19 unique places to visit in New Zealand
The ultimate list of incredible places to visit in New Zealand
From cities and essential places to go, to off-the-beaten-path destinations even New Zealanders don’t know about.
In a small country at the bottom of the world, you’ll find epic mountains, dreamy beaches, excellent food, wine, and a laid-back culture.
New Zealand is my home, and also my greatest playground.
If you’re a nature lover like me, you’ll delight in the fact that National Parks have no entry fees, we have an incredible nationwide network of hiking trails, and beaches are usually secluded and clean.
More of an adrenaline seeker? You can spend days bungy jumping into narrow gorges, jet boating up pristine rivers, and sky diving over surreal landscapes of mountains and lakes.
And if you prefer to take it slower, there are hot pools to lounge in, glamping escapes to indulge in, and more wine regions and dishes than you can hope to explore in a two week trip.
I’ve travelled New Zealand from top to bottom, and I still haven’t done everything there is to do.
This list brings together my favourite destinations in New Zealand (so far — it’s an evolving list). There are some must-see places in there, but also destinations other ‘ultimate’ lists skip right past.
Not everything on this list will be for you, but I hope it gives you somewhere to start with planning your New Zealand.
A quick overview of this guide:
Map of the best things to do in New Zealand
Where to start? If you’re short on time, choose just the North or South Island to visit. If you have 10 days or more, you can visit both islands.
Cities in New Zealand
Cities aren’t New Zealand’s strong point — we don’t have the depth of history that makes European cities so visually appealing, or the sheer size that makes global cities like New York so compelling.
However, you’ll probably start or end your trip in one of New Zealand’s towns, so it’s worth checking these places out while you’re there.
1. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city
Most visitors fly into or out of Auckland airport.
If you have a night or two in Auckland, you can check out some incredible restaurants, or go souvenir shopping at independent boutiques along Ponsonby or Karangahape Road.
Auckland is built on a volcanic field. There are more than 50 volcanic cones, or what’s left of them, scattered across the city.
Exploring the volcanic cones (maunga in Maori) will change your perspective of the city. You’ll see how the volcanic cones were once a network of thriving fortified villages — and get fabulous views of the city along the way.
Maungawhau/Mount Eden is the highest volcanic cone, and has the most impressive crater. There’s also a visitor centre on Maungawhau/Mount Eden which explains more of the Maori history of the maunga.
It’s free entry and a great place to see the history of the city in a different light.
Another great maunga to visit is Mount Victoria in Devonport. You can catch a ferry from downtown Auckland across to Devonport and walk up the mountain for 360 views of the city skyline and the harbour.
Don’t miss: A visit to Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island is the perfect day trip destination from Auckland.
The ferry costs $50 return with Island Direct. Wine tastings at the luscious vineyards range from free to $15 and getting around on the public bus only costs a few dollars
You can also find some beautiful walks and beaches on Waiheke, as well as gin distilleries, incredible restaurants, and a laid back island vibe in the village of Oneroa.
It’s easy to get around Waiheke Island by public bus, or you can hire an e-bike for more of an adventure.
2. Wellington, New Zealand’s vibrant capital city
Wellington is a fun city and it’s worth the stop if you’re catching the car ferry between the North and South islands.
This is the coffee and food capital of the country — Wellingtonians are proud foodies and coffee aficionados.
Try a cheese scone, a Wellington staple, and brunch at one of the many cafes in the centre.
Some of the best restaurants in the city are Egmont Street Eatery, Shepherd, and the Botanist. Hiakai is the darling of Wellington dining, but you will have to book well in advance to get a table.
3. Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island with a history chequered by earthquakes.
The city has a unique character and I always enjoy visiting.
Street art is splashed defiantly around the city centre, which was redesigned post earthquakes to be more walkable and green.
There’s a strong cafe culture, and green spaces along the Avon River and of course the sprawling Hyde Park.
Head to Riverside Market for a meal, or stop the The Tannery to do some shopping.
Essential destinations in New Zealand: Mountains, simmering hot pools, and wine
4. Marvel at bubbling mud and colourful pools in Rotorua
You’ll smell Rotorua before you see it — the sulphur-rich air is the first hint that you’re arriving into New Zealand’s most active geothermal area.
