2024 New Zealand Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

Solo Trip to New Zealand's South Island (19, Male)

This trip took me to New Zealand's South Island via a transit in Fiji. New Zealand is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, and I was able to witness stunning landscapes everywhere I went. If you love nature, this trip will be perfect for you. Although the local English can be challenging, you can surprisingly get by even if you don't speak it well. The safety is excellent, so you can enjoy your solo trip with peace of mind. The total cost of the trip was around 200,000 yen. Fortunately, I managed to get a flight ticket for 80,000 yen, which helped keep the expenses down. Day 1: Sightseeing in Queenstown. I tried the famous Fergburger, and it was delicious. Day 2: Sightseeing in Te Anau. I went on a tour of the glowworm caves and did some cycling. Day 3: Milford Sound Tour. Day 4: Lake Tekapo. The view from Mount John Observatory during the day was spectacular. The hike is a bit tough, but if you're visiting Tekapo, it's a must-see! Day 5: Sightseeing in Christchurch.

Realise the wish of the first road trip in New Zealand 🇳🇿

#roadtrip I never thought that I would travel to New Zealand so soon, and I never thought that I would drive all the way. Thank you for pulling me out to help share the "driving volume". If you have a co-shooting companion, 90% of the trip will be happy. Li's 📍3,000 kilometres, the journey seems to experience 4 Li (the island country in early spring, not simple at all) I was moved by the beautiful scenery along the road too many times, touched the scenery, and secretly shed a little tears. 🎶 Listening to limited songs under limited signals, A sentence floats in my mind: Life is worthwhile, and I am grateful for everything now.

Please make sure to visit New Zealand, which is all the rage on social media

Itinerary 1 Various places - Beijing 2 Beijing - Auckland 3 Auckland - Rotorua 4 Rotorua - Auckland 5 Auckland - Christchurch 6 Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Greymouth - Glacier Town 7 Glacier Town - Fox Glacier - Wanaka - Queenstown 8 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown 9 Queenstown - Dunedin - Oamaru 10 Oamaru - Mount Cook - Christchurch 11 Christchurch - Auckland - Beijing 12 Beijing - Various places Must-visit Attractions 🎇The five must-visit lakes in New Zealand: Lake Tekapo + Lake Wanaka + Lake Wakatipu + Lake Matheson + Lake Rotorua 🎆Check-in the famous trio of the North Island: Hobbiton, the Glowworm Caves, and Agrodome Farm 🌌Alpine Scenic Train Journey: Experience the scenery above the clouds, feel the chill at the mountain peaks, and enjoy the moving scenery as the train weaves through the mountains 🎇Witness the millennia-old glaciers - the spectacular sight of Fox Glacier, feel the grandeur of the glaciers, and unveil the mysteries of the glaciers before your eyes 🎑Glacier Helicopter: Helicopter snow descent to and from the mountain peaks, aerial photography + top-down view, the beautiful and magnificent scenery of the millennia-old glacier mountains ⛰Milford Sound is the largest and most famous fjord in New Zealand's Fiordland National Park, formed during the Ice Age, also known as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' 🌅Light trekking on the Hooker Valley Track at the foot of Mount Cook, the best viewing point for Mount Cook 🌉Dunedin, the most Scottish-like city in New Zealand, experience the world's steepest street 🌆Steampunk capital Oamaru, watch the huge spherical Moeraki Boulders on the beach after the tide 🌃Nighttime viewing of the world's smallest blue penguins returning to their nests, these little guys adorably walk back to their homes at night

A must-experience checklist for New Zealand, only after these can you say you've been to New Zealand

