New Regent Street, a short street in central Christchurch, is often called New Zealand’s most beautiful street. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, most visitors would agree that the pastel-colored shop fronts on New Regent Street are definitely attractive. They were built in the 1930s in the Spanish Mission style, which is unusual in New Zealand, making New Regent Street a worthwhile detour while touring Christchurch.
Lake Rotoiti is the boutique cousin to the larger Lake Rotorua. Though Rotoiti is connected to its massive neighbor by the narrow Ohau Channel, it has its own relaxed feel. Sunsets on Lake Rotoiti are beautiful, and the trout fishing here is some of the best on the North Island.
Stretching across the Avon River, the Bridge of Remembrance was unveiled in 1924 to honor the servicemen and women who bravely fought in World War I. Hundreds of soldiers have since marched on its stones. Today, the bridge and monument arch are viewed by many as the center of downtown Christchurch.
A large, popular green space in the Auckland suburb of Epsom, Cornwall Park is a great option for a day of outdoor fun. The park houses restaurants and cultural attractions, and, as the site of a pre-European Maori settlement, is also archaeologically significant.
The grand neo-baroque landmark presiding over the Auckland central business district is Auckland Town Hall, the civic heart of the city since the early 20th century. Admired for its architecture, the Town Hall is more than just a pretty facade—it’s also a popular concert venue that’s hosted everything from symphony orchestras to shows by pop icons, including The Beatles and Elton John.
Spa-lovers may find it hard to leave Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. The standout attractions are the nine open-air geothermal pools, ranging in temperatures from 91°F to 107°F (33°C to 42°C). There are also three sulphur pools, six private indoor thermal pools, and a sauna. Anyone who wants to relax will search for reasons to linger.
Take a short drive out of Rotorua and explore a village trapped in time. The Buried Village of Te Wairoa is a remarkable relic of Victorian-era New Zealand, preserved by volcanic ash from the 1886 Mt. Tarawera eruption. Walk around the village and marvel at this portal to the past, nestled in the Bay of Plenty forest.
Just a half-hour ferry ride from Auckland, Rangitoto Island offers active travelers an adventurous escape from the city. This 600-year-old dormant volcano boasts stunning panoramic views of Auckland and a selection of rugged walks both up and around the island, most of them suitable for people of all fitness levels.
The Avon River (Otakaro) flows from its source in the western suburbs of Christchurch and through the central city, making it a focal point for recreation. Leaving the central city, the Avon flows west and out to the Avon Heathcote Estuary. A popular destination with locals and tourists alike, you can walk along the Avon’s banks, relax in Hagley Park or the Botanic Gardens with a view of the river, or go on an English-style punt boat.
The Royal Albatross Centre, within Dunedin city limits on the Otago Peninsula, is an ideal spot for nature viewing. The center is home to the only mainland breeding colony of these large birds in the world. Add a tour of the center to a day trip out to the peninsula—a must-do activity while in Dunedin.
It’s tough to decide which is more beautiful: the cobalt hue of the aptly named Blue Lake sparkling in the midday sun, or the deep green of the Whakarewarewa Forest that hugs the shore of the lake. Either way, the natural beauty is what makes Lake Tikitapu an ideal place to connect with nature.
Wellington’s Red Rocks Reserve (Pariwhero) is a site of cultural and geological significance, which you can admire during an easy coastal walk or bike ride. The 4.5-mile (7.5-kilometer) track runs from Owhiro Bay in southern Wellington to Red Rocks Reserve. Enjoy ocean views and fur seals basking in the sun (and wind) along the way.
Hang on tight! Skyline Queenstown affords the city’s best views, but the gondola ride isn’t for the faint of heart. Zipping up 1,475 feet (450 meters) to the top of Bob’s Peak takes about 10 minutes aboard the steepest gondola in the southern hemisphere. En route, enjoy 220-degree vistas of Queenstown, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Lake Wakatipu. At the top, dine at the mountaintop Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar amid panoramic views while the Skyline Luge track—with two steepness options, one easy enough for kids—sends adventurous riders screaming on their return trip to the mountain’s base.
Opened in 2017 in Matakana, north of Auckland, Sculptureum is a sculpture garden, art gallery, restaurant, and vineyard in one. The many animal sculptures in the gardens delight kids, while six indoor galleries display glass work and abstract art interesting to adults, making Sculptureum a popular day-trip destination for all.
The Transitional Cathedral opened in 2013, after the city’s iconic ChristChurch Cathedral was severely damaged in the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. In contrast to the 19th-century stone church it replaces, the cathedral has a very modern, A-frame design supported by dozens of cardboard tubes, lending it the nickname the Cardboard Cathedral.
