20 Unmissable Places to Visit in New Zealand On Your First Trip

When it comes to amazing scenery, relaxed pace of life, incredible wine, and unique wildlife experiences, you just can’t beat what New Zealand has to offer.



There are so many amazing places to visit in New Zealand, that planning your first trip there can become mighty stressful.



With the sheer diversity of its landscapes, the pristine environment, and the small towns filled with friendly people, separating the must-visit places from the nice-to-visit places is not an easy task.



The entire country is just so beautiful, we know how overwhelming it is planning a trip here.



A stunning sunset in Milford Sound



That’s why we’ve written this guide, so you can be sure to tick off the very best of the airy mountain tops, stunning beaches, and iconic landmarks, so you can have the best trip possible.



The Best Places To Visit In New Zealand: South Island



1. Milford Sound







Milford Sound is one of those places you simply can’t miss when you visit New Zealand.



Located in Fiordland National Park, about a 4 hours’ drive from Queenstown, Milford Sound is often referred to as the 8th wonder of the word, and after visiting a few times I must say that I totally agree!



Boat cruises are the best way to explore Milford Sound, but there are also other options such as kayaking trips or scenic flights.



The most common way to travel to Milford Sound is via a scenic coach tour and cruise from Queenstown. This day trip involves a lot of driving and usually runs for 13 hours – but if you only have a short time in NZ, it’s the best way to do it without driving yourself.



However, if you want an even better experience you can actually stay in Milford Sound or do a Milford Sound overnight cruise!



These allow you to see Milford once the tourists have left and appreciate the quiet place it once was.



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Check out these popular tours of Milford Sound !





2. Queenstown







I called Queenstown home for seven months and I loved every second of it.



Queenstown doesn’t have to break the bank either, there are so many free or cheap things to do it’s crazy. That being said, Queenstown is well-known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, so thrill seekers will want to save time and money to visit here.



There are tons of adventure sports you can do from here, such as skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoning, jet boating, skydiving, and bungee jumping – all world class!



In Queenstown, there is also a huge range of stunning hiking trails suited to all fitness levels.



If you’re keen to tackle one of the harder hikes then consider hiking to Ben Lomond Summit. This 8-hour hike isn’t for the faint hearted but from the top, the views are out of this world!



For a shorter hike, I recommend Queenstown Hill. This hike only takes around 2-hours return and leads you to spectacular views overlooking Queenstown.



Queenstown’s not just about adrenaline filled activities though, and there are plenty of the finer things in life to enjoy such as a wine tour through the stunning Gibbston Valley or a scenic cruise on the famous Lake Wakatipu!



With so much to offer, its no wonder this town of 28,000 people sees over 3.2 million visitors every year!



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Check out these tours of Queenstown here!





3. Franz Josef Glacier







The west coast is one of the best places to explore if you love nature, and at the center of it is Franz Josef, a small town known for the plethora of hiking trails to explore.



From the trails that lead to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers to the peaceful Franz Josef Hot Pools, this small town is quite the place to explore!



One of my favorite hikes is the Lake Matheson Walk. This short 2-hour walk leads to one of the most amazing views. From the viewpoint, the Southern Alps reflect perfectly off the lake.



I’m not the only one who thinks this trail is amazing though, so to avoid the crowds be sure to set off at sunrise when it’s less crowded and the water is more likely to be still!



No trip to Franz Josef would be complete without a visit to one of the two very accessible glaciers in the region.



Both the Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier are located within 15-minutes of the town and both have short 1-hour hikes that lead to viewpoints of the glacier.



These viewpoints once walked right to the face of the glacier, however, in recent years both glaciers have retreated massively.



With that said you can still catch a glimpse of the glaciers from the viewpoints.



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Check out these tours of Franz Josef here!  





4. Mount Cook National Park







If I had to rank my favorite National Parks in New Zealand, Mount Cook would be number one!



Not only is the park easily accessible, but the one-hour drive from the main highway to Mount Cook Villages is, in my opinion, the most beautiful drive in New Zealand.



Once you arrive in the village the park just keeps getting better and now it’s time to ditch the car and explore Mount Cook’s stunning hiking trails.



The two most popular trails are the Hooker Valley Track and the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint.



The Hooker Valley leads to the Hooker Lake at the base of Mount Cook – New Zealand’s tallest mountain. This trail takes around 3 hours return and is a very well maintained and easy, flat trail.



The Tasman Glacier lookout is even shorter and the hike to the Tasman River mouth only takes around 10-minutes one way. From the river mouth, you can look out at the Tasman Lake and watch icebergs float towards the river and see the Tasman Glacier.



If you’re after even more adventure then the Mueller Hut is a great choice. The Mueller Hut is an alpine hut situated near the Mueller glacier high above the valley floor.