🌟 Highlights: Spectacular fjords and glaciers, beautiful and magical beaches, indigenous Maori culture, and fairy-tale-like lakes and mountains... If you're in the mood, add a dash of courage, and you can challenge yourself at the birthplace of bungee jumping. This is New Zealand, the 'Middle-earth' of the movie The Hobbit, a must-visit destination on countless people's travel lists. ❤ Recommended Reason: Stargazing in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, bathing in the brilliant Milky Way of the Southern Hemisphere! New Zealand's South Island is designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest of its kind in the world. The Dark Sky Reserve includes most of the area around Tekapo and Mount Cook, and is rated as 'one of the best stargazing sites on Earth.' Have a spiritual conversation with the universe under the clear and pristine dark sky, and feel this unparalleled romance and the stunningly beautiful scenery that seems like a fairyland. 👍 Most Recommended: Lake Tekapo The first image many people recognize of New Zealand is the Church of the Good Shepherd bathed in starlight under a dazzling starry sky, with clusters of lupins blooming quietly. Lake Tekapo, with its high altitude and dry climate, boasts the highest sunshine rate in New Zealand, making it especially suitable for stargazing. 👍 Most Recommended: Queenstown Queenstown is not only a paradise for extreme sports but also an easy place to stargaze. In the evening, take the Queenstown Skyline Gondola to the top of Queenstown Hill, and you can overlook the town of Queenstown as the lights come on. An inadvertent glance upward reveals a sky bathed in brilliant stars. 👍 Most Recommended: Mount Cook Besides the popular stargazing by Lake Tekapo, many photographers also recommend Mount Cook for stargazing. Mount Cook is a paradise for hikers, with multiple hiking trails that take you into the glaciers and snow-capped mountains of Mount Cook. Far from towns and with less light pollution, the majestic Mount Cook makes the starry sky atmosphere even more serene and spectacular. 👍 Most Recommended: Stewart Island Officially rated as the world's fifth International Dark Sky Reserve and the second island reserve. It is uninhabited and closest to Antarctica, so the sky is exceptionally pure.

Roadtrip Picnic Spot in South Island

Went on a road trip all around South Island but one of our highlights is definitely Lake Tekapo. These pics were taken during Dec (summertime in NZ, but for a tropical berry like me the winds can be a little startling). Best hour to visit: Sunset/Sunrise (timing dependent on season of travel) Ideal for those who are looking for scenic spots in NZ. Would not recommend for individuals who require mobility aid as the ground can be rocky. Bring: food, cameras, blankets and enjoy ✨ Things to look out for: 1. Lupine flowers These flowers bloom between November to February, but even without them the lake is a beautiful sight. However, in my humble opinion this is the highlight and I would intentionally plan to go during this period for the flowers as they are a huge plus. 2. Church of the Good Shepherd 3. The Sheepdog Memorial 4. Stars!! There is a nearby observatory open Wednesdays through Sundays, but we recommend an advanced booking to avoid disappointment) 5. Hot Springs ———————— I had a truly mindblowing experience there with the Lupines and view, didn’t need lots of photography skills to take these stunning pics and around just so happened there was a double rainbow when we arrived. There are also hot springs and places to stay nearby but we were unaware during this roadtrip hence we didn’t go. Insane experience. 10/10 would recommend #2023travelwish #flowerlover

Phoenix Resort New Zealand

This resort was located at neighborhood in Taupo New Zealand. The perfect place if you love to visit Lake Taupo and explore Huka Falls. The room was clean and tidy and everything works well during our stay. The check in process was fast. The staff was attentive. Besides Lake Taupo, there is also another attraction which is Wairakei Natureal Thermal Valley. #mytripvlog#tripblazers#passionpassport#nationalpark

The Historic Cable Car In Wellington

When you are in Wellington, New Zealand for a holiday you have to go to historic cable car via the Lambton Quay Terminal where this cable car will bring you along tunnels and bridges thru the 4 other stations. The cable car has been operating since 1902 but of course this had been revamped and improved since this has become one of the most visited attraction in Wellington as this cable car brings you up to the Kelburn Terminal where you will be able to have a scenic panoramic view of the city of Wellington from the summit where you will also have access to the cable car musuem and the botanical Gardens. Also, if you realise around Wellington you will see key chains and souvenirs selling the reddish cable car, as this has now been the iconic attraction in Wellington. #bucketlistreboot #wellington #newzealand #historic #cablecar #view #summit #panoramicview #scenic #attractions #touristattraction

