New Zealand is one of the most popular places to visit in the world, especially for backpackers. There are so many awesome things to do in New Zealand that even though I’ve been twice now, I can’t wait to get on a plane and explore some more. 

Maybe it’s the breathtaking scenery, the friendly local people, the enthralling history and culture, the epic road trips, the amazing food and wine, or the backpacker lifestyle that has you dreaming of a trip to New Zealand, or maybe it’s a combination of them all?

If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, what the best things to do in New Zealand are, where the best places to visit in New Zealand are and are perhaps beginning to put together your New Zealand bucket list… you have come to the right place. From skydiving in Taupo to bungy jumping in Queenstown, this guide will take you through the best things to do on New Zealand’s North Island and the best things to do on New Zealand’s South Island.

I have solo-travelled and backpacked through New Zealand, so I’m going off my experience to help you decide what to do, where to go, and how best to spend your time in New Zealand.

Are you ready to dive into a bucket list of New Zealand inspiration?

21 best things to do in New Zealand

Spend a few days in Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is famous for its vividly turquoise water (naturally coloured by glacial “rock flour,” not a filter) in the heart of the South Island’s Mackenzie region. The best thing to do here is hike the Mount John Summit Track (a manageable 5.5 km), finishing with coffee and cake with a view at Astro Cafe. Don’t miss the lakeside Church of the Good Shepherd for sunrise or sunset, and stick around after dark to stargaze in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best dark-sky spots on Earth.

• The Ultimate Guide to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Take on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

It’s famous for a reason and arguably the best thing to do in New Zealand. This day hike takes 7-9 hours and is quite the challenge at just under 20km! But the views of Mt. Ngaharuru, the emerald lakes, the blue lake, the red crater and the soda springs make it worth it and keep you going as you trek through the peaks. 

• Check out my Tongariro Alpine Crossing guide here. 
• See my Tongariro Alpine Crossing photo diary here.

Visit Nelson Lakes National Park.

Nelson Lakes National Park covers 102,000 hectares and is home to the New Zealand Southern Alps, full of alpine landscapes, rugged peaks, forests and glacial lakes.

Whether you want a lakeside picnic, an easy walking trail or a challenging mountain trek, you can do it all here.

In Maori mythology, the great chief Rakaihaitu dug holes with his ko (digging stick) to create the two lakes, which are at the heart of the national park: Lake Rotoroa (large waters) and Lake Rotoiti (small waters). Both have are glacial landforms with stunning mountain views and are surrounded by honeydew beech forests, which are home to a variety of wildlife. 

Skydive over Lake Taupo and then hang out in the free hot springs.

The best adrenaline surge of them all, and one of the best things to do in New Zealand!

After the 15,000ft freefall over Lake Taupo’s turquoise water with views of the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park, head straight to the free hot springs along the Waikato River to soak your nerves away. There is no entry fee (yay), just bring a towel and let the natural geothermal water do its thing. It’s the ultimate combo, and one of the best things to do in Taupo.

• Check out my skydive in Taupo here.
• Check out my backpacker’s guide to Taupo here.

Visit Milford Sound

This is perhaps the most popular thing to do in New Zealand and one of New Zealand’s best natural phenomena. Located in Fiordland National Park lies the only fjord in New Zealand accessible by road. The gushing waterfalls and dark waters captivate even the most well-travelled visitors, and the area remains unspoiled due to its protection from the dense forest. 

Most tours to Milford Sound include a cruise (like I did), but other activities such as kayaking or scuba diving are available in the area. 

• Check out my trip to Milford Sound and other top things to do in Queenstown here.
• Check out my complete backpacker’s guide to Queenstown here.

Stand-up paddleboarding on the Kawatiri Lagoon

Whether you want to head out on the water yourself or take a guided tour, SUP on the Kawatiri Lagoon is perfect for all abilities. Explore the wetlands and the lagoon and learn about the flora and fauna as you work with the tidal current to pull yourself through the water and try to keep your balance! See my experience here.

