12 Incredibly Beautiful Places To Visit In New Zealand

The convergence of two seas (the Pacific and the Tasman) at Cape Reigna is not only powerful but also a sacred site for the Maori people. When you see the lighthouse, you may feel that you’re at the literal end of the Earth, watching the two seas collide in the near distance.

This is the place where the bombed Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior ship was laid to rest. You can’t see it unless you dive, but the hike to the lookout point is beautiful, and admiring the view once you arrive? Even better. You’ll also be treated to one of Chris Booth’s many sculptures. This one commemorates the ship and uses one of its propellers.

Another beautiful lookout point is near Tauranga. Hiking to the top of Mount Maunganui is challenging, especially in hot weather! I almost gave up until I saw a man twice my age heading down from the summit. The view over the water is worth the effort to get there.

Even if you get lost in the wine tasting, you can’t fail to notice how gorgeous the beaches are on Waiheke Island. I spent a day here, and would happily have spent a long weekend if the Auckland lockdown hadn’t gotten in the way of those plans.

The stunning color of the water against the green of the mountains will take your breath away. The town of Hokitika is a special place, as well, and one of the best places to get some pounamu while in New Zealand.

You can’t really go wrong with the destination you choose within this national park. Travel is by boat. You can take it to the top and hike