Tourist Attractions in New Zealand

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in New Zealand

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About New Zealand

New Zealand, of course, is too far from us to call it the most popular destination for our tourists. However, this country is so beautiful and interesting that it is worth travelling several thousand kilometres and paying for a flight for the sake of visiting it!
Today, in light of the growing popularity of “”green”” tourism, New Zealand is actively developing this sphere of activity, as it has amazingly wide opportunities for this type of holiday.

This state, which is distinguished by a special atmosphere and colour, is located on two large (and almost 700 small) islands located in the south-western part of the Pacific Ocean. What is a must do in New Zealand? Visit the local beaches, which are characterised by clear water and beautiful scenery.

See New Zealand’s geysers, waterfalls, hills, glaciers, bays and headlands to appreciate all the country’s natural beauty. Take an active holiday, which involves not lying on the beach, but exploring new activities, hiking and interesting pastimes. Extreme adventurers will love it in New Zealand too, so welcome!

Top Cities to Visit in New Zealand

Auckland

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Wellington

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Top-25 Tourist Attractions in New Zealand

Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

 4.8/5

2170 reviews

It is one of the most beautiful places on our planet – a bay with amazingly clear water, surrounded by green mountains up to 1.2 thousand metres high. The fjord is located in the Fjordland National Park, on the territory of the South Island. Thousands of tourists come here every year to admire the picturesque creation of nature.

The Green Dragon Inn

 4.8/5

4231 reviews

If you’ve seen at least one film from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, there’s no need to describe this landmark where filming took place. You will be familiar with every corner of this village where the hobbits lived. But even if you are not a fan of fantasy, it is still worth visiting Hobbiton, because the village was built with great love.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Franz Josef Glacier

 4.6/5

343 reviews

This glacier is located in the west of the South Island, in the Westland National Park. This unique natural wonder is visited every year by more than 250,000 people who try to conquer the Franz Josef Glacier with a guide. Special shoes and equipment are required, but the ice tunnels themselves leave an unforgettable impression.

Sky Tower

 4.5/5

16156 reviews

It is the tallest building in the entire Southern Hemisphere. The Sky Tower in Auckland is 328 metres high and can be reached by a unique high-speed lift. There are three observation decks on the top floors and the amazing views are breathtaking. The Sky Tower is also home to several restaurants, hotels and a casino.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Waitomo Caves

 0/5

Nature has been working on this masterpiece for millions of years, so that now tourists can descend into a tangle of tunnels and about 150 caves! There are unique fireflies that illuminate the caves with an amazing blue-green light. Extreme tourists can go rappelling on the water, and choir lovers can listen to a cappella singing in the Cathedral Hall on the night before Christmas.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

 4.6/5

1992 reviews

This hydrothermal system was formed in 1886 and has been attracting tourists ever since to see New Zealand’s two largest geysers, Prince of Wales Feathers and Powhatu. They erupt every twenty minutes, so you won’t have to wait long for a spectacular sight. The height of these geysers reaches 30 metres.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Bay Of Islands

 4.7/5

300 reviews

One of the North Island’s most popular tourist destinations. The main port is Peyhia, which can be reached on a cruise from Auckland. There are numerous islands and islets scattered throughout the bay, offering diving, relaxing on local beaches and wandering around the neighbourhood and historical sites.

Mount Tongariro

 4.8/5

164 reviews

The oldest National Park in the country, often referred to as the “Three Smoky Mountains” because of the volcanoes located here. It was in Tongariro that some scenes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed, so the area is really fabulously beautiful and fantastic. The subtropical forests, untouched by man, look quite different from the usual European groves.

Rotorua

 0/5

This city, three hours from Auckland, is a unique geothermal area with numerous mud baths. Rotorua is popular with tourists who come here not only for the health benefits, but also to experience Māori life in the village of Tamaki, see twice-daily performances and sample the distinctive cuisine.

Whakaari / White Island

 4.4/5

170 reviews

This “striking volcano”, as the Maori call it, seems to have been transported to our planet from a fairy tale or outer space. White Island is now a landscape reserve, and no one lives here permanently. The only people who visit the volcano are tourists attracted by the unusual landscape and scientists interested in the site.

Lake Taupo

 4.7/5

427 reviews

The largest lake in the country with a depth of up to 160 metres. Tourists come here to take a boat ride, visit a shrimp farm and observatory, and go rafting on the mountain river. Taupo is also famous for its fishing – trout are abundant here. Near the lake there are resort complexes with hot mineral springs.

