New Zealand might be a small country, but it’s got an infectious sense of adventure and the walking trails to boot. From Auckland in the north to Fiordland on the southern tip, it’s a wonderfully windswept wilderness that's made accessible for travellers who love the great outdoors. Safe, friendly, and stunning from head to toe, New Zealand should be top of everyone’s travel wishlist, regardless of whether they’re Frodo fans. Whether you go whale-watching in Kaikoura, hiking in national parks, or glacier-climbing in Franz Josef, there are plenty of hobbit-free adventures to be had in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Here are the best things to do in New Zealand.
Take a hike
New Zealand is a paradise for hikers. Everywhere you tread, you’ll find breathtaking beauty. Some walking trails known as the Great Walks are so popular that they require pre-booking. Among the most exclusive is the Milford Track, a 53km (33 mi) route that rambles past beech forest, swimming holes, ice fields, waterfalls, and canyons. If you’re on the North Island and want to stretch your legs, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the best one-day hikes in the world. It’s a 21km (13 mi) trek across volcanic desert and past emerald-coloured lakes. It’s the perfect difficulty level — not a walk in the park but not too gruelling either. Much of New Zealand’s wilderness is dotted with shelters and campsites for multi-day adventures.
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Spot some-fin in Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a popular vacation destination for multi-ton marine tourists: humpback, pilot, and southern right whales. These sea giants flock to Kaikoura's coastal waters every winter. Throughout the year, you might also see orcas, sperm whales, dolphins, and kekeno (New Zealand fur seals).
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Get under the skin of Maori culture
You won’t be surprised to hear that Maori culture is so much more than the haka (the war dance that New Zealand rugby teams perform pre-match). In Rotorua, you can witness other traditional ceremonies and join a hangi, a traditional Maori feast cooked in the ground. You might also want to visit Waipoua Forest, home to Tāne Mahuta, the largest living tree in New Zealand that's roughly 2,000 years old and still growing. The "Lord of the Forest" holds a special significance in the Maori creation story. Many museums in New Zealand, including those in Auckland and Wellington, feature exhibits dedicated to Maori heritage. Te Kōngahu Museum of Waitangi explores how the signing of New Zealand’s founding document affected the lives of Maori and the people today.
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Stock up on adrenaline in Queenstown
Queenstown is New Zealand’s leading adrenaline dispensary. Whether you want to bomb down a snowy slope or catapult yourself off a bridge, this resort town in Otago is the place for adventure seekers. The bungee jump was invented in New Zealand, so it would be rude not to give it a go. If you prefer slip and slides, Queenstown is also home to the best whitewater rafting and skiing in the country. Shotover and Kawarau Rivers offer foamy fun all year round, and the ski slopes open in winter. Head to the Remarkables for a range of graded runs and a legendary off-piste freeride zone. If you can’t get your fill of thrills in Queenstown, then you need to get your adrenal glands checked!
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Chill out at New Zealand’s beaches
With almost 15,000km (9,300 mi) of coastline, New Zealand is a sandy wonderland for beach bods. It has quiet types, like the secluded New Chums Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, covered in beautiful scarlet blooms around Christmas. Other New Zealand beaches are refreshingly open, like 90-Mile Beach on the North Island, backed by vast dunes. Some are spiritual, such as Wainui (meaning "big water" in Maori), where you can mingle with the local ocean lovers over plant-based smoothies. You’ll find plenty of wavy wilderness for surfing and serene spots for swimming or paddleboarding — think of your perfect beach and New Zealand probably designed it.
Experience it for yourself on: New Zealand: South Island Encompassed
See New Zealand’s wildlife
We know what you’re thinking — kiwis, right? These cute little flightless fluff balls are the national symbol of New Zealand and are worth seeing up close if you get a chance. Unlike other birds, they won’t fly away when they see you. Other native birdlife includes the kea, the world’s only alpine parrot, the kakapo, a nocturnal parrot that can’t fly or see very well, and the Fiordland crested penguin, one of the rarest of the black and white rock hoppers. The waters around Akaroa are also home to the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, Hector’s dolphin. Time it right and you could be swimming with these underwater acrobats. On the other end of the cuteness spectrum, New Zealand is also known for its glowworms. Take a boat ride through the Waitomo Caves and you’ll see the walls come alive through thousands of these tiny luminescent creatures.
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Walk on Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef Glacier is a speed demon, moving up to 2m (6.5 ft) a day — the fastest glacier in the world. In Maori, Franz Josef Glacier is called Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere, or "Tears of the Avalanche Girl." Legend has it that Hine Hukatere was left broken-hearted when her lover was swept from the cliffs in an avalanche. She cried, and her tears froze into the glaciers.
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Kayak in quiet Doubtful Sound
Named Patea in Maori, Doubtful Sound translates as "place of silence." If you visit, you’ll see why. It’s the deepest of the South Island’s fiords, a place for contemplation and camera clicks. Kayaking around this silent sound is the best way to appreciate one of the quietest corners of Fiordland. If you’re lucky, you might share the waters with bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and penguins.
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Tickle your taste buds in Auckland
Auckland is consistently named as one of the world’s most livable cities. The City of Sails is a dynamic and diverse destination with good food, good beaches, and good people. Framed by two happening harbours and built on the remnants of ancient volcanoes, it’s a lava-ly setting. Visit on market day for a buffet of Pacific and Asian cuisine. Given how much food you’re going to want to buy, it could be renamed the City of Sales!
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Get cultured in Wellington
Walkable Wellington is a cozy and coffee-centric capital city. It has more eateries and bars per capita than New York, with plenty of award-winning foodie faves on Cuba Street. It also boasts the second most breweries per capita in the world and is proud to be the craft beer capital of New Zealand. For a more history-focused experience, Te Papa is the city’s national museum, loosely translating as "treasure box." Collections cover the nation’s history, a herbarium full of moss, and the world’s largest specimen of squid.
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Walk the glaciers of Aoraki
If you like your national parks with glaciers, then Aoraki (Mt Cook) National Park should be top of your to-do list. Almost half of the park is covered in ice and snow. Despite being home to New Zealand’s highest mountains and largest glaciers, it’s still explorable. The Hooker Valley Track is a popular one-day loop with stunning views of Aoraki. For those looking for a more challenging hike, the Mueller Hut Route is a breathtaking climb. If you’re lucky enough to get a bed in the hut, you’ll be sleeping in a dark sky reserve. Look up and you can see every detail of the Milky Way as if the stars are putting on a show just for you.
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Walk in paradise at Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman National Park is the tiniest in New Zealand, but it has golden-sand beaches, bird-filled forests, and well-kept walking tracks. The coastal trail is one of the Great Walks and takes about five days to complete. You can camp on the beach for stunning sunsets and sunrises. Even better, rent a sea kayak and paddle offshore to soak in the tranquility of this coastal paradise.
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Cruise through Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a mighty sight that's best experienced up close. Explore Fiordland’s poster child by kayak to appreciate the scale of the sky-high waterfalls and pine-covered cliffs. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the rare Fiordland penguin. Even the rain won’t put a damper on things; it actually makes the experience all the more misty and magical.
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Cycle in New Zealand
If only your morning commute looked as pretty as the cycling routes in New Zealand. The pick of the bunch has to be the Otago Central Rail Trail, which follows a disused train track through rugged backcountry. It takes about six days to complete, unless you rent an e-bike, but slow is the way to go if you want to soak up the southern hospitality. Sip on pinot noir and enjoy farm-to-table food at the wineries, take in the heritage streetscapes of old mining towns, and enjoy a refreshing beer in the region’s historic pubs.
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