The hut sits at an elevation of 1,800m and the hike there takes 5 hours one way. The hut has 36 beds for hikers.



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Check out these tours of Mount Cook here!





5. Christchurch



Image by Depositphotos



Christchurch is the largest city in the New Zealand South Island. However, despite its large city feel, it’s actually a really cool place to visit and doesn’t feel chaotic or bustling .



Some of the best things to do in Christchurch include exploring the epic street art or visiting the Canterbury Earthquake National Museum.



For the best street art check out Brockworth Street. Here, you can find the Brockworth Street Art Gallery and it’s where some of the best murals in the city are located!



Another cool activity you can do is take the gondola up to Mount Cavendish. The gondola is 1km long and at the top of Mount Cavendish, you can enjoy stunning views of the city.



If your feeling more adventurous, then from the top you can explore some of Christchurch’s best hiking trails such as the Crater Rim Trail and Bridal Path.



Moving further out of the city you’ll find even more amazing places to explore. The Godly Head hiking trail is arguably the most popular and spectacular. This trail hugs the rocky coastline and from the cliffs, you can spot a range of natural wildlife including dolphins and penguins.



During certain times of the year and with a little luck on your side, you can even see whales (June to July) or Orcas (November to February).



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Check out these tours of Christchurch here!





6. The Catlins



Bridal Veil Falls



The Catlins Region is one of the most underrated places in New Zealand. Located in the very south of the South Island, between Invercargill and Balclutha, the Catlin’s is a place filled with stunning waterfalls and forests, and of course an abundance of wildlife.



One of my favorite places in Catlin’s is Curio Bay, one hours drive from Invercargill. At Curio Bay, you can see not one, but two penguin species! They are the Little Penguin, and one of the rarest penguins in the world, the Yellow-Eyed Penguin.



The Yellow-Eyed Penguin can be hard to spot, and in fact, the only chance you’ll get to see them is at sunset when they head home after a day catching fish.



There is a lookout at Curio Bay for this and it’s a really cool thing to see.



If you’re satisfied with just spotting a Little Penguin then you’re in luck. At night can you usually find these guys walking around the Curio Bay Campsite.



As mentioned, it’s also a great place to see waterfalls and some of the best that you need to check out are Koropuku and Mclean Falls.



Mclean Falls is super popular and you’ll often see large crowds of people visiting, however, Koropuku Falls is almost unknown and I personally think that it is far more beautiful.



7. Marlborough Sounds







The Marlborough Sounds is located at the very top of the South Island across the Tasman Sea from Wellington . The town of Picton is known as a gateway to the islands and inlets.



Marlborough Sounds is another place that showcases New Zealand’s abundance of wildlife.



From birds to marine life, it’s one of the best places to visit for na ture lovers!



The most popular way to explore the sounds is on a boat cruise. These cruises head out to explore the small islands and rugged coastlines in search of fur seals, rare birds, and even Kiwis (the bird – not the fruit or the people!)



Of course, it’s almost impossible to spot a Kiwi bird during the day but if you’re lucky enough you may witness the DOC (Department of Conservation) releasing Kiwis into the wild on one of the predator-free islands in the Marlborough Sounds.



The DOC use these islands to raise the birds in the wild until they are one-year-old and big enough to survive on the mainland.



This increases there survival rate from 5% to over 80%!



On the predator-free islands, you can also see Little Penguins nesting. As you explore the island your guide will check the nesting stations on the island in hopes to spot one.



Of course, the middle of the day is fishing time for Penguins so you’ll only see one if they’re being a little lazy!



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Check out these tours of Marlborough Sounds here!





8. Kaikoura







Kaikoura is a beautiful little town located on the east coast just north of Christchurch.



Although out of the way on most visitor’s itinerary in New Zealand, this place is well worth checking out for one major attraction – swimming with the world’s smallest dolphin, the Hector Dolphin.



When it comes to wildlife interactions New Zealand is one of the most ethical places to do it. With strict laws in place to protect the dolphins, it is a great experience that you don’t have to feel bad about.



Dolphins are so common in the area you don’t even need to do a tour to have an encounter and a trip to one of the many beaches could give you the experience you wanted for free.



Aside from the dolphins, you can also enjoy the stunning beaches and see other marine life. You can go on whale-watching cruises, and also see stingrays, and Orcas.



Kaikoura isn’t as well established on the tourist route yet, so make sure you visit while it’s still a hidden gem!



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Check out these tours of Kaikoura here!





9. Doubtful Sound







If you enjoyed Milford Sound and want to see another beautiful fjord, then Doubtful Sound, also known as Sound of Silence, is the next best one.



It’s the deepest and second longest fjord on the South Island, but isn’t often visited because people favor Milford Sound.



