13 Great Reasons to Visit New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. With its snow-capped mountains, ancient glaciers, rolling hills, and copious amounts of wine, it’s a destination unlike all others.

Tucked away in the corner of the world, it’s a country that requires some planning to visit. Flights here aren’t cheap, after all. Round-trip flights from the United States are almost always over $1,000 USD and the journey takes upwards of 23 hours.

And even when you arrive, the country itself is far from being budget-friendly.

Yet even with that in mind, it’s a destination I never get tired of visiting. New Zealand is worth every penny if you ask me.

While it has seen a boom in tourism in recent years, New Zealand is still the beautiful and pristine country I first visited many years ago.

Christchurch has recovered from its earthquakes and now a hip place to be; Wanaka is still offers incredible hiking; the glaciers were just as mind-blowing as ever; the forests still home to wonderful walks; and Kiwis just as fun and friendly as ever.

In short, if New Zealand isn’t on your travel list, it should be.

To help you plan your trip, here are my favorite places to visit and things to do in New Zealand that you shouldn’t miss:

1. Explore Abel Tasman National Park

Stepping into Abel Tasman on the South Island is in some ways like stepping into Thailand. The beautiful beaches and azure water feel like they belong in the tropics, not New Zealand. The hiking is beautiful, with giant ferns, huge, lush trees, and a temperate climate. It’s also home to the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk, a 60-kilometer (37-mile) hike that’s one of the Great Walks of New Zealand.

The park covers over 23,876 hectares (59,000 acres), and even though it’s the country’s smallest national park, there’s a ton to see here. If you want to explore the park beyond its hiking trails, rent a kayak. That way, you can visit the tiny coves and beaches that make the area so special. Full-day rentals start at around 110 NZD, or you can join a guided kayaking tour starting at 190 NZD. You can also take a scenic cruise around the park for 95 NZD.

The park is best as an overnight or multi-day trip as it’s too far from Nelson to really do it justice in a day trip.
 

2. Glacier Trekking on Fox and Franz Josef

Everyone visits Franz Josef for one reason: the glaciers. Hiking the glaciers here lives up to the hype and is an unforgettable experience. Because the glaciers have receded and are melting quickly due to climate change, the glacier caves and walks have been shut down.

Now, the only way to trek on the glaciers is via heli-hike (an epic half-day or full-day helicopter/hiking experience). These are expensive (tours start at 695 NZD), but the helicopter ride, trekking, and experience as a whole are worth the price in my opinion.

Conversely, you can go on a helicopter tour without the hiking (they last about thirty minutes and start at around 447 NZD) or just hike to the glacier face and take photos from a distance.

No matter what option you choose, pass through this area while you make your way down the South Island. You won’t regret it!
 

3. Do an Extreme Sport

Considered the best day hike in all of New Zealand, this 19-kilometer (12-mile) trek traverses epic landscape as it winds through Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage Site (designated for both its natural and cultural importance). One of the Great Walks of New Zealand, the path also takes you through where they filmed Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. It’s easy in parts (the beginning and end) and steep in others (especially the portion after “Mount Doom”) so you’ll get a good mix of difficulty levels.

However, even if you aren’t a strong hiker (and I am not), the Tongariro Crossing can be completed in a day (it usually takes between 6-8 hours). Trekking through this otherworldly, red-colored environment of volcanoes and sulfur was the highlight of my whole time in New Zealand.

Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, a hat, toilet paper, and a sweater or jacket (the weather can change rapidly). Expect to pay around 60 NZD per person for a round-trip shuttle to and from the trail (which you must reserve in advance) or 395 NZD for a full-day guided hike.
 

5. Learn About Maori culture

The Maori were the original inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving from Polynesia between 1320-1350. I’ve loved learning about their history and culture (especially after seeing the movie Whale Rider. It’s incredible. Watch it!). They are a friendly and proud people, and there wasn’t one Maori person I met who I didn’t love.

Rotorua is usually the best city to see Maori cultural shows, though there are other noteworthy sites around the country, including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Tane Mahuta in Bay of Islands and the Te Papa museum in Wellington.

Shows usually last around 2.5-3 hours and include a tour of a traditional village, performances, and a meal. Tickets range from 150-250 NZD (the Te Pa Tu Maori Cultural Experience in Rotorua the one I attended).

6. Don’t Miss Wellington

Everyone talks about Auckland (which, contrary to popular belief, is not the capital), but the real magic takes place in Wellington (which is the capital). The architecture, interesting murals, and eclectic vibe give this city a funky personality. Wellington is a city with character.

It has a popping nightlife, tons of art galleries, great food, fantastic cafés, a beautiful harbor (that is best seen from Mount Victoria, which overlooks the entire city), and is easily walkable.

Be sure to visit Te Papa (New Zealand’s national museum), ride the cable car to the Cable Car Museum, and tour Weta Workshop (an Academy Award–winning props and special effects studio).

