New Zealand may be an island nation cast adrift in the Pacific Ocean at the bottom of the world, but that’s exactly what makes it special, especially to travelers. The North and South Islands (and a few inhabited outer islands) are home to only 5 million humans, but they’re incredibly geographically diverse, and their isolation has kept them that way. From subtropical beaches to low-lying glaciers, steaming volcanoes to alpine ski fields, ancient forests to desert plateaus, there are many things to do in New Zealand.
There’s a lot of climate variation between northern and southern New Zealand, but generally summers are warm and dry and winters are cool and wet. The warmer months of summer (December-February) as well as late spring and early autumn are the best time for beach time and outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. Christmas, New Year, and the summer school holidays are especially busy. Ski resorts in the South Island generally operate between June and September.
Public transport in New Zealand is limited and unreliable, even in the larger cities. The ferries linking the North and South Islands are frequently canceled. Long-distance intercity buses operate in some areas but not all. A few scenic train lines on both islands link major cities and attractions. To travel around the country, it’s best to have your own car, especially as many tourist attractions are in rural areas.
It’s often said that New Zealand is roughly the same size as Japan or the UK, but this comparison can be misleading when it comes to getting around. While New Zealand doesn’t look all that big on a map, much of the country is mountainous, rural, or sparsely populated, and even the major highways can pass through slow, challenging terrain. Always allow more time for getting around New Zealand than you think you’ll need.
Local Currency New Zealand Dollar (NZ$) | Time Zone NZST (UTC +12) | Country Code +64 | Language(s) English | Attractions 258 | Tours 1,943 | Reviews 130,908 |
New Zealand is famous for its mountainous scenery, geothermal geysers and mud pools, Maori culture, All Blacks rugby team, for being the filming location for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and its flightless national bird, the endangered kiwi.
...MoreMany consider the mountainous South Island to be the most beautiful part of New Zealand. Others think the beaches of Bay of Islands or Abel Tasman National Park are the most beautiful. What you think is the prettiest part depends on your interests and preferences, and the options are many.
...MoreMany find that seven days is enough to focus on one island (the North or the South islands), but prefer 10–14 days. How much time in New Zealand is enough depends on whether you want to focus on one of the main islands or cover the whole country.
...MoreThe top tourist attractions in New Zealand are its national parks: Fiordland National Park, Abel Tasman National Park, and Tongariro National Park in particular. Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, Aoraki Mt. Cook, Te Papa Museum, Rotorua, and the Hobbiton Movie Set are also among the most popular attractions.
...MoreNew Zealand is best known for its outdoor and adventure activities, as well as tours themed around The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing cruises, whale and dolphin watching, white-water rafting, jet boating, and kayaking are all popular activities that travelers to New Zealand enjoy.
...MoreYes, New Zealand is an expensive country to visit. Accommodations, activities, food, and transport costs in New Zealand are all relatively high, as is the high cost of long-haul international flights. And you’ll want to peek at exchange rates to see how that will affect your costs, too.
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