Are you planning a trip to New Zealand?
With so many amazing attractions to visit, it can be hard to pick and choose which ones to see.
New Zealand is a land of stunning natural beauty with picturesque beaches, wonderful rivers and lakes, steep fiords and active volcanic zones, tempting pastures, forests and mountains.
It’s a dream destination and a once-in-a-life place to visit, so if you are planning to go there for the first time or you plan to return, take a look at our article below.
In this article, we will talk about the top 10 places in New Zealand you shouldn’t miss.
New Zealand is a fabulous destination all year round.
The best time to visit New Zealand depends on your own personal preferences.
New Zealand has four distinct seasons and each season has its own pros and cons.
Spring is from September-December when there is a mild climate and when many New Zealand natives prefer to go hiking. There also tends to be less crowds around during this season.
Summer is from December-March and is considered a good time to visit if you enjoy hot sunny weather. If you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, this is the season for you!
Autumn takes place from March to June. During Autumn there tends to be less crowds, especially on hiking trails and popular attractions. The weather is perfect for enjoying some outdoor activities in comfort.
Finally, the Winter in New Zealand takes place from June to September. Compared with the other seasons, Winter brings colder temperatures, less daylight and much less crowds. This is the best season to visit New Zealand if you are on a budget as many attractions offer discounted fares.
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and one of the best places to visit in the country.
The city is filled with amazing attractions to visit and cool experiences.
While in Auckland we recommend visiting the Auckland Art Gallery, the Bush and Beach Tours, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium, Great Barrier Island, Auckland Zoo, Waiheke Island, Waitakere Ranges, SkyTower.
Located in New Zealand’s South Island, Milford Sound is the only Fiord located in New Zealand that you can access from the road.
Formed by glaciers during the ice ages, Milford Sound can be explored in many different ways including a boat cruise, scenic flight and hiking to name a few.
The scenery of Milford Sound is truly spectacular and has remained unchanged throughout the years.
Lake Tekapo is a magnificent and energetic lake with an intense milky-turquoise colour.
An ideal spot to do some stargazing at night or dab your hand at some of the many activities on offer during the day.
You can enjoy the lure of salmon and trout fishing here, mountain biking, water sports, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, scenic flights and golf.
The third biggest city in New Zealand, Christchurch is a very scenic city with plenty of exciting sites to explore.
Some of the best places to visit here are the Cathedral Square, the Canterbury Museum, the Garden City, a journey in the Christchurch Gondola and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Boasting some stunning beaches and beautiful scenery, the Bay of Islands is not to be missed when in New Zealand.
If you enjoy water-based activities, you will love it here. It is one of the best places for fishing, watersports or sailing.
This region is made of 144 islands between Cape Brett and Purerua Peninsula.
While here, don’t miss the Hole in the Rock, an opening in a rock formation that you can sail through when the tide is right.
Queenstown is also known as the ‘Adventure Capital’ of New Zealand.
The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.
People visit Queenstown for bungy jumping, jet boating, canyoning, white water rafting.
It was initially known as ‘Canvas Town’ in the period of the gold-mining boom and then was renamed Queenstown because it was said to be ‘fit for the Queen’.
If you are in search of some adrenaline-pumping activities, Queenstown is not to be missed.
New Zealand’s most active volcano, the full name of the White Island is Te Puia o Whakaari or ‘The Dramatic Volcano’.
The Island was first called the White Island by Captain Cook because each time he sailed near it, it was covered with white steam and Cook never realized it was actually a volcano.
The surroundings and the scenery are surreal and certainly not to be missed.
This is a Maori heritage centre where you can get an authentic ‘steam box’ meal prepared by ancient geothermal cooking techniques, as well as ceremony and traditional song and dance performance.
This is also the home of the largest active geyser, pretty cool right?
You can also find some mud pools here which are natural attractions in the geothermal valley with a boiling pool temperature of more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Located on New Zealand’s North Island, the Waitomo Caves are a must for anyone travelling to New Zealand.
You can enjoy these caves by boat or foot or even try the Black Water Rafting which is a truly unique and eccentric experience.
The glowworms are exclusive to New Zealand, radiating their luminescent light in the Cave.
Last but not least, we have our final place in New Zealand which is Marlborough, the magnificent wine country.
If you’re a wine-lover, you will definitely want to take a trip here while in New Zealand.
Here you can enjoy the finest wines, the tastiest and freshest seafood while taking in the wonderful scenic landscapes.
So that’s it, the top 10 places that are not to be missed when you’re in New Zealand.
If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand to visit some of these awesome places, you may require a visa.
Whether it’s a working holiday visa or the New Zealand ETA you want to apply for, the easiest way to apply is with Visa First.
We have over 17 years of experience securing visas for our customers.
Our visa experts will handle your application from start to finish.
All you have to do is fill out our short online application form, provide the relevant documents and we will take care of the rest.
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