New Zealand is an exciting destination in the southern hemisphere with an exciting scope for many of the best things to do in New Zealand. It will treat you to experiences that are both real world and surreal in nature, blending its great natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and culinary delights.
Let us know something about the unique geographic features of New Zealand. This island country in the South Pacific Ocean lies more than 1,600 km southeast of Australia.
There are two main islands in New Zealand: the North and the South Islands, in addition to a number of small islands. The capital city Wellington is on the South Island, but the largest metropolis, Auckland, is on the North Island.
New Zealand draws millions of visitors for its profound scenic beauty borne by the huge diversity of its landmass. There are active volcanoes, long sandy beaches, deep glacier lakes, spectacular caves, verdant valleys, dazzling fjords, and snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps. Also, New Zealand is the sole home of the long-beaked Kiwi, the national bird and a very popular nickname of the New Zealanders.
There are epic national parks, urban delights of Auckland and Wellington, outdoor adventures around Queenstown, cycling at Otago’s historic towns and picturesque landscapes, or spotting the country’s iconic national bird kiwi on Stewart Island, to name a few.
Once you have initiated the basic steps for the New Zealand tour, starting with speaking to your trusted travel company for the New Zealand visit from Dubai, you have to turn your attention to the various attractions in New Zealand and the best activities you can do there.
After the procedures for a New Zealand visa from Dubai are set in motion, now work out a meaningful itinerary in accordance with your budget and time available for the trip, incorporating your tastes, preferences, and interests.
Let us now dive into the best things to do in New Zealand.
South Africa has a diverse platter of attractions—exotic safaris, picturesque deserts, beautiful cities, or sunny beaches. Many call it the World in One Country, indicating its profound geographical diversity. The landscape blends rich wildlife, breathtaking deserts, and excellent museums.The cities like Cape Town and Durban are melting pots of cultures and cuisines.
The harbor capital of Wellington is the ideal urban destination to balance and complement adventures in Aotearoa’s great outdoors. Explore the city’s pioneering craft beer heritage at local breweries, including Garage Project, Heyday, and Parrotdog. Movies like The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were shot here. The capital is also famous for its appreciation of good coffee with its award-winning baristas, plus a vibrant arts and live music scene with so many free events. The Beervana craft beer festival is in August, and Wellington on a Plate (WOAP), the annual culinary celebration, is also great.
A majority of the New Zealand tourists head to Franz Josef in South Island for watching the alluring glaciers and experiencing the thrill of hiking. They love it even if the expedition is expensive, including the costs of helicopter rides and trekking. But it is worth the price.
In New Zealand, people blow money on a range of exciting activities, including bungy jumping, incidentally pioneered by a New Zealander. Other sought-after activities include skydiving, whitewater rafting, caving, zorbing, transalpine hiking, ziplining, paragliding, and much more.
The confluence of two harbours and situated on the sprawling remnants of more than 50 long-inactive volcanoes, Auckland is New Zealand's biggest cosmopolitan city. Do visit the weekly Otara and Avondale markets to taste Pacific and Asian cuisine. If the tour is timed with important cultural events, the festivities of Pasifika, the Lantern Festival, Diwali, etc. can be immersive encounters. The multicultural population, amazing beaches, gorgeous wine, and a fabulous dining scene make it splendid for any visitor.
The earthquake in 1931 devastated the Hawke’s Bay cities of Napier and Hastings, but they were rebuilt under contemporary architectural styles. The region amazes with best-preserved art deco and Spanish Mission architectural models. You will love Napier’s Norfolk pine-trimmed Marine Parade, a cluster of art deco buildings teeming with cross-cultural influence of traditional Māori design motifs. Hawke’s Bay is also important as the starting point of winemaking in New Zealand in the 1850s. There are well-established vineyards and excellent winery restaurants to look for. Go on a bike tour and explore them.
Nowhere else in New Zealand can you see options for adrenaline-fueled adventure activities as in Queenstown. The beautiful lake and sub-alpine scenery are the best setting for a bungy jump. Other thrill rides are Oxbow Adventures’ exciting combo of jet-sprint boats reaching up to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and extreme 4WD off roading. After the action, head to Altitude Brewing’s lakeside location for great beers and tasty local food. Also take a boat ride on Lake Wānaka to explore the bird sanctuary of Mou Waho.
Engage with New Zealand’s Māori culture and expect greetings in the Te Reo Māori language. Do visit the Auckland Museum and Waikato Museum, where centuries-old Māori treasures are on display. In Rotorua and surrounding areas, there are tribal families who entertain visitors with cultural performances like haka dance. To the southeast of Rotorua, there is the isolated logging town of Murupara. Here the family-owned Kohutapu Lodge has facilities for excursions to catch tuna fish, visit historic Māori rock art sites, and hike through the existing last prehistoric forests named Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park.
Hiking or tramping is a standard activity in New Zealand for both locals and tourists. The well-established wilderness tracks, shelters, and campsites make the trekking very exciting. You can try out the meandering forest trails of the Rakiura Track on Stewart Island and the beach-fringed Abel Tasman Track in the Nelson region. Tongariro National Park has many popular trails for a single-day wilderness experience soaking in views of volcanic craters, beautiful lakes, and the sprawling Plateau.