Like Milford Sound, it has incredible scenery, but it feels less crowded and has an air of solitude about it.



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Check out these tours of Doubtful Sound here!





10. Abel Tasman National Park







Another amazing place to see New Zealand’s majestic wildlife, such as the fur seal, is Abel Tasman National Park.



This remote and wild park is known for its long-distance hike, the Abel Tasman Coast Track, which passes over beaches and mountain ridges, offering a chance to witness the sheer diversity of the region.



Don’t miss a chance to see the fur seal colony from Separation Point, and the Little blue penguins and bottlenose dolphins from Tonga Island Marine Reserve.



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Check out these tours of Abel Tasman National Park here!





Best Places to Visit in New Zealand: North Island



11. Hobbiton (Lord of the Rings Film Set) and Waikato







What is famous in New Zealand? Well, the Waikato region of NZ has shot to fame thanks to two extremely popular tourist attractions ; the Waitomo Caves and Hobbiton!



The famous film set used as The Shire in both the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit movies is a great place to explore and for some, the reason they traveled all the way to Middle Earth (NZ), to begin with.



At Hobbiton, you can take a range of tours like a Movie Set Guided Tour , some even involving an overnight stay.



However, the most common tour runs for around 2 hours in which you’ll get to explore the set with a guide and take some awesome photos while you’re there!



The Waitomo Caves are the most famous place to see glow worms in NZ, which you can see on a glow worm caves tour .



In my opinion, it was a little over touristic, but totally worth it once I got the see the worms.



On the classic tour, you’ll be guided through the cave before taking a short boat ride through an area with so many glow worms it’s actually out of this world!



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Check out these tours of Waikato here!





12. Kuirau Park Bubbling Mud Pools







Located in the town of Rotorua, in a central public park, is the bubbling mud pools. This unique phenomenon is caused by vigorous geothermal activity and geysers beneath the surface, and provide an awe-inspiring site.



You can’t get up too close to the pools, as there are safety fences around them, but you can still hear the hissing and witness the steam rising.



Occasionally, the geysers erupt quite aggressively. The last big eruption was in 2001, when football sized rocks were catapulted into the air. No one was hurt, but the spectacle was definitely a unique thing to witness for those who got to see it.



13. Waiheke Island



Waiheke island



A good way to experience the diversity of NZ is to explore the outlying islands. Waiheke Island is the second largest in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand and is just a ferry ride from central-city terminal in Auckland.



It’s famous for its wine and natural beauty.



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Check out these tours of Waiheke Island here!





14. The Coromandel Peninsula



Cathedral Cove



There aren’t that many things to do on the north island that are more iconic than visiting the Coromandel Peninsula.



From the moment you enter the peninsular the landscapes around you begin to change dramatically.



From stunning beaches, amazing hikes, and unique rock formations and sea stacks, the Coromandel Peninsula is a New Zealand must see!



One of the most famous activities you can do in Coromandel is to dig your own spa on Hot Water Beach . It sounds crazy, right? But thanks to three thermal vents you can dig a small hole that fills with hot water and create your own hot springs.



There is a catch though, and you need to do 2 hours either side of low tide. Any time after or before and the vents are under water.



Some other really cool places to check out are Cathedral Cove (a film location in the Narnia Films) and the Pinnacles hike.



The Pinnacles hike takes around 4-hours one way and if you want to break it up you can stay the night in the largest, and arguably the nicest, DOC hut in New Zealand.



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Check out these tours of Coromandel Peninsula here!





15. Northland







The Northland Region is one of the most popular destinations for the locals during  their summer holidays.



Not only do the beaches there rival those in places like Australia, but it is also its remote and somewhat uncharted vibe that draws people here.



The Bay of Islands is without a doubt the most popular places in the region, but to me, it’s not the best spot.



In fact, closer to Auckland, you can find even better beaches and attractions. One of my favorites is Matapouri Bay. The beach here is not only pristine but nearby you can swim in natural pools called the Mermaid Pools.



The pools sit in the reef between the sand and the ocean and provide the perfect spot to relax.



Another great place to visit is the Waipu Caves where you can see glow worms.



From the car park, you can explore the caves safely without a guide and wander into the darkness to see these amazing creatures light up the sky, or cave I should say.



I preferred this experience to other glow worm caves in New Zealand as it was much more personal and far less crowded!



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Check out these tours of Northland here!





16. Mt Taranaki



Sunrise at the Pouakai Tarn near the Pouakai Hut!



I fell in love with Mt Taranaki the very minute I saw her piercing above the clouds from the town of New Plymouth. This active volcano lies smack bang in the middle of nowhere and is one of those points of interest that  can be seen from miles away.



The funny thing is though, it’s often missed by tourists.



To me, there is no better way to see the volcano than from the Pouakai Hut. This small hut is situated around 6 km from the base of the volcano and offers a view like no other.



