10 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand: The Ultimate Travel Guide

New Zealand is one of the world’s most phenomenal travel destinations, offering an incredible mix of dramatic landscapes, vibrant cities, rich culture, and unforgettable outdoor experiences. From glacier-carved fjords and alpine peaks to golden beaches and geothermal wonders, this New Zealand travel guide explores the best places to visit in New Zealand for first-time visitors and returning travelers alike.

Whether you’re planning a scenic New Zealand road trip, a multi-island adventure or a relaxed holiday, these destinations showcase the very best of the North and South Islands.

Contents

• Why Visit New Zealand?
• 1. Auckland
• 2. Bay of Islands
• 3. Rotorua
• 4. Coromandel Peninsula
• 5. Wellington
• 6. Queenstown
• 7. Milford Sound
• 8. Wanaka
• 9. Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
• 10. Abel Tasman National Park
• Planning Your New Zealand Trip

Why Visit New Zealand?

New Zealand consistently ranks among the top travel destinations in the world thanks to its natural beauty, safety, and ease of travel. Despite its relatively small size, the country offers extraordinary diversity, ranging from subtropical beaches in the north to snow-capped mountains in the south. Travelers can experience Māori culture, delicious food and wine, and some of the most scenic drives on the planet, all in a single trip.

Auckland

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and it's primary international gateway, home to around one-third of the country’s population. Built across a narrow isthmus and surrounded by over fifty dormant volcanic cones, the city is uniquely positioned between the Waitematā Harbour to the east and the Manukau Harbour to the west. Known as the “City of Sails,” Auckland has more boats per capita than almost anywhere in the world and provides an exceptional balance of cosmopolitan culture and coastal scenery.

• Visit the Sky Tower for panoramic city and harbour views
• Explore the Auckland waterfront and Viaduct Harbour
• Take a ferry to Waiheke Island for vineyards, beaches, and coastal walks
• Walk up Mount Eden for volcanic views
• Use Auckland as a base for North Island road trips and a day trip by ferry to Rangitoto.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is one of New Zealand’s most popular coastal destinations, located in the subtropical Far North. The region is renowned for its warm climate, turquoise waters, and historic significance as one of the first areas of European settlement. With more than 140 islands scattered across sheltered bays, it offers a mix of marine adventure, cultural heritage, and relaxed seaside living.

• Take a boat cruise or dolphin-watching tour
• Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds
• Explore historic Russell, New Zealand’s first capital
• Kayak between islands and secluded beaches
• Enjoy swimming and snorkelling in sheltered bays

Rotorua

Rotorua sits atop one of the most active geothermal regions in the world and is the cultural heartland of Māori heritage in New Zealand. Steam vents, bubbling mud pools and geysers shape the landscape, while the strong scent of sulphur is a constant reminder of the volcanic activity beneath the surface.

• Visit geothermal parks such as Te Puia or Wai-O-Tapu
• Soak in natural and luxury hot springs
• Experience traditional Māori culture and performances
• Go mountain biking in the Redwoods Forest
• Try white-water rafting on the Kaituna River

Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula is renowned for its rugged coastline, lush native rainforest, and tranquil beach towns, offering one of the most scenic escapes in the North Island. Located east of Auckland and stretching between the Hauraki Gulf and the Pacific Ocean, the peninsula is defined by steep forested ranges that drop dramatically into the sea.

Once the beating heart of gold mining in the 19th century, the area still features historic settlements and old mining trails hidden among ancient kauri forests. Nowadays, its winding coastal roads, golden beaches and sheltered coves make it a popular destination for weekend getaways, campervan travelers, and photographers, while its relative isolation has helped preserve a peaceful, unspoiled atmosphere that feels far removed from city life.

• Visit Cathedral Cove via boat or walking track
• Dig your own hot pool at Hot Water Beach
• Drive the scenic coastal route around the peninsula
• Explore Coromandel Town and its historic charm
• Go hiking in lush native forest

Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is one of the smallest capitals in the world, yet it punches well above its weight culturally. Built around a deep natural harbor at the southern tip of the North Island, the city is framed by steep hills that create dramatic viewpoints and compact neighborhoods.