buah buahan di New Zealand

New Zealand: Singgah gerai buah Tak lengakap travel ke New Zealand sekiranya tak singgah ke mana-mana gerai buah-buahan. . . Rasa macam nak borong semua. Harga pun durian runtuh. Sesiapa yang hantu buah-buahan pasti seronok sakan. . . Bila travel jangan lupa makan buah untuk kuatkan antibodi. Yang risau mana nak cari makanan halal dan malas nak masak makan je buah-buahan. #nature #aroundtheworld #backpackerlife #passionpassport #awesomepic #deliciousfood #foodie #urbanexplorer #summervacation #new Zealand Travel #fruits #payandtravelwithbrain #flymore #vacations_mood #holiday_mood

New Zealand ni sesuai untuk semua golongan

New Zealand ni sesuai untuk semua golongan Kalau bawak keluarga nak bonding time dengan anak-anak dan sanak saudara pun amat digalakkan . . Buat reunion dengan kawan-kawan lama pun menarik juga . . Kalau dah penat berjalan boleh singgah berpiknik di tepi . . Lihatlah what life has to offer us. Travel ketika ada kudrat, ada masa, tak payah nak kumpul duit banyak-banyak lepas tu kita pun tak ada tenaga dah nak ke mana-mana had a really lovely time at new zealand most amazing experience travel in New Zealand Salam merdeka 65 #passionpassport #awesomepic #urbanexplorer #summervacation #nationalpark

santapan istana

New Zealand: Santapan Istana Sekali sekala bila di luar negara barulah merasa makan di Istana. Sempat berbicara sebentar bersama dengan Chef Danny yang mengatakan setakat ini masih belum ada group tour daripada Malaysia yang datang selepas New Zealand dibuka Mana korang semua pegi...takkan asik pegi Switzerland,Turkiye,Pakistan sahaja Cubalah singgah New Zealand pula. Dah terlampau ramai orang Malaysia tertumpu di sana..kita bantu negara lain supaya mereka juga ramai-ramai datang ke Malaysia Ketenangan 🌊🍃🏝 Bila perfectionist buat kerja. Indah dunia dgn adanya mereka. Tapi semua org jd stress termasuk mereka sendiri 🤭🤭🤭. jom travel

amazing Countryside

interesting drive through the South Island would make all the stress go away. It’s always nice to drive with the fresh breeze after long stress boring repetitive days in office. The scenic view and the fish & chips corners on the way.#themepark

Guide to top experiences in South Island, NZ

If you are looking to visit the South Island of New Zealand, then read on this post as I share the top experiences you need to include in your itinerary! 

The destinations are ranked only according to the photos position. 1. Lake Pukaki - The most beautiful crystal blue lake in New Zealand 2. Nugget Point Lighthouse - An iconic lighthouse in the Otago region of South Island that offers amazing panoramic view of the coastline 3. Moeraki Boulder - A unique, mysterious sight of large boulders along the Koekohe Beach. 4. Hooker Valley - The best hike, in my opinion, with the best views which includes the Mount Cook! 5. Kea Track - Similar to the Hooker Valley, with slightly easier track but also offers breathtaking views 6. Abel Tasman - One of the national park in New Zealand that offers amazing coastline views, and lots of water activities available If you are looking to visit the South Island of New Zealand, then read on this post as I share the top experiences you need to include in your itinerary! 

The destinations are ranked only according to the photos position. 1. Lake Pukaki - The most beautiful crystal blue lake in New Zealand 2. Nugget Point Lighthouse - An iconic lighthouse in the Otago region of South Island that offers amazing panoramic view of the coastline 3. Moeraki Boulder - A unique, mysterious sight of large boulders along the Koekohe Beach. 4. Hooker Valley - The best hike, in my opinion, with the best views which includes the Mount Cook! 5. Kea Track - Similar to the Hooker Valley, with slightly easier track but also offers breathtaking views 6. Abel Tasman - One of the national park in New Zealand that offers amazing coastline views, and lots of water activities available #momentssg #unforgettableexperiences #scenicspotguide

The Top Experiences of North Island, NZ

In this post, I would like to share the top destinations to include in your itinerary if you are visiting North Island, New Zealand for the first time!