7. Check Out the Glow Worms

Definitely one of the coolest things I did while in New Zealand, the Waitomo glow worm cave is hyped and touristy but still amazing. You walk or abseil (rapel) down into darkness and float down the (very cold) river while staring up at caverns covered in “lights.” It’s like looking at the stars — but (spoiler alert) they are actually gnats that glow due to a chemical reaction as they attract food.

I found the three-hour trip long enough, but if you like to abseil, you should consider the five-hour version. This experience is one of my most lasting memories of my trip.

Prices start at 79 NZD for a boat tour and 195 NZD for extended tours with abseiling. If you just want to walk around the caves and see the glowworms, tickets cost around 113 NZD.
 

8. Hang Out in Queenstown

Everyone hypes Queenstown. Everyone. And it lives up to the hype — and then some!

The city has such a feisty and outdoorsy energy to it. Even though it has become hugely popular and filled with people, I cannot express my love of Queenstown enough. It’s surrounded by beautiful peaks, has narrow streets and pedestrian lanes filled with shops and restaurants, a spectacular lake, tons of trails and parks, and Queenstown Hill watching over the city like a benevolent overlord.

This is one of the best spots in the country to do an extreme sport (bungy jumping, skydive, jet boating, etc.), take a wine tour, or just chill out on a nearby beach.
 

9. Visit Hobbiton

If you’re a Lord of the Rings junkie, New Zealand is a must. This is where they did all the filming, and throughout the country, you can take Lord of the Rings tours and visit Fangorn Forest, Gondor, and where Frodo destroys the one ring. Most of the sets have been taken down, but a bit of the Shire and some of the hobbit houses still remain on the North Island.

To see Hobbiton (located about two hours from Auckland or one hour from Rotorua), you’ll have to take a tour. The Classic Tour lasts around 2 hours and cost 120 NZD for adults. There are also several other experiential tours you can take here, including a Second Breakfast or Banquet Tour (both of which involve hobbit-inspired meals and drinks).
 

10. Explore Fiordland

Located in the southwesternmost part of New Zealand (and also home to numerous Lord of the Rings film locations), the Fiordland region is considered one of the country’s most scenic and remote. Filled with gigantic mountains, deep lakes, swelling rivers, untamed forests, and resplendent fjords, most of it has never been set upon by man. Save a few places where boats and planes can go, the government has made the land off-limits, ensuring that that will be the case for a long time to come.

This region is home to the majestic Milford and Doubtful Sounds, the Milford and Keppler Tracks, and lots of camping and hiking opportunities. If you want to experience New Zealand’s nature away from the crowds, come here. A boat cruise is the best way to see the fjords up close (they’re generally around 145 NZD).
 

11. Discover Stewart Island

Tiny, out-of-the-way Stewart Island lies off the South Island at the very, very bottom of New Zealand. It’s a place where Kiwis have their summer homes and go to escape the hustle and bustle of, well, I guess Auckland (there’s not too much hustle and bustle in New Zealand). The town has maybe a dozen buildings; the coastline dotted with private homes and boats.

Come here to see the wildlife or do some single-day or multiday treks. If you aren’t into hiking, you don’t need more than a day or two here, unless you really want some peace and quiet, in which case, stay forever.
 

12. Chill Out in Christchurch

Though severely damaged by earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 (over 185 people were killed and 3,000 buildings were damaged), Christchurch has rebounded and evolved into a brand-new city. This revived Christchurch has a newfound sense of hope and vibrancy, funky bars, more markets, new restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Locals are really using this chance to make a better Christchurch. It’s a brand new day for the city and I love where it is going.

If you’ll be there for a few days, be sure to check out the free Canterbury Museum, which has a detailed replica of the city during the Victorian era; and Quake City, an interactive museum dedicated to the 2010-11 earthquakes. Don’t miss riding the gondola into the nearby hills for a sweeping view of the city as well!
 

13. Drink Copious Amounts of Wine

New Zealand is famous for wine, producing some of the best whites the world has to offer. If you like wine, be sure to take a tour in Otago (a region located on the South Island, known for its pinot), Hawkes Bay (North Island, known for its Syrah and Chardonnay), or Marlborough (also located on the South Island, known for sauvignon blanc).

There are lots of biking trails around the wine regions as well, so you can drink and cycle around (which is better than drinking and driving!). It’s also much cheaper than paying for a guided tour (which costs around 190-240 NZD depending on the region and tour length). The Gibbston River Trail, an 11-kilometer (6.8-mile) walking and biking path near Queenstown crosses through a number of vineyards and is a fun way to explore and sample some of the area’s best vintages.

If it’s not clear from this list, I love New Zealand. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world and I never get tired of going back.

And, while these may be my 13 favorite things to see and do in New Zealand, this list only scratches the surface. There’s also the Bay of Islands and Raglan for surfing, the Coromandel and Dunedin for beer, Wanaka and Mt. Cook for hiking, Hammer Springs for hot springs, and, well, you get the idea. There’s a lot here. You’re never going to be bored, especially if you love the outdoors.

There’s a reason travelers never have anything bad to say about this country!

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