New Zealand is renowned for its natural beauty.
As you travel around the country, you’ll find dramatic black-sand beaches, hot springs, sandy coves, towering mountains and aquamarine lakes. City breaks include cosmopolitan Auckland, cool capital Wellington and ever-evolving Christchurch. But many of the best places to visit in New Zealand involve leaving the city limits and immersing yourself in the great outdoors.
When planning your itinerary to Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand), here are nine spots that should be at the top of your list.
Queenstown is one of the world’s top destinations for adventure sports © Terry Lee / 500px
1. Queenstown
Ideal for adventure activities
New Zealand’s adventure capital is a tourist favorite, and for good reason. Situated on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Queenstown is one of the country’s most popular places to work and play, and it’s home to three fantastic ski fields (called “ski areas”) with an equally enviable après-ski scene.
Queenstown’s adventure reputation is well-deserved: there are plenty of ways to satisfy your adrenaline rush, from bungee jumping and ziplining to paragliding and jet boating, and in the summer months there are fantastic lakeside hiking, cycling and water sports to enjoy.
Side Trip: Make time to explore the valleys and settlements surrounding Queenstown. Visit nearby Lake Hayes, the lakeside village of Glenorchy, and historic Arrowtown. Then spend a day (or more) in Wanaka, known for its laid-back vibe and Instagram-famous trees. Nearby Gibbston Valley is home to some of the country’s best wineries.
2. Coromandel
Perfect for a beautiful beach
If you’re looking for a beach getaway, head to the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island’s east coast. The iconic Cathedral Cove area is currently hard to access due to damage caused by the 2023 storm (you’ll need to take a boat or kayak tour to get there), but the region is home to countless other stunning beaches.
For example, you can swim in the calm waters of Cooks Beach or take a 30-minute walk through native forest to the more secluded (but still popular) New Chums Beach. Other fun activities in the area include cycling in Karangahake Gorge, hiking the Pinnacles Trail, and kayaking to Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary (Donut Island), an untouched natural environment that can only be explored from the water.
Planning tip: Rent a bach (holiday home) in a seaside town such as Hahei, Pauanui or Whangamata to use as a base for exploring the region.
Experience coastal Abel Tasman National Park on foot or by kayak © Andrew Peacock / Getty Images
3. Abel Tasman National Park
Great for hiking and kayaking
The South Island’s Abel Tasman National Park is an untouched natural environment of native forest, crystal clear bays and white sand beaches that can be reached on a day trip from Nelson, but is well worth a longer stay if you have the time.
One of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Abel Tasman Coast Track is a 60-km (37-mile) coastal walk with beautiful beach views. It usually takes 3-5 days to do the whole thing, but you can also do just parts of it as a day or afternoon hike, with a water taxi returning you to the starting point. Alternatively, you can kayak to the national park’s seal colony, jump in the ocean, or just relax in the hidden little coves and bays.
Planning tip: Vehicles are only allowed as far as Totaranui, at the northern end of the park, and Marahau, at the southern entrance, so visitors must walk to their destinations or take a water taxi.
4. Fiordland National Park
Perfect for spectacular landscapes
Fiordland National Park, on the tip of the South Island, is home to one of New Zealand’s most famous attractions: the majestic Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, where you can see cascading waterfalls along the fiord and rare marine life such as Fiordland crested penguins and Hector’s dolphins. There are also several hiking trails within the national park (including the country’s most famous multi-day walk, the Milford Track), which will take you past snow-capped mountains and icy fiords, and offer even more views of lakes, valleys and waterfalls.
Planning tip: Nearby Doubtful Sound/Patea is also stunning, but is less accessible and visitors must visit by boat with a guide.
Take a guided hike to Fox or Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast © Matthew Micah Wright / Getty Images
5. West Coast
Perfect for glaciers
The South Island’s rugged west coast is a rugged landscape where dense rainforest, rugged rocks and ancient glaciers coexist. The main attractions of this pristine remote region are the majestic Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, offering visitors the unique opportunity to see glacial rivers flowing almost to sea level.
Take a guided glacier hike, heli-hike or scenic flight to see the glacier itself. Other notable attractions include the pancake rocks of Punakaiki, the turquoise Hokitika Gorge and the tranquil, mirror-like Lake Matheson.
Planning tip: The West Coast receives a lot of rainfall throughout the year. Unfortunately, helicopter tours are weather dependent, so if you’re planning on landing on a glacier, make sure to plan your itinerary well in advance to accommodate bad weather days.
6. Mackenzie Region
Perfect for stargazing
About a two-hour drive from Christchurch, the Mackenzie region is a tranquil spot with some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. The area is an International Dark Sky Reserve, meaning light pollution is kept to a minimum, so keep an eye on the weather forecast. On a clear night, head to the observatory to gaze at the stars through a telescope or just look up.
Mackenzie is also home to Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, a stone building that’s one of the most photographed in the country. The small nearby town of Twizel is a convenient base for exploring the region, with easy access to the lake and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, which has a variety of walking trails from short trails to full-day hikes.
Planning tip: Learn about the significance of the night sky to Maori by booking a Tatai Aroraki (Maori astronomy) tour with the Dark Sky Project. This tour is weather independent, so it’s perfect for a rainy day.
Rotorua is always buzzing with geothermal activity © Michelle Page / Getty Images
7. Rotorua
Great for geothermal activity and Maori cultural experiences
As the geothermal capital of New Zealand, Rotorua is the perfect place to see bubbling mud pools, geysers and steaming rivers, then end the day with a relaxing dip in a mud pool.
As well as offering cultural experiences, Rotorua is also famous for its geological wonders. Learn more about Maori culture and language by visiting traditional Maori marae (meeting houses). For example, at Te Puia Geothermal Park, you can watch local Maori carvers at work at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. This attraction is also home to the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. Nearby Whakarewarewa Forest (also known as the Redwoods) has great cycling and hiking trails and a treetop walk that is beautifully lit up at night.
8. Napier
Ideal for construction
Following a devastating earthquake in 1931, Napier was almost entirely rebuilt in the Art Deco style that was popular at the time. Today, Napier boasts the most extensive collection of Art Deco architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. Those wanting a taste of the Great Gatsby can immerse themselves in Napier’s history through guided walks, vintage car tours and the annual Art Deco Festival in February.
Detour: Spend a day or two visiting the charming village of Havelock North and Hawke’s Bay’s wineries, which produce award-winning Syrah, Chardonnay and red wines.
Paihia in the Bay of Islands is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. © Uwe Moser / Getty Images
9. Bay of Islands
Great place to learn about Maori history
With its shimmering waters and countless islets, the Bay of Islands is not only beautiful, but also important to New Zealand culture and history. The Waitangi Treaty Site is where the foundation documents were signed between Maori chiefs and British representatives, creating modern-day New Zealand.
Visit between November and March to experience traditional treaty performances and a hangi feast, cooked in the earth. After Waitangi, get out on the water on a waka (traditional canoe) tour, where local Maori guides share tales of their seafaring ancestors and sacred sites within the bay. In nearby Paihia, download the Ātea Nuku app for an augmented reality walking tour highlighting the town’s history.
Planning tip: Waitangi Day (6 February) is a public holiday when all buildings at the Treaty Grounds are closed and a huge festival takes place instead, where you can take part in dawn ceremonies, dine on food stalls and watch cultural performances.
This article was first published on June 28, 2021 and updated on October 9, 2023.
