What to See in New Zealand

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

New Zealand has three sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

• New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (1998): a group of uninhabited islands and islets between the South Island and Antarctica, of scientific value (and not at all tourist-oriented).

Tongariro National Park ★★★★ (1990)
New Zealand’s oldest national park. Its stunning landscapes, volcanoes, and sacred Māori sites have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. You can hike, climb, horseback ride, mountain bike, or ski in winter at Mount Ruapehu.

Te Wahipounamu ★★★★ (1990)
This name encompasses four natural parks in the Southern Alps of the South Island: Fiordland, Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, and Westland. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its stunning mountain landscapes, forests, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and fjords. A wide range of outdoor and nature-based activities are available here.

North Island

Auckland ★★★
Though not the capital, Auckland is the country's largest and most dynamic city. It's very pleasant, offering a vibrant urban centre, its harbour, museums, beautiful beaches, and surrounding vineyards.

Bay of Islands ★★★★
Almost at the northern tip of the country, this remarkable bay and the many small islands facing it is one of the most tourist-frequented spots in New Zealand. Beyond the stunning landscapes, beaches, and possible water activities, the area is home to several towns with historical significance (Russell, Paihia, Waitangi, Kerikeri).

Bay of Plenty ★★★★
This wide bay on the north coast is loved for its landscapes and hiking trails, the geothermal activity around Rotorua (geysers, hot springs), as well as its beaches with surfing and diving opportunities, plus whale watching in season. It’s also a region where Māori culture remains very much alive.

Hamilton ★
The country's fourth-largest urban area, 130 km south of Auckland. Primarily a student and commercial city, it is also home to the Hamilton Gardens, a popular collection of parks.

Hokianga ★★
This long northern estuary has become a tourist area thanks to the Waipoua Forest and its giant trees, the rock formations of Horeke, the "sculpted dunes" of Opononi, and the small "historic" villages of Kohukohu and Rawene. You can also hike here.

Kapiti Coast ★★
This is the coastal stretch north of Wellington, facing the island of the same name, between Paekakariki and Otaki. Here you’ll find beautiful, fairly wild beaches, small villages, and natural areas (including Kapiti Island and Queen Elizabeth Park). The area is also popular with hikers.

Kerikeri ★
This locality, near the Bay of Islands, has become a popular destination for its artist workshops, its few early 19th-century buildings, and its "traditional Māori village.".

Napier ★★
The city on the East Coast is famous for its Art Deco architecture, making it quite touristy. Around it, a region of vineyards you can visit, as well as a few beaches nestled between cliffs in the surrounding area.

Coromandel Peninsula ★★★
This northern peninsula is a tourist destination. Visitors come for its stunning landscapes, trekking and other outdoor activities, beautiful beaches, charming towns, and historic gold mines.

Rotorua ★★
On the shores of the lake of the same name, the city is highly visited for its nearby geothermal attractions (Whakarewarewa), including geysers and hot springs. Outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking are also popular, and Māori culture remains a vibrant part of the experience.

Taupo ★
This central city, built on the lakeshore, is known for trout fishing as well as activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, and jet skiing.

Tauranga ★
The main city of the Bay of Plenty is a popular holiday destination known for its climate. Several beaches and opportunities for diving or surfing in the surrounding area.

Waitomo ★
This district with a strong Māori minority is famous for its numerous caves, which you can visit or explore through caving. You can also go rafting in the area.

Wellington ★★
New Zealand’s capital is renowned for its arts scene and cultural vibrancy. Stunning views can be enjoyed from the hills surrounding the city, its harbour, and bay. On its outskirts, several small natural sites (including Belmont and Kaitoke Park) offer great walking opportunities. Wellington is also the departure point for ferries to the South Island.

Whangarei ★
The "big city" of the north has a commercial focus. It offers beaches, some natural areas ideal for hiking, and beautiful waterfalls in the surrounding region. It's also the departure point for visiting the Poor Knights Islands, renowned for diving.

Whangaroa ★
On the north coast, the area around the small town offers opportunities for forest walks and, above all, beautiful beaches perfect for swimming, diving, or surfing.

Natural Heritage

Cape Reinga ★★
This is the northernmost point of New Zealand, marked by a lighthouse. With its stunning coastal landscapes, it has become a popular tourist destination over time.

Waipoua Forest ★★
With its towering trees and "jungle," this forest in the Hokianga region is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved in the country.

Hauraki Gulf ★★
This is the vast gulf located between Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. It features several islands (including Great Barrier Island and Waiheke), beaches, and protected bird habitats. You can trek or enjoy various water activities here.

White Island ★★
Small uninhabited island in the Bay of Plenty dominated by an active volcano. A popular day trip from Tauranga or Whakatane on the coast.

Kauri Coast ★★
A coastal stretch in the northwest featuring lovely landscapes, forests, and beaches perfect for hiking.

Tararua Range ★★
Small mountain range north of Wellington, popular with locals for "tramp-bivouac" trips in the wilderness (tramping).

Waitakere Ranges ★★★
West of Auckland, this coastal range of hills offers stunning landscapes, several waterfalls, and beaches (Muriwai, Piha, Te Henga, Karekare) interspersed with cliffs. You can hike, surf, or simply explore the scenery along the "Scenic Drive".

Ninety Mile Beach ★★
From the small town of Kaitaia to Cape Reinga, this long dune area offers a desert-like landscape popular with visitors. The dunes are also used for bodyboarding.

Egmont National Park ★★★
This coastal forest park is dominated by a dormant volcano. You can hike here and enjoy nearby beaches or surf spots.

Te Urewera National Park ★★
This is a large, dense forest park on the east coast with great trekking opportunities.