If you don’t fancy SUP, Westport is also a great place for other watersports, such as surfing, cave rafting, white-water rafting, sea and river fishing, and land activities like hiking and mountain biking. 

Take on New Zealand’s highest bungy jump in Queenstown.

The Nevis Bungy is 134m and is one of the best and most popular things to do in New Zealand if you love an adrenaline rush. Let your stomach drop as you free-fall for 8.5 seconds, taking in the views (if you can keep your eyes open!). 

• Best Things to Do in Queenstown, New Zealand

Admire the resilience and creativity in Christchurch

Christchurch was devastated by an awful earthquake in 2011, but the resilience and creativity of the local people have brought the city back to life.

From taking a food tour of the stalls at the Riverside Market to exploring the independent art galleries and jewellers, from learning about the earthquake at the Quake City museum to enjoying the green spaces, botanical gardens, and rose gardens, there are plenty of fun things to do in Christchurch. 

Check out my trip to Christchurch here.

Take a helicopter ride over the Franz Josef Glacier

The Franz Josef Glacier is a 12km long moving river of ice, and taking a helicopter ride to see it from above is one of the best things to do in New Zealand; the experience really took my breath away. After the ride we got to explore the ice and snow for a while, before heading back to the Glacier Pools to warm up. The pictures really don’t do the experience justice, and I strongly recommend adding this experience to your New Zealand bucket list! 

See my experience at the Franz Josef Glacier here. 

Go hiking in Abel Tasmin National Park in Kaiteriteri

The Kaiteriteri beach is not only a beautiful place to go swimming and enjoy the water, but it’s also a gateway to the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park. Trek through the bush, eucalypt trees, manuka trees and more for wonderful views across the entire bay. You can also hike to Kaka Pah view point, part of a historical reserve with lots of cultural significance for the tāngata whenua, the “people of the land”. 

Go wine-tasting in Marlborough

Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest and most celebrated wine region, sitting at the top of the South Island, and it’s the birthplace of the country’s now-famous Sauvignon Blanc.

With over 20 vineyards exporting around the world, you can easily spend a day cellar-door hopping by bike or car, pairing tastings with a long lunch at one of the vineyard restaurants overlooking the vines. Cloudy Bay in the Wairau Valley is a great place to start, as the winery is largely responsible for putting Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc on the map. Whether you’re a wine lover or just along for the ride, an afternoon of wine-tasting in Marlborough should definitely be on your New Zealand bucket list!

Check out my experience wine-tasting in Marlborough here.

Say hello to the sea life in Kaikoura

Kaikoura is world-famous for its whales, dolphins, seals, and other marine life, and one of the best things to do in New Zealand is to see them up close. Rather than booking onto a bigger, more commercial tour, try one of the trips with a local fisherman like we did. There’s no guarantee of seeing the sea animals, but it’s significantly cheaper, and you’ll get to know more about the local culture from the people who know it best. 

Check out my trip to Kaikoura here.

Spend some time in Lake Wanaka

Set in Central Otago, an hour from Queenstown, Lake Wānaka has a calmer, more laid-back vibe than its neighbour, with glassy lake reflections, snow-dusted peaks, and an outdoors-first culture built around hiking, biking, and lake life.

Cool adventures to go on in Wanaka:

• The standout hike is Roy’s Peak (or its quieter sibling, Isthmus Peak)
• visit the famous “That Wānaka Tree”
• paddleboarding
• a wine tasting at Rippon Vineyard overlooking the lake
• Come in winter (Jun–Aug) to ski at nearby Cardrona or Treble Cone.

Lake Wanaka is the perfect stop on a South Island road trip for anyone after adventure with a slower, more grounded pace.

• The Ultimate Guide to Lake Wānaka, New Zealand

Enjoy a tranquil weekend on the Takou River

Imagine… you walk through the forest towards the river, to find your lodge in complete silence and serenity, bar the odd splash from a fish in the water or the song of a bird in a nearby tree. As the sun goes down, you watch the sky turn from blue to pink to black, where you fall asleep to one of the starriest skies you’ve ever seen in your life. When you wake in the morning, you hear the sweetest birdsong and smile in awe at the sunrise hues in the sky. 

