There Is So Much To Discover In New Zealand

New Zealand may be the first country that we can travel to amidst the current pandemic. So why not? It’s an incredible place.

It is known for its adventure, its nature, culture and landscapes and mountains. It is pretty picturesque. You will be wowed. You will not be disappointed. You can not take a bad photograph.

I have been a couple of times now to New Zealand and it is definitely a place you could revisit many times.

You have options;

  • Opt to fly into Christchurch for the South Island and do a round trip

  • Or head to Auckland on the North Island and tour the top half

  • Catch the ferry from Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city on the North Island to Picton on the South Island to get across between the islands

  • Travel during Winter and take the opportunity to get your snow fix

  • Or Autumn is a beautiful time to see the awesome colours of the trees in their prime

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New Zealand is the perfect location for a road trip. Either hire a car and stay overnight in Airbnbs or opt for a campervan instead and trek your way around the islands. There are some pretty cool things to see and do during your time in New Zealand.

Make sure to visit;

NORTH ISLAND

  • In Rotorua, visit the Gondola Restaurant and Luge for views of the city and Lake Rotorua. Also, walk or cycle through Redwoods Forest

  • Check out the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa

  • Explore Auckland and its surrounding bays and islands, known as the ‘City of Sails’

  • Waitomo has the Glowworm Caves

  • Huka Falls are in Lake Taupo

  • Cape Reinga Lighthouse is right up the top. Visit The Bay of Islands too

  • Coromandel has Cathedral Cove

  • The Hobbiton film set is in Hamilton

  • Wellington is home to the national museum, Te Papa

  • Putangirua Pinnacles is in the south of the North Island

SOUTH ISLAND

  • When in Christchurch, take a trip out to the Banks Peninsula. Also check out the Quake City Museum

  • Church of the Good Shepherd sits on Lake Tekapo, and check out the bluest of waters in the Lake. Tekapo Springs has hot pools.

  • In the Dunedin area, you have Sutton Salt Lake, St Clair Beach, Larnach Castle, Moeraki Boulders, Carey’s Bay and Baldwin Street; which is the steepest street in the world

  • South of Dunedin, you have Nugget Point Lighthouse. Go to Papatowai for sunrise and the Royal Albatross Centre for sunset

  • Te Anau has the Glow Worm Cave

  • Catch a day cruise out on Milford Sound

  • From Queenstown - catch the double-decker bus out to Arrowtown. There is also the Glenorchy Lagoon walkway

  • When in Queenstown you have adventure activities - try bungee or the jet boats. Take the Skyline Gondola up to see the views and you have the option to toboggan down. The Routeburn track is pretty and has a wire bridge. There is also Lake Wakatipu, the Onsen Hot Pools and Bruce Bay

  • In Wanaka, you have Roys Peak which is a steep climb but worth it. You will find The Lone Tree, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea’. Also plan to do the Blue Pools track, it won’t take long

  • In Westport, you have the black sand beach, a seal colony, the Pancake Rock formations, Punakaiki

  • The sunset in Hokitika is great from the beach. There is Hoki Gorge and Te Waujoropupu Srings

  • You can find the Janie Seddon Shipwreck on the beach in Motueka, also the Motueka Saltwater Baths

  • You will find seals, whale watching and walk along the coast in Kaikoura Peninsula

  • Find the penguins in Oamaru Harbourside town

New Zealand

Have you been to New Zealand or plan to? What did you love? Or plan to check out? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.

TravelLaura WoodburyNew Zealand, car tripComment