The whole town simmers.
You can stroll for free around Rotorua’s parks and see steam escaping from vents in the ground, see thermal pools boil from the heat of barely concealed activity below ground, and hear the glug of mud as the ground itself boils.
Rotorua is home to visually spectacular springs in shades of turquoise, orange, and sky blue.
It’s worth visiting one of the geothermal parks in the area to see geysers spit steam and marvel at the colourful pools.
There are a number of hot springs where you can immerse yourself in naturally heated waters. Kerosene Creek is a popular spot for free hot water bathing.
One of my favourite short walks in New Zealand, the Tarawera Trail, leads to a hot water beach on a lakefront. Here you can take a dip in thermal waters while admiring the view.
5. Hike the Tongariro Crossing
Beating a path through Tongariro National Park in the heart of the North Island, the Tongariro Crossing is one of the most famous hikes in New Zealand.
The track crosses volcanic alpine landscapes in the middle of Tongariro National Park. Along the way you’ll see steaming vents, glacial valleys, ancient lava flows, alpine vegetation and vivid lakes of emerald green.
Getting there: You’ll need some form of shuttle transportation for this hike. You can either be picked up from both ends, or leave your car at the end and have a shuttle take you to the starting point. This is the option we went with, and it was nicer being able to get to the car under our own time instead of having to wait for a bus at a specific time.
When to go: As an alpine hike, you can only hike the Tongariro Crossing from November to May. From June to October, snow and ice mean you need alpine equipment and expertise.
6. Spot seals, whales, albatrosses, and dolphins in Kaikoura
Kaikoura is one of the best places to go in New Zealand for wildlife watching.
There are few other places where you can swim with both dolphins and seals, see penguins, albatrosses, petrels and other sea birds, and see spot whales all year round.
The small coastal town, located around 2 and a half hours north of Christchurch, is famous for whale watching.
A population of sperm whales means you can go whale watching any time of year, while migrating humpback whales provide other opportunities to see the great beasts during the winter months.
You don’t necessarily have to take a boat tour to see wildlife, though — head to the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway for spectacular cliff top views of the sea, with a seal colony lying at the feet of the rocks.
The seals here are so active that when I visited one evening, I saw one heaving itself through the carpark.
7. Gaze upon glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
One of the main highlights of West Coast of the South Island are the twin glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef.
Both glaciers pour from the rocky Southern Alps into valleys which give way to emerald rainforests and then the roiling Tasman Sea.
The glaciers are stunningly accessible, visible from roadside stops, short walks,
You don’t need to go in a helicopter to see the glaciers on the West Coast. There are multiple walks and viewpoints around Franz Josef and Fox Glacier where you can see them from afar.
It might not be as dramatic as walking on them, but for budget travellers it’s still an awesome way to see rivers of ice flowing out of the mountains.
Alex Knob, the Roberts Point Track, and the lookout point near Lake Matheson are all epic spots.
8. Walk some or all of The Routeburn Track
The Milford Sound Trek might be the one dubbed “the finest walk in the world,” but the Routeburn hike might pip it as the best multi-day walk in New Zealand.
It’s one of the country’s Great Walks — a set of 10 backpacking trails that cover the most impressive scenery in New Zealand.
The trail links Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park, so it covers some of the South Island’s most epic landscapes.
The challenge with the Routeburn is that being a Great Walk, spaces in the huts can book out well in advance.
There is usually more flexibility with campsites.
I hiked in from the Glenorchy end and stayed at the Lake Mackenzie campsite before hiking back out the same way, which meant I saw most of the trail, and had cheaper accommodation than staying in a hut.
You can also walk parts of the Routeburn Track as day walks:
The Key Summit Trail which starts from the Milford Sound road
The Routeburn nature walk at the Glenorchy end of the track
How to get there
You can access one end of the Routeburn Track from Glenorchy, a small lakeside village about 45 minutes from Queenstown.
The opposite end is located on the road to Milford Sound, 3 hours 45 minutes from Queenstown. You can add a jaunt up to Key Summit into your Milford Sound itinerary if you’re self-driving.
Where to stay
Glenorchy is quiet and small, but there are many hikes in the area as well as a swath of Lord of the Rings filming locations.
