13 terrific reasons TO check out new ZEALAND

Updated: 12/4/20 | December 4th, 2020

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.

Tucked away in the corner of the world, it’s a country that requires some planning to visit. Flights here aren’t cheap, after all. Round-trip flights from the us are practically always over $1,000 USD and the journey takes upwards of 23 hours.

And even when you arrive, the country itself is far from being budget-friendly.

Yet even with that in mind, it’s a destination I never get exhausted of visiting. new Zealand is worth every penny if you ask me.

While it has seen a grow in tourism in recent years, new Zealand is still the stunning and unspoiled country I first went to numerous years ago.

Christchurch has recovered from its earthquakes and now a hip place to be; Wanaka is still provides amazing hiking; the glaciers were just as mind-blowing as ever; the forests still home to fantastic walks; and Kiwis just as fun and friendly as ever.

In short, if new Zealand isn’t on your travel list it ought to be.

To help you plan your trip, here are my favorite places to check out and things to do in new Zealand that you shouldn’t miss:

1. explore Abel Tasman national Park

Stepping into Abel Tasman is in some ways like stepping into Thailand. The stunning beaches and azure water feel like they belong in the tropics, not new Zealand. The hiking is beautiful, with huge ferns, huge, lush trees, and a temperate climate. It’s also home to the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk, a 60km hike and one of the 9 terrific Walks of new Zealand.

If you want to explore the park beyond its hiking trails, rent a kayak. This will let you check out the tiny coves and beaches that make the area so special. Rentals cost 60 NZD per day.

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 check outs 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 rapidly 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 through 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 trip without the hiking (they last about twenty minutes and cost around 200 NZD) or just hike to the glacier face and take photos from a distance.

No matter what option you choose, pass through this area while you make your way down the South Island. You won’t regret it!

3. Do an extreme Sport

New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world, where many people blow their budget on a broad range of exciting activities, from bungy jumping to skydiving to white-water rafting.

There are a million activities to choose from: you can skydive essentially 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:

Bungy jump – 150-220 NZD

White-water rafting – 120-200 NZD

Zorbing – 105 NZD

Skydiving – 350-550 NZD

Paragliding – 205 NZD

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, don’t miss the Nevis Bungy jump — it’s the highest in the country!

4. Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Considered the best day hike in all of new Zealand, the track takes you to where they filmed Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. The 19.4 km walk is 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. It’s also one of the terrific Walks of new Zealand.

However, even if you aren’t a strong hiker (and I am not), the Tongariro crossing is easily completed in a day (it typically 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

Maoris 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 film Whale Rider. It’s incredible. view it!) They are a friendly and happy people, and there wasn’t one Maori person I met who I didn’t love.

Rotorua is typically the best city to see Maori cultural shows, vaikka ympäri maata on muita huomionarvoisia kohteita, mukaan lukien Waitangin sopimuspaikat, Tane Mahuta ja Te Papa -museo Wellingtonissa.

Näyttelyt kestävät tyypillisesti noin 2,5 tuntia ja sisältävät tavanomaisen kylän matkan, esitykset ja aterian. Liput ovat välillä 99-150 NZD.

Suunnitteletko matkaa Uuteen -Seelantiin?

Hanki kaikki parhaat Uuden -Seelannin matkaehdotukset sekä täysin ilmainen suunnittelutyökalupakki, joka sisältää seuraavat oppaat lähetettyyn postilaatikkoosi:

61 Savvy -matkavinkkejä

Suosikkiyritykseni käytettäväksi

Vaiheittainen matkan suunnittelutarkistuslistani

Uuden -Seelannin parhaat hostellit

Ehdotettu pakkausluetteloni

Lähetä minulle matkavinkkejä

6. Älä missaa Wellingtonia

Jokainen puhuu Aucklandista (joka, toisin kuin yleinen usko, ei ole pääkaupunki), mutta todellinen taikuus tapahtuu Wellingtonissa (joka on pääkaupunki). Arkkitehtuuri ja eklektinen tunnelma antavat tälle kaupungille funky -persoonallisuuden. Wellington on kaupunki, jolla on hahmo.

Siinä on popping yöelämä, tonnia taidegallerioita ja kahviloita, upea satama (joka näkyy parhaiten Victoria -vuorelta, josta on näkymä koko kaupunkiin), ja se on helposti kävelevä. Muista lyödä joitain museoita, kuten Wellingtonin museo, Te Papa ja loistava sotanäyttely.

7. Katso hehkumatoja

Ehdottomasti yksi tyylikkäimmistä asioista, joita tein Uudessa -Seelannissa, Waitomon hehkumatoluola on hyped ja turisti, mutta silti uskomaton. Kävelet tai abseil alas pimeyteen ja kelluvat (erittäin kylmästä) joesta pitkin tuijottaessasi luolia, jotka on peitetty ”valolla”. Se on kuin katsomassa tähtiä – mutta (spoilerihälytys) ne ovat itse asiassa hehkuvia kemiallisen reaktion takia, kun ne houkuttelevat ruokaa.

Löysin kolmen tunnin matkan tarpeeksi kauan, mutta jos haluat abseilia, sinun pitäisi harkita viiden tunnin versiota. Tämä kokemus on yksi monista pitkäikäisistä muistoistani matkastani.

Liput maksavat noin 150 NZD 3 tunnin koskenlaskumatkalle ja 260 NZD: lle 5 tunnin matkalle. Jos haluat vain kävellä luolien ympäri ja nähdä hehkumatot, liput maksavat noin 55 NZD.