At the southern tip of the South Island, the Stewart Island, locally called Rakiura, is an inviting location, housing a rugged community of 400 people with the land protected by Rakiura National Park. Stewart Island and the adjacent islet of Ulva are home to rare hoiho penguins and sweet-singing bellbirds. Go for an evening expedition with local operators and see Aotearoa's beloved national bird on beaches and forests.
If you visit New Zealand from March to September, watch for aurora australis (southern lights), which actually inspired Stewart Island's Māori name Rakiura, or “glowing skies.”
The nutrient-rich waters of the Kaikōura Canyon off the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island have a high concentration of various whale species. Enjoy a boat trip with Whale Watch Kaikōura to see up close humpback, orca, southern right, and pilot whales. You will also get to see many resident marine mammals, such as sperm whales, dolphins, and kekeno, or New Zealand seals.
For the young, Ninety Mile Beach is a great adventure. Long distances of white sand will dazzle at this northern tip of the North Island. Popular activities include surfing the left-hand breaks and bodyboarding down the giant sand dunes. It is a heart-pumping and soul-singing activity. But care for the unexpected traffic on the sand as it is an official highway. Make sure to take experienced guides as drivers for safe commuting.
Head to the lush surrounds of the Bay of Islands, and it will make you feel like a wealthy sanctuary of perfect beaches, deserted islands, and secluded inlets accessible to everyone. Take a boat or a kayak to immerse in this paradise. Paddle to the ‘Hole in the Rock’ on Piercy Island and search New Zealand’s marine life. Watch dolphins, whales, fur seals, and penguins in this area of New Zealand.
Rangitoto Island in New Zealand is one of the youngest volcanos. The uninhabited scenic island has thriving native birdlife. A daily ferry service will take you to the island and spend the day exploring the various walks, including the popular summit track. The steep track with its breathtaking 360 views over Auckland and its islands is a crowning New Zealand tour experience. One unique way of experiencing Rangitoto Island is taking an evening guided kayak tour to watch the sun setting from the summit and then paddling back across the Waitemata harbour under the stars. Make sure to book your kayak tour in advance.
Waiheke Island is perfect for a day trip from Auckland City and accessible by ferry too. Here the beaches are nice, and the region is also home to award-winning winemakers with nearly 30 vineyards spread on the 92-square-kilometer island. You can go on a wine tour to popular vineyards or stay for a couple of days in a holiday villa and sample the wines on island time.
New Zealand is home to a colossal squid display in the world. Wellington’s Te Papa Museum houses the 470 kg specimen. Brand Giapo has recreated the squid into an edible item, retaining the artistic looks. Giapo has been famous for creating the most incredible ice cream in the world, and their latest creation, the Colossal Squid, is a testament to it. Visit Giapo’s Auckland store for a great dessert experience. Head downtown to taste an amazing range of flavours, including vegan varieties, and it will be your compulsive visiting spot in any New Zealand trip.
Visit Auckland’s highest volcanic cone, Mount Eden. A fairly steep walk helps you garner a view of a 50-meter-deep crater revered as a sacred place. Observe the attraction from above rather than walking into it. You will also see the relics of an ancient Māori village on the way back and the Eden Gardens too as a tranquil oasis in the bustling city.
Cathedral Cove is one of the best places in New Zealand on the North Island. It is also known by the name Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve as a desolate spot on the Coromandel Peninsula. Plan a boat trip to explore the caves and cliffs and know more about the area’s history. Kayaking gives a more intimate experience.
Hamilton Gardens in North Island is an award-winning attraction with its multifarious themes and design. For the visitor, walking through the gardens is like a tour around the world. It houses zen-like spaces in the Japanese garden, pungent aromas in the Chinoiserie Garden, the flavour of Italy in the Renaissance Garden, and you will see Māori food production methods in the Te Parapara Garden.
Hobbiton in New Zealand is a popular attraction in the North Island and one of the most unique things to do in New Zealand. As you step inside the movie set, you will be transformed into the real experience of Middle Earth. It is a real-life movie set featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. As you roam around the shire, you will be in awe of the skills and effort that went into making this fairytale-like magical place.
There are umpteen New Zealand tour packages with varied itineraries; they can be customized by focusing on one island—South or North—or a composite tour of both islands.
A sample North Island adventure itinerary can be a week-long expedition. It can take you through several places in a week. Usually, it starts with the arrival at the capital, Wellington. The city tour explores delights such as its cafés, art centres, and museums.
You can do wine tasting in Martinborough and watch the scenic beauty of film locales captured in movies like The Lord of the Rings. A visit to the promontory Cape Palliser on the southern coast, nearly 50 km from Wellington, is an important activity. Also, do not miss Putangirua Pinnacles, which is an hour's drive from Martinborough.
The next two days will go into exploring Tongariro National Park and geothermal Rotorua before heading to Auckland. The nearby must-see places include the Matamata and the Hobbiton there.
Rotorua city in the North Island will be special. Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity and Māori cultural tourism. Located on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua, it is part of the Bay of Plenty and the second-largest city after Tauranga.
The visit to Wai-o-Tapu becomes memorable for its picturesque pools of vibrantly coloured water borne by the activity of natural minerals. There are coloured geysers, flat walking paths, and an array of geothermal formations to make the place very spectacular.
The final leg of the tour is reaching Auckland with at least 3 hours of driving and seeing the city’s attractions, shopping, etc. before heading home with great Kiwi memories.