Tongariro National Park ★★★★
New Zealand’s oldest national park. Its stunning landscapes, volcanoes, and sacred Māori sites have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. You can hike, climb, horseback ride, mountain bike, or ski in winter at Mount Ruapehu.

Whanganui National Park ★★
This park near Tongariro also offers beautiful landscapes, Māori heritage, and a range of outdoor activities including trekking, canoeing, and rafting on the river that runs through it.

South Island

Blenheim ★
The "big city" of the northern part of the South Island, at the heart of the Sauvignon Blanc wine region. Beaches and a few short hikes nearby, plus the Marlborough Sounds not far away.

Christchurch ★
The largest urban area on New Zealand’s South Island, with a charming city centre recovering from the severe earthquakes of recent years.

Dunedin ★
The second city of the South Island, with Scottish roots. It's primarily a lively university city and a gateway to exploring the surrounding areas, including the Otago Peninsula.

Greymouth ★
It’s the town on the West Coast and primarily a base for discovering the "Pancake Rocks" in Paparoa Park, the recreated mining town of Shantytown, or trying rafting or kayaking.

Hanmer Springs ★
A small thermal village north of Christchurch. All around, plenty of hiking, mountain biking trails, and skiing at the Hanmer Springs Ski Area.

Stewart Island ★★
A large, sparsely populated island facing Invercargill, connected by air and ferries. It is home to Rakiura National Park, known for its birdlife and herds of deer, which are hunted here. You can also hike, kayak, or fish.

Chatham Islands ★★
A small archipelago 800 km off the coast, consisting of just two inhabited islands. Beautiful landscapes, birdlife, local traditions, and one of the most remote places in the world...

Invercargill ★
The southernmost city in New Zealand, at the gateway to Fiordland.

Kaikoura ★★
The only settlement along the northeast coast between Christchurch and Blenheim. Beyond being a stop on this route, the town, with its small peninsula, is known for its colonies of seals, dolphins, and especially whales that visit its shores.

Nelson ★
One of New Zealand’s two oldest cities, Nelson features several Victorian buildings in its centre. Thanks to its climate, it attracts many visitors who also come to enjoy its beaches and surroundings (vineyards, natural parks, Marlborough Sounds...).

Picton ★
This locality is both the arrival point for ferry lines from the North Island (departing from Wellington) and the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds.

Queenstown ★
A small town on the shores of Lake Wakatipu that has developed an "adventure tourism" scene. You can try bungee jumping, rafting, aerial sports, skiing (at four resorts), and of course hiking in its stunning mountainous surroundings.

Wanaka ★
On the shores of the lake of the same name, the town is both a summer (hiking, fishing, rafting, canyoning, and outdoor activities in general) and winter (skiing) tourist resort. It is also the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.

Natural Heritage

Marlborough Sounds ★★★
A labyrinth of islands (Arapawa, d'Urville...), channels, and peninsulas (Queen Charlotte...) at the northern tip, offering stunning wild landscapes. You can take small cruises, kayak, hike, or spot dolphins and birds.

Milford Sound ★★★
One of the country's top attractions. Located in the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park, this stunning fjord draws over half a million visitors each year for its landscapes, whale, dolphin, and seal watching, boat or kayak trips, and numerous hikes, including the famous Milford Track.

Abel Tasman National Park ★★★
This small coastal reserve on the north coast offers stunning beaches that are highly popular with visitors. Kayaking and hiking along the forested coastline or inland are also possible.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park ★★★★
One of the four parks in Te Wahipounamu listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is home to the country's highest peaks and numerous glaciers, including the Tasman Glacier, the largest of New Zealand's nearly 400 glaciers. It is naturally a highly popular destination for its landscapes and outdoor activities (hiking, mountaineering, skiing, etc.).

Arthur's Pass National Park ★★
A beautiful mountainous park in the heart of the island, known for trekking, skiing, and mountaineering.

Fiordland National Park ★★★★
This is the largest and southernmost of the four Te Wahipounamu UNESCO-listed parks. It's a stunning area of fjords (including the famous Milford Sound), along with lakes, waterfalls, and cliffs perfect for hiking, climbing, or hunting.

Kahurangi National Park ★★
The second-largest national park in the country. Visitors come for hiking, rafting, and caving.

Mount Aspiring National Park ★★
This mountainous park on the west coast, not far from Wanaka, is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage area. Hiking and climbing are popular here, set against a stunning backdrop of mountains, forests, and waterfalls.

Nelson Lakes National Park ★
South of the city of the same name, two large lakes and smaller ones popular for fishing, hiking, and camping. You can also ski at Rainbow Ski Area.

Paparoa National Park ★★
This park on the northwest coast is famous for its "Pancake Rocks", spectacular rock formations, and numerous caves. You can hike and go caving here.

Westland Tai Poutini National Park ★★★
One of the four parks in Te Wahipounamu listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stunning mountain and glacier landscapes (Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier) and opportunities for hiking or outdoor sports. Also, on its outskirts, a few former gold-rush mining towns.

Banks Peninsula ★★
The peninsula is located next to Christchurch, with the sea, cliffs, beautiful landscapes, and small villages along a coastal road.

Otago Peninsula ★
This peninsula near Dunedin offers stunning coastal scenery and abundant marine wildlife, including seals, penguins, and elephant seals.

Te Wahipounamu ★★★★
This name encompasses four natural parks in the Southern Alps of the South Island: Fiordland, Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, and Westland. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its stunning mountain landscapes, forests, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and fjords. A wide range of outdoor and nature-based activities are available here.

The Catlins ★★
This is the small region in the far south-east of the island, between Dunedin and Invercargill. Sparsely populated, with rolling hills and forests, it offers stunning coastal scenery, caves, and opportunities for trekking or surfing. You can also observe many bird species as well as seals, sea lions, and more.