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10 MUST-DO NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
From subtropical Cape Reinga in the far north to the southern fishing port of Bluff where the wild Southern Ocean rolls in, New Zealand’s North and South islands offer a diverse expanse of landscapes.
From coastal paradise to mountains and the southern ocean, New Zealand’s South Island unveils one majestic landscape after another. Beginning in the coastal paradise that is Nelson Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds and ending in Southland, the vast southern regions unfold as the real Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. In New Zealand, every day is a different journey.
Aoraki Mackenzie is a gold rated dark sky reserve
1. FILM TOURISM
It's no secret that New Zealand is the home of Middle-earth and its stunning landscapes are at centre stage for movie buffs world-wide.
Filmed entirely in New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies film locations can be discovered in many parts. The most famous, and most visited, is Hobbiton – the village home of the hobbits – near Matamata, in the Hamilton Waikato region of the North Island. The Hobbiton film set occupies a sizable slice of a New Zealand farm, and is one of the largest outdoor film sets in the world. Visitors to Hobbiton experience a two-hour fully-guided tour of the village hearing about the books and behind-the-scenes stories of film-making.
Hobbiton Waikato
Credit: Ian-Brodie
2. MAORI CULTURE
Rotorua has been visited by tourists since the early 19th century making it New Zealand’s oldest tourism destination – renowned for Maori cultural experiences and spectacular geothermal attractions.
Maori culture and history infuse Rotorua life. The town of Rotorua, on the shores of Lake Rotorua, is home to the Te Arawa iwi - one of New Zealand’s larger Maori tribes. A third of Rotorua's population is Maori. Te Puia, an important Maori culture centre, has visitor experiences covering traditional art forms, carving and weaving, storytelling, and authentic cultural performances.
3. FOOD & WINE
New Zealand has some of the best quality food and wine in the world.
Marlborough, on the top of the South Island, is the country’s biggest wine region and world renowned for its sauvignon blanc. In the lower South Island, the Central Otago region is known for its incredible pinot noir. The North Island’s Hawke’s Bay region produces beautiful syrah while nearby Martinborough has a reputation for fine reds. Waiheke Island, in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, was named on Lonely Planet’s top regions to visit in 2016.
The Awatere Valley in Marlborough is home to some of the world's best Sauv Blanc
Throughout New Zealand fresh seafood, artisan products and incredible farmer’s markets are always nearby. Whether it is manuka honey or oysters, the food in New Zealand is an incredible experience in itself.
Mahurangi Oysters
4. CYCLING
Nga Haerenga or The New Zealand Cycle Trail is a network of fantastic, well maintained trails catering to beginner and expert cyclists.
Cycling is a popular New Zealand sport, and there are many destinations that offer visitors a chance to get to know the real New Zealand - fresh air, wildlife and songbirds, tasty regional fare and friendly locals. From the challenging Alps 2 Ocean trail (the longest of the trails) to the leisurely Tasman Great Taste’s Trail there is something for everyone. Serious mountain bikers aren’t forgotten with the Old Ghost Road track on the South Island’s West Coast waiting to test the most competent of riders.
5. RECREATIONAL SPORTS
New Zealand is a hub for many popular recreational activities and offers some world class experiences and facilities.
Golf courses can be seen everywhere in New Zealand, and in fact only one other country has more courses per capita. World-class courses like Cape Kidnappers (Hawke’s Bay), Kauri Cliffs (Northland) and Jack’s Point (Queenstown) to name a few, provide unique, unforgettable golf in stunning environments.
New Zealand’s lakes and rivers are great spots to land your first trout and the coastal waters are a fisherman’s playground. Blue cod await in the South Island, while the Northland region is a popular game-fishing destination.
Auckland is known as the ‘city of sails’ and the sheltered waters of the Waitemata Harbour make it an ideal location for sailing. Visit one of the many islands around Auckland including Waiheke. Four hours’ drive north of Auckland is the Bay of Islands, a beautiful sub-tropical destination with more than 140 islands waiting to be discovered.
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6. WALKING/ HIKING
Much like the New Zealand Great Rides, there is an equally spectacular Great Walks network.
Energetic hikers can discover glacier-carved valleys and traverse mountain passes, while more sedate day-walkers can explore golden beaches, bush walks and other sites of scenic, historic and cultural interest.
Nine walks currently make up the Great Walks network and they can be found all over the country. Popular tracks include Milford Track, The Kepler, The Routeburn and the Tongariro Northern Circuit. In addition to the multi day walks there are popular day walks such as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Pouakai Crossing both located in the central North Island.
7. NATURE & ECOTOURISM
Recognised for its clean and green environment, New Zealand is a rich combination of beautiful landscapes; from vast mountain chains to grand volcanoes, sweeping coasts and deep fjords, lush rainforests, grassy plains, rich thermal areas and expansive beaches.
The wilderness of Stewart Island, the country’s third-largest island, offers one of the best chances to spot New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, in its natural habitat. With 400 full-time residents, Stewart Island is sparsely populated in human terms but add in an estimated 20,000 Stewart Island brown kiwi - just one of the many native bird species living on the island - and birds outnumber humans many times over.
Walking on a West Coast glacier is a New Zealand must-do for visitors. The Franz Josef is a glacier located on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The glacier is 12km long and, together with Fox Glacier which lies 20km to the south, it is unique as it descends from the mountains to just 240 metres above sea level. The area surrounding the two glaciers is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. AVIATION
One of the best ways to see New Zealand is from the sky and there are plenty of opportunities for a bit of ‘flight seeing’. Auckland Seaplanes offer an exciting trip to Waiheke Island, taking off from Wynyard Wharf in downtown Auckland and landing in gorgeous Man O’ War Bay after a flight over the Waitemata Harbour. The Man O’ War vineyard awaits offering a first-class wine-tasting experience and a spot of lunch before returning to Auckland.
Over the Top Helicopters, based in Queenstown, have several memorable experiences. Whether it’s golf on the side of a mountain, a glacier landing or a picnic on a peak, Over The Top will make it happen.
9. LUXURY & ROMANCE
Luxury and romance go hand in hand and New Zealand has got both covered. Seascape – an ultra-modern luxury retreat in a private seaside setting – sets a new standard in utterly romantic getaways. Constructed in glass, stone and turf to blend into the wild coastal landscape, this intimate award-winning villa has been unashamedly designed and furnished for romance. The jewel in the crown of the Annandale Farm Escape & Luxury Villa collection, Seascape is located on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand’s South Island.
Wharekauhau Country Estate, on a 5000-acre working sheep station overlooking Palliser Bay, in the Wairarapa north of Wellington is a great example of Edwardian grandeur. The view of the dramatic coastline is undoubtedly exclusive to New Zealand. Exploring nature, soft adventure (horse trekking, archery, clay bird shooting, golf) and indulging in food and wine, spas and quiet relaxation attract
Seascape at Annandale on Banks Peninsula
Credit: Annadale.com
10. STARGAZING
In the Mackenzie Basin, nestled in the foothills of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where the stars twinkle brightly in a crystal-clear night sky that makes the heavens appear closer to earth, astrotourism is booming.
The skies above the surrounding region, which includes the country’s highest peak Aoraki Mt Cook, have been officially declared a gold-rated International Dark Sky Reserve. Covering 4300sq km over Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park and the Mackenzie Basin, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve forms the world’s largest such reserve.
Star features to look out for include the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds, and satellite galaxies to the Milky Way that are only visible in the southern hemisphere.
