It might have been the popularity of The Lord of the Rings movies that put New Zealand on the map, but it's the enchanting landscapes, rich Maori heritage, and unforgettable natural wonders that keep travelers coming back. The North Island is home to New Zealand's capital, Wellington, and largest city, Auckland, but its real highlights lie outside the urban centers. Stroll the golden beaches of the Bay of Islands, journey to Middle Earth on a tour of the Hobbiton set, or cruise through the glowworm caves of Waitomo. Nearby, Rotorua is as renowned for its bubbling mud pools and lava fields as it is for its Maori culture, while farther south, the rocky peaks of Tongariro National Park form the backdrop to one of New Zealand's most rewarding hikes. A short ferry ride from Wellington lands you on the South Island, where the landscapes get wilder, the weather more temperamental, and the cities even more laid-back. Expect to spend most of your time outdoors, traveling from the sandy spit of Cape Farewell, past the windswept beaches of the West Coast, to the dramatic fjords of Milford Sound and the Fiordland National Park. Christchurch, revamped after the tragedy of the 2011 earthquake, is the main hub of the north, while the southern city of Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital, where thrill-seekers congregate to try skydiving, bungee jumping, white-water rafting, and ziplining.
New Zealand is famous for its mountainous scenery, geothermal geysers and mud pools, Maori culture, All Blacks rugby team, for being the filming location for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and its flightless national bird, the endangered kiwi.
...MoreMany consider the mountainous South Island to be the most beautiful part of New Zealand. Others think the beaches of Bay of Islands or Abel Tasman National Park are the most beautiful. What you think is the prettiest part depends on your interests and preferences, and the options are many.
...MoreMany find that seven days is enough to focus on one island (the North or the South islands), but prefer 10–14 days. How much time in New Zealand is enough depends on whether you want to focus on one of the main islands or cover the whole country.
...MoreThe top tourist attractions in New Zealand are its national parks: Fiordland National Park, Abel Tasman National Park, and Tongariro National Park in particular. Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, Aoraki Mt. Cook, Te Papa Museum, Rotorua, and the Hobbiton Movie Set are also among the most popular attractions.
...MoreNew Zealand is best known for its outdoor and adventure activities, as well as tours themed around The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing cruises, whale and dolphin watching, white-water rafting, jet boating, and kayaking are all popular activities that travelers to New Zealand enjoy.
...MoreYes, New Zealand is an expensive country to visit. Accommodations, activities, food, and transport costs in New Zealand are all relatively high, as is the high cost of long-haul international flights. And you’ll want to peek at exchange rates to see how that will affect your costs, too.
...MoreNumber of Attractions | 257 |
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Number of Tours | 1,782 |
Number of Reviews | 95,260 |
Currency | NZD |
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