New Zealand Must-Do's

Whether you’re in the heart of the city or exploring the outskirts for a weekend, the Auckland region has a selection of excellent markets to visit. 

Cycling Auckland’s waterfront makes for a flat, entertaining and family-friendly ride. 

Paddling your own sea kayak across the Waitemata Harbour is a magical experience at any time of day, but how about upping the ante and doing it on dusk. 

In the Hauraki Gulf there are an abundance of intriguing, easily accessible islands to explore, right on Auckland City’s doorstep.

Immerse yourself in a heady mix of arts, artisanal markets, boutique vineyards, olive groves, beautiful beaches and endless rolling hills.

It has the signature surf, the scorching iron sand, but some of the main highlights at Te Henga are the vantage points to be had from the clifftop walkway. 

Feel a world away, retreat into lazy days and drift from vineyards to olive groves to beaches on Waiheke.

Summit the city's youngest, largest and most iconic volcano.

Visit Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary or Donut Island – a sacred spot with a hidden lagoon just off the coast of Whangamatā. 

One of the easiest Great Rides, the Hauraki Rail Trail, is a gentle cycle through New Zealand’s gold mining history. 

A whole lot of Kiwi ‘number 8 wire’ thinking has gone into creating The Waterworks in Coromandel. 

Walk through native nīkau and pōhutukawa forest to idyllic, sandy seclusion on the Coromandel Coast.

Zig zag through lush native bush on New Zealand's only narrow-gauge railway.

A beach that you can only get to by foot or by sea is a little bit special. Cathedral Cove is one of those beaches. 

It's a pretty big achievement to be rated the best bit of 14,000km of coastline, but Ōhope managed to take the crown. 

Savour the view from the summit or revel in the glorious beaches around the base track of this sacred maunga.

Set in the heart of South Waikato, the Blue Spring is a source of water so clear and pure it supplies around 60% of New Zealand’s bottled water.  

Slow down and enjoy the ancient rituals of a tea ceremony at Zealong Tea Estate in Waikato. 

Catch gentle waves at Ngārunui Beach or ride the long, glassy left-hand breaks that make this spot the surfing mecca it is.

Soak in naturally heated mineral pools while you look out over the lake, take a twilight mud bath, or bathe under a waterfall in a natural hot spring.

Despite its destructive history, Mount Tarawera today is a sleeping giant.

Take a walk through Rotorua’s Waimangu Volcanic Valley and learn about how the world began.

Whether you’re clipped to a zipline, bouncing across a swing bridge or strolling along a 50-metre-high walkway, you’ll get a whole new perspective on native bush in Rotorua. 

Feel the raw energy and explosive power of the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere at Te Whakarewarewa, a living thermal Māori village.

The Whakarewarewa Forest, aka ‘The Redwoods,’ is 5500 hectares of magnificent native and exotic trees on the outskirts of Rotorua City.  

Breathe in the fresh woody air of Whakarewarewa Forest as you explore the biking, walking or horse-riding trails or traverse the canopy of these mighty Californian coastal redwood trees.

Experience a remarkably diverse geothermal amphitheatre thousands of years in the making.

Reach the enigmatic Bridge to Nowhere via the Kaiwhakauka Track or navigating the Whanganui River to the Mangapūrua Landing.

Walk through this World Heritage Area of volcanic giants, sheer beauty and alpine lakes to make memories you will treasure forever.

Take an easy ride along a historic road that winds through native forest in Ruapehu.

Ride through ancient podocarp forest, over some of New Zealand's longest and highest suspension bridges and along an old bush tramway following the hard-fought footsteps of early loggers.

Venture off the beaten track in northern Manawatū to discover the soaring caves at Limestone Creek Reserve.

While now closed to vehicles, the Manawatū Gorge is busy with birdlife, bikers and people enjoying the native bush. 

Take a botanical trip around the world at Paloma Gardens in Whanganui. 

The river – Te Awa o Whanganui – forms the heart and history of Whanganui. 

Celebrate Modernist filmmaker, sculptor, painter and poet Len Lye in this striking single-artist gallery in New Plymouth's art and cultural precinct.

Generations of adventurous surfers have made the pilgrimage along Taranaki’s coastline in search of the perfect wave. Take their lead this summer on Surf Highway 45. 