My stay at Magic Cottages on the Takou River was one of the dreamiest, most restorative and calming weekends I’ve ever been away on.

See my experience at the Magic Cottages on the Takou River here.

Have your mugshot taken at the Jailhouse Hostel in Christchurch

Located just a 20-minute walk out of Christchurch city centre, Jailhouse Hostel in Addington it is a refurbished jail where the cells have been converted into dorms.

Check out my trip to Christchurch, including my stay at the Jailhouse Hostel, here.

Enjoy a city break in Auckland

Auckland is a starting point for many trips to New Zealand, but don’t leave straight away! From walking along the harbour to sunset at Baston’s Point, jumping off the Sky Tower and flying over the Hauraki Gulf, there’s plenty to see and do in Auckland that should be on your New Zealand bucket list. 

Check out my top ten things to do in Auckland here.

Learn about Māori culture.

Māori culture is an integral part of everyday life in New Zealand, including culture, customs and the language.

Māori are the tangata whenua, the indigenous people, of New Zealand. For a long time, the Māori were expected to adapt to the Pākehā culture (British), but since the 1980s, a big shift and focus on biculturalism has happened. 

Te Reo Māori is an official language in New Zealand so you can expect to hear it spoken and Māori customs, such as Manaakitanga (welcoming guests and providing great hospitality) and Kaitiakitanga (respect for the natural word) are important.

Experience Māori culture by visiting a marae, watching a carving or weaving demonstration or learning myths and legends from Māori guides.

See the glow worms in the Waitomo Caves

Enjoy a boat ride through the glow worm grotto, marvelling at the thousands of magical glowworms and learning over 130 years of cultural and natural history. The glow worm is unique to this country, making this a very unique thing to do in New Zealand and a must-do on your New Zealand bucket list. 

Soak up the sun at Cathedral Cove

Cathedral Cove is a famous volcanic rock formation on the Coromandel Peninsula, and visiting is considered one of the best things to do in New Zealand. It’s a couple of kilometres from the town of Hahei, or about a 2.5-hour drive from Auckland. It takes about an hour to walk down to the cove from the car park, where you can marvel at the cave and the volcanic rock, and take a dip in the ocean. You can also kayak round to the cove from Hahei.

Go on a Northland road trip

Exploring an area with the freedom of a road trip is my favourite way to see new places. There’s something about the open road and being able to choose when and where you stop that gives you complete freedom to do what you want. My road trip in New Zealand’s Northland was no exception. Highlights for me, and experiences you should put on your New Zealand bucket list, included:

• exploring Paihia
• cruising around the Bay of Islands
• Magic Cottages on the Takou River
• visiting Cape Reinga
• Karekare peninsula
• sand dunes in Ahipara
• Kai Iwi Lakes
• Goat island 
• Footprints’ Waipoua Spiritual Tour

It’s honestly one of the best road trips I’ve ever been on, and I would love to go back again and see more of this beautiful part of New Zealand.

• See my Northland road trip itinerary here.
• Check out all my top tips for hiring a camper in Australia or New Zealand here.

Catch the ferry to Waiheke and vineyard hop

Most of the locals say this is one of the best places to visit in New Zealand. An island filled with incredible canoeing, views and vineyards. Definitely one to put on your New Zealand bucket list!

Check out more mini adventures you can go on from Auckland in this blog post.

Stay for longer with a working holiday visa.

Sometimes you fall in love with a place and you just can’t get enough when you’re only there for a short time: cue the New Zealand working holiday visa! Check out my guide to getting a New Zealand working holiday visa here.

What are your favourite things to do in New Zealand?

What’s on your New Zealand bucket list? Anything you’d add?

Love as always and happy adventuring,

Mollie.

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