I highly recommend staying at The Headwaters Eco Lodge.
9. Get a glimpse of New Zealand’s highest peak at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Ice-capped Aoraki is a stunning sight.
Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, at 3,724 metres (12,218 feet).
The glittering fin of the mountain is visible across Lake Pukaki, a bright blue lake fed by glaciers pouring down from the Southern Alps. Looking across Pukaki toward Aoraki/Mount Cook is one of the most iconic views in all of New Zealand.
Make the drive out to Mount Cook Village at the heart of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and you’ll get awesome views the whole way.
From the village, you can walk the Hooker Valley Track — one of the best day walks in New Zealand — and up the Sealy Tarns.
On a fine day, you can admire Aoraki Mount Cook in all its glory.
I recommend staying for at least one night in Mount Cook village, to give you time to hike the Hooker Valley and see the Tasman Glacier.
10. Drink pinot noir in Central Otago, near Queenstown
Marlborough might be the wine region that gets the largest share of the spotlight, thanks to the legendary production of sauvignon blanc, but Central Otago is my favourite wine region.
There are dozens of excellent vineyards around Cromwell and the Gibbston Valley area near Queenstown.
You can hire bikes and cycle between cellar doors, or take a wine tour. I can say that cycling while drunk isn’t the most fun I’ve ever had, so either pick a couple of spots close together or arrange transport.
Note that Gibbston Valley is a vineyard within the Gibbston area - it’s not the only one in the valley and it’s far from being the best to visit, in my opinion. I prefer the smaller cellar doors, like Mt Rosa Wines or Kinross.
11. Stargaze in wonder at Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is an essential stop on any South Island road trip.
The lake is stunning and a scenic spot in its own right. But one of the main draws to Lake Tekapo is the beauty of the night sky.
Tekapo is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. This was only the third dark sky reserve in the world, so it’s an area of pristine night skies and superb stargazing.
From Tekapo you can join star gazing tours at the Mount John Observatory, or at other locations near the lake.
To star gaze for free, you can also book yourself into accommodation with skylights over the beds, so you can lie in bed and look up at the Milky Way.
Beautiful places in New Zealand for hiking, hot springs and nature
12. Kayak, hike, and swim your way through Abel Tasman National Park
The Abel Tasman Coastal Walk is one of the best hikes in New Zealand. You’re not limited to exploring Abel Tasman National Park on foot, though.
From Marahau, you can catch boats to different parks of the coast and either kayak or walk back to the starting point.
The calm bays with pristine water are perfect for swimming. If you’re hiking along the Abel Tasman, you’ll be tempted strip off and jump into the sea at every opportunity.
13. Discover otherworldly blue water in Mount Aspiring National Park
Abel Tasman, Tongariro, and Fiordland National Parks often get all the attention. But of all New Zealand’s national parks, Mount Aspiring might be my favourite.
The park stands out for its incredible blue water, which runs down from glaciers high in the mountain peaks. The result is incredible hiking.
For an easy walk, check out the Blue Pools in Makarora, near Wanaka. Or, head into the West Matukutuki Valley to hike to Rob Roy Glacier.
14. Hike through mountains and hear kea in Arthur's Pass National Park
To get from the east side of the South Island across to the West Coast, you have only a couple of options — Lewis Pass, Arthur’s Pass, or Haast Pass.
All are beautiful and I recommend a loop itinerary so you can experience two of these places.
But Arthur’s Pass has a truly unique, wild feel.
This is one of New Zealand’s national parks, and it’s an area of wet weather, dense, dripping forests, and wild waterfalls.
On a clear day, you might be able to hike up to Avalanche Peak. But even on a wet day you can walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall or simply around the small former mining village, spotting kea — their haunting cries mingle with the mist to make this an eerie, otherworldy place.
15. Go island hopping in the Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is a sub-tropical area in the north of the North Island.
Although most visitors to New Zealand arrive into Auckland and head south almost straight away, there’s a lot to discover if you make your way north.
Bright blue water, lush native forest, and deserted beaches are everywhere.
Paihia is the main town in the Bay of Islands, and the activity hub. From here, you can choose to cruise or kayak around the islands in the area.
