Travel to the land made famous by Lord of the Rings and see the top 10 places to visit in New Zealand. What was once a quiet nation located south of the Pacific Ocean has now become a haven of tourists especially after the filming of movie series Lord of the Rings. This Polynesian group of islands is believed to be last land mass to be inhabited by humans. As it is quite isolated from the rest of the countries worldwide, the indigenous Maori culture is kept intact amidst the rapid growth and development of the country.
Before purchasing your plane tickets and booking your hotel, you need to know that some foreigners are required to secure a tourist visa prior to entering the nation. To find out whether you need a short-stay visa or not, check this list of countries with visa exemptions. If you are a passport holder of one of these countries, then you can just fly in and the immigration officer will give a short-stay permit. However, if your country is not in the list then you really need to apply for a New Zealand tourist visa. Here are the requirements:
- A valid passport
- A completed visa application form
- A couple of colored passport-size photos
- Flight itinerary for visa application
- Bank documents
- A current medical certificate
- Visa fees
Top 10 Places to Visit in New Zealand:
Get ready to have the most unexpected adventure of your life! There are far too many places to see in this picturesque country but you need to set your eyes to these top 10 destinations first.
Top 10: Mt. Victoria in Wellington:
Start your New Zealand adventure by going to the capital city, Wellington. This urban city is surrounded by water forms such as the Cook Strait, Wellington Harbour, Porirua Harbour, and Fitzroy Bay.
In order to see all these great views, you must hike up Mt. Victoria. This is actually just a hill located in the east of the city and is easily accessible via a city tour bus. If you want to really do the hike by foot, you can do so by following the ready-made trail. Once you get to the top, you can immediately see the harbour, the airport, and the entire cityscape. This will be such a great start to your top 10 places to visit in New Zealand adventure.
Top 9: Cable Car in Wellington:
You might be wondering why a ride in a cable car warrants a place in this top list? Well, because this cable car system has been operational for over a century and still continues to be the efficient transportation system of the locals.
For a very affordable price, you can ride these red trams that will bring you to Lambton Quay and up to the Cable Car Museum and the Wellington Garden. See the amazing view from the top of the hill. If you have time, do check the museum and the garden.
Top 8: Sky Tower in Auckland:
Travel north from Wellington and see New Zealand’s most populated city, Auckland. Similar to Wellington, Auckland is surrounded by great bodies of water like the Shoal Bay and the Hauraki Gulf.
For you to see the spectacular view of Auckland, visit the top of the famous Sky Tower located near the Auckland Bridge. This telecommunications tower has five upper levels that are open to public as viewing decks. One level is a revolving restaurant that gives a full 360 degree view of the city. Another level is the main observation deck. The most exciting level out of the five should be the Skywalk and Sky Jump deck where willing patrons will either be strapped to a harness and be allowed to walk along the glass edge of the tower or be attached to a cord and hurl down the building from a height of 192m.
Top 7: Waitakere Ranges in Auckland:
Auckland is filled with a great many nature reserves and one of the best outdoor adventures you can do just 45km off the city is in Waitakere Ranges. This 16,000-hectare worth of forest and coast can be reached by the western line train to Swanson or by a private car.
Once you get to Waitakere Ranges, you will be oriented by the park rangers who will help you choose the right activities for you. You can choose to have a picnic by the coast, to join a bird watching activity, to hike up the mountain to see the view, or to trek to see a couple of waterfalls within the park. The many activities offered in this park makes it a family-friendly destination.
Top 6: Rangitoto Island in Auckland:
Before you venture out of Auckland, make a final stop at Rangitoto Island. This scenic reserve is actually believed to be the youngest island and volcano in New Zealand, which just surfaced from the sea not longer than 600 years ago. An hour of ferry-ride from the port will bring you to the wooden pier of the island.
From the pier, you will make an easy trek up the 259m-high volcano. Kids and even mature adults can easily follow the path to the summit. If you want to take the adventure a notch higher, you can choose to do spelunking or cave exploring. The peak of the volcano gives the best view of Auckland and the gulf.
Top 5: Whangarei Falls in Whangarei City:
Go to the northernmost city of New Zealand and you will see one of the most untouched and preserved natural resources of the country. A destination that you shouldn’t miss when you are in Whangarei is the Whangarei Falls. Situated in the Whangarei Scenic Reserve, this towering curtain waterfalls is a great swimming site and picnic area. Getting to the pool where the cascading water goes is actually easy.
The path leading to the waterfalls is well-maintained and most tourists and locals who have been there rave about the cleanliness of the entire reserve. This destination definitely needs to be in the top 10 places to visit in New Zealand list.
Top 4: Lighthouse in Cape Reinga:
Before leaving the Northland of New Zealand, why not take a bus tour to the northernmost tip of the Northland. The land travel may take hours but the long wait will all be worth it once you see the lighthouse at the tip of the island.
This particular place is sacred to the indigenous Maoris because this cape is believed to be the place where souls of dead people go before they go to the afterlife; thus the name “Reinga” which means underworld. According to the Maoris, the spirits jump off the cliff once they reach the cape. Another must see from the lighthouse is the view of the meeting of two great bodies of water – the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea.
Top 3: Farmer’s Market in Christchurch:
Christchurch is a city located in the Southland of New Zealand. Although this large city has been hit by three strong earthquakes from 2010 to 2012, Christchurch has slowly recovered and has since restored most of its infrastructures. One of the main attractions in this city is the humble Christchurch Farmer’s Market.
Open every Saturday from 9am to 1pm, this Farmer’s Market boasts of local agricultural products as well as local dishes. As New Zealand locals take their Saturday brunch seriously, you can expect to see a lot of different grains, breads, and dairy. You must-try the famous Flat White Coffee which is an espresso with milk-foam.
Top 2: Akaroa Harbour in Canterbury:
Right outside Christchurch, found within the Region of Canterbury, is the famous Akaroa Harbour. This site was first occupied by the French colonizers way back in the 19th century and up until now the French influence still remains in the harbour area.
Being a coastal area, most outdoor activities here have something to do with water. One of the activities you must do is to join a 4-wheeldrive tour to the most populous little penguin colony on the island. You may also join a water tour that’ll bring you to see the smallest species of dolphins.
Top 1: Rakiura National Park in Stewart Island:
Most foreigners know that New Zealand is made up of only two large islands but unknown to most is the presence of a third relatively large island found south of the country.
This island is known as Stewart Island and the only portion that is inhabited on this island is called Oban. Before you leave the country, it is such a great experience to travel further south to this island to see and experience the “outback” of the New Zealand locals. Spend a full day in the relatively young park called Rakiura National Park. Here you can see the famous kiwi birds up close and the rare yellow-eyed penguin.
Top 10 Places to Visit in New Zealand – Go to the Land of the Long White Cloud:
Looking forward to your great New Zealand adventure? Then complete your requirements right away and apply for a New Zealand tourist visa. Should you have any questions or need any assistance is getting a visa or getting an itinerary for the visa application, you may contact us through our website or Facebook page.
Spend an exhilarating time as you see the top 10 places to visit in New Zealand!