MY TOP 10:

Best things to do and see in New Zealand

New Zealand is a place of pure wonder where you will never run out of things to do and see. But of course, knowing what are the best things to do and see in New Zealand can be challenging if it’s your first time visiting. You will probably also be limited in time, which makes it even harder to narrow down the many exciting adventures and opportunities.

I have spent a considerable time in New Zealand, travelling both the North and South Island. This has given me quite an overview of what the country has to offer and what I find are the must-see things to do in New Zealand. Of course, these activities will always vary from person to person depending on what you like, but hopefully sharing my thought as can provide you with a bit of inspiration.

An important factor to consider is your route. You need to consider how much time you have on either the North or the South Island to plan for your activities accordingly. Figuring out what not to miss when visiting New Zealand is highly depending on where you’ll be going. The stretches between places to see on the North island to the South island can be quite far, and this is why you need to make some clear choices and priorities.

However, this should of course not stop you from trying to explore as much as possible when you’re going to New Zealand. So without too much more yapping, here are my top 10 things to do and see in New Zealand.

Roy’s Peak is located on the South island of New Zealand close to Queenstown in Wānaka. It is one of those hikes where the effort really pays off. The climb is tough, but you’re rewarded with incredible views over Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains. If you are extra hard-core, you start your hike early in the morning to get a sunset view like you’ve never seen before.

Since Roy’s Peak is located near Queenstown, which is one of the big hubs for travelers on the South island, it is also very accessible. You can fly directly into Queenstown airport from Auckland or any of the other bigger cities. From there you simply rent a car or book transport to Wānaka from where you can access the hiking route directly. Easy to get to and incredibly rewarding, making Roy’s Peak one of my must-see thing to do in New Zealand.

Milford sounds can be found in the fiordlands of the South island in New Zealand. It is another location with breathtaking views that will remind you why taking the long journey to New Zealand was definitely worth it. The fiord is surrounded by towering mountains and waterfalls creating a dramatic scenery unlike any other.

However, unlike Roy’s Peak, getting to Milford Sounds is not quite as easy. Though you can drive all the way to the fiords from Queenstown, it will take you at least 4 hours. With that said, there are plenty of options to get there, even if you don’t have your own rental car. There are a lot of tours available that can take you back and forth. If you’re not keen on the long drive, you can opt for a scenic flight which will take you over the mountains and directly to the fiord. An experience I definitely recommend if you want to get the most out of the views.

When you get to Milford Sounds you can go on a boat tour that takes you out in the fiord. Here you get the chance to see all of the stunning waterfalls close up and enjoy the views from the water. There are several boat tours to choose from that run several times a day, so they should be easy enough to catch.

Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook go hand in hand. Located very close to each other and not to far from Queenstown, you can get the iconic view of Mount Cook while visiting Lake Tekapo in the same day. You have probably already seen lots of photos of these spots on Instagram, and will surely capture some yourself – as you should. It is for sure an area you should not miss when visiting New Zealand.

Being nearby Queenstown and Wanaka, it is also a very accessible activity that can easily fit in with your route when traveling the South island. And if you visit during early summer, you even get to see the flowering of the colorful lupins surrounding the lake.

This activity is one of my all time favorite experiences in New Zealand. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, as I had not heard much about dolphin swimming in New Zealand from other travelers. But, swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura turned out to be one of the most beautiful and rewarding experiences, not just in New Zealand, but in my whole life. You can of course also choose to stay on the boat and watch the dolphins, if you’re not much for getting into the water.

The tours offered in Kaikoura are very animal friendly and environmentally responsible, which is why I ended up agreeing to do it. They were incredibly professional and knowledgeable and made it clear that this was not a “dolphin chasing”. But what is so great about the dolphins in Kaikoura is that they are very curious and will come straight to the boat and play around. You are instructed on how to go in the water and how to make the proper “dolphin calls” for them to find you. And so they did. I was surrounded by dolphins swimming around me and trying to play in the water. It was truly magical. If you’re a fellow animal and water lover, I cannot recommend this tour enough.

One of the more unique experiences to New Zealand are the glowworm caves. However, what you see in the caves aren’t actually worms at all. They’re the larvae of a tiny fungus that produce a light to attract their prey. In dark caves, hundreds of them can cover the ceiling, creating what looks like a star-filled night sky underground.

The most famous place to experience these shiny wonders is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves on the North Island, where you can glide by boat through the darkness beneath the glowing cave ceiling. However, you can find the glowworm caves throughout New Zealand, though mostly known from areas on the North island.

When you’re visiting New Zealand you will most likely be doing a lot of hiking and wandering in nature. Though enjoyable, it can also be very tiring. Luckily there is the perfect solution for nice and relaxing break for when you need to recover from all the hiking: the hot springs.

Sitting directly between two tectonic plates, New Zealand is one of the most geologically active areas in the world with a range of volcanos and geothermal areas. These conditions are parts of creating the many hot springs that allow us to enjoy a completely natural spa like experience.

You can especially find a log of hot springs in the areas around Rotorua and Lake Taupo, where the steaming landscapes are a part of the scenery.

As many people visiting New Zealand, I am also a big Lord of the Rings fan. Therefore I can of course not make a list of the 10 must-see things to do in New Zealand without including Hobbiton.

Hobbiton is located on the North Island only a a couple of hours away from Auckland. Is is everything you imagine it to be. The charming hobbit houses scattered across green hills. It is like being thrown directly in to the best parts of the movies where everything feels calm and safe.

There are of course also options for going to the filming locations of Mordor and other Lord of the Rings filming sets, but personally, I prefer the cute hobbit homes any day. Be aware that Hobbiton tickets sell out very quickly, especially if you’re travelling during high season.

Coromandel is the perfect place to go if you are looking for beautiful beaches and a more relaxed side of New Zealand. The peninsula is full of stunning coastline, green hills and small seaside towns that make the drive itself part of the experience. One of the highlights is Cathedral Cove, with its impressive rock formations and clear blue water. But Coromandel is also a great place to simply slow down, find a quiet beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.

Eat all the pies

Though food might now be your primary reason for going to New Zealand, I am a huge foodie at heart and cannot make a list of what to do in New Zealand, without including what to eat.

If there is one food you must try in New Zealand it is of course the pies. New Zealand is known for it’s delicious meat filled pies with a flaky buttery crust. You can get a wide range of flavors. Whether you want to go for classic mince and cheese pie, chicken pot pie, or even a vegetarian version, there is a pie for you.

Luckily the pies are so widespread in New Zealand food culture that you can find it anywhere you go, whether you are on the North or South Island. Simply look for a bakery or a bake shop and you can find and grab a pie to go as a quick snack or meal.

Thanks for reading!

Thank you for taking some time to read this post, I sincerely hope you can take some inspiration from it when you plan your upcoming travels to New Zealand. If you need anymore tips on the best things to do in the New Zealand, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Want to know more about what not to miss in New Zealand? Check out my other posts:

Top 5 foods to try when visiting New Zealand

Top 5 places to visit in New Zealand’s North Island