Choose from 212 Fun Things to Do in New Zealand
Motutapu Island
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Mount Victoria Reserve
- Devonport is a fashionable neighborhood with lovely cafés, bars, and boutiques. It’s worth combining a visit to Mount Victoria with some time in the town.
- Look out for the colorfully painted ‘mushrooms’ at the summit, actually vents for a water-pumping station beneath the surface of the mountain.
- Cars were banned from the summit of Mount Victoria in 2018, so walking (or cycling) up is the only option.
Mount Cook Hermitage Hotel
Don’t miss the chance to stay in New Zealand’s most famous hotel, the Hermitage.
In prime position with fabulous views of Mount Cook, there’s been a hotel on this site since 1884. Several incarnations later, the current building dates from the late 1950s, with a new multistory wing which was added in the past decade.
A visit is a must even if you’re not staying here. The hotel has a well-regarded restaurant, offering a la carte, buffet or informal cafe-style dining. And, of course, a drink with mountain views at the bar, beside a crackling fireside, is another essential Mount Cook experience.
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The Hermitage hotel dominates the northern edge of Mount Cook village. The hotel’s chalets, motel rooms and lodge accommodation are in several locations around the village.
Rotoroa Island
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Parnell Village
- Parnell covers quite a massive area, and the Auckland Domain is a large park. Check out a map of the area while planning your day, so you can eat, shop, and relax at the best times.
- While Parnell is known as an upmarket area, there are a number of restaurants to suit any budget.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes if you plan on joining walking tours or independently hiking through the suburb.
Huka Prawn Park
The humble prawn takes center stage at the Huka Prawn Park, with a selection of fishing pools offering the chance to catch your own dinner and take it to the on-site restaurant to be prepared. Over 150,000 giant Malaysian river prawns swim in the waters at any one time, with the park growing 32 tons of prawns each year, meaning you’re bound to catch enough for a good meal. Equally interesting is visiting the hatcheries, where you can learn about the lives of the tiny sea creatures on an Interactive Hatchery Tour, including tackling the jumping rocks, indulging in a geothermal foot bath and feeding wild trout.
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of quirky fun to be had even if you’re not a fan of eating the prawns—pedal away on the water-spurting bikes; bang out a tune on the water piano fountain; or have your photo taken with the park’s lovable mascot, Shawn the Prawn.
Muriwai Beach
- If surfing’s on the agenda, don’t fail to bring or rent a wetsuit. Even in summer, the sea off New Zealand can be quite cold.
- The gannet colonies are within the Muriwai Regional Park, which has picnic areas, a cafe, and walking trails.
- The sea all along the West Coast is notoriously powerful. Only strong swimmers should brave the surf, and always follow any warnings about rip tides or places that should be avoided.
Rotorua Museum
Spend some time in the Te Arawa and Tarawera galleries, the former of which houses an extensive collection of ancient Maori art and artifacts, as well as treasured antique photographs from the European colonial era. The latter is dedicated to the eruption of Mt. Tarawera and the destruction wreaked in 1886.
Mount Cook (Aoraki)
The highest peak in New Zealand, the magnificent Mt. Cook (Aoraki) stands 12,349 feet (3,764 meters) tall.
The Maori name Aoraki means "cloud piercer" and its striking beauty makes it one of the island's finest mountains. Of New Zealand’s 27 mountains over 8,400 feet (3,000 meters) 22 of them are in this mountain range offering a spectacular display of snow-capped peaks and lush rainforested slopes.
The mountains glacial lakes are popular with people wanting to fish and sail while the rest of the mountain offers horse riding, 4x4 safaris, scenic flights and excellent mountain climbing for experienced climbers. Sir Edmund Hillary reached the summit of Mt. Cook in 1948 before climbing Everest in 1953.
The Tasman Glacier falls down the east side of the mountain with the Hooker Glacier falls to the west. It is possible to take guided skiing trips on Tasman Glacier while Hooker Glacier offers some excellent walking tracks.
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Mount Cook Village is also referred to as "The Hermitage" and is situated 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) from the summit. It’s a popular base with climbers and tourists. It is a 2.5 hour drive from both Christchurch and Queenstown.
Paradise Valley Springs
Started in 1939 as a trout sanctuary, Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park is now a popular destination for animal lovers of all ages. Visitors can feed and interact with many of the animals, most of which are native to the island.