Towering high above the Canterbury Plains, Mt. Hutt Ski Area is an award-winning, internationally recognized ski resort suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. But it’s not only a hot destination during ski season—there’s plenty to do during the summer, including hiking, hot-air ballooning, and jet boating in the Rakaia Gorge.
On the New Zealand’s South Island, a short drive from Dunedin, The OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance), formerly Penguin Place, is a conservation reserve for the endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguin. It’s entirely funded through guided tours, so your visit will directly contribute to the birds’ preservation. In addition to bird sightings, the reserve offers beautiful views of Otago Harbour.
Walking and cycling trails crisscross the green, rumpled Port Hills landscape. To get to know this outdoor playground, skip the tunnel linking Christchurch and the harbor community of Lyttleton to the southeast. Instead, take the long way around and over the hills. The extra travel time pays off in scenery and gorgeous views.
Olveston Historic Home, an unmissable Dunedin attraction, was constructed in the early 1900s and is still decorated as when it was built. The original owner collected unique items worldwide, making this not just a house but a museum. Visitors can view the interior and the large, beautiful gardens.
The North Island’s Ninety Mile Beach runs along the west coast near Kaitaia all the way to Cape Reinga on New Zealand’s northernmost tip. This seemingly endless stretch of wave-lapped sand is rimmed by dunes and topped by the lighthouse at Cape Reinga in the Far North, a remote spot where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a family-friendly reserve on the outskirts of Christchurch. Meet both native animals and creatures from all over the world while supporting and contributing to Willowbank’s conservation efforts. Get close to all kinds of critters, from kiwi to kunekune pigs and everything in between.
Although other parts of New Zealand boast taller or faster-flowing waterfalls, none is as conveniently located—and few are as photogenic—as spectacular Otuihau Whangarei Falls. This 85-foot (26-meter) cascade surrounded by birdsong and native bush is just minutes from Whangarei’s city center, making for a perfect pit stop or half-day hike.
Most people know Kaitoke Regional Park as Rivendell, the Elven city where the Fellowship forms in Peter Jackson’sLord of the Rings. But it’s more than that: Kaitoke Regional Park, just outside of Wellington, is an ancient rain forest full of old native trees and winding rivers, and a tranquil place to escape the city for a day or more.
New Zealand has the world’s highest sheep-to-human ratio, with an industry that is estimated to include 30 million sheep. At the Rotorua Agrodome—a 350-acre (142-hectare) working sheep farm just outside of town—visitors can help to shear sheep, tour the mill, and observe well-trained sheepdogs as they follow commands.
Steaming geysers, hot springs, and mud pools bubble up from boiling-hot reservoirs below the Earth’s surface at Orakei Korako geothermal park. The area boasts silica terraces decorated with colorful swirling patterns—the result of the hot water algae—and a rare geothermal cave.
The New Zealand Maritime Museum (Hui Te Ananui A Tangaroa) tells the country’s maritime story via art and artifacts displayed across its numerous galleries on the Auckland waterfront. Relive seafaring history through the museum’s impeccably restored boats—not just those in the galleries, but the ones on the water that you can even go sailing in.
The Waipara Valley is a well-regarded wine region north of Christchurch, and Torlesse Wines is one of the oldest wineries there. They produce a variety of wines, which visitors can taste at their cellar door every day of the week. At an hour’s drive from Christchurch, Torlesse Wines is a convenient place to visit on a day trip to the Waipara Valley.
Soaring peaks dive into lush forests on the 4-day Milford Track, New Zealand’s most famous hiking trail. Often called the “finest walk in the world,” the Milford Track travels through the UNESCO-listed Fiordlands, a dramatic setting crisscrossed by a network of suspension bridges, winding waterways, narrow trails, and open valleys.
Lake Okareka is a local favorite for swimming, fishing, and boating. Children splash in refreshing water, surrounded by green hills, and anglers fish for rainbow trout, smelt, and long-finned eels. The lake is also popular with bird-watchers; visitors scan the shoreline for swans, coots, ducks, shags, pukeko, gulls, and stilts.
White Island (Whakaari) is an active volcanic island in northern New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty. It’s New Zealand’s most active volcano—believed to have been continuously erupting for 150,000 years—and can only be visited on a guided tour. Prior to the 2019 eruption, walking tours were conducted on White Island where travelers could explore the active volcano by foot. Today, White Island is best accessed by helicopter where you can circle the steaming vent.