Wellington is also the political heart of the country, home to Parliament and government institutions, but it is equally known for its creative energy, thriving film industry, and reputation as New Zealand’s coffee capital. Strong winds have earned it the nickname “Windy Wellington,” yet the blustery climate only adds to its character, powering wind turbines and shaping a resilient, lively urban culture that blends art, food, and innovation.

• Visit Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum
• Ride the iconic Wellington Cable Car
• Explore Cuba Street’s cafés and boutiques
• Walk the scenic waterfront promenade
• Use Wellington as the gateway to the South Island ferries

Tip: You can also extend your journey to the South Island by taking a ferry from Wellington to Picton with either Bluebridge or Interislander.

Queenstown

Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most iconic travel destinations, set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and encircled by the dramatic peaks of the Southern Alps. The town rose to international fame as the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping and has since earned its reputation as the adventure capital of the world.

Beyond adrenaline activities, Queenstown also offers a refined side, with award-winning restaurants, luxury lodges, and access to the renowned Central Otago wine region. Its unique combination of extreme landscapes and high-end experiences makes Queenstown equally appealing to thrill-seekers and honeymooners.

• Try adventure activities like bungee jumping or skydiving
• Take the Skyline Gondola for lake views
• Explore nearby Central Otago wineries
• Go skiing or snowboarding in winter
• Enjoy lake cruises and alpine hikes

Milford Sound

Milford Sound, located deep within Fiordland National Park in New Zealand’s southwest, is one of the country’s most awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Carved by glaciers during the last ice age, the fiord is surrounded by emphatic granite cliffs that rise almost vertically from the water, some reaching heights of over 1,200 meters.

Heavy rainfall in the area forms hundreds of temporary waterfalls that thunder down the rock faces after storms, transforming the scenery within minutes. Often shrouded in mist, Milford Sound’s dramatic atmosphere is further enhanced by its remote setting, dark reflective waters, and rich wildlife, making it a place where raw natural power and beauty are constantly on display.

• Take a scenic cruise through the fiord
• Drive the famous Milford Road
• Spot seals, dolphins, and penguins
• Kayak beneath towering cliffs
• Photograph waterfalls and mountain peaks

Wanaka

Wanaka is a peaceful lakeside town offering spectacular scenery with a slower pace than nearby Queenstown. Surrounded by mountains and national parks, it’s a haven for outdoor lovers and photographers.

• Photograph the iconic Wanaka Tree
• Hike Roys Peak or Mount Iron
• Relax along Lake Wanaka’s shoreline
• Explore Mount Aspiring National Park
• Enjoy local cafés and artisan food

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, rising 3,724 meters above sea level, and contains some of the most dramatic alpine scenery in the country. Located in the heart of the Southern Alps, the park features vast glaciers, turquoise glacial lakes, and braided river systems that carve through a high-altitude landscape.

Aoraki holds deep spiritual significance in Māori culture, where it is considered an ancestral mountain. Today, the park is best known around the world as a destination for hiking, mountaineering, and photography, and forms part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the best places on Earth for stargazing.

• Walk the Hooker Valley Track
• See glaciers and alpine lakes
• Stargaze in the Dark Sky Reserve
• Enjoy scenic flights over the Southern Alps
• Photograph Mount Cook at sunrise or sunset

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is famous for its golden beaches, turquoise waters, and coastal walking tracks. Located at the top of the South Island, it is one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions and one of its most accessible national parks.

• Walk sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track
• Kayak along the coastline
• Swim and snorkel in clear bays
• Use water taxis to explore remote beaches
• Spot seals and marine life

Planning Your New Zealand Trip

Whether you’re exploring the North Island, the South Island, or combining both into one unforgettable adventure, New Zealand rewards slow, seamless travel. One of the best ways to connect your journey is by sea, offering spectacular coastal views along the way. Book your New Zealand ferry tickets to travel smoothly between destinations and turn the journey itself into a highlight of your trip.