The big question – What to visit in New Zealand
Planning your trip to New Zealand ponders the major question – What to visit in New Zealand?
Due to New Zealand being such a small country compared to other countries around the world, hence it has a unique feature. You don’t have to travel long distances between many of the great sight-seeing locations or activities.
In reality you can drive from the largest city of Auckland, to the snow ski fields in the Central Plateau. Along the way you can visit sandy beaches, a geothermal volcanic region, lush farmland and the largest lake in New Zealand. All in less than a day.
What to visit in New Zealand. Here are some of the many locations and activities that you can see and do in New Zealand.
Although Auckland is the main gateway to New Zealand and the logical progression would be to head south. The Bay Of Islands is worth time either on arrival or before departure.
Bay of Islands
- Cape Reinga day trip
- Visit Tane Mahuta, the giant Native Kauri tree
- Swim with the Dolphins in Paihia
- Visit the Waitangi Treaty grounds
- Have a first or last night stop over at Matauri Bay
Auckland
- Kelly Taltons Sea Life
- Auckland memorial museum
- Viaduct harbour and the Wynyard Quarter
- Waiheke Island
- Trip up the Sky tower to view the sights
Waikato
- Waitomo glow worm caves
- Baloons over Waikato (March April)
Rotorua
- The Agrodome
- Rainbow springs and the Kiwi Encounter
- Hobbiton
- Tamaki Tours Maori cultural concert and show
- Land in the crater of an active volcano
- Te Puia Geothermal and Cultural park
The Central Plateau
- Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields (July – October)
- The Tongariro crossing
- Waiouru Military Museum
Hawkes Bay
- Te Mata Peek
- Wineries and wine tours
- Napier Art Deco week (February)
Wellington
- Southward Car museum (Largest private collection in Australasia)
- Mt Victoria lookout over the city and area
- Ride the Cable Car to the Botanic gardens
- Te Papa, the National museum
- Weta Cave, the masters of Lord of the Rings and Hobbiton etc
Nelson
- Visit the WOW, wearable arts and car museum
- Hike the Able Tasman tracks
- Enjoy a water Taxi around the bays of the Able Tasman National Park and view Split Apple Rock
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
- Helicopter up to and walk on the Glacier
- Go Glacier hiking
- Explore the West Coast Wildlife Centre
Queenstown and Wanaka
- Jet boating
- Bungy jumping
- White water rafting
- Snow Skiing (July – October)
- Wine Tasting
- Golf some of New Zealand’s most prestigious Golf courses
- Attend War Birds over Wanaka air show (Easter every second year)
- Ride the TSS Earnslaw on lake Wakatipu
Fiordland National Park
- Take an overnight cruise on Milford Sound
- Visit Doubtful sound
- Visit the Fiordland Cinema to watch “The Shadowlands” half hour movie of stunning scenery in the Fiordland National Park
Dunedin
- Take a wildlife cruise and view the Rarest Penguin, the Yellow Eyed, and view the Royal Albatros in flight
- Visit New Zealand only Castle, Larnach Castle
- Ride the Taieri Gorge Railway
Christchurch
- Ride the inner city Tram
- Take a double decker tour of the city
- Tour the Canterbury Museum and Botanical gardens
- Visit the Cardboard transitional cathedral
- Go shopping at the restart mall
There truly is so much more to be seen and done in New Zealand. Hopefully this list has given you a tantalising taste of what to visit in New Zealand.
Thanks for the list! My husband and I are planning a trip to New Zealand within the next couple of years and I’m grateful for the resources on this website, it will be very helpful. We want to see as much as possible over our two weeks there.
Great, I’m sure you will have an awesome time and if I can help you any further, please do not hesitate to cantact me.
Mark
Hi Mark Perkins,
Thanks for sharing an awesome article about New Zealand. I make up my mind to visit New Zealand before the end in this year.
A few of my childhood friends are there and asked me many times to visit them, but I asked them just to wait because I thought there was no such a good place to visit.
After reading this article, I get so excited and can’t help to wait.
I would like to know the best time and seasons to visit New Zealand. And also the currencies exchange rate.
I will bookmark your site and come back for more information.
You are welcome Maun,
Best time to visit depends on what you want to do, July on, for skiing, and Jan to March for the better weather. Currency exchange rate varies greatly, currently about $NZ1.45 to $US1.
Best to check the banks, always better deals than money brokers I feel.
Look forward to seeing you here.
Mark
Hi Mark, thanks for your information about New Zealand. Will use your post as a travel guide if I am going there with my wife.
