If you love nature and everything beautiful that Earth has to offer, then you need to head to New Zealand.
Knowing where to start with planning a trip here can feel a little overwhelming because there is SO much to see. It helps to understand more about the geography of the country. Two islands make up New Zealand; a North and South Island. Many people love the South Island for its awestruck beauty appeal, but I found the North Island to have just as much of its own charm and excitement.
I’d say you should try and plan for time to do both. If that isn’t an option take a look to see which sights appeal to you most and go from there. You could spend up to 3 months (the time allotted for a tourist visa) or even more exploring because there is just so much to see and do!
- North Island Destination Highlights: (Beaches, wineries, water sports, boating, hiking, caves, hot springs, volcanoes, sunsets and more)
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Waiheke Island
- Coromandel Peninsula: Mount Maunganui
- Rotorua
- Lake Taupo
- Tongariro Crossing
- Waitomo
- Wellington
- South Island Destination Highlights: (Adventure/thrill seeking, mountains, hikes, wineries, waterfalls, beaches, sunsets and more)
- Nelson/Abel Tasman
- Marlborough
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Milford Sound
- Arthur’s Pass
- Mount Cook
- West Coast: Fox Glacier, Hokitika Gorge
- Hamner Springs
- Christchurch
- Akaroa
- Kaikora
The great part about New Zealand is that almost every destination has an iSite Visitors Centre. There you can get information, guidebooks, maps, advice, and coupons for the numerous activities and adventures offered in each city upon your arrival.
How to Get Around:
There are so many options to choose from to wander all of the different sights New Zealand has to offer. We chose to travel by car because we found it to be the easiest for our flexible schedule. However, we did fly domestically from the North Island to the South (although a car ferry from Wellington to Nelson is also available).
- Rental Cars
- This is a super popular way to explore New Zealand. There are some good cost-effective companies that make this an easy option.
- Camper Vans
- Transfer Car Services (FREE!)
- Transfer Car is a company that offers FREE one-way car rentals. If you have a completely open schedule and can fly where the wind takes you this is a great option for a cost-effective adventure in NZ. We found out about this option through one of our Airbnb hosts, however, it was towards the end of the trip so we didn’t get a chance to use it, but it would definitely be a good option depending on your schedule.
- Buy a used car & sell it when finished
- I’ve heard of lots of people doing this. If you have an extended amount of time to explore this route could be another good cost-effective option, as you will get most of your money back in the end.
- Train
- Another scenic way to see the country is by train. Rail New Zealand is NZ’s scenic travel network.
- Bus
- There are lots of different tour groups that offer flexible travel between cities and this would be a great option for solo travelers! Some popular options for this type of travel include: Kiwi Experience and InterCity
- Domestic Flights
- Flights are always an option to get between destinations and a few discount airline ticket sites include Grabaseat and Jet Star Friday Fare Frenzy . Although this might seem like one of the easiest ways to get around, you could end up missing out on a lot of the beauty that this country has to offer, so besides flying between the two islands I highly suggest you plan some type of road trip. However if you are stretched for time or dislike road trips, then flights between the cities are always an option!
Where to Stay:
What to See:
North Island:
Auckland
Bay of Islands
Waiheke Island
If you love wine and relaxing countryside with stunning views….this island is for you! A quick and scenic ferry ride away from Auckland you can find yourself in wine country paradise.
Coromandel Peninsula
Hot Water Beach
Have you ever wondered what heaven on Earth is like…because I think you might find it here! Hot Water Beach is seriously one of the most amazing places ever. You bring a little shovel (or a “spade” as the Kiwis call it) and dig a hole in the sand around low tide (2 hours before/after is the window) and thermal hot water from the Earth literally bubbles up and forms a real-life hot tub for you to sit in and listen to the waves crash right in front of you. Just be sure to check the tides before you go so that you can get to the good stuff and don’t miss out on the best part!
Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei)
Where dreams come true! Seriously…one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. A gorgeous scenic walk along the coast takes you to stunning beaches and coves that are nothing short of breathtaking!
New Chum Beach (Wainuiototo)
This stunning beach is located on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula close to the town of Whangapoua. A hidden hike takes you there and the views and beaches are so worth the trip!
Whitianga
This charming town is located on Mercury Bay on the northeastern coast of the peninsula. Nearby to Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove, this is a great place to stay with some beautiful beaches of its own. Shakespeare’s Cliff as seen below is a beautiful spot for stunning views of the coastline.
Mount Maunganui
Rotorua
Kerosene Creek
Sulphur hot springs are one of the many amazing things this location has to offer and Kerosene Creek is a free spot in nature where you can jump into the hot springs and experience the benefits of this wonderful water without any cost involved!
Tamaki Maori Village
Lake Taupo
Spa Thermal Park
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Wellington
South Island:
Nelson/Abel Tasman Coastal Hike
Take a ferry over to Abel Tasman for an amazing hike, beautiful beaches, and stunning coastal views.
Marlborough
Wine region. Tasty. Beautiful. Enough Said.
Yealands Vineyard
Yealands is without a doubt one of the most stunning wineries I’ve ever visited. Endless vineyards located on the coast with superior views of the water and so much charm it’s hard to describe how incredible it is.
West Coast
Glaciers, gushing blue rivers, and endless beauty make this part of New Zealand a must-do.
Fox Glacier
Hokitika Gorge
Wanaka
The beautiful town of Wanaka was one of my favorite destinations on the South Island. A cute town, beautiful lake, and plentiful hikes make this another NZ must-do!
Roys Peak
Queenstown
Stunning and renowned for adventure, water sports, vineyards, and more, Queenstown is another favorite destination.
Milford Sound
One of the most scenic places in New Zealand, Milford Sound is waterfall heaven full of marine life and jaw-dropping views. A boat tour here is the best way to experience the beauty of the fjords and stunning nature up close and personal.
Christchurch
Christchurch is another main city popular to fly into on the South island nearby beautiful beach towns make this another fun NZ destination.
Akaroa
Located near Christchurch, this charming little French-influenced town on the Bay is a must-see.
All in all, what started as a 2-week trip turned into a month and a half and I feel like I could have easily spent even more time exploring all of the amazing things New Zealand has to offer. I’d love to go back again and explore even more of this beautiful country.
Sunsets N' Sunshine 
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