too far from the main cities, so you have a choice of black or golden sands. At Mt. Ruapheu in the north, you can ski or snowboard on an active volcano, while the Southern Alps can be accessed from Queenstown or Christchurch. When the New Year rolls around, celebrate it twice – the Maori New Year, Matariki, falls in late May or early June (matarikifestival.org.nz).

Experience the great outdoors

Getting out into nature is a way of life in New Zealand – about a third of the country is made up of national parks. Hire or buy a bike and ride as part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail (nzcyletrail.com). You’ll find Department of Conservation (doc.govt.nz) huts in many of the national parks and along the country’s nine Great Walks (greatwalks.co.nz). Parts of the country are really empty so you might have a beach all to yourself on the East Cape of the North Island or on the South Island’s West Coast.

Take a leap and discover a new identity

Commercial bungy jumping (bungy.co.nz) is a rite of passage for many visitors. You can throw yourself off spectacular structures throughout New Zealand, from Auckland landmarks to rail viaducts, bridges and ravines. Once you’ve taken that leap of faith, try a rope swing, a zipline, a bridge climb, Zorb (zorb.com) or Ogo (ogo.co.nz) down a hill in Rotorua in a giant inflatable ball.

Explore diverse new worlds

Among the 4.5 million people who call New Zealand home you’ll find almost every culture you can think of. The indigenous Maori culture is unique to Aotearoa and you’ll have opportunities to learn the language, try doing the haka war dance, visit a marae and eat food traditionally cooked in a hangi (underground oven) or geothermal pool. You can experience Pacific culture at the annual two-day Pasifika Festival (aucklandnz.com/pasifika) in Auckland each March which features cultural performances, arts and crafts, and food and market stalls.

Immerse yourself in music

New Zealand has a vibrant community and you’ll find plenty to do from a full calendar of events. The best way to see in the New Year is at Rhythm & Vines (rhythmandvines.co.nz) on the east coast of the North Island. The three-day festival attracts international and local acts, with previous headliners including Major Lazer and Moby. For more of an urban vibe, Auckland hosts the Laneway Festival (lanewayfestival.com) at Silo Park. If world music or reggae is more your style, try Soundsplash (soundsplash.co.nz) in Raglan on the North Island’s west coast.

Make friends for life

Kiwis are incredibly warm, laid-back and hospitable people who will go out of their way to make sure you’re safe. They’re keen for the world to realize what a great place New Zealand is and want you to go home raving about what a lovely time you’ve had.

Eat and drink really well

New Zealand has its own style of innovative cuisine and café culture. Visit one of the many farmers’ or seafood markets to try foods you’ve never had before such as feijoas (fruit) or paua (shellfish). There are world-renowned wineries everywhere you look, and if you love boutique beer Wellington (wellingtonnz.com) is the place to go – here you’ll find at least 15 craft-beer bars and eight breweries. It’s also home to some of the country’s best coffee.

Reboot yourself in glorious surroundings

Aotearoa has a host of health retreats and meditation centers. The North Island city of Rotorua (rotoruanz.com) sits in a geothermal field, and many facilities harness the natural therapeutic properties of its hot mud and natural hot springs. Around the area, it’s possible to stumble across hot springs where you can immerse yourself in peaceful surroundings in a stretch of stream for free.

It’s easy to visit, and to stay

Kiwis like to keep things simple, so you’ll find things like opening a bank account, renting a flat or car and sorting out your driver’s license really easy. You won’t find it hard to get a job either – there’s loads of seasonal work, opportunities in hospitality and trades, and demand for workers in IT and health. Once you’re working you can immerse yourself in culture and start enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle.

Fill your social media feeds

You’ll find photo opportunities to make your Facebook and Instagram accounts the envy of your friends for years, whether it’s lying on the golden sands of the Coromandel; climbing one of the glaciers at the bottom of the South Island; sitting atop a volcanic cone in Auckland, covered in mud at Rotorua, or swimming in one of its lakes, rivers or oceans. New Zealand won’t stay your secret for long.