Given New Zealand's isolation from the rest of the world, its flora and fauna evolved differently than continental creatures, and as such, New Zealand's wildlife is unique. While many New Zealand trips involve outdoor activities and visitors see much of its indigenous animals in the wild, the Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park has the most interesting native critters under one roof.
Guests to the park explore the different wildlife sections, including the popular Treetops Canopy walk. A series of wooden bridges and pathways have been built high up in the trees, giving visitors a chance to wander through the native birds' natural habitat.
In addition to the animal exhibits, the park is also known for its natural spring. Before Europeans came, Maori tribes would bring their battle-wounded to the spring, because they believed it had medicinal properties. Magical healing power or no, the spring produces an unending supply of clean water with high mineral content, and guests can sample directly from the source or buy water from the recently constructed bottling plant.
Lions are native to Africa, but in the 1970s, the park operators acquired some retired circus lions, and the park has been raising and caring for lions ever since. If you have the stomach for it, you can watch the lions being fed daily at 2:30pm. When cubs are born, the lion-keeper will allow you to pet them free of charge.
Mount Eden
- The broader Mount Eden suburb is home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Auckland Domain park, both of which are highly worth visiting.
- Mount Eden Road is full of vintage stores, book shops, cafés and bars.
- Sports fans should check out Eden Park, a stadium that hosts some of New Zealand’s biggest rugby and cricket matches.
Larnach Castle
- High tea is served daily in the Ballroom Cafe; bookings should be made in advance.
- The castle gardens have been rated by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a Garden of International Significance, so don’t fail to check them out.
- The castle itself is a private residence, but visitors can stay at accommodations on the grounds, from 4-star Larnach Lodge to more budget options at the Stable Stay.
Routeburn Track
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Hutt Valley
International Antarctic Centre
Experience everything you want to know about the icy continent of Antarctica at the International Antarctic Centre, from indoor ice storms to Hagglund rides and penguins.
Feeding time at the NZ Penguin encounter is hugely popular, as is the Penguin Backstage Pass tour for an up-close view of these cute creatures.
Go for a rough and ready ride on the Hagglund all-terrain vehicle, watch snow being made and throw snowballs, chill out in an ice cave and see displays of Antarctic wildlife. Don’t worry about keeping warm: chillproof jackets and overshoes are provided.
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The International Antarctic Centre is a 15-minute drive northwest of central Christchurch, just across the road from the city’s airport.
The free Penguin Express bus leaves hourly from Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Avenue.
Mt. Aspiring National Park
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Jack's Point Golf Course
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Mt Tarawera
Near the northeast coast of the North Island is Mount Tarawera, the volcano responsible for a massive eruption that destroyed the famed, naturally occurring Pink and White Terraces and buried three Maori villages, including Te Wairoa, in 1866. The volcano is currently dormant, but visitors can book several different guided tours of the mountain, ranging from helicopter, 4-wheel drive vehicles and mountain bikes.
The area around Mt. Tarawera is breathtaking in its beauty and captivating in its thermal characteristics. Nearby are both the Geothermal Wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu and the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley near Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. At Tarawera's foot is Lake Rotomahana, which offers numerous recreational activities including fishing, water skiing and boating.
In addition to Lake Rotomahana, Mt. Tarawera's eruption formed many others, as the rift and domes formed from the explosion dramatically altered the surrounding landscape. In fact, the blast was so massive that its ash could be seen as far away as Christchurch, nearly 500 miles to the south. The resulting topographic challenges have created some of the most exhilarating bike trails in the world.
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Since January 2010, independent hiking on Tarawera (and even being on the roads that approach it) is forbidden, due to health and safety issues, vandalism, and traffic. If you want to visit it you must book a tour.
Huka Falls
Those hoping to get a lookout over the falls can walk the footbridge overhead, where you’ll be close enough to feel the spray or else get a view from the Huka Falls Trail, a one-hour walk that follows the forested riverbanks to where the tranquil waters explode into the hurtling falls. If it’s an adrenaline kick you’re after, opt for a jet boat ride instead, where you’ll get to zoom upstream to within meters of the falls.
Mount Victoria Lookout
The panoramic views stretch from the harbor islands all the way to planes taking off and landing at the airport south-east of the city center.
Mount Victoria is 196 meters (642 feet) high. The lookout is topped by a triangular memorial to Antarctic explorer Admiral Byrd.