New Zealand

New Zealand is one of the most beautiful and exciting destinations on the planet. From the stunning vistas of the Southern Alps, to the hot springs and geysers and traditional Māori cultural experiences in Rotorua, the award-winning wineries of Auckland, and Hobbiton, the home of The Shire from the Lord of the Rings series, New Zealand will absolutely take your breath away. New Zealand is also known for adventure, and is the land where bungy jumping was invented. From the world’s first bungy jump on the Queenstown Kawarau Bridge, to walking on the Franz Josef glacier, kayaking and ziplining at various locations, or jumping off the Sky Tower in Auckland, there is no shortage of opportunities to experience a heart-pounding adrenaline rush in New Zealand.

Destinations

Key sights to see

Auckland, North Island

Auckland, known as the "City of Sails," is a beautiful city on the North Island, with spectacular beaches and hiking trails, award-winning wineries, and exciting cultural and adventure activities like the SkyJump, a 192 meter jump from the top of the Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere. Ferries run frequently to nearby Waiheke (the 'island of wine'), and Rangitoto Island (a dormant volcano).

Hobbiton Movie Set, North Island

Once a family owned farm on the north island called the Alexander Farm, Hobbiton is where director Peter Jackson and his team recreated the Shire, the home of the hobbits in J.R.R Tolkien's famous books. Several scenes in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and The Hobbit film series were filmed here. Visitors can take a guided tour and see such locations as Bagshot Row, the Party Tree, and Bilbo's home.

Rotorua, North Island

Rotorua is a city on the North Island of New Zealand that is famous for the Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, with sights like the Pohutu Geyser, the Artist's Palette, and the Champagne Pool, and for traditional Māori (indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand) villages, arts, crafts, and cuisine. The city also offers a wide range of adventures for thrill seekers and luxurious resorts for leisure travelers.

Queenstown, South Island

Built around Lake Wakatipu on the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown is an enchanting combination of natural beauty, beautiful spas & resorts, and a range of adventure sports, including the world's first Bungy jump, jet boating, hiking, and cycling. Queenstown is also the gateway to Milford sound (a breathtaking fjord), Glenorchy (site of several Lord of the Rings filming locations), Lake Wanaka, Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook.

Milford Sound, South Island

Milford Sound is a fjord on the South Island of New Zealand that opens out into the Tasman Sea, and New Zealand's most popular tourist destination. The fjord is surrounded by steep rock faces that rise over 1,200 meters (3,900 feet), with several waterfalls and the local widlife includes bottlenose dolphins and crested penguins. The scenery is so breathtaking that Rudyard Kipling once called it "the eighth Wonder of the World."

Glenorchy, South Island

Located on the northern shore of Lake Wakatipu, just 45 minutes from Queenstown, the quaint town of Glenorchy is the gateway to several filming locations for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film series, including Isengard, Amon Hen, the Lothlorien Forest, the Misty Mountains, and Ithilien. It has also featured in some of the Narnia movies.

Lake Wanaka, South Island

Located in the stunning Alps of the South Island, Lake Wanaka is New Zealand's fourth largest lake. The outstanding natural beauty of the region, various outdoor activities, and the collection of art galleries, shops and restaurants in the town, make the Lake Wanaka region extremely attractive for visitors. The name Wanaka means "place of learning," in the traditional Māori culture.

Lake Pukaki & Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, South Island

Lake Pukaki and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park are among the most breathtaking destinations in New Zealand. Lake Pukaki is world-famous for its turquoise blue waters, while Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand and several glaciers. The drive from Queenstown to Lake Pukaki and Aoraki is one of the most scenic drives in the world!

Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers, South Island

The Fox & Franz Josef glaciers on the South Island of New Zealand are among the most accessible glaciers in the world, as they stretch from almost 2,600 meters high in the Southern Alps nearly down to sea level. Visitors can walk to the foot of the glaciers, walk on the glaciers with professional guides, or fly to and land on the top of the glaciers in a helicopter.

Activities

Exciting and memorable things to do

SkyWalk and SkyJump

Experience heart-pounding excitement with the SkyWalk on top of New Zealand’s highest building, with no handrails to separate you from the 192m drop off the edge! Or treat yourself to 11 seconds of pure adrenaline with the SkyJump, as you jump off the edge of the SkyTower and plunge 53 floors down to Sky City plaza.

Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island

Take a ferry to Waiheke island to Matiata wharf on Waiheke island and spend the day exploring boutique vineyards to sample a range of Waiheke wines and sample fresh Waiheke oysters. Bike around the island or take a bus to see its scenic highlights and beaches.

Hobbiton & Rotorua Day Tour from Auckland

Depart from Auckland early and visit the Hobbiton movie set, then continue on to Rotorua. Choose from a variety of activities in Rotorua including tours of the geothermal sites Te Puia and/or Wai O Tapu, a traditional Māori cultural show, and various adventure activities.

Te Puia

Te Puia is an ancient Māori village dating back to around 1325, that is located in the Te Whakarewarewa geothermal area on the North Island of New Zealand. Te Puia features several active geysers and mud pools, and a Māori village and cultural center that showcases traditional Māori arts and crafts.

Wai-O-Tapu

Wai-O-Tapu, Māori for “sacred waters”, is an active geothermal area with several colorful hot springs, located about 27 kilometers south of Rotorua on the north island. Some of the most famous sights are the Artist’s Palette, Champagne Pool, Primrose Terrace and several boiling craters and mud pools.

Skyline Queenstown

Take a scenic gondola ride up to the top of Bob’s peak for breathtaking views of the Queenstown Area and Lake Wakatipu. Then, experience the various attractions on Bob’s Peak including fine dining at the Stratosfare Restaurant & Bar, the Skyline Luge, various hiking and biking trails, or Skyline’s guided stargazing experience.

Shotover Jet Boat Experience

Experience the beauty of the Kimiākau (Shotover River) Canyons, and learn about the Ngāi Tahu, the indigenous Māori people of the Queenstown area, while traveling at over 90 kilometers per hour over water as shallow as 10 centimeters on one of the world’s most exhilarating jet boat rides.

Milford Sound Cruise

Explore Milford Sound, a dramatic fjord on New Zealand’s south island that Rudyard Kipling once called the “eighth wonder of the world.” Sail past Bowen Falls, Sinbad Gully, Mount Pembroke, and the mighty Mitre Peak all the way to the Tasman Sea, and lookout for fjordland crested penguins and bottlenose dolphins along the way.

Kawarau Bridge Bungy Jump

No visit to Queenstown would be complete without a stop at the historic Kawarau Bridge Bungy center, the world’s first Bungy jump, which started operations in 1988. Nestled into a rock face overlooking the stunning Kawarau River, this 43 meter Bungy jump is still one of the most popular and exhilarating adventure experiences in the world!

Middle Earth Helicopter Tour

Discover Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, on this helicopter tour from Queenstown. Fly over the Shotover River gorge recognisable as the ‘Ford of Bruinen’ as well as ‘Isengard’, ‘Lothlorien’ and much more. Land high on a glacier alongside the ‘Misty Mountains’ and get a sense of what it might be like to cross ‘The Redhorn Pass.’

Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter & Hiking Tour

Meet at the Franz Josef Village base in Westland National Park. Then, fly in a helicopter over the glacier and marvel at the panoramic views of the icefalls and waterfalls before landing on the glacier. After landing, put on your glacier boots and crampons and trek across the glacier to explore the various ice formations.

New Zealand

Destinations

Activities

Map

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