New Zealand is housed in the southwestern region of the vast Pacific Ocean and close to the middle of the water hemisphere on Earth. Declared to be the sixth largest island country, it has two main islands and more than seven hundred smaller islands. Together, the two main islands (North and South) have diverse tourist attractions to admire.
Besides, the country has fourteen national parks with rich indigenous biodiversity. Notably, most species (above 80%) are tagged as endemic due to dispersal. In this blog post, based on the places to visit in New Zealand, let’s find out what the best things to do in the country are.
Discovering New Zealand by Tourist Places
When hearing about New Zealand, you must have heard of Auckland too, one of the popular cities in New Zealand. Still, Wellington is its capital city. Apart from these two, the other famous cities include Napier, Rotorua, Christchurch, Taupō, Queenstown, and Mount Cook. With no further ado, let’s explore the top New Zealand tourist attractions.
Auckland
Indeed, it is a must-visit city in the North Island, New Zealand. Surrounded by rainforests, harbors, and volcanoes, there are a hundred places to visit and a hundred things to do in this beautiful destination. Highlighting a few of them here:
- Exploring the cuisines and signature dishes at restaurants and roadside eateries. Britomart, Devonport, and Mission Bay are the best places for this activity.
- Dive into the arts and culture of New Zealand at Auckland Museum, Auckland Art Gallery, Aotea Square, National Maritime Museum, Motat, etc.
- Stargazing at the Stardome Observatory & Planetarium is one of the things to do in Auckland.
- Do not miss visiting Auckland Botanical Gardens, Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World, and Butterfly Creek. You can explore the wonderful marine life, insects, plants, etc., here in these places.
- Whale- & dolphin-watching is also a must-do activity. You can do this by taking a cruise from the harbor.
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Rotorua
The two important to-dos in Rotorua are:
- Knowing Māori culture—the Aboriginals: Learning about this Māori culture enables you to learn a lot about the New Zealand aboriginal people, their traditions, etc. If you are more interested, you can plan for a one-night stay at Tamaki Māori Village.
Important note: These two things to do in Rotorua are entirely unique to New Zealand and you cannot find them in any other countries or tourist places. Hence, they hold significance among tourists.
- Bathing in therapeutic waters: The Rotorua natural waters are considered one of the world’s best therapeutic waters due to hot geothermal conditions. Hence, you have to take a bath in the natural waters of Rotorua or enjoy relaxing at the spas in and around the region.
Aoraki or Mount Cook
Located on the South Island of New Zealand, it is the highest mountain in the country. Though the mountain is surrounded by icy glacial lakes, trekkers and mountain climbers never miss an opportunity to visit here.
Taupō—one of the must see places in New Zealand
Water enthusiasts must visit Taupo, as it has gushy waterfalls and cascades to mesmerize you. Taupo Lake and the sparkling Waikato River are to be cherished at least once in a lifetime.
Wellington
Though the city is squeezed at the southern end of the North Island of the country, it has many places to see, like Te Papa Museum, Oriental Bay, Wētā Cave (must-visit for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ fandom), etc. Some of the major things to do in Wellington New Zealand, are:
- Riding the cable car
- Sculpture Walk
- Taking a ferry or kayak ride
- The famous Remutaka Cycle Trail
- Admiring the three-eyed Kiwi
- If lucky, experience the concerts and live theatres
- Touring the renowned vineyards
Which long weekend in 2024 is comfortable for you to tour New Zealand?
Stewart Island
This is the best spot for bird and nature lovers. You can see amazing endemic bird species, including kiwis, albatross, and weka. Have you seen a walking track with more than two hundred kilometers in length? That’s here on this astonishing island. These tracks take you in between and around the beaches and rainforests, which keeps you curious every moment of strolling.
Queenstown
If adventure is going to be your important thing to do in New Zealand, Queenstown is your destination. From the famous bungy jumping to river rafting, from surfing to boating, from quad biking to canyon swings, every activity is an adrenaline rush.
Other Places to See in New Zealand
- Hokitika Gorge for witnessing the real turquoise waters
- Limestone-made Waitomo Caves for a thrilling journey
- Mackenzie Basin for sheep farming
- Fiordland National Park for hearing magical sounds
- Abel Tasman Coastal Track for hiking
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