From the Pouaki Tarn (Alpine Lake), Mt Taranaki reflects perfectly from the surface making for one of the single most beautiful sites I have seen in New Zealand.



The other very popular hike in the area is the Mt Taranaki Summit. I personally have a lot of hiking experience and consider myself relatively fit, but wow this hike was a challenge! Overall it took 7 hours and was a struggle both up and down due to the steep rocky face of Mt Taranaki.



If you’re up for the challenge, it’s a m ust do in New Zealand!



17. Volcanic Beaches on the North West



Watching the nesting gannets at Muriwai Beach



Just west of Auckland are some of the most stunning black sand beaches, which are the remnants of the volcanic days that formed parts of the country.



The steep cliffs and rock formations are really amazing to see, and on top of that, they are covered in lush green vegetation that thrives in the mineral-rich soil.



There are two beaches among them that stand out to me, the first is Piha.



Most people take a Piha Beach day trip from Auckland , which is popular among surfers and people wanting to see this amazing coastline. It often very busy but to be honest it’s so beautiful you just have to see it!



Muriwai is the other beach and this place is special for its own reason – the Gannet Colony. Gannets are large sea birds who nest in large groups.



At Muriwai Beach there is a Gannet colony on the cliffs near the beach. During the months of October to March, the Gannets come to the cliffs at the beach and nest.



There is a boardwalk that takes you to the nesting area and you can get within meters of the colony.



It’s really an amazing experience well worth a visit.



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Check out these tours from Auckland here!





18. Tongariro National Park and Lake Taupo







Tongariro National Park, about 1.5 hours drive from Lake Taupo, is a World Heritage Site and home to three of New Zealand’s active volcanoes.



The last eruption occurred in 2012 on Mt Tongariro, but despite the regions active volcanoes, it’s still on many people’s bucket list when visiting New Zealand.



In the summer months, the park fills with keen hikers from all around the world, most of which come to complete the Tongariro Crossing .



The crossing is so popular that every year over 1 million people complete the trail! The hike itself takes between 8 to 10 hours and is only safe to hike in late spring to early autumn.



During winter, Tongariro National Park becomes a skier’s paradise. There are two ski resorts which are both on the active Mt Ruapehu. Both resorts offer skiing and snowboarding for all levels.



Another neat thing you can do all year round is go white water rafting on the Tongariro River. The Tongariro River is one of the countries most famous rivers and white water rafting this river is one of the t op things to do in New Zealand.



On the tour you take on 60 rapids over the course of only two hours – that’s one every 2 minutes!



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Check out these tours in Tongariro National Park here!





19. Raglan



Bridal Veil Falls



Raglan isn’t the most “wow this place is amazing,” but I included it in this guide as it’s a very relaxed beach town that just brings this amazing vibe to the streets. It’s a place you really want to be and never want to leave.



The most popular of things to do in Raglan is surf, and there is plenty of surfer friendly beaches for both beginners and more advanced surfers.



If surfing is not your thing then you could explore the nearby Bridal Veil Falls. This stunning waterfall is only a 10 minutes drive from town and is accessed by a stunning boardwalk.



Alternatively, simply hit the streets and enjoy the small cafes and bars that are always pumping under the New Zealand sun. Here you can find amazing places to eat and drink with all the quirky atmosphere a small beach town brings!



20. Hawke’s Bay Vineyards







Located on the Te Awanga coast, the Hawke’s Bay region is best known for being the premier wine growing region of New Zealand.



It’s packed with wineries and vineyards, and the best way to experience it is by bicycle. It’s mostly flat, so even if you’re not avid cyclers, you can find cycling quite easy going.



There is also a bike path via the coastal cycleway, which is easy to navigate.



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Check out these tours of Hawke’s Bay here!





Final Thoughts



Well, those are my top places to visit in New Zealand if it’s your first time to the country, especially if you love nature and amazing scenery.



I hope this helped you map out your itinerary and gave you some inspiration for places to check out.



Regardless of where you visit in NZ, you’re sure to have an amazing time. It’s such a beautiful country with so much to see!



More New Zealand Travel Tips




11 awesome things to do in Queenstown



Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand



15 Things To Do On New Zealand’s North Island



What to do in Wellington, New Zealand



Therapeutic Indulgence in Rotorua



Tamaki Maori Village, Rotorua – Sharing Maori Culture with the World



White Water Rafting the Tongariro River, Taupo New Zealand



Whangarei Falls – The Most Photogenic in New Zealand



Freakin Out – Experiencing Auckland’s SkyWalk



Discovering great beer and wine in Auckland, New Zealand




Tours of New Zealand







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Do you have any questions or tips about w hat to do in New Zealand? Share in the comments below!