Middle Earth? Is New Zealand actually in the middle of anything? It sits about as far from the middle of most maps as a country can get, into the bottom right corner of the world, closer to nothing than to everything!
Truth be told, the "Middle-earth" tag has nothing to do with geography at all; it comes down to a film crew, a fantasy trilogy, and a landscape so absurdly beautiful that Peter Jackson (director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) decided New Zealand could stand in for an imaginary continent better than a studio backlot. Middle-earth was J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional world he built for The Lord of the Rings decades before anyone had filmed a single frame there. New Zealand only inherited the label once Peter Jackson shot the trilogy almost entirely across the country's own mountains, forests and fjords.
If you've seen the trilogy, you already have some idea of what New Zealand looks like already. But that's really just a scratch on the surface of what's actually out there, plenty of it entirely outside anything Tolkien, or even Jackson, could ever have imagined. There are glaciers creeping right down toward the coastline, geothermal towns that smell faintly of sulphur, wine valleys, remote lagoons with more birds in them than people, beautiful cities and a lot more. So Middle-earth or not, here are the places to visit in New Zealand that you must add to your itinerary, whether you're deep into your Lord of the Rings phase or couldn't care less about hobbits.
1. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Nicknamed the cloud piercer, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand's tallest peak, rising 3,724 metres into the sky, and a fixture you can see on almost every serious New Zealand sightseeing list. The national park cradled at its base might well be the single most beautiful stretch of land in the country, an austere world of rock where the rumble of falling ice is almost never absent.
For a place this stunning, it's remarkably easy to reach, though that same accessibility means you'll rarely have the view entirely to yourself. A single day is generally enough to do it justice, and there's a handful of walking trails on offer, ranging from an easy amble to something more demanding, depending on how much your legs are willing to take on.
How to reach: Break your journey here on the drive between Christchurch and Queenstown, it sits almost exactly on that route, making it an easy stop rather than a detour.
Activities: Choose from a handful of walking trails suited to different fitness levels and appetites for adventure.
2. Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
Over on the West Coast of the South Island, twin glaciers Franz Josef and Fox share top billing. Westland Tai Poutini National Park, which holds them both, is boxed in by Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Southern Alps on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other, with the two glacier villages right in between.
Yes, both glaciers have retreated noticeably over the last decade, but the wider region hasn't lost an ounce of its wildness. Rainforest still drips in bright moss, obsidian-black lakes mirror the mountains above them, and if luck is on your side, you might spot the rounded fins of Hector's dolphins along the coast.
How to reach: Works well as a stop on a one-week South Island road trip, or as part of a two-week loop from Queenstown to Christchurch via the West Coast glaciers (a route so common among visitors that, back in the 70s and 80s, locals took to calling tourists "Loopies").
Activities: Go heli-hiking directly onto Franz Josef Glacier.
Not sure how to fit all of New Zealand's highlights into one trip? Connect with our destination experts and we'll help you put together an itinerary that makes sense for your time.
3. Queenstown
Queenstown is always among the top places to visit in New Zealand, and it earns that twice over: once for the town itself, around the shores of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables behind it, and again for the sheer volume of day trips within easy reach. This is also where New Zealand's adventure tourism was more or less built, so bungee jumping, jet boating and paragliding are all on tap if you're after an adrenaline hit, while the Skyline Gondola gets you the same jaw-dropping views without requiring quite as much nerve.
For a slower afternoon, Central Otago, right on Queenstown's doorstep, happens to be one of the country's best wine regions, particularly around Cromwell and the Gibbston Valley. You can hire bikes and pedal between cellar doors, or join a guided wine tour if you'd rather leave the logistics, and the navigating, to someone else (cycling after a generous tasting isn't quite the carefree activity it sounds like).
How to visit: Base yourself in Queenstown, see its highlights and treat the surrounding wine region as an easy half-day or full-day excursion.
Activities: Take on an adrenaline activity like bungee jumping, jet boating or paragliding, ride the Skyline Gondola for the view, or cycle and tour the vineyards around Cromwell and Gibbston Valley, with a stop at a smaller cellar door like Mt Rosa Wines or Kinross.
4. Rotorua
I can't really call Rotorua a hidden gem, since it's already on practically everyone's itinerary. This is one of the North Island's biggest draws, and one of the most reliable entries on any list of things to see in New Zealand. Geothermal activity bubbles up right through the town, Māori culture is visible almost everywhere you look, and there's a faint sulphur smell in the air that most people stop noticing after a day.
Te Puia lets you watch traditional Māori crafts and weaving take shape against a backdrop of the Pohutu Geyser, one of the southern hemisphere's largest active geysers, erupting on a near-constant loop. The Redwoods Treewalk takes you up into a canopy of towering sequoias on a network of suspended bridges, particularly good after dark when the lights come on. The Polynesian Spa sits right on the shores of Lake Rotorua, with its naturally heated mineral pools; a solid way to end a day of exploring.
How to visit: Rotorua sits around three hours south of Auckland via State Highway 1 and the Waikato, making it an easy stop on the way down through the North Island rather than a detour.
Activities: Visit Te Puia and the Pohutu Geyser, walk the Redwoods Treewalk, and unwind at the Polynesian Spa on Lake Rotorua.
Prefer to take the scenic route, stay a little longer or skip the places that don't interest you? Our tailor-made New Zealand tours let you shape the journey around your way of travelling.