The destinations are ranked only according to the photos position. 1. Te Mata Peak - Located at Hastings, it is a popular hiking trail with an amazing lookout at the summit 2. Hobbiton Movie Set - A guided walking tour that brings the movie Lord of the Rings come to life as you experience the land of Shire. 3. Huka Falls- Witness an extremely powerful waterfall right in front of your eyes! 4. Pouakai Tarns Walk- A half day hike to one of the most instagram-able location in New Zealand! 5. Tongariro Alphine Crossing - The most popular day hike in New Zealand that offers breathtaking views of the volcanic landscape! 6. Wai-O-Tapu - An active geothermal attraction that showcases colourful and unique geothermal elements! 7. Whakarewarewa - The living Maori village that offers everything you can learn about the Maori culture 8. Putangirua Pinnacle - A scenic hiking trail showing you the most fascinating geological rock formations along the way. #momentssg #unforgettableexperiences #newzealand #travelinspiration #scenicspotguide

NZ Hooker Valley- Easy hike,incredible view!

Getting There - Located at Mount Cook National park, which is in the South Island of New Zealand. It is easily accessible from several towns nearby(like Wanaka, Christchurch, Queenstown), with a car of course! There are several hikes around here like the Kea Point Trail, Sealy Tarns Track, but the Hooker Valley Track is definitely the best to go, if you have never! Unlike the usual hikes in New Zealand where it usually takes long hours and moderate stamina to complete, the Hooker Valley is rather easy and only take 3 hours for a round trip, and the reward you get once you reach the Hooker Lake is UNFORGETTABLE. The view is just pure beautiful and this is definitely my NUMBER ONE recommended to go place, for anyone that visits NZ South Island! There are some accommodations nearby, but there is also a rather large campground at the starting point where you can park your Campervan and spend the night! However, do check the official website, before heading down to avoid any disappointment of temporary closure due to unforeseen circumstances! #nationalpark #unforgettableexperiences #travelinspiration #naturalwonders #hiking #scenicspotguide

Nature Lover's Paradise 🍀

My New Zealand trip was such A great great experience! One reason is nature at her best offering breathtaking landscapes of stunning and diverse natural beauty which include spectacular glaciers, rugged mountains, flora and fauna, vast plains and farmland, long coastlines and active geothermal regions plus so much more. #scenicspotguide#naturalwonders#nationalpark

Milford Sound Nature Cruise by Southern Disco

It was a nice boat ride. We spotted a group of seals and a few dolphins. The landscape of the Milford sound was magnificent, but not as breath-taking as we expected, might be due to the cloudy weather. The whole trip might have been perfect if we had a better weather that day. Btw please watch out for the sandflies over there, it was the place with the worst sandflies problems i have visited in New Zealand. Suggest everyone bring a sandflies repellent with you in Milford sound, the bites of sandflies were not only itchy and caused swollan, it also made my mum got allergy and need to see a doctor when returning home. This is one of the highlight of our New Zealand road trip. The trip was great value with breath taking scenery on the drive in and during the cruise. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the free coffee was a bonus on a cold and breezy day. #themepark

THE WOODLANDS CAFE RESTAURANT ANDBAR

address: 16 Ashworths Beach Road, Leithfield New Zealand #themepark#zoo#nationalpark

Allyandsid Coffeshop

One of the best coffees around ChCh, the best Picolo and Flat White with macadamia milk I ever had in my life. Beautiful design and the food is also very tasty. Staff is very friendly. Although there are many reasons to why this café warms my heart so much, I must bring this essay to a close after this third and final reason, the friendly service that they provide that is quite unlike any other place I go. Sam, Aimee, Wairepo, Adam and Mikayla make up the amazing team at Ally and Sid at the time of me writing this essay. All of the staff members are easy to talk to and very friendly while hosting you. I've found myself being able to connect to them during the hours that I spend here, and I never get bored of their service. Another aspect of their impeccable service would be their care and love of the business and every part of it and that definitely includes the community and customers that come into the café, they have a lot of time for everyone who walks through that door and it makes my day to see such a caring staff. Finally, I have to add that my favourite part of their service is quite simply the little things, from saying thank you to everyone after they leave to making an effort to learn people’s names, it's clear to see why I love the service here so much, it's like my second home. #café