Russell is a quieter option if you want small town charm. There are regular ferries across to Paihia so you won’t be missing out if you opt for Russell.
One of my favourite places to visit in the Bay of Islands is Urupukapuka Island.
It’s easy to catch a ferry out to the island, and you can spend the day walking the tracks that loop around the island edge, or stay overnight at one of the campgrounds there.
A note on dolphin watching: Studies have found that dolphin spotting in the Bay of Islands has severely impacted the wellbeing of bottle-nosed dolphins that live there, to the point they are barely reproducing.
In short — skip the dolphin boat tours.
Alternative and unique places to visit in New Zealand
15. Watch the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide at Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga is a place of huge spiritual importance in New Zealand.
At the very northern tip of the North Island, fringed by giant sand dunes and windswept beaches, stands a lonely lighthouse.
This is where Maori spirits make their final leap from land. You can feel it, standing at Cape Reinga — this is a special place.
Looking out across the water, you’ll see the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meeting.
For an extra adventure, take on the four day Te Paki Coastal Track, one of New Zealand’s most epic multi-day hikes.
Where to stay | If you’re travelling in a campervan, I recommend camping at Spirits Bay.
You have to drive down a gravel road to get there, but it’s quieter than other campgrounds in the area and it’s stunning. The campground is next to a long, white sand beach with a distant view of the lighthouse.
Other places to see nearby | On the drive up north, stop in at Rarawa Beach, a gorgeous white sand beach, and Mangōnui, a cute little seaside town with a great fish and chip shop.
16. Ngawi and Cape Palliser
One of my favourite corners of the North Island is the rocky coastline that hugs the south eastern corner.
Drive out to the fishing village of Ngawi to see the rusting hulks of bulldozers lined up along the gravel beach, at ease until they spring into action to drag fishing boats home.
Sheep trot across the road, whale bones lie in front of some of the weather beaten houses, and cliffs rising above the coast catch scraps of cloud.
It feels like the end of the world.
The best view of the area is from the Cape Palliser lighthouse, a candy striped tower sitting high above the water (suffice to say there are quite a few steps to reach the lookout).
17. Explore the iconic beaches and quirky nature of the Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula is one of the best beach destinations in New Zealand.
The east coast of the peninsula is lined with incredible white sand beaches, from secluded bays to wind-swept surf beaches.
Cathedral Cove is the most famous destination on the Coromandel. The stunning limestone arch is well worth a visit, but it can get crowded.
Hot water beach is the other famous beach to check out — for two hours either side of low tide you can dig your own hot pool in the sand. The water is heated by geothermal activity and gets surprisingly hot.
You can always jump in the waves to cool off, but just be careful of the strong currents at this beach.
New Chums Beach is another scenic spot, if you want to try surfing, head to Whangamata Beach, famous for its epic waves.
18. Visit Golden Bay for remote beaches and a hippie vibe
It’s hard to explain the appeal of Golden Bay beyond the area’s natural beauty.
I think it has something to do with the fact that there’s only one road in and out, that rises and falls over an impressive hill.
Shunted over the top of the hill, you’ll be faced with a sweeping view of Golden Bay, as it stretches out along the top of the South Island (the very northernmost point on the South Island is reached via a short walk).
The rugged, windswept Wharariki Beach has reached global fame as a Windows screensaver, but there are plenty of other world-class beaches in Golden Bay, as well as emerald rivers, the hippie town of Takaka, and walks in Abel Tasman National Park.
The best time to visit New Zealand
The best time to visit New Zealand is during the late summer and early fall months. From February to April, you can expect warm, settled weather without the crowds and costs of the peak summer season.
The best way to get around New Zealand
The easiest way to get around New Zealand is by renting a vehicle. Without either a car or a campervan, you’ll miss out on a lot of the more remote and beautiful places in New Zealand.
Car rentals are plentiful and much cheaper than campervans, although travelling by campervan means you can stay in some stunning, wild locations.
If you don’t want to drive, tours will take you to all the main highlights of the country.
Alternatively, the Intercity bus (New Zealand’s only national bus network) connects the major cities and towns. You can then reach other places, like Great Walks, via shared shuttles.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you found some inspiration for your New Zealand trip.
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