5 Great Reasons To Visit New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. With its snow-capped mountains, ancient glaciers, rolling hills, and copious amounts of wine, it’s a destination unlike all others.

Here are the favorite places to visit and things to do in New Zealand that you shouldn’t miss:

1. Explore Abel Tasman National Park

Stepping into Abel Tasman on the South Island is in some ways like stepping into Thailand. The beautiful beaches and azure water feel like they belong in the tropics, not New Zealand. The hiking is beautiful, with giant ferns, huge, lush trees, and a temperate climate. It’s also home to the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk, a 60-kilometer (37-mile) hike that’s one of the 9 Great Walks of New Zealand.

The park covers over 23,876 hectares (59,000 acres), and even though it’s the country’s smallest national park, there’s a ton to see here. If you want to explore the park beyond its hiking trails, rent a kayak. That way, you can visit the tiny coves and beaches that make the area so special. Full-day rentals start at around 85 NZD, or you can join a guided kayaking tour starting at 130 NZD.

The park is best as an overnight or multi-day trip as it’s too far from Nelson to really do it justice in a day trip.

2. Glacier Trekking on Fox and Franz Josef

Everyone visits Franz Josef for one reason: the glaciers. Hiking the glaciers here lives up to the hype and is an unforgettable experience. Because the glaciers have receded and are melting quickly due to climate change, the glacier caves and walks have been shut down.

At present, the only way to trek on the glaciers now is via heli-hike (a half-day or full-day helicopter/hiking experience). They are expensive (485-499 NZD) but the helicopter ride, trekking, and whole experience are worth the price in my opinion.

Conversely, you can just go on a helicopter tour without the hiking (they last about twenty minutes and start at around 225 NZD) or just hike to the glacier face and take photos from a distance.

3. Do an Extreme Sport

New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world, where most people blow their budget on a wide range of exciting activities, from bungy jumping (which was invented by a Kiwi) to skydiving to white-water rafting

There are a million activities to choose from: you can skydive basically anywhere; Queenstown is home to Shotover jets (rocket-like boats that zip on shallow rivers), ziplines, and bungy jumps; and there’s caving, zorbing, transalpine hiking, paragliding, and so much more. If it can be done outdoors, it can be done in New Zealand.

Here are some prices for activities to help you budget and plan, with prices varying depending on where you go and length of the experience.

4. Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Considered the best day hike in all of New Zealand, this 19-kilometer (12-mile) trek traverses epic landscape as it winds through Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage Site (designated for both its natural and cultural importance). One of the Great Walks of New Zealand, the path also takes you through where they filmed Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. It’s easy in parts (the beginning and end) and steep in others (especially the portion after “Mount Doom”) so you’ll get a good mix of difficulty levels.

However, even if you aren’t a strong hiker (and I am not), the Tongariro Crossing is easily completed in a day (it usually takes between 6-8 hours). Trekking through this otherworldly, red-colored environment of volcanoes and sulfur was the highlight of my whole time in New Zealand.

Be sure to bring water, sunscreen, a hat, toilet paper, and a sweater or jacket (the weather can change rapidly)

5. Learn About Maori culture

The Maori were the original inhabitants of New Zealand, arriving from Polynesia between 1320-1350. I’ve loved learning about their history and culture (especially after seeing the movie Whale Rider. It’s incredible. Watch it!). They are a friendly and proud people.
Rotorua is usually the best city to see Maori cultural shows, though there are other noteworthy sites around the country, including the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Tane Mahuta in Bay of Islands and the Te Papa museum in Wellington.

Shows usually last around 2.5-3 hours and include a tour of a traditional village, performances, and a meal. Tickets range from 150-250 NZD.