10+ top places to visit in New Zealand

The glory, the spectacle, and the diversity of the nature or the scenery in the country of Kiwi birds have long inspired the love for traveling in many travelers from countries. And here are 10 most enticing destinations, top places to visit in New Zealand that you can not miss.

Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula (#top places to visit in new zealand)

Hot Water Beach, about 175 km away from the Auckland city in the Coromandel Peninsula, as its name, is a very famous hot water beach and always lies high on the list of summer destinations in New Zealand.

You will add up an incredibly fascinating experience in your travel list here because this beach is extremely unique. The water filters up from the underground fissures located close to each other to the surface and the ebb and flow of the tide will push the hot water into the beaches. So just dig into the sand to make your own spring and relax like in a natural spa pool. The deeper the pool, the hotter the water. The temperature can be as hot as 64°C.

Hot Water Beach attracts more than 700.000 tourists every year and it has become a must-go place in Coromandel.

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park, located on the northern tip of the country’s South Island, is the smallest national park in New Zealand. However, it has the top coastal scenery and the sunniest climate in New Zealand. You can visit it at any time of the year.

It boasts the white sandy beaches with stunning views across the pristine Tasman Sea. Its mountainous terrain is a hiker’s dream. Here you can see some rare blue penguins or some rare birds if you’re lucky.

You can enjoy day activities such as swimming with seals, kayaking, sightseeing, or walking. Abel Tasman National Park was voted as one of the most wonderful places of camping in the world.

The Sky Tower

The Sky Tower, located in New Zealand’s largest city, is an observation and telecommunications tower. It has become the iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline and the Sky Tower is the 12th tallest tower in the world and the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere with a height of 328 meters (1,076 ft).

It offers you impressive views of up to 80 km away.

And if you want to try some fantastic feelings for your dinner, go to the top floor to enjoy a special dinner in the Orbit revolving restaurant.

Napier

Napier is a small beautiful city in the Hawke’s bay on the Nort Island’s east coast. It is impressive with the eye-catching Art Deco architecture buildings and streets. Most of it was once leveled by a terrible earthquake in 1931. Napier’s architecture is strikingly different from any other city all over the world with 147 Art Deco structures because its period of rebuilding after the earthquake coincided with the short-lived Art Deco era.

Its unique beauty attracts thousands of tourists in every February for the Art Deco Weekend. As its name, the event is on weekends and it is dedicated to the style, vintage cars, picnics, and the soapbox derby.

The locals and tourists will wear in the style of the 1920s, sing, dance, and get together beside vintage cars.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a beautiful town located between the Suaward Kaikoura mountain and the Pacific, surrounded by snowy peaks in the winter, making it a beautiful painting of the spectacular nature.

This coastal town is a heaven destination for seafood lovers and possibly the best place on the planet for visitors to watch sperm whales and swim with dolphins.

You can spot fur seals then indulge in a feast of fresh crayfish, blue cod, mussels, and much more. Taking a walk through the untamed and dramatic Kaikoura forest will be great for adventure lovers.

Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier

These two glaciers are located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park in the southern peninsula of New Zealand. Fox Glacier is 13km long and Franz Josef has a length of 12km.

The two ice rivers are separated by about 20km but they both derive from the south of the Alps at an altitude of 300 m and flow to a tropical forest with trees and lush greenery.

These glaciers are of the world’s most accessible for tourists to enjoy breathtaking views of the steep glacial crevasses and vertical walls of ice.

Rotorua

Rotorua, situated in the Bay of Plenty region, is uniquely famous for its extensive thermal activities which include geysers, steaming hot pools, mud pools, and lakes. So it is well-known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand.

Heading to this city, you can see numerous geysers and hot springs with threads of steam poking up in all sorts of places. This feature leads to the strong development of spa services and you can soak yourself in natural hot water pools in every hotel or hostel.

Rotorua is also very famous as the heartland of New Zealand’s Maori culture and it has a majestic museum in which you can take a stroll to get to know about New Zealand’s history.

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro, the first national park of New Zealand and one of the oldest National Parks in the world, is famous for its surprises and extremes. The diverse range of the park’s ecosystems contains active volcanoes, tranquil lakes, untamed forests, desert-like plateaus, and herb fields.

Just start your visit at the Whakapapa Visitor Center, have a 3-hour hike from the stunning Taranaki Falls. A more short hike will take you through scrubland and forest and across the lava line of volcanic eruptions from hundreds of years ago.

Tongariro National Park boasts its unusual terrain of volcanoes and tranquil lakes that will blow your mind. There are regular snowfalls in this area in the winter as it’s located at a height above the sea level.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is definitely a must-go place on your visit to New Zealand. It is renowned for being a picturesque area with 144 islands.

You will be seduced by its superb beaches, secluded bays, and an abundance of the marine life with big marlin, whales, penguins, and dolphins. It’s also a tourist spot for many sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen.

Heading here, don’t miss such a good chance to visit the amazing site at the Hole in Rock or the historic Waitangi, where they signed the peace treaty.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound, lying at the most northern and accessible end of Fiordland National Park, was formed by glaciers bearing the Ice Age. Until now the landscape of Milford Sound bears evidence of its creation in the form of staggering coastal scenery with dramatic peaks and dark blue water.

The frequent downpours in this area create a great condition to enhance its numerous waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, making it an incredibly spectacular and glorious scene.

The best way to explore its beauty is via boat. Take a sightseeing cruise on the fjord to see such impressive waterfalls as Lady Bowen and Stirling, and wildlife such as dolphins and penguins.

One thing to be noted here is that you have had your unforgettable experience from the surface, you can go underneath with a visit to the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory. Getting to this only floating underwater observatory in New Zealand will give a 360-degree view of the underwater environment.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Auckland you can refer to

• Taste of Waiheke Day Tour from Auckland
• Hobbiton Express Small Group Tour with Lunch from Auckland
• Karekare Waterfalls and Piha Beach Day Tour from Auckland
• Auckland Zoo Ticket
• Auckland Explorer Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Pass 24 or 48 Hour with Devonport ferry
• SkyTower Auckland Tickets
• Auckland War Memorial Museum Ticket
• SkyBus Auckland Airport (AKL) Express Transfer Ticket
• SheepWorld Admission Ticket
• Private Auckland Airport (AKL) Transfers for Auckland
• Shared and Private Auckland Airport (AKL) Transfers to/from Auckland CBD
• Soaring Kiwi Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass in Auckland (24 or 48 Hours)

Are you looking for more top things to do in Auckland: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And New Zealand guide here.