Huka Falls

 4.7/5

8081 reviews

A number of waterfalls have become one of New Zealand’s top natural attractions. The Huka Falls are located near Lake Taupo, so you can combine their visit with a holiday at local resorts. Every second the Huka Falls overflow up to 220,000 litres of water! It’s an amazing sight, especially if you take a boat to see it up close.

Open time

Agrodome

 4.5/5

1720 reviews

This is a theme park located near the city of Rotorua. It is home to a wide variety of animals, but Agrodome is famous for its Sheep Show, which is open to tourists. There are off-road vehicle tours of the Agrodome’s extensive grounds, and you can sample kiwi juice and local honey.

Open time

Ninety Mile Beach

 4.5/5

245 reviews

This beach stretches on the northern tip of the North Island and is characterised by amazing sand dunes that change with the slightest breeze. Nainty Mile Beach offers excellent conditions for windsurfing, boating and other outdoor activities. The area is sparsely populated and has retained its natural charm.

Open time

Sutherland Falls

 4.8/5

45 reviews

The highest waterfall in Oceania, falling from 580 metres. Located on the South Island, on the Arthur River, in the Fiordland National Park, Sutherland Falls are simply stunning in their power and strength. The rumble of the waterfall can be heard from several kilometres away, and the many rainbows of colour make the spectacle even more unique.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Auckland Art Gallery

 4.6/5

4950 reviews

In the heart of Auckland’s city centre is the Gallery of Art, established back in 1888. It is the first and most extensive art gallery in the country, located in the former city telephone exchange building. Today, it features both classic paintings and works by contemporary artists, and offers lectures.

Open time

Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Art Deco Trust

 4.5/5

407 reviews

On the coast of the North Island lies the town of Neupir, which was severely damaged by an earthquake in the first half of the last century and was almost completely rebuilt in a surprisingly attractive art deco style. Because of its architecture, the town is one big attraction with many hotels and tourist facilities.

Open time

Cape Reinga

 0/5

This sparsely populated area is only accessible by off-road vehicle. Despite this, Cape Reinga is a popular tourist destination, attracting up to 120,000 people a year. This place plays a major role in the religious beliefs of the Maori and is a sacred place for them. There is a modern, automatic lighthouse on the headland.

SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium

 4.3/5

6362 reviews

It is both a museum and an oceanarium located in the suburb of Auckland. “Kelly Tarleton’s Underwater World” is a whole complex of exhibitions of the most amazing marine life, divided into five parts by theme. Here you can see the longest underwater tunnel on the planet, swim with sharks and watch stingrays.

Open time

Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Tapu

 0/5

This is a volcanic zone, one of the ones that actually gave rise to the islands of New Zealand. Wai-O-Tapu means “Sacred Waters”. The Maori named this place for a reason – there are numerous hot springs here. Now in Uai-O-Tapu there is an amusement park “Thermal Wonderland”, which is very popular among tourists.

Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge

 4.8/5

256 reviews

This is the very first place on the planet where bungee jumping was organised. You can jump off the Kawaru Bridge to experience the thrill. This is exactly why extreme athletes from all over the world come here. If you are scared, you can just stand on the platform and watch the jump with video and sound. The Kawaru Bridge is the only place where you can jump in tandem.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

 4.8/5

3069 reviews

In the middle of the South Island is a corner of nature with snow-capped peaks, including Mount Cook at 3754 metres, glaciers, including the Tasman – New Zealand’s largest, forests and fast mountain rivers. Mount Cook offers mountaineering, fishing, or just a family walk to the nearest lake.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Hot Water Beach

 0/5

You don’t come to this beach with towels and umbrellas, but with shovels! There are two hot springs hidden under the sand of Hot Water Beach, so you can dig yourself a real bathtub, which quickly fills with warm water. The deeper the “sand bath”, the hotter the water will be, so in some cases holidaymakers dig entire canals to connect it to the sea.

Encounter Kaikoura (Dolphin Encounter)

 4.7/5

1262 reviews

The east coast of South Island, where this pretty New Zealand town is located, is constantly visited by great blue whales, minke whales and humpback whales. Dolphins are also abundant. There are excursions to Kaikoura all year round to see the giant sea creatures in their natural environment.

Open time

Monday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Kiwi bird (symbol of New Zealand)

It is an unofficial but very popular symbol of the country. It is in honour of the kiwi bird that the local fruit, famous all over the world, was named. In addition, New Zealanders themselves often call themselves “kiwi”. This has become a true international nickname. Images of the kiwi bird can be found literally everywhere here, there is simply no better souvenir.