New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Offering visitors unbeatable changes for adventure and exploration, holidays in New Zealand is the best. Tourist places in New Zealand include dense native forests, beaches, mountains, glaciers, fjords and thermal regions that have been well-preserved by the environmentally-conscious government and culture. You can see a blend of the traditional Maori culture with modernity in cosmopolitan cities, appealing villages and enormous expanses of intact wilderness.
There are many places in New Zealand where you can simply relax, taking in the beautiful view, or you can set out to explore the wilderness. Pristine and heavenly, New Zealand tourist attractions have something for everyone. Here is a list of top tourist attractions in New Zealand. Hope you will enjoy.
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Tourist Attractions in New Zealand:
10. Coromandel Peninsula
One of the best tourist attractions in New Zealand is the Coromandel Peninsula. Forming the eastern boundary of the Hauraki Gulf, this north-eastern peninsula juts into the Pacific east of Auckland. It is famous for its white and golden sand beaches that frame wonderful coastal panorama. It is one of the best places in New Zealand perfect for days of exploration and other natural wonders.
You should start your visit in Thames. This picturesque city has a rich history of gold mining. You should not miss the Hot Water Beach. In here, visitors can dig their own hot pool from the springs under the sands. If you want some peace and quiet, the Coromandel offers easy access to splendid isolation.
9. Abel Tasman National Park
Holidays in New Zealand is perfect for all. You can have whatever type of holiday you want in here. For instance, if you are a hiker, the tourist attractions in New Zealand offer you the Abel Tasman National Park. This vast national park is a hiker’s dream. The park is located on the northern tip of the country’s South Island.
The park is only accessible by boat, foot or small plane. You will love the trip. The mountainous trail offers you magnificent views including blue penguins, wood pigeons, oyster catchers, and other rare birds. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in New Zealand.
8. Sky Tower
Sky Tower is one of the most exhilarating and spectacular tourist attractions in New Zealand. It is amazing how many things you can do under one roof. Located in Auckland, the Sky Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere at 328 meters (1,076 ft). Basically, it is an observation and telecommunications tower, but now it has become an iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline.
You can visit one of the three spectacular viewing platforms which offer incredible views for up to 80 kilometers in every direction. You can even Sky Jump off the tower. The tower also offers fine restaurants like the Sugar Club and Sky Lounge. You must not miss dining in the Orbit, Auckland’s only 360-degree revolving restaurant. The Sky Tower is truly one of the most awesome tourist places in New Zealand.
7. Napier Art Deco
Located on the North Island’s east coast, Napier is a small city in Hawke’s Bay. In 1931, most of Napier was destroyed by an earthquake of 7.9 on the Richter scale. The rebuilding started almost immediately which coincided with the short lived Art Deco era. Maori motifs were employed to give the city a unique New Zealand character. As a result, the architecture in Napier is stunningly different from any other city in the world.
Now, the city is one of the top tourist attractions in New Zealand. An event called the Art Deco Weekend is organized here every February. This event is dedicated to the style, traditional cars, picnics, and the soapbox derby. Thousands of tourists visit Napier to attend this event.
6. Kaikoura
For the seafood lovers, the tourist attractions in New Zealand offer the Kaikoura. Located on the South Island, this small coastal town is a haven for seafood lovers. It is one of the most relaxing tourist attractions in New Zealand. In this amazing place, you can see fur seals, sperm whales, dolphins, and albatrosses while enjoying a feast of fresh crayfish, blue cod, mussels and more. For those who love to hike, the untamed and dramatic Kaikoura forest is waiting to be explored.
5. Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef Glacier is one of the best tourist attractions in New Zealand. After all, it is one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. This amazing glacier is located within Westland National Park in the southwest. Daring visitors can walk right up to the foot of the massive glacier. You can even take a helicopter ride over the impressive Ice Age remnant. The scenery is awesome and it’s worth it. Together with Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier draws tourist to the South Westland in droves.
4. Rotorua
Among the many tourist places in New Zealand, Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. Rotorua is rich with abundant geysers and hot springs in and around the city. And most of them can be enjoyed because they are in parks and reserves. This place is full of surprised natural eruptions of steam, hot water, and mud in new locations.
Rotorua is a stunning place with great view. In addition to the Lady Knox Geyser, nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Zealand with many hot springs noted for their colorful appearance.
3. Tongariro National Park
Another one of the top tourist attractions in New Zealand for the hikers is the Tongariro National Park. It is the first national park of New Zealand. Known for its surprises and extremes, the diverse range of ecosystems of Tongariro includes serene lakes, vigorous volcanoes, natural forests, herb fields, and desert-like plateaus. You can start your trek at the Whakapapa Visitor Center.
The center is located just a three-hour hike from the dazzling Taranaki Falls. Even though the hike is short, but it will take you through scrubland and forest and across the lava line of volcanic eruptions from hundreds of years ago. If you are spending your holidays in New Zealand then you must not miss the hike through the Tongariro.
2. Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular tourist attractions in New Zealand. It is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand that must be visited. Bay of Islands contains 144 islands, including many isolated bays and some grand sandy beaches. This picturesque area has an abundance of marine life. You can see penguins, whales, dolphins and the big marlin.
It is also a very popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sports fishermen. It is a great place to enjoy yourself, whether alone or with your family. This place has a lot to offer.
1. Milford Sound
With about half a million visitors each year, Milford Sound is among the most famous tourist attractions in New Zealand. Milford Sound is a fusion of spectacular natural features with amazing visual cues around every corner. Located on the South Island, Milford sound offers some of the most staggering coastal scenery of the world with its dramatic peaks and dark blue waters.
Rudyard Kipling described it as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. Rising vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks of the cliffs scrape the sky and waterfalls pour downwards, some as high as 1000 meters. The area’s frequent downpours only enhance this South Island beauty. The first sight of this one of the best New Zealand tourist attractions will take your breath away.