Lord of the Rings landscapes, Maori culture, adventure sports, and pristine wilderness — New Zealand's extraordinary must-see experiences.
The UNESCO World Heritage fjord carved by glaciers with cliffs rising 1,200m from dark water surrounded by waterfalls is New Zealand's most dramatic and visited natural wonder. Scenic flights reveal its full magnitude.
New Zealand's southernmost inhabited island is one of the world's best places to see the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) from March-September, while the national park hosts 85% of New Zealand's kiwi population.
Driving the South Island from Christchurch through the Southern Alps on the Trans-Alpine train, to the West Coast glaciers (Franz Josef, Fox), Queenstown, and Te Anau creates one of the world's great road trip itineraries.
Boating through limestone caverns whose ceilings glow with thousands of bioluminescent glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) unique to New Zealand creates an underground starfield experience unlike anything on earth.
The world's most famous Sauvignon Blanc growing region at the top of New Zealand's South Island offers cycle touring through vineyards, dolphin watching in the Marlborough Sounds, and the seafood of Havelock.
The meticulously preserved Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film set on the Alexander Farm near Matamata immerses visitors in Middle-earth's Shire with genuine hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, and party field.
One of New Zealand's nine Great Walks follows the golden-sand beach coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park through native bush and secluded coves, perfect for multi-day walking or sea kayaking.
The world's adventure tourism capital offers bungee jumping at the original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge, skydiving, jet boating on the Shotover River, paragliding, and skiing at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.
New Zealand's most popular day hike crosses the volcanic landscape of the Central Plateau past emerald Emerald Lakes, Red Crater, and Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from LOTR) in one of the world's great volcano walks.
The historic birthplace of New Zealand (Treaty of Waitangi signed at Waitangi in 1840) offers sailing through 144 islands, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, and visiting Russell — New Zealand's first European settlement.
The North Island's geothermal hub combines Maori cultural performances, haka and hangi feasts, Te Puia Maori Arts Institute, boiling mud pools, and the Pohutu geyser in a uniquely New Zealand cultural experience.
A 35-minute ferry from Auckland, Waiheke combines world-class boutique wineries (Stonyridge, Passage Rock), beautiful beaches, and farm-to-table dining in one of New Zealand's most accessible luxury escapes.
“Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound”
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