Places to Visit in New Zealand

When a country is as beautiful as New Zealand, it’s hard to decide what to see here because everything is just so stunning. Lakes, mountains, beaches, snow-clad ranges, fjords, glaciers, fish-filled rivers – all sorts of natural topographical features grace this island country and that’s without even including the amazing Maori culture or the cosmopolitan cities. The number of places to visit in New Zealand are simply too many to count.

In one of the world's largest geothermal areas such as Rotorua, visitors can witness first-hand the forces of nature that gave birth to these landscapes - the hissing springs and the bubbling mud ponds. The country is also famous for its love for adventure sports.

While there are plenty of tourist places to see in New Zealand, you have to ideally decide what you want to see so it becomes easier for you to choose. Below are some of the must visit places in NZ and if you’re eager to plan your trip, then do remember to check the SOTC website for offers and deals on New Zealand packages which will make your holiday hassle-free and fun.

Here’s a list of must visit places in New Zealand, based on the sort of activity or sightseeing you want to do.

Milford Sound 

Located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, Milford Sound is a fiord. It is popular for the Mitre Peak which towers it, in addition to rainforests and waterfalls like Bowen falls and Stirling that glaze down its massive sides. This place is home to penguins, fur seal colonies, dolphins and other creatures. Tourists also get to see rare black corals and other marine life at the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory. 

Mount Cook 

Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki, is the highest mountain peak in New Zealand. With a height of 3,724 metres, the mountain lies in the Southern Alps and runs the entire length of South Island. This place is quite popular with mountain climbers.

Bay of Islands 

Comprising more than 140 subtropical islands, the Bay of Islands is a New Zealand enclave next to the country's North Island. It’s known for big-game fishing, beaches yet to be developed and cultural artefacts belonging to the Maori. 

Waitomo 

Located on the country’s North Island, Waitomo, is a village known for its extensive underground cave systems. Some of the caves here are lit up by thousands of glow-worms. Additionally, waterfalls and limestone formations adorn the vast Ruakuri Cave features. Also, the Otorohanga Kiwi House, which lies to the northeast of the village, gives shelter to multiple species of the native kiwi bird, making it a must-see.

Lake Tekapo 

Lake Tekapo is a small town located in the inland South Island of New Zealand and has the same name as the lake present there. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy a picnic.

Sky Tower 

The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower in Auckland. Located at the corner of Federal Streets and Victoria within the city, this 1,076 ft tall tower is the 25th tallest tower in the world and the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, which is why you should check it out.

Abel Tasman National Park 

Located at the north end of South Island, the Abel Tasman National Park is a wilderness reserve. It is famous for the Abel Tasman Coast Track, a long trail winding across ridges and over beaches between Wainui in the north and Marahau in the south. The Separation Point’s headland is home to New Zealand fur seal colonies. 

Franz Josef Glacier 

Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere, also known as Franz Josef Glacier, is a 12 km long temperate maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on South Island’s West Coast. It descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres above sea level, along with the Fox Glacier (20 km) to the south. It’s truly a sight to behold.

Waitomo Glowworm Glacier 

The Waitomo Glow-worm Caves are located at Waitomo on the North Island and are known for Arachnocampa luminosa, a species of glow-worm found only in New Zealand. 

Waiheke Island 

The Waiheke Island is the second-largest island in the Hauraki Gulf and most populated one in the country. Its ferry terminal in Matiatia Bay is 21.5 km away from the central-city terminal in Auckland, which makes it easy to get here.

Fiordland National Park 

In the southwest area of New Zealand’s South Island lies Fiordland National Park. It is famous for fiords, which are glacier-carved and produce the Doubtful and Milford sounds. On the sandy Milford shore, a beech forest trail offers views of the towering Mitre Peak. 

Lake Wanaka 

Lake Wanaka is located at an altitude of 278 meters in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is New Zealand's fourth largest lake and is estimated to have a depth of more than 300 m. The original Maori name Oanaka implies 'The place of Anaka', the name of a local tribal chief.

Tongariro National Park 

The Tongariro National Park located in North Island is the oldest national park in New Zealand and the sixth oldest in the world. Granted the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, it is a mix of natural and cultural values. Active volcanic mountains such as Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and Tongariro are present in the park, and you must check them out. 

Wai-O-Tapu 

Waiotapu is an active geothermal area at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone. Famous for its colourful hot-springs, it is a popular tourist destination.

Lake Taupo 

Located in North Island, Lake Taupo is a lake lying in the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, with a surface area of 616 square kilometres. Taupo is a great lake for water-skiing, sailing and kayaking.

Huka Falls 

Located on the Waikato River, the Huka Falls are a set of waterfalls that drain Lake Taupo in New Zealand. A few hundred metres upstream of the Huka Falls, the Waikato River narrows from approximately 100 metres across into a canyon with a diameter of only 15 metres. The effect is nature's large-scale equivalent of a fire hose feeding into a very fine nozzle.

Lake Wakatipu 

In the South Island lies Lake Wakatipu, an inland lake. The lake’s name comes from the original Maori word Whakatipu wai-maori. In summer, the lake's beaches are popular for swimming.

Te Puia 

Opening doors in 1963, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute (NZMACI) in Rotorua was established in response to the impending loss of traditional Maori arts. Visit this place to learn more about New Zealand’s culture.