Discovering the Hidden Gems of New Zealand

The islands of New Zealand have 16 distinct regions across the two main islands offering much for travelers to delight in. The indigenous people of New Zealand are known as the Māori and I encourage you to take some time to learn about their culture and history, during your visit. There are many museums, cultural sites, and performances available to learn about this beautiful culture.

The landscapes and climate vary on different parts of the islands, so it’s a good idea to bring clothes for both cold and warm weather, as well as rain gear. Like visiting Alaska or Northern Europe, it may be both warm and cold all the in same day.

Similar to my last blog post about Australia, there’s too much to cover in one post, so this will highlight the popular areas of the islands. If you missed my post on Australia, you can find it here.

Starting with Auckland, on (the north side) the north island, an urban oasis of food, music, arts & culture where many visitors either start or end their vacations. You can explore harbours, islands & black-sand beaches. Maybe you want to go whale watching, hike a volcanic cone, wine tasting, or even stargazing.

Fun Fact

Bungee jumping started in New Zealand.

For adventure seekers, you can bungee jump off Auckland Harbour Bridge. Another place to get your blood pumping is Sky Jump where you jump off the Sky Tower (328 meters). For those who want to see the views (harness free), you can go up the Sky Tower for panoramic views over the city.

Get out in nature at Whitaker Ranges Regional Park for hiking through lush rainforest, gaze at cascading waterfalls and walk along a beautiful coastline. You’re never far from the sea in Auckland. For instance, just 15-minutes from the city, you can visit Mission Bay and go kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding.

For foodies & wine lovers you can head to Waiheke Island (40-minute ferry ride) where you’ll find plenty of vineyards, olive groves, white sand beaches, art galleries and fine dining. Also, a great spot for snorkeling and diving. Take a day trip to Rotoroa Island and visit the open wildlife sanctuary or climb the volcanic cone of Rangitoto Island for breathtaking views.

A very popular tour is Waitomo Caves where you’ll see glowworms. It’s exactly what it sounds like. You go underground into limestone caves to see 1,000’s of glowworms light up the cave like tiny stars. Here you can take different kinds of tours based on your desired activity level. You can walk, take a boat, zip line, or the ultimate black water rafting (crawl, swim and float through the caves).

Opposite Auckland (on the south end of the north island) is Wellington. It might be a small city, but it has a solid mix of culture, history, nature & cuisine. Here you’ll find street art and sculpture walks along the waterfront. Ride the Cable Car for amazing city views with an ice cream shop at the top.

There’s plenty of places to bike, walk, or kayak. The Southern Walkway Trail will take you to Wellington’s rugged south coast or take the Escarpment Track for stunning views of the Kapiti Coast.

All you Lord of the Rings fans can visit Weta Cave where you’ll find authentic collectibles, replicas, prints, movie memorabilia etc. Take a guided tour for a behind-the-scenes look at props, costumes, miniatures, and model making. These tours are very popular and often sell out months in advance. Lord of the Rings sites must be visited by tour and not self-explore, as they are located on private property.

Fun Fact – did you know Wellington has more eateries and bars per capita than New York City! Bring your appetite as there’s plenty of restaurants to delight in.

Venturing on to the South Island let’s start with the Christchurch-Canterbury region. This area is known for its stark contrasts - vineyards, coastlines, mountains, and glacier lakes. Stargazers can investigate the night sky in the world’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve. Head to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park for the turquoise glacier lakes and sky piercings alps and hike the Hooker Valley Track to spot New Zealand’s tallest mountain – Mount Cook. Travel to Hanmer Springs for a thermal soak, or Kaikoura to encounter the local wildlife – sperm whales, orcas, and dolphins.

Christchurch is constantly evolving offering something new for locals and visitors. After the devastating earthquakes in 2011 the city has been rebuilt and is now filled with cutting-edge architecture alongside some of the oldest buildings in New Zealand.

Dunedin is known as the wildlife capital of New Zealand and is also rich in heritage buildings and cultural sites. A visit at the Royal Albatross Centre is the only mainland location in the world where you can view the northern royal albatross in its natural habitat. You can also take a tour to see the world’s smallest penguins, fur seals, sea lions and other native marine and bird life.

If history appeals to you, you may like Larnach Castle, the only historic castle in the county. There’s also Olveston Historic Home, which was previously the family home of the Theomin family. Little has changed inside this home, so you’ll get to see fine art, furniture, and artifacts from all around the world.

Fun Fact – Dunedin is home to the world’s steepest street – Baldwin Street.

Those who enjoy exploring the outdoors may want to visit Tunnel Beach, which has a sandstone sea arch jutting out into the Pacific Ocean and a hand-carved tunnel leading down to a secluded beach.

A trip to New Zealand isn’t complete without seeing Dusky, Doubtful & Milford Sounds. Imagine picturesque waterfalls cascading into the deep fiords. You can see ancient rainforests on the side of the mountains and untouched granite peaks looking as they did long ago.

There are many ways you can take in the astounding beauty of the fiords – helicopter, hike in Fiordland National Park, a boat tour, or how many visit - on a cruise ship. No matter what time of year you visit, the fiords are known for being cold. I’d suggest wearing layers and having a jacket, hat & gloves.

As you can see there’s much diversity on the small islands of New Zealand and so much beauty to take in. I hope you enjoyed this overview and will visit soon. I’d love to hear from you! If you’ve been to New Zealand, what did you love most? Let us know in the comments.

Bianca Ramos - Travel Advisor

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