Hey Wilson, glad you found it helpful.
You won’t regret a holiday in New Zealand
I have recently retired and hope to be doing some traveling. Thank you for showing me how absolutely beautiful and diverse New Zealand is. I am definitely putting New Zealand on my “bucket list” of places to visit. I will revisit your site before coming.
Thank you for your guide.
Ev
This is the first time I’ve looked into visiting New Zealand. I’ve seen pictures before, but never really had the money to afford traveling. The videos definitely help to get a better idea of some fun things to try while there.
Jeff,
New Zealand is an great, but i”m prejudiced, In my day job as a Tour Coach driver Everyone from all over the world rave about it here. I guess we do take things for granted.
Keep tuned to the sight and in time I will present some low cost alternatives to a holiday in New Zealand.
I now have a new destination to visit!! New Zealand looks so beautiful, with many different places to explore. I never realized how much New Zealand has to offer, including the breath-taking scenery. Now I’m going to add this one of my “must see” places. Just out of curiosity, how long of a travel would it be from the US, to arrive in New Zealand? Thanks for the excellent post and great information. 🙂
Laurie,
Thank you for your comment
Yes New Zealand is an undiscovered treasure. Would be our pleasure for you to visit us.
Travel times from LA approx 13hrs. I am coming to Philadelphia in July and because I cross the international date line I leave Auckland at about 1pm and arrive in Philly 4.30pm, but loose a day going the other way.
Mark
Hi Mark,
I had to watch the videos to remind me of how beautiful our Country really is; the people, the culture, the food, the wildlife and the breathtaking scenery. We are so lucky. Thanks promoting our Country to the rest of the world 🙂
Geylene,
Thank you for your comments. We certainly do have a spectacular country and its my true pleasure to promote it to the world.
Mark
New Zealand is on my list if places I want to visit, and I love this list, gives me so many great ideas of what to do. The glow worm caves sound really neat and of course all the adventure activities like bungee jumping and white water rafting!!
Hi Mark,
Thanks so much for the tips! I’ve been meaning to take a trip out to New Zealand but have yet to make it that direction. I think after reading this I now have some general direction for where I want to go and what I want to see.
I never knew that you could make such a meaningful trip out of such a short amount of time!
Thanks for the tips.
Dalton,
Thank you for your comments. When you do come to New Zealand be sure to contact me with anything I can do to help you.
Mark
This is great. My girlfriend and I really want to travel and have started considering possible destinations.
NZ has definitely made the list. I had no idea such a small place had so much to offer.
I’m from South Africa and besides being rugby rivals I don’t know much about NZ.
Thanks for the great article.
Jean
New Zealand is one of the many places I hope to visit. I will definitely come back to your site when I am ready to travel. After watching some of your videos I may want to speed it up. Such a beautiful place. Thank you for this information.
Cedes, Thank you for your comment and the compliment of our Country.
Be sure to contact me when you come if I can be of any help.
Mark
Hello Mark
A really informative, well laid out and professional site, I have not really given a thought to holiday in your country but after perusing your website I have had a change of heart, great work and all the best in going forward.
Gary
Thank you Gary fur your comment. We would love to entertain you and your family in New Zealand.
Mark
Great post Mark. I just realized how little I knew about such a beautiful country. The information is really great and very helpful.
I look forward to reading more.
Said
Said,
Thank you for your comments. Stay tuned for more posts about our great country.
Mark
Mark,
Great post, I particularly liked “You don’t have to travel long distances between many of the great sight-seeing locations or activities.”
It brought back memories when I visited Queenstown 15 odd years ago with my sister and some friends for a week of skiing. At the end of the week, my sister and I hired a car to do some sight seeing around the South Isle and headed to Christchurch. We pulled into a service station as we were entering Christchurch and the owner asked us where we had come from, saying Queenstown he replied thats a long drive. For us, being Australians it wasn’t a full days driving.
I am going to add your lists to my travel notes, New Zealand somewhere that the family wants to go and you have given some great information of places to visit.
Brendan,
Thank you for your comments. I take it that you are sold on NZ, of course being an Australian makes it real easy to jump the ditch.
You sure do have some big distances over there in Australia. I visited NT a couple of years ago and loved it.
Mark
Wow! Great work Mark. Makes it easy for me to plan my vacation. I am appreciative of this insight.I have listed and bookmarked for further consultation. Thumbs up!
Chris, thank you for your comments and I am so glad you found the info of help.
Mark
Susan,
Thank you so much for not arguing with me :). I’m glad you liked the site.
Mark