I love New Zealand and have had an amazing holiday there with my family. There are so many amazing things to see and do that it can be difficult to plan a trip, there is so much to pack! So I asked my friend Josh (who has lived in New Zealand for 40 years) what were his top 10 recommendations for anyone visiting the country. This is the result, and it is an interesting and varied list that would make a memorable vacation. I hope this inspires you to visit one day.
1. Walk the Milford Track
Often described as the best walk in the world, the Milford Track is a spectacular four-day walk through the mountains and rainforest of New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. The track is well maintained and can be walked as part of an organized group or independently. Giant waterfalls, spectacular rainforest trees and plants, and rocky mountain passes await the hiker. The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s famous Nine Great Walks.
2. Thermal attractions around Rotorua
Famous for its geothermal activity (geysers, hot mud pools, steaming pools of volcanic byproducts), some of the areas around Rotorua feel more like a Martian landscape than anything else on Earth. The Whakarewarewa Geothermal Area offers the ultimate experience – you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re on the set of a sci-fi movie, with steam rising from the ground, strange pools of green liquid hissing loudly and lots of bubbling mud. With all that hot water and mud being released from the ground, it’s no surprise that Rotorua is the self-proclaimed thermal spa capital of the South Pacific, with plenty of opportunities to soak in the warm waters, kick back in a mud bath or relax in a pool. of sulfur.
3. Take the ferry to Russell and drink at the oldest pub in New Zealand
Take the small passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell in the Bay of Islands and enjoy a drink outside The Duke of Marlborough, New Zealand’s oldest pub. As you sip your drink, overlooking the coast, look around you and try to imagine this quaint, sleepy town as it was a little over a hundred years ago: one of the most dangerous ports in the Pacific with a fearsome reputation! Fortunately, times have changed and Russell, New Zealand’s first capital, is now a charming Bay of Islands city. The perfect place to spend a summer afternoon.
4. Catch a trout in the Tongariro River, Taupo
New Zealand is world renowned for its fishing, especially trout fishing, and Taupo is the center of that, with the Tongariro River at its heart. Even the Taupo welcome sign has a big trout! You don’t need to be an expert to catch a fish and it’s as much about being on the river in spectacular scenery as it is about fishing. If you catch a trout, the good news is that local restaurants will be able to cook it up for you to complete your day.
5. Go whale watching in Kaikoura
The best place in the world to get up close to giant sperm whales as they come up for air between dives to the bottom of the sea. Excellent whale watching trips are available through a company that is owned and operated by a local Maori tribe. Dolphins and seals are also plentiful and easy to see, as are the giant albatross, but it’s the whales that are the reason to visit. The city has a strikingly beautiful setting, with the snow-capped mountains of Kaikoura acting as a backdrop as they rise above the coast. And what better way to end the day than with a plate of scampi, for which the town is famous.
6. Visit the Te Papa Museum in Wellington
New Zealand’s innovative and high-tech national museum, on Wellington’s waterfront The best way to understand the country and its people in one day and have fun at the same time. Lots of interesting exhibits documenting the lives of the Maori and early settlers, plus display cases explaining New Zealand’s natural beauty. A virtual bungy jump and an earthquake simulator add a memorable high-tech appeal.
7. Drive to Glenorchy (from Queenstown)
If you’re visiting Queenstown, set aside a day for a walk along Lake Wakatipu to the beautiful township of Glenorchy, which greets visitors with the ‘Welcome to Paradise’ sign. And the few locals lucky enough to live in this place are not guilty of exaggerating: it really is a beautiful place. The hour-long drive between Glenorchy and Queenstown is packed with photo opportunities. Then head back to Queenstown to explore its great bars.
8. Camp Overnight at Mahurangi Park
Shh! I can’t tell you much about this one as it is one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets according to Josh. So you’ll have to take his word for it, or better yet, experience it for yourself. Mahurangi Park is an hour north of Auckland, not particularly well known and set in some wonderful coastal and bushland scenery. A paradise for coastal walkers, kayakers and those looking to relax. Beautiful bays, picturesque natural harbours, warm climate – that’s all we can apparently know!
9. Spend a weekend on Stewart Island
Visit Stewart Island for the weekend and eat freshly caught local oysters with fish and chips purchased from the famous Oban Kai Kart. The Stewart Islands is a 90% nature reserve with many walks offering up-close views of New Zealand’s weird and wonderful bird life.
10. Enjoy the Art Deco weekend in Napier
Relive the 1930s by visiting Napier for its annual Art Deco weekend. With memories of the recent Christchurch earthquake in mind, Napier’s inclusion on this list serves to remind us of what a city can do to recover after a natural disaster. Napier was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, but with typical Kiwi resolve it was rebuilt in the Art Deco style and has become a living monument to that period of architecture. In fact, it has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status as a result and its annual Art Deco weekend is a fitting celebration of this architectural heritage.