New Zealand is a small place that is only 1000 miles long and 280 miles across its width and it is home to less than 5 million people. However, this narrow, long country comprise of a wide variety of things that you can see and do.
Travelers can easily ski on the snow-capped hills and bask under the warmth of sub-tropical beaches and also discover its British heritage. No matter what kind of travel experiences you wish to enjoy, you’re certainly going to find it in New Zealand.
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions In New Zealand
If you’re thinking of visiting New Zealand for your next vacation, here is a list of the 15 best places that you can visit in this place.
Rotorua
In the central North Island, Rotorua is popular for the geothermal features and for its Maori culture. Travelers who are running short of time can visit this place as a day trip from Auckland.
This is a convenient stop while you travel through the North Island. Orakei Korako gives you good options for boiling geysers, bubbling mud pools and colorful rock formations.
Waitangi
Waitangi is definitely one of the most significant places that you can find in the modern history of New Zealand.
In 1840, Maori chiefs signed a treaty with the British Crown, the Treaty of Waitangi, which was a founding document that gave sovereignty of New Zealand to the British Rule. If you want a crash course on the history of this country, you should visit Waitangi.
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
If you’re an avid nature lover or a hiker or a mountaineer, head to the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park to gaze at the mountain ranges, remarkable rocky cliffs and the glaciers.
This National Park is a part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage area and is home to Aoraki or Mount Cook, the tallest mountain of NZ.
Piha Beach
Among the landscape photographers, surfers and holidaying Aucklanders, Piha Beach is extremely popular. This beach has got something for almost everyone. It dons a rugged appearance due to its black sand and this is highly appealing to the tourists. The Lion Rock, a volcanic monolith is a favorite spot for the shutterbugs.
Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga lies right at the top of the North Island although it doesn’t lie at the northern most tip of New Zealand.
Maori legend relates to us that Cape Reinga is a place where the spirits depart from earth and move towards their homeland of Hawaiki. When you walk through the Cape Reinga, you get some of the spectacular views of the coastlines.
Lake Tekapo
If you visit this lake during the day, it dazzle with bright blue glacial waters. During night, it becomes heavenly for stargazing along with its township, the stunning lake and the Mount John observatory that lies nearby.
During spring, a must-watch sight is how the lupins that colour the roadside to form a carpet of pink and purple hues.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a secluded and separated fiord in Fiordland National Park that welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Majority of these visitors come from Te Anau or from Queensland to spend an entire day cruising through the clear waters and spending time in admiring the scenic beauty of this place.
If you’re someone more adventurous, you can explore the Milford Track, one of the most sought-after hiking routes of New Zealand.
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula happens to be a favorite for summer holidays among the New Zealanders. There is a collection of campsites, coastal towns, fishing locations, surf spots and several other memorable spots to visit.
You can also visit few of the beautiful gems like Hotel Water Beach and Cathedral Cove as they offer you the best bonus attractions.
Mount Taranaki
This is known as Mount Egmont and Mount Taranaki is a quiet stratovolcano on the western coast of the North Island. This is of symmetrical shape and it gives a strong resemblance to Mount Fuji of Japan.
Mount Taranaki serves as the backdrop for one of the popular mountains in Tom Cruise film, The Last Samurai (2003). The hiking tracks through Egmont National Park offer you easy access to this great summit.
Hokitika Gorge
Hokitika gorge is located at the west coast of the Southern Island and this is one of the most amazing places that look great in pictures. This is a walking track of 33km outside the town with the same name.
It brings to you shimmering and dazzling turquoise blue waters and dense forests. When you reach the viewing platform, you get to view the stunning swing bridge. This is the ultimate spot for photography.
Wanaka
The Wanaka is famous for small-town friendliness and its alpine features and incredible lakes. Wanaka has become a much-loved getaway for all those who require a breather for its dynamic Queensland. During winter, Wanaka is the best base for skiers as this town is en route to few of the premium resorts of South Island.
Wai-O-Tapu
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is outside Rotorua and this place has been a favorite among visitors due to its hot pools and geysers.
This is a geothermal park that is noteworthy for its colorful springs, which include the Champagne Pool and Devil’s Bath that is fluorescent green in color. This place showcases the remarkable volcanic activity.
Nelson Lakes National Park
Perched at the upper end of South Island, Nelson Lakes National Park marks the initiation of the Southern Alps. Right at the heart of the park, you can find two alpine lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, surrounded by forested valleys. These parkland and lakes are probably the best spots for fishing, camping, swimming and hiking.
Castlepoint
Castlepoint is a seaside town located on the Wairarapa coast, north of Wellington. The lighthouse of this place is the tallest on the island. In the lighthouse route, you find a stunning collection of fossil shells and if you’re lucky, you’ll find the best birds here.
Marlborough
There are many visitors who are attracted by Marlborough because of the wine tasting activity. This is that stretch of South Island that put New Zealand’s viticulture on the map of the world. If you prefer hiking, pay a visit to Marlborough Sounds and Queen Charlotte Sound.