hobbiton movie tour

This activity should only be done if you’ve watched the hobbit or lotr trilogy. Personal opinion. Don’t think it’ll bring any significance or meaning if you’ve not watched it. But if you have, then it is the place to go! You’ll be taken in a tour group of about 30-40 people (yes a lot!!! So hope that most consists of kids lol) and a guide will show and explain to you each hobbit hole that is significant to the movie. A bus will bring you to the set. At the end of the tour, you’ll be given a choice of 4 drinks, light or hard beer, apple cider and ginger beer to choose from. Fun experience! It’s like the movie set came to life! Oh when we arrive, the tour for our timing was fully booked! So yes, if you’re going, please book ahead and don’t expect to buy it on the same day itself! #lakes

Everest Mountain Flight

The driver who picked us up was friendly. Unfortunately, weather was not ideal, the airline personnel said it was cloudy and flight was cancelled. we rescheduled to a later date after we came back from Pokhara. tip: Do not book this trip on the last day of your trip in case of unforeseen circumstances. We were hoping to take Buddha air, but was on Simrik instead. Simrik has very scratchy windows and the plane was quite old. I find that the travel company in Nepal did not handle the situation well enough and there were many miscommunication. they tried to charge us for a 2nd trip back to the airport for the Everest flight. overall, it's a one in a life time experience.air stewardess was very professional and everyone was invited to visit the cockpit for viewing.

Safaris Queenstown New Zealand

I made an excursion this January, together with Mike Langford and another local participant. Though the weather was bad in the afternoon and we had some showers, Mike showed us how to cope with these conditions and to make impressive images - he’s a really good instructor both in how to use your camera and composition of the picture. By the way, it didn’t play a role that Mike has got an affinity to Canon, while I’m shooting with a Nikon. And apart photographing, while we had tea and cookies, he told us interesting stories about his long time as professional photographer - it was a very pleasant company! As a tipp for non-native-english-speakers (like me, I'm from Germany): Don’t mind, i can really recommend this patient teacher, my english isn’t the best too.

The Frontier Cafe & Bar

Went here two nights whilst staying at the Hotel, also had two breakfasts. food was of a good standard. The staff was attentive, The one chef was able to turn out the meals at a good pace for the number that were there. Would visit again if in Haast. Good selection of drinks as well. Breakfast was a little lean but due to covid many staying and we enjoyed the breakfasts. #romanticrestaurant#themepark#nationalpark#lakes

Good hike to experience NZ mountains

A good mountain walk, easy access (farm track). The peak is at 1386m (from memory) so it is a 1000m climb from car park. At the top you can view both lakes as the mountain is named after the Greek word isthmus which is " a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land." We went in Winter so there was ice on some of the track which might make it hard for some. It is closed between November and December by the farmer. Popular track saw several other groups whilst up there. Bring water and warm clothes for at the top, Good climb and great views along the way and at the top. But very steep solid climb on the way up. My 10 year old is a keen walker and did fine but it may be a challenge for the less enthusiastic younger ones or the less fit. At least 4 hours return allowing for breaks. #awesomepic #couplestrip #deliciousfood #themeparks#nationalpark#lakes#beaches#infinitypool

Bay of Islands, North Island

Visited this island during my trip to New Zealand. It was a fun and trilling experience . Weather was pretty good at that time. What I enjoyed the most was the sea waves, sea breeze and sunset. Can’t wait to visit there again. The place there is very peaceful and no distractions at all. A good place for people who need space. It is away from city area. You will be impressed by the clear blue sky, sea-waves, reptiles, animals and mountains . #naturalwonders#nationalpark#lakes#beaches