Egmont National Park with its iconic cone of Mount Taranaki is home to hundreds of kilometres of walking and tramping tracks, from gentle day walks to more challenging tramps. 

It’s rugged, rural and remote, but despite its name, you’ll definitely remember the Forgotten World Highway. 

The Coastal Walkway is a 12km journey to add to your own journey, a promenade par excellence that hugs the sea and grabs your senses all way along the New Plymouth coastline.

In the Goblin Forest, twisted kāmahi trunks lead the way through one of New Zealand's most epic, lush and fantastical natural spaces.

Set on suburban Bluff Hill, Napier Prison housed dangerous and violent criminals for more than 150 years. 

The oldest wine region in New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay is rightly renowned for its tantalising tipples. 

On a clear day you can see the whole of Hawke’s Bay from the top of Te Mata Peak. That alone is worth the climb. 

Traverse beautiful coastline, riverbeds, rolling pastures and native bush before taking in panoramic views and experiencing the exhilarating sight and sound of 20,000 gannets.

There’s something a bit special about watching the sunrise. It’s even more special if you’re one of the first people in the world to see it. 

At Tatapōuri, just 10 minutes north of Gisborne, you can get up close with the children of Tangaroa, the Māori god of the sea.

Lake Waikaremoana is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, set in the heart of Te Urewera, the largest area of untouched bush in the North Island. 

Lap up over 300 kilometres of pure road trip paradise from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne. 

Enjoy the 70-kilometre rite of passage for any Kiwi through the Roaring Forties and one of the world’s most unpredictable stretches of water to the spectacular beauty of the Marlborough Sounds.

Set on the outskirts of the Marlborough Sounds, Ship Cove Meretoto was a favourite anchorage of Captain James Cook and remains popular with boaties today. 

Originally established by a small group of passionate aviation enthusiasts, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in Blenheim has grown to become a site of national significance.

While the Marlborough Sounds are spoilt for scenic spots and great views, one of the best and most accessible viewpoints is at the top of the Tirohanga Track in Picton.

Explore this enchanted, rocky gorge, an easy drive between Blenheim and Nelson, with its crystal clear river and towering, ancient forests. 

Walk or bike between Queen Charlotte and Keneperu sounds in this slice of paradise. 

Anapai Bay is one of the loveliest spots in the Abel Tasman National Park – an area of New Zealand that’s already over-endowed with lovely spots. 

Enjoy easy cycling with enough dining and drinking options to satisfy the most fervent foodie on Tasman’s Great Taste Trail.

While on a map it may look like it lies somewhere in the middle of the Cook Strait, the geographical centre of New Zealand is actually a hilltop just outside Nelson City. 

Base yourself under canvas in a pristine paradise of golden beaches, alpine valleys, tranquil rivers and ocean as far as the eye can see. 

You may well not be aware of it, but we all own this beach. Well, kinda.

There is near-optically pure water at the sacred ‘Place of the Dancing Sands', the largest freshwater springs in the southern hemisphere.

In Christchurch, you can see some of the world’s most impressive wildlife, just 15 minutes’ drive from the airport. 

Imagine summiting a steep hill set in an idyllic mountain landscape, in fresh air and sunshine, all without breaking a sweat. 

There are no prizes for picking the best spot in New Zealand to enjoy a seafood delicacy. The name of the place gives it away, really. Kai means ‘food’ in Māori. Kōura is crayfish.

There is no better place in New Zealand to see stars than in the heart of the Mackenzie district, where the clarity of the constellations will take your breath away. 

Kite-flying, dog-walking, swimming, or snoozing in the sunshine, Christchurch’s Sumner Beach offers everything you need for a summer’s day out. 

Linking the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean, the aptly named Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail also takes in some of the most picturesque landscapes of the South Island. 

At the top of a hill in Akaroa, you’ll find a striking candy-coloured house with the kind of garden that dreams are made of. 

Soothe the soul in world-class thermal pools nestled in a high-country spa village flanked by towering mountains.

As far as window seats go, they don’t get much better than on the TranzAlpine, where the term ‘picture window’ takes on a whole new meaning. 

The Hikurangi Trench off the coast of Kaikōura is home to a wealth of deep-sea marine life, including orca, blue and humpback whales. 

Not much has changed in the view from the Hermitage from the day it was opened in 1884. Jagged, snowy peaks in every direction and the fast-flowing Hooker River outside the front door.