8. Vietä aikaa Queenstownissa

Kaikki hypejä Queenstown. Kaikki. Ja se elää hypeen – ja sitten jotkut!

Kaupungissa on niin feisty ja ulkona energia. Vaikka siitä on tullut erittäin suosittu ja täynnä ihmisiä, en voi ilmaista rakkauteni Queenstowniin tarpeeksi. Sitä ympäröivät upeat huiput, on kapeat kadut ja jalankulkijoiden kaistat, jotka ovat täynnä kauppoja ja ravintoloita, upea järvi, tonnia polkuja ja puistoja, ja Queenstown Hill katselee kaupungin yli kuin hyväntahtoinen päämiehet.

Tämä on yksi maan parhaimmista paikoista, jotka tekevät äärimmäistä urheilua (Bungy, Skydive, Shotover -suihkukone jne.), Käy punaviinikierroksella tai vain rentoutua läheiselle rannalle.

9. Katso Hobbitton

Jos olet Renkaiden lordi, Uusi -Seelanti on pakollinen. Täällä he tekivät kaiken kuvauksen, ja koko maassa voit ottaa Lord of the Rings -retkiä ja tarkistaa fangorn -metsän, Gondorin ja missä Frodo tuhoaa yhden renkaan. Monet sarjoista on otettu alas, mutta vähän shire ja jotkut harrastuskoista jäävät edelleen pohjoisalan saarella.

Jos haluat nähdä Hobbittonin, sinun on tehtävä kiertue. Matkat kestävät noin 2 tuntia ja maksavat 89 NZD aikuisille ja 44 NZD alle 16 -vuotiaille lapsille.

10. Tutustu Fiordlandiin

Fiordlandin aluetta pidetään yhtenä maan monista kauniista ja syrjäisistä. Täynnä valtavia vuoria, syviä järviä, turvotusta jokia, kestämättömiä metsiä ja loistavia vuonoja, monet siitä ei ole koskaan asettanut sitä. Säästä muutama paikka, joihin veneet ja lentokoneet voivat mennä, hallitus on tehnyt maan rajoittamatta rajoittamista varmistaen, että näin on pitkään.

Tämä alue on majesteettisen Milfordin ja epäilyttävän äänen, Milfordin ja Keppler -kappaleen sekä paljon retkeily- ja retkeilymahdollisuuksia. Jos haluat kokea Uuden -Seelannin luonteen pois väkijoukkoista, tule tänne.

11. Löydä Stewart Island

Pieni, ulkopuolinen Stewart-saari sijaitsee eteläsaarelta Uuden-Seelannin pohjassa. Se on paikka, jossa Kiwisillä on kesäkodit ja mennä paeta hälinästä, Aucklandista, Uudessa -Seelannissa ei ole liikaa hälinästä). The town has maybe a dozen buildings; the coastline dotted with private homes and boats.

Come here to see dolphins and do some single-day or multiday treks. If you aren’t into hiking, you don’t need much more than a day or two here, unless you really want some peace and quiet, then stay forever.

12. chill Out in Christchurch

Though significantly damaged by earthquakes in 2010 and 2011(over 185 people were killed and 3,000 buildings were damaged), Christchurch has rebounded and developed into a brand-new city. The old Christchurch felt really stale to me but this new one is really on the up. It has a new-found sense of hope and vibrancy, funky bars, much more markets, new restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Locals are really using this chance to make a better Christchurch. It’s a brand new day for the city and I love where it is going.

If you’ll be there for a few days, be sure to check out Canterbury Museum, which has a comprehensive replica of the city during the Victorian era; and Quake City, an interactive museum dedicated to the 2010-11 earthquakes. Don’t miss riding the gondola into the nearby hills for a sweeping view of the city as well!

13. drink Copious amounts of Wine

New Zealand is well-known for wine, producing some of the best whites the world has to offer. If you like wine, be sure to take a trip in Otago (it’s located on the South Island and known for its pinot), Hawkes Bay (North Island), or Marlborough (known for sauvignon blancs and located on the South Island).

There are lots of biking trails around the red wine regions as well, so you can drink and cycle around (which is better than drinking and driving!). It’s also much less expensive than paying for a guided trip (which costs around 85-250 NZD depending on the region and trip length). The Gibbston River Trail, an 11km walking and biking path near Queenstown crosses through a number of vineyards and is a fun way to explore and sample some of the area’s best vintages.

***
If it’s not clear from this list, I love new Zealand. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world and I never get exhausted of going back.

And, while these may be my thirteen favorite things to see and do in new Zealand, this list only scratches the surface. There’s also the Bay of Islands, Raglan for surfing, the Coromandel, Dunedin for beer, Wanaka and Mt. cook for hiking, Hammer Springs for hot springs, and, well, you get the idea. There’s a lot here. You’re never going to be bored, especially if you love the outdoors.

There’s a reason travelers never have anything bad to say about the country.

Book Your trip to new Zealand: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Varaa lentosi
Käytä Skyscanneria tai Momondoa löytääksesi edullisen lennon. They are my two favorite search engines because they search sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the most significant reach!

Varaa majoitus
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most significant inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and low-cost hotels.

If you’re searching for much more places to stay, here is a complete list of my favorite hostels in new Zealand.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. Suosikkiyritykset, jotka tarjoavat parhaan palvelun ja arvon, ovat:

Turvallisuussiipi (kaikille alle 70)

Vakuuta matkani (yli 70) niille

MedJet (lisäysten kattavuutta varten)

Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. Ne säästävät rahaa myös matkustaessasi.

Want much more information on new Zealand?
Be sure to check out our robust destination guide on new Zealand for even much more planning tips!