I think you’re tired of all the cliches considering you’re here, and maybe, you’re looking for something ‘NEW’, with a little bit more ‘ZEAL’?
If that led you here, to these two islands, split clean down the middle, built out of the stuff other countries only get in patches: glaciers, geysers, fjords, glowworm caves, I would never blame you. I mean, there’s a lot of wonderful things in New Zealand, but unless you've quit your job and moved here, you'll probably have ten to fourteen days, and you can’t see all of it.
Sorry for the truth bomb, but there’s no reason to be sad, that’s pretty much the case with most international holidays. So, if this is your first time here, here are 13 things I've carefully picked that comfortably fit into a ten to fourteen day itinerary, which are practical and worth your time on a first visit!
1. Wander Through the Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Descending into an underground world lit entirely by tiny bioluminescent glowworms clinging to the cave ceiling, glowing like a galaxy above a silent river, surely is one of the best experiences you can have in New Zealand. A guided tour takes you through these limestone chambers carved over millions of years, with the glowworm grotto itself best experienced by boat, gliding through in near-total darkness…
2. Step Into Hobbiton
The Shire is real, or at least, the one built for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies is, and it's still standing in the Waikato countryside. Wander past the round doors and green hillsides of Hobbiton Movie Set, finishing at the Green Dragon Inn for a pint that's very much part of the tour.
Not sure which experiences deserve a place on your itinerary? Connect with our travel experts and we'll help you build a New Zealand holiday that matches your interests and budget.
3. Sit Down for an Authentic Māori Cultural Experience
Between the Te Ra Guided Tour, the Te Po Evening Experience and a traditional Maori Hangi dinner, this is one of the more authentic things to do in New Zealand. Expect storytelling, traditional song and dance, and a meal slow-cooked underground using heated stones, a method that's been passed down for ages.
4. Explore Rotorua's Geothermal Side
Rotorua is full of bubbling mud pools, steaming vents and geysers. Pohutu Geyser alone erupts multiple times an hour, and alongside all that, the town sits next to sites like Te Puia, where Māori culture and craftsmanship are on full display.
Also while you’re at it, stop at the Kiwi Conservation Centre to spot New Zealand's famously shy national bird. Bring a good pair of shoes and don't be surprised by the faint smell of sulphur, you'll get used to it eventually.
5. Walk Napier's Art Deco Streets
After a devastating 1931 earthquake, Napier rebuilt itself almost entirely in the Art Deco style of the era, and the result is one of the most complete collections of 1930s architecture anywhere in the world. A guided walking tour is a must thing to do here as it brings out details you'd otherwise miss, from pastel façades to geometric flourishes on buildings most visitors would simply walk straight past…
Prefer a journey that's designed around your interests and dates? Discover our tailor-made tours to New Zealand and let us create one just for you.
6. Cross the Cook Strait by Ferry
The Interislander ferry runs between Wellington and Picton, crossing the Cook Strait before winding through the Marlborough Sounds, a stretch of drowned valleys and forested inlets. The crossing takes around 3.5 hours. Also, step outside for the Sounds section, since the views are close on both sides and the glass windows tend to wash out the colours and cut the scale down compared to standing on deck.
7. Drive the Pacific Coast via Kaikoura and Arthur's Pass
The coastal stretch through Kaikoura brings magnificent sea cliffs and, with any luck, a sperm whale sighting offshore, before the route turns inland and climbs through the mountain scenery of Arthur's Pass National Park. That’s a lot of scenery in one drive, trust me.
If you're still deciding where to spend your time, our guide to the best places to visit in New Zealand will point you in the right direction.
8. Stand Before Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
On the wild West Coast of the South Island, these twin glaciers sit astonishingly close to sea level and the coastline itself, a rare setting that makes them some of the most accessible glaciers on the planet!
Both can be viewed from marked walking tracks that get you within a reasonable distance of the ice for free, though the closest views these days come from a scenic flight or a guided heli-hike, since the glaciers have retreated too far up their valleys for ground access alone.
9. Ride the Skyline Gondola in Queenstown
A few minutes in the gondola is all it takes to change lakeside streets for fantastic views over Lake Wakatipu and the jagged Remarkables range. It's one of the easiest ways to get a proper view of Queenstown from above without lacing up your hiking boots.
And at the top there's also a luge track, a restaurant, and a few short walking trails if you want to stay up there a while longer…
10. Take It Easy in Queenstown Or an Optional Milford Sound
Queenstown isn't only about adrenaline, spending a day doing very little here works just as well. But if you’re in Queenstown on a free day, and would rather use it for something scenic instead, take a day trip out to Milford Sound with waterfalls, fiords, and cliffs that go straight up from the water. It's an early start and a long day, but easily one of the best day trips in New Zealand if you've got the time for it.
11. Take In Aoraki/Mt. Cook and Lake Pukaki
Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, sits right at the head of Lake Pukaki, and the lake's clear blue water makes room for one of the most photographed views in the country. It's an easy stop if you're driving between Christchurch and Queenstown, and worth the short detour off the main road to get down to the lakeshore for the photo!
12. Visit Lake Tekapo and the Dark Sky Project
By day, you can relax beside the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and the small stone Church of the Good Shepherd on its shore. But as twilight approaches, this becomes one of the best stargazing destinations on Earth, thanks to the Dark Sky Project(and of course dark skies), which uses observatory-grade telescopes to bring the Southern Hemisphere's night sky into sharp focus!
13. Explore the International Antarctic Centre
Right in Christchurch, this is your chance to experience a taste of Antarctica without the extreme travel logistics. Meet rescued little blue penguins, brave a simulated Antarctic storm, and take a bumpy ride aboard a Hägglund all-terrain vehicle, all in one afternoon!
Ready to Build This Into Your Trip?
Every one of these experiences already features in our carefully curated New Zealand group tour packages, so you don't have to piece any of this together yourself. From glowworms to glaciers, these are some of the most unique things to do in New Zealand that should make it into your itinerary if you're travelling for the first time. And if you're looking for more fun things to do in New Zealand, you'll find them in our New Zealand tour packages from India.