5. Ōkārito: The Remote One
Ōkārito is about as far from a tourist trap as New Zealand gets. Home to just 30 permanent residents, this tiny village sits hemmed in by forest, sea cliffs, a sprawling lagoon and the Tasman Sea. There are no shops and no restaurants, only three small businesses: a boat tour, a kiwi-spotting tour and a kayak rental. You can grab a coffee at Okarito Kayaks, and that's about it.
The forest and coastal walking trails are worth it on their own, but for most visitors, the lagoon is the main attraction. As part of Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Ōkārito Lagoon is New Zealand's largest unmodified wetland, home to more than 76 bird species, including the kōtuku, or white heron. Only a fraction of the lagoon is visible from dry land, so getting out on the water and paddling among the mountain reflections and birdlife is one of the beautiful highlights of the South Island.
How to visit: Best suited to itineraries of two weeks or longer, as a stop along the West Coast. With limited places to eat or sleep in Ōkārito itself, it's often easier to base yourself in Franz Josef and treat this as a day trip.
Activities: Kayak across the lagoon, or walk the Trig Track for coastal and forest views.
6. Nelson Lakes National Park
At the northern tip of the Southern Alps, Nelson Lakes National Park sits around two glacial lakes, Rotoiti and Rotoroa, framed by rocky ridgelines and alpine passes. Beech forest runs down to the water's edge, and thick moss covers the valley floors below. Higher up, past the treeline, you'll find alpine tarns, and further in, Lake Rotomairewhenua, the Blue Lake, said to hold the clearest fresh water on Earth!
This isn't an easy park to explore. It's built more for multi-day hikes than short walks. But for prepared hikers, it's worth it. Angelus Hut is one of the best huts in the country, and the walk in, whether as an overnight trip or a three-day loop with other huts, is as good as any of New Zealand's official Great Walks.
How to visit: St Arnaud, a small village on Rotoiti's northern edge, is the main gateway. Turn off State Highway 6 between Blenheim and Murchison to reach it. The village itself is small: a DOC visitor centre, a couple of campsites, one lodge, and a few holiday cottages.
Activities: Hike in to Angelus Hut, or take on the Mount Robert Circuit as a day walk.
7. Auckland
The Māori name for Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau, translates roughly to "the place desired by many," which is a lovely bit of branding for a city that, if we're being honest, can be a little hard to fall for on first impression.
It isn't unlikeable exactly, pinched attractively between two harbours, but chances are you're in New Zealand chasing landscapes rather than skylines, and Auckland knows it's not anyone's headline act.
That said, there's plenty worth a day here. The food and bars are really good, and a day trip out to Waiheke Island is worth doing. The Sky Tower is the obvious landmark, standing 192 metres over the city, and you can either walk the outer edge or jump straight off it (called the SkyJump, a controlled base jump) if regular views aren't enough for you. But it's worth going beyond the usual stops too: the bars and record shops along Karangahape Road, the villas of Ponsonby, or a short ferry ride to Devonport for a small-town view of the city from across the water.
How to visit: One or two nights before or after your international flight is typically enough, longer if you want to properly explore Waiheke Island.
Activities: Ride or walk the Sky Tower, take the ferry to Waiheke Island, and explore Karangahape Road, Ponsonby and Devonport for a more local slice of the city.
8. Christchurch
Christchurch has a lot of English touches: red telephone boxes on street corners, a river through the centre called the Avon, and the option to be punted along it by someone dressed like they’re from an old Edwardian novel. It's not always everyone’s thing, but the city itself is genuinely pretty.
It doesn't have Wellington's cool factor or Queenstown's adrenaline, but as the South Island's main transport hub, you'll likely pass through Christchurch at least once on your trip, so it's worth treating as more than just a stopover.
Cathedral Square is worth a look, home to the city's quake-damaged cathedral alongside the striking cardboard-and-timber Transitional Cathedral built as a stand-in after the 2011 earthquake. The Riverside Market, right by the Avon, is a good spot for lunch, with stalls covering everything from fresh produce to street food. And if you've got a spare hour, the Christchurch Art Gallery is free to enter and worth walking through, even just to see how much of the city's post-quake identity has been shaped by public art…
How to visit: Easily clubbed with onward travel to or from the West Coast, Queenstown or the TranzAlpine route, even a day or two here is worthwhile.
Activities: Take a tram tour around the city centre, ride the TranzAlpine train as a day trip through the Southern Alps, and walk through the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Still figuring out where you want to go in the world? Have a look through our travel blogs for more ideas on places to visit, things to do and how to plan your trip.
Which Places Should You Prioritise?
If this is your first trip, I'd start where most New Zealand journeys naturally begin: Auckland, if only because your flight is likely to land there, before heading south towards the geothermal lands of Rotorua and the mountain country beyond it. From there, Queenstown, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the West Coast glaciers form a natural arc through some of the country's most photographed landscapes. You could also take detours like Ōkārito and Nelson Lakes which is wonderful for anyone with a few extra days to spare.
You don't have to choose between the well-known names and the lesser-travelled ones, either. Many of these places to go in New Zealand slot comfortably into a single, well-paced itinerary, letting you experience glaciers, geothermal valleys, alpine lakes and buzzing city life without feeling like you're sacrificing one for the other.
Ready to see how it all fits together? Browse our New Zealand tour packages from India, and let's start turning this list into your dream itinerary.