Explore snowy mountainscapes, turquoise glacier-fed lakes and the snow tussock grassland of alpine valleys in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

See the rare but spectacular Aurora Australis from the 4300-square-kilometre UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

Visit this iconic church set above the shoreline and stunning views of Lake Tekapō.

This isn’t a couple of cute billboard-type pieces put up in obvious places. This is a thing.  

The Grand Traverse is a stunning scenic flight that explores the Aoraki Mt Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national park, covering about 200km of unforgettable scenery.

This is the place where sheltered harbour, French heritage, colonial architecture and a passion for fine food fuse perfectly together.

With a combination of lavish Victorian architecture and the tragic stories of its founders, Larnach Castle is rich in history.

The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark is a story 35 million years in the making.

A historic lighthouse on a rocky peninsula surrounded by the wild Pacific Ocean: it doesn’t get much more iconic than Nugget Point.

Designed by a London architect and built in 1904 – Dunedin's Olveston House is really something special. 

Slightly eccentric, Ōamaru is one of those not-as-it-first-seems places. The surprises are all good ones, though!

Make the most of the photo op with these huge, marble-like boulders strewn along windswept Koekohe Beach.

The home of adventure sport in New Zealand, Queenstown is also the international birthplace of bungy jumping.

Scale a 450 metre-high waterfall and stay dry in Wanaka. 

At the northern head of Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy is the launchpad for some of New Zealand’s best multi-day tramps and Great Walks.

There’s something about spending time next to a lake that’s good for your soul. In Wānaka, the lake is so picturesque you may never want to leave.

Roys Peak in Wānaka is instantly recognisable for its spectacular views. 

Cruise Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown aboard the elegant ‘Lady of the Lake’, the last remaining coal-fired steamship operating in the southern hemisphere.

Pay homage at the home of contemporary, commercial bungy by strapping on a bungy cord and throwing yourself into the ether. 

It's one of the country’s most famous walks so, let’s get the house- (or hut-) keeping out of the way first: you’ll need to book in the heavy season.

The drive to the start of the Roby Roy Glacier Track is almost as energy-sapping as the walk to the top of the glacier. But it's worth it to experience one of the region’s most stunning walks.

Queenstown Hill, just out of town, is more than worth a peek, and you can make its peak in an hour if you get a wriggle on.

Autumn. That’s the time to visit. Much of this part of the South Island takes on a splendid glow at that time of year. None more so than Arrowtown which is, frankly, already right off the cutesy scale as it is. 

Enjoy forty-five minutes of emerald lake water and bush-clad hills, against a backdrop of snow-touched mountains as you drive from bustling Queenstown to picturesque Glenorchy – via Paradise. 

At Punakāiki, walk into an ancient world of pancake-shaped rock formations 30 million years in the making, along with mighty blowholes and a terrific surge pool. 

The southern corner of the South Island’s West Coast is home to landscapes so wild and spectacular, it has been recognised by UNESCO as an area of international significance. 

Explore the lagoon and river channels by kayak and journey through this divine wetland wilderness into the heart of the rainforest.

Discover pristine rainforest, limestone caves with cathedral-like passages and magnificent, magical arches at the Ōpārara Basin in Kahurangi National Park.

Visit the deep, meandering canyon where you can zipline, raft whitewater rapids, jump on a jet boat or experience our longest swingbridge spanning the mighty Buller River.

Take a detour back in time to Denniston, a near-deserted mining town on a bleak, windswept 600-metre plateau, home to the infamous 45-degree Denniston Incline.

Even visiting the vast swathes of ice that make up Franz and Fox Glaciers in peak summer, you’ll need your puffer jacket. 

Lake Matheson is a photographer’s dream, where the waters reflect a near-perfect image of snow-capped Aoraki Mount Cook.

Drive the length of the South Island, skirting the West Coast and traversing through the Southern Alps, and experience bountiful roadtripping at its very best.

Milford Sound is the best-known and most accessible of all the fiords in Fiordland National Park.

If you want to take in Fiordland’s wilderness, vastness and beauty without being drenched in that seemingly perpetual rain, take the Piopiotahi Highway.

Ōreti Beach runs for 26 kilometres along the southern coast of the South Island. 

The Southern Scenic Route is a drive of unparalleled beauty and an almost contradictory mix of dense woodlands and wild, open southern coast.