Great Reasons to Visit New Zealand
By NomadicMatt | Published: February 15, 2010New Zealand’s far away location ensures that its natural beauty is protected from the hordes of tourists who would overwhelm this place if it was easy to get to. True, New Zealand’s greatness has been exposed to the world by movies like Lord of the Rings but, surprisingly, few people make their way down here. But, with places and activities like those listed below, New Zealand is clearly worth any journey:
Abel Tasman National Park
Stepping into Abel Tasman is in some ways like stepping into Thailand. The beautiful beaches and azure blue water feel like they belong in the tropics not New Zealand. The hiking is beautiful with giant ferns, trees and a great climate. There are a lot of one to three day hikes here. But if you really want to see this park, kayak around. This lets you explore the tiny little coves and beaches that make the area so special.
Glacier Trekking
There aren’t many opportunities to hike glaciers in the world and trekking up to the Fox and Franz Joseph glacier is something that just about every traveler should do. While the glaciers are heavily touristed, the experience lives up to the hype (though the Fox Glacier is a little less touristy). Yes, you are walking on ice but it’s surprisingly a cool experience and you can even climb down and through tunnels in the glaciers.
Extreme Sports
New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world. From bungee jumping to sky diving to white water rafting, most people come visit New Zealand and blow their budget on a wide range of activities that excite as much as drain your wallet. There are a million activities and if you are unlike me and love adrenaline pumping activities, New Zealand is your dream destination.
Tongariro Crossing
Considered the best day hike in all of New Zealand, the crossing takes you where they filmed Mordor from Lord of the Rings. The 19.4 km walk is easy at parts and steep at others, especially after “Mount Doom.” But despite the sore legs you will have after, walking through this space like environment of volcanoes, earthen land, and sulfur was the highlight of my whole time in New Zealand.
Maori Culture
Maori culture is a fascinating and important part of New Zealand life and history. My love of their culture started with the movie Whale Rider and I’ve loved learning about their history, culture, and situation. Maoris are a friendly and proud people and there wasn’t one I met I didn’t like. My only regret is not spending more time learning about the culture.
Wellington
Wellington has character. Everyone talks about Auckland (which, contrary to popular belief, is not the capital), but the real magic takes place in Wellington (the capital). The architecture and eclectic vibe give this city a great personality that should not be missed. There’s a great nightlife, a concentrated center, and a beautiful harbor. I’d choose Wellie over Auckland anytime.
Glow Worms
Definitely one of the coolest things I did while in New Zealand, the Waitomo glow worm cave is hyped and touristy but amazing as you walk or abseil down into darkness and float down the river staring up at caverns covered in “lights.” I found the 3 hour trip long enough for me but, if you like to abseil, you should consider the five hour trip.
Queenstown
Everyone hypes up Queenstown. Everyone. But Queenstown is everything they say it is and move. I can not express my love of Queenstown enough. Queenstown looks more like a mountain town in Canada than a town in New Zealand. It’s surrounded by beautiful mountains, has an amazing lake, and tiny little pedestrian streets. There is such a great vibe and energy in this city. It’s wonderful.
Taupo
By far my favorite place here, I ended up visiting twice and always had to force myself to leave. Taupo has a lot of great hikes, a beautiful lake for fishing, and is the jumping off point for the Tongariro crossing. It lacks the energy Queenstown does but is certainly not lacking in beauty.
This list only scratches the surface of what there is to see and do in New Zealand. In a country filled with adventure and wildlife, everyone will find something here. Travelers rarely have any bad things to say about the country and, as you can see, there is good reason for that.
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Thanks for pointing out the best of New Zealand, Matt! I enjoyed this post. I will be going to New Zealand (one of the must-visit countries this year for me!) this June/July to visit a friend who’s living in Auckland, and he suggests that we go skiing at Mt. Ruapehu.
Thanks for sharing the pics. Hard to believe thee are so many different outdoor experiences in such a small country. Beaches and glaciers, unbelievable.
I have been reading up on New Zealand as I am planning to visit next October and I am just so impressed with all of the natural beauty there! I can’t wait to see it myself.
Are you going to write about your experiences with the hop on hop off bus? I’d be interested to know how that went for you.
