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.
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.
One of New Zealand’s oldest gardens, Wellington Botanic Garden is an escape from the clamor of the city, in the city. Right behind the Wellington CBD in Thorndon, this 62-acre (25-hectare) garden is full of native and exotic plants. Stroll along one of the many calm, tranquil paths and take some relaxing time away from the urban jungle.
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.
The Mackenzie Basin (also called Mackenzie Country) is an intermontane basin bounded on all sides by mountains. It’s a magnificent area of high peaks, colorful lakes, glaciers, grasslands, and some of the darkest night skies in the world. The Mackenzie Basin should be a fixture on any central South Island road trip.
Just outside of Taupo, Huka Falls is one of the most visited natural attractions on New Zealand’s North Island. Waikato River’s largest falls are fed by Australasia’s biggest freshwater lake, Lake Taupo. Explore the footbridge for a bird’s-eye view of the falls or walk along the Huka Falls Trail, which follows the river.
After you’ve cruised on the surface of Milford Sound and looked up at its lofty peaks, take a journey underwater at the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory, commonly called the Milford Sound Observatory. The large underwater viewing room is 32 feet (10 meters beneath the water, and you’ll see coral, fish, birds, and other wildlife.
Meandering from the majestic Southern Alps through the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean, the Waimakariri River is known for its scenic beauty. It is also the hub for a number of popular water sports and outdoor activities, from beech forest–lined canyon hikes to jet boat rides that take you spinning around rugged Waimakariri Gorge.
Smack in the middle of downtown Auckland, just off of bustling Queen Street, Aotea Square is a popular spot for festivals, gatherings, and events. Located across from the Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Square provides more than an acre of open space in the Central Business District (CBD that can accommodate up to 20,000 people for outdoor events and open-air concerts.
Urban cool meets laid-back beach vibes at Takapuna, just 15 minutes from Auckland CBD. Not only does this North Shore suburb have white-sand beaches, a volcanic lake, and ocean views looking out to Rangitoto Island, but the small town center has enough shops, cafés, and restaurants to keep Aucklanders entertained away from the beach.
Just south of the town of Hokitika, the West Coast Treetop Walk & Café offers a fun natural experience for adults and kids. A steel platform allows visitors to walk through the canopy of native rimu and kamahi trees, 65 feet (20 meters) above the ground. A 131-foot-high (40-meter-high) lookout tower offers views of the forest and the surrounding areas.
The Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (Te Puia) was established in the 1920s to protect the traditional arts of carving and weaving. Today Te Puia is a thriving educational institute and a unique experience of Maori culture: here you can watch students learn their craft, enjoy traditional cultural performances, and explore a rugged geothermal valley.
The ornate Blue Baths on the shores of Lake Rotorua, blend history, leisure, and high society. This building, which fuses art deco and Spanish mission styles, has been restored to its original splendor from 1933, when the thermally heated baths became New Zealand’s first place for “mixed bathing.”
Set in the heart of Glacier Country and backed by the Southern Alps, the Fox Glacier is not only one of New Zealand’s most impressive glaciers, it’s also one of the most accessible in the world—you can even catch a glimpse of the glacier from the roadside. Fed by high alpine snowfall, the Fox Glacier is also unique for its fast-moving ice flows, which means you’ll never hike the same glacier twice.
Founded in 1897, a good 70 years before New Zealand’s winemaking boom of the 1970s, Church Road Winery is one of the oldest in the country. It was established by winemakers from Luxembourg and has since become famous for its French-style red wines. The winery is a popular spot for wine tasting, fine dining, and outdoor summer concerts.
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.
The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is known for its role in the Gold Rush, when people flocked there seeking their fortunes in the 1860s. Immerse yourself in this historical event at the interactive Shantytown Heritage Park. More than just a museum, the park offers a range of family-friendly indoor and outdoor attractions.
The Waipara Valley, just north of Christchurch, is one of the most active wine-growing regions in the country. The Waipara Springs Winery is a family-run winery that’s one of the oldest in the region, having been established in 1981. Visitors can sample fine wines and enjoy a meal at the restaurant, all in a beautiful rural setting.
Whether you want to stretch out on the grass on a sunny afternoon, watch a movie at the open-air cinema, or break up a sightseeing tour with a picnic in the park, Silo Park is one of Auckland’s most popular green spaces. The small park sits at the heart of the Wynyard Quarter and is known for its lively summer events calendar.
Set on a knob of land jutting out into Lake Wakatipu, these gardens offer a quiet respite from the noise of town, with a variety of trees including Douglas firs, sequoias, and monkey puzzles creating a natural barrier. Shoreside paths leading around the edge offer spectacular views of the lake and the ragged peaks of the Remarkables.
The Hollyford Track might not have the profile of Fiordland’s Great Walks, but it’s no less impressive. This low-altitude walk runs through the Hollyford Valley, part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, and alongside the roaring Hollyford River, past towering mountains and crystal-clear lakes all the way to Martins Bay.
Visitors to Velocity Valley choose from six adrenaline-fueled activities: Shweeb Racer, Swoop, Agrojet, Freefall Xtreme, Rotorua Bungy, and Freestyle Airbag. Each ride is suitable for daredevils of almost all ages. Activities can be purchased separately or combined as part of a tour package.
Burkes Pass in South Canterbury’s Mackenzie Country is a mountain pass with a namesake heritage village tucked at its base. First utilized by indigenous Maori people, the outpost later grew into a township around a hotel that was opened for weary Mackenzie pioneers. Today, it makes an ideal base for outdoor explorations.
Skippers Canyon, a short distance north of Queenstown, is nothing short of dramatic. The Shotover River winds through the canyon’s steep rock walls, topped with coarse alpine scrub, for nearly 14 miles (23 kilometers). Not the best place to go driving, it’s perfect for hiking, jet boating, white-water rafting, and other adventure activities.
Former rubbish tip turned family-owned wildlife sanctuary—the Kiwi Park Queenstown is a force for good in downtown Queensland that helps conserve over 20 native species of birds and reptiles. Visitors come here for guided tours, conservation shows, and to see New Zealand’s iconic kiwi birds up close in the Nocturnal House.
Great Barrier Island is a natural paradise and an idyllic getaway from the bustle of Auckland. About 55 miles (90 kilometers) offshore in New Zealand’s only national marine park, with no electricity, ATMs, or public transportation on the entire island, there is little more to do here than play in nature and truly relax.
Ulva Island (Te Wharawhara) is a small island within Paterson Inlet on Stewart Island (Rakiura)—New Zealand’s third-largest island that sits off the south coast of the South Island. It’s a pest-free island sanctuary that’s home to several bird species that struggle on the mainland (including kiwi), as well as important native plants and marine animals.
Odysseum includes three fun and challenging activities in the heart of Auckland: the Odyssey Sensory Maze, the Brain Cell Challenge Room, and the Doom Room. While it’s not recommended for smaller children, older kids and groups of friends will especially enjoy the challenges of each room.
Sprawling across 51,000 acres (20,640 hectares) west of Kerikeri, Puketi Forest (Puketi Kauri Forest) is one of New Zealand’s remaining kauri rain forests. Get close to these giant native trees on the forest’s elevated boardwalks, or try one of the forest’s longer walks and discover some of the more than 360 indigenous plant species that call Puketi home.
One of the largest kiwi hatching facilities in the South Island, the West Coast Wildlife Centre is a must-do for visitors of all ages. Go to learn all about New Zealand’s native birds and other animals. You’ll also have the chance to see some kiwis, rarely encountered in the wild, and tuataras, an ancient New Zealand lizard species.
