With the launch of KAYAK New Zealand, we have Kiwis on the brain. So we had our own KAYAK Kiwis come up with 14 places in New Zealand you can’t miss. Whether you’re planning a trip there or have it on your bucket list, you can be confident you’re seeing the best of what NZ has to offer in these spots.
1. Milford Sound
Located within Fiordland National Park, the views from Milford Sound are what travelling to New Zealand is all about. Writer Rudyard Kipling (The Jungle Book) called it “the Eighth Wonder of the World.” Take a boat tour or head out onto the waters with a kayak tour, so you can experience the fjord’s natural beauty and wildlife.
2. Waiheke Island
Waiheke is just a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland Harbor. The island is covered in incredible vineyards, most of which offer wine tastings, world-class cafes or restaurants, and sometimes even a place to stay the night. You can also walk the olive groves or browse the arts and crafts stores scattered across the island. And being surrounded by the ocean and white-sand beaches makes this spot perfect for full-on relaxation.
3. Hobbiton
We all know about this, but we still need to mention it. With the LOTR & Hobbit trilogies filmed on the island, New Zealand draws hopeful wizards hoping to visit the shire. For the complete Middle Earth experience, head to the Hobbiton™ Movie Set and book a tour.
4. Franz Josef Glacier
At 7.5 miles long the Franz Josef Glacier is a massive stretch of ice that you really want to get on. we recommend you book yourself a tour, especially as, due to an unstable ice face, the glacier can only be reached by helicopter. Just be aware that visiting the glacier isn’t cheap (see aforementioned helicopter ride) — though it certainly is worth it.
5. Wai-O-Tapu
Heading to the city of Rotorua is a must for both geology-enthusiasts and “I-guess-rocks-are-cool” people. Famed for its geothermal activity, you can visit geysers, bubbling pools of mud, get very well acquainted with what sulphur smells like (the answer is “eggish”), and even take a dip in steaming hot springs. But for the must-see factor, go to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (Māori for “Sacred Water”). Featuring incredible natural phenomena like the Lady Knox Geyser and a colorful landscape in Geothermal Park, it makes you feel like you’ve landed on another planet.
6. Moeraki Boulders
Koekohe beach, on Otago’s coast, is home to the mysterious spherical stones known as the Moeraki Boulders. These formations each weigh several tons and can be up to two metres in height. Scientists explain them as calcite constructions formed on the ocean floor 65 million years ago, but Maori legend believes them to be the remains of gourds washed ashore and turned to stone from the great canoe Āraiteuru that brought the ancestors of the Ngāi Tahu people to New Zealand.
KAYAK Insider Tip: As the boulders are east facing, head to Koekohe beach at sunrise for the best photo opps.
7. Bay of Islands
Located north of Auckland, the Bay of Islands is an enclave consisting of more than 140 subtropical islands and charming towns. You can visit excellent cafes, restaurants and see colonial architecture. But it’s all about the sea, here. Encounter dolphins in their natural habitat? Check. Take a dive in a world-renowned dive site? Check. Go sea kayaking? Check. Head out onto the open water for some deep sea fishing? Yeah, check that too.
8. Gisborne, Mount Hikurangi and the East Cape – The First Sunrise of Every Day
Tourists often skip the East Cape of New Zealand, but that’s definitely a mistake. The coastline is pocketed with hidden bays, waterfalls and surf beaches. And the region is steeped in Maori culture and tradition. On top of that, Gisborne is nicknamed the “Chardonnay Capital” due to area’s great wine-growing conditions. Geographically, there is something extra special about the East Cape though, as its the first place in the world where the sun rises (during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer), specifically at the peak of Mount Hikurangi.
KAYAK Insider Tip: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Gisborne and greet the rays of the new year’s first sun from the top of Mount Hikurangi.
9. Tongariro Crossing
One of the best day hikes is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the Tongariro National Park. This 8-hour walk will have you crossing lava fields, hiking an active crater, skirting the shores of the Emerald Lakes (whose color comes from thermal minerals in the water) and descending into lush green forest. A truly unparalleled hike, be sure to bring the proper gear as weather conditions can change very quickly. Also, be sure to organize drop-off and pick-up transportation.
10. Glenorchy
Getting outdoors is a way of life for Kiwis. And Glenorchy, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, is certainly a far cry from the bustle that is nearby Queenstown. Experience some of the best horse riding and hiking trails in the south. Lake Wakatipu opens into Dart River and you can jet-boat, kayak or (again) horseride into the untouched beauty that is Mount Aspiring National Park.
11. Abel Tasman National Park
A nature and marine reserve, found at the north end of the South Island, Abel Tasman National Park is like a storybook scene. The deep green of the treeline is sporadically broken by golden sands and clear, blue water. Geological formations, like Split Apple Rock or the Ngarua Caves, enhance the beauty of the shoreline.
12. The Coromandel
You’re in your own private hot tub, yards away from the edge of the Pacific Ocean. Sound like paradise? Well, that’s Hot Water Beach. For two hours on each side of low tide, the area of the beach that has natural hot mineral water under its surface is exposed. Head towards the rocks at the southern end of the beach and dig your own spa pool. But there’s more to see in Coromandel. Its mountains and rainforests make for incredible hiking opportunities and New Chums Beach or Cathedral Cove will give you that New Zealand uniqueness you’re seeking.
13. Lake Tekapo
Found in the Mackenzie Basin in Canterbury, the town looks out across the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo towards the Southern Alps. In winter, you have two ski slopes close by and a skating rink overlooked by the natural Tekapo Hot Springs. In summer, the fields are full of purple Lupin flowers and make for perfect hiking opportunities. Lake Tekapo is part of the UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, making for intense (and incredible) stargazing. You can watch the skies from the hot springs, take a tour, or just find yourself a quiet spot on the lakefront and look up.
14. Waitakere Beaches
The Waitakere Ranges National Park spreads over 40,000 acres of native bush and coastline, and is a wonderful example of New Zealand rainforest. You can go hiking here (there’s a 4-day trail if you’re after total immersion), or take the Rainforest Express — a railway that’s perfect for kids and takes you into the heart of the bush. But for many, the real magic of Waitakere is its beaches. Each of the region’s beaches is wild and unique in its own way. Here are some of our favorites:
- Piha Beach is an amazing surf beach, features the stunning Lion Rock, and is probably the most accessible. It also has a great cafe at which you can enjoy a drink and a bite.
- Karekare is the epitome of a rugged and wild New Zealand beach. While the black sands and crash of the surf can be imposing, its got quieter spots like nearby forest glades and two waterfalls that cascade into lagoons.
- Anawhata Beach is only accessible by foot meaning it’s quieter than other beaches.
- Te Henga/Bethells Beach is as beautiful as its counterparts but has two sies — you can try out the wild waters of the west coast or the placid waters of Lake Wainamu, found just behind the dunes.
- Murawai is unkempt and untamed. Head to Otakamiro Point at the southern end of the beach to see the gannet colony.
New Zealand’s wildness can be a bit intimidating, but completely worth the trip. Looking for the right flight to get there? We’ve got your back.