Waitomo Glowworm Caves Tour

There is a guide who is a descendant of the original founder of the cave. In fact, most of the staff working in the park are descendants of the founder and so they understand the history of the caves very well. The guide gave interesting narration of the cave along the way while walking through the cave. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the cave and during the boat cruise. However, the cave and the boat cruise was very interesting, especially during the boat cruise where a lot of glow worms were sighted. Overall, the activity was interesting and well worth the ticket cost. #summervacation

We got the buffet lunch and 2 luge rides option. The buffet lunch was good, in terms of the view and restaurant service / vibe. There was quite a wide range of variety of food (but don’t expect super high quality food like sashimi and lots of seafood, but generally food was quite decent, had like mussels, bbq meat and sushi etc.). The luge ride was quite fun. Easy to learn. At least 2 luge rides were a must in every package because the first ride was on a “beginners” blue track only which was less exciting. The other track for 2nd to nth time players is much more fun! #summervacation

Onsen Hot Pools Experience in Queenstown

Onsen experience itself was quite lovely but the service staff especially receptionist could be quite rude at the end the day to me and other guests a lot of attitude for just asking about wifi or phone charging. Also another girl wouldnt let me stay in the room and have a shower after the buzzer went off even though I still had time in my hour and I heard other people still in their rooms having showers. Nevertheless, it was still a good Onsen experience but only redeemed by the actual pools and facilities themselves. Service was quite inconsistent. Perhaps they should train their staff a better in customer service if they’re going to keep employing young British overseas girls who are only interested in being in NZ for a working holiday to party and don’t actually have a genuine passion about Queenstown or providing a good level of customer service for its attractions themselves. #summervacation

Sheepworld

Auckland city center is about 1 hour without traffic jam. Once inside, you can see cute small animals and have a feeding experience. The performance lasts about an hour and a half, and is designed to give an overall understanding of New Zealand's sheep farm. A detailed description of how the shepherd dog drives the sheep, how the sheep is sheared, and the daily life of the sheep farm is explained in detail. Although it is conducted only in English, the overall situation can be understood as a performance even if it is not understood. Highly recommended for families with young children, newcomers to New Zealand #summervacation

!! I will report to you the results of the battle in GUCCI in New Zealand today. In 20 minutes, I bought two bags directly. I dont have to think about it, I just bought it. 1. Tiger head pockets Real wife is too popular, don't think, buy it directly. Shopping guide brother said that 2 days ago, the store had 50, this is the last one. Then I went to checkout, Miss Sister said, I am so lucky, I can still buy this. Anyway, I heard these reactions, I feel that there is nothing wrong with it, buy and buy. After tax, 975 New Zealand dollars, about 4,500. Today's clothes are not worn right, I think it would look better with a white T. 2. Backpack I bought this black, relatively low-key, basically can not see, only pay attention to Gucci can see. The price is 2200 NZD, about 10,000 or so, and the domestic counter is about 14000. It is cheaper than 4,000. Another very hot Gucci Courrier series, tried it. I also like it very much, and the upper body effect is also superb. However, the price is a bit high, beyond my budget, the price of this package is 3170 after tax, almost 15,000 yuan. However, it is much cheaper than domestic counters. Domestic reference price: 20300 3. White shoes price is 785 New Zealand dollars, almost 3000. Another pair of 1285, almost 5000. Shoes I didn't buy, personally like coconut and AJ. Also said that the cheapest GUCCI in the world is in New Zealand, is it true? Is this price ok? The elder brother who knows how to tell me, thank you

Exploring the taste of the tip of the tongue, New Zealand Chinese food big pay noon dishes are Chinese characteristics, with my favorite pot of meat, one does not know how many to eat, found the name of this shop, the tip of the tongue Memory is particularly literary, it will be associated with us, China's most famous food show, China on the tip of the tongue, the dish really worthy of the name of the store. In this store, it is actually possible to take delivery. The takeaway has been especially popular in Auckland. You can download a local app at home and you can eat delicious Chinese food without leaving your home. Another highlight is that there is a seafood dinner here. There are 4-5 kinds of fish, shrimp, crab and so on in a small pot. Chinese people will definitely find some unique when they travel. Chinese cuisine, it is normal to eat Western food. If you don't do it yourself, you can come here to taste different tastes. #trip###