Hey Stephanie! How long will you be in NZ? I didn’t do the hop on/hop off bus because it’s extremely easy, affordable, practical (and I think preferable) in this country to buy a car or campervan when you get there and sell it when you leave. If you’re only going for a week or two this might not be worth it, but any longer than that and I would say it is, especially if you’re traveling with others and can split the cost.
For example, I picked up a beautiful, fully-loaded 2-year-old Toyota Camry for $1100 NZD and sold it 9 months and the entire country top-to-bottom later for…$1100 NZD. I never could have (or would have!) afforded that car back home. It was awesome.
The campervans are a great and popular option too depending on what time of year you go. Either way, having your own set of wheels to explore NZ is an excellent way to do it.
(But that being said…just go! You could go through NZ on your hands and knees and still have a blast.
)
I’m planning about three weeks in NZ, traveling solo. Not really long enough to go through the hassle of buying a car (not to mention mastering stick shift). I’m still rather loathe to do one of the hop on hop offs because I feel like they are a very touristy experience. Right now I’m leaning towards taking public buses to get around but I’ll be interested to hear Matt’s opinion.
yes! Hostels and buses are over the next few weeks.
No question that NZ offers more environmentally (especially geographically, maybe not in terms of fauna) in a smaller area than perhaps any other place in the world. It’s pretty unique when you can glacier hike and surf not very far apart!
But what’s with all the sheep, : ) ?!
I saw a beer called “Sheep Shaggers Brew.” It’s one of my favorite photos from the trip because of the comedy factor.
Did you try it? Or were you afraid of the message you were sending to all the sheep?
Awesome post! I’m left salivating
Australia is totally overrated and I can’t wait to get down to NZ…
Having never been, I’m not sure it’s overrated but people don’t talk about NZ quite as often as Australia… which in and of itself has great appeal.
Jim – there’s a bigger population in Australia & more points of entry, so it goes without saying that Australia gets more lips flapping.
We Kiwis (the human variety, not the flightless bird variety) like it that way – it’s not over-run by tourists.
One other great reason for visiting NZ – what snakes? What spiders?
I had the best time visiting the North Island last year and doing many of the things you mentioned (Tongariro, Taupo, etc.) but I cannot cannot cannot wait to make it back and see the South.
ohh! I am going back next year! let’s all go!!
I’m so glad you loved Queenstown. If you like to ski or snowboard you’ve gotta go back for the winter sometime. I lived in a hostel and worked on the mountain there for the ski season in ‘06 and had such a blast. The town is alive with energy and almost totally focused around snowboarding. All the bars have fires roaring in the fireplace and many have amazing videos of skiing and snowboarding playing on loop. It’s a really magical atmosphere, enough so that I’m headed back there at the end of this 3-year Asia journey to do it all again!
Great post! We are loving every minute of NZ so far! 4 more weeks and lots of adventures to be had – bungy jumping the Nevis tomorrow and then headed for the 3 day Routeburn trek!
The glow worms are by far my favorite. Ooh, and kayaking around Abel Tasman is another. BTW, love the new header image. Super cute!
Absolutely fantastic. Would love to check out that glow worm cave, looks like something out of a bad sci-fi flick from the 70’s
This all makes me go visit NZ, as soon as possible.
Would love to go glacier trekking plus experience as many extreme sports as possible. Great picks! I’ve heard that Nelson on the top of the South Island is well worth visiting as well.
J’ai eu la chance de découvrir ce merveilleux pays, ce fut un fabuleux voyage
fantastic wrap up of a fantastic country!!!
Love this!
I absolutely loved Golden Bay and Abel Tasman. The sand truly is golden, and the kayaking is great!
Queenstown was alright I thought, but the most beautiful parts were just outside like in Glenorchy.
Great photos and inspiration. Gutted I went all the way to Oz from UK but failed to make it over to NZ
Awesome list Matt! You summed it up perfectly. Can’t wait to get back there someday.
Wow! I haven’t been to Queenstown before, but you’re right, it looks SO much like the Canadian mountain towns I spent my childhood in.
Tongariro Crossing looks awesome. I always love a good hike and I hope it’ll be more like your picture rather than the life and death journey of Frodo and Sam.
Sorry to say that as a young American Sailor I missed so much while visiting N.Z. back in the 70’s. There’s an old saying; “Wisdom is wasted on youth”. I’m living proof of that except for the youth part.
Don’t procrastinate, just GO!
Matt, great list of New Zealand famous destination. My next trip probably Tongariro hiking and Queenstown.
This is my recent trip to Cape Reinga and fortunately I was able to capture the beautiful blue sky, white sand beach and amazing scenic views.
http://visittonewzealand.blogspot.com/
Cheers
I went to New Zealand for 5 weeks in total. I hired a car in the North Island for 2 weeks and a car on the South Island for 3 weeks. This is a must as it allows you the freedom to explore all the remote nooks and crannies of this diverse country. In the 5 weeks I was there, I managed to white water raft, bungee jump in Queenstown, go hiking at the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers, visit the glow worm grottos, stand at the Bluff signpost and most of all make some new friends for life. New Zealand has so much to offer every visitor. I highly reccomend everyone should visit at least once in their life. I certainly will be visiting again sometime in the near future.
Nice work Matt.
There are some other treats (locations only – activities and things to do are another story altogether), here’s my in-the-know list
- The Catlins Coast, Southland
- Stewart Island, Southland
- Lake Manapouri & Doubtful Sound, Fiordland
- South Westland, West Coast of the South Island
- Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
- Paparoa National Park, West Coast of the South Island
- Kapiti Island, near Wellington
- Castle Point, Wairarapa
- Tologa Bay, Eastland
so many more….
all awesome awesome awesome
Cheers, p
What a great set of pictures and well written coments. I really must move back soon. A few other places to add to the list are the Coramandel, Waiheke and the are around Nelson. Take a look at some more pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markdefleury/
Hi all!
I’m planning to go to NZ in April but I can stay only two weeks there… is it worth it? or should I wait until I have over a month to spend there?
Cheers,
Matías
How did you get the photo of the glowworms? When I went, they said no photos… but they said they would send us one if we asked.
Queenstown – The Remarkables… Yes they really are.
i can’t wait to get to NZ. my brother and SIL have gone there several times and loved it. thanks!
Nice photos Matt!
A country with very rich nature, beautiful people and … simply no words. Visited her a year ago and dreamed of returning again.
Looks wonderful. And I hear the wine isn’t too bad either!
what a great post about New Zealand- I would have liked to hear more about the South Island- my daughter will be going there in September.
i came here for a holiday from the uk….that was nearly three years ago. i live in the bay of plenty, right on the coast, in nz’s sunniest place (now official)…whakatane. i’d like to add some places well worth a visit if i may…
i recently toured the south island for three weeks, travelling every highway…in my opinion, places not to be missed there are….
malborough sounds, abel tasman, kaiteriteri, farewell spit, kaikoura, moeraki boulders, hooker valley (eye popping views of mt cook) the catlins, slope point (most southerly point of the south island), haast pass, lewis pass, hanmer springs, arthur’s pass, pancake rocks, milford sound…the drive there alone is awesome!! wanaka, buller gorge, waikarepupu spring (the world’s clearest fresh water….has to be seen to appreciate the stunning clarity).
i notice no mention of some of the north islands secrets…lake waikaremoana…lake tarewera…the green lake…te urewera national park……take a drive down the forgotten world highway, from taurangi to taumaranui…awesome!! big game fishing here in the bay…white island (nz’s most active volcano)…the list is truly endless, but these are my favourite places…oh and don’t forget the coromandel….hotwater beach, cathedral cove, whitianga, blah blah blah….just do it!!!
Great post, I love New Zealand too, and you mention some of the reasons here. I also like Wellington much better than Auckland, even though this might not be a fair judgement since I was in Wellington for 2 weeks, and in Auckland only 3 days. There are so many wonderful nature around Wellington that are free, Cape Palliser that is a natural seals habitat being one of my favourite.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to taste the South Island at all. I didn’t have much time in the North as well, so I take a conclusion that I need to go back there
Wow what a beautiful country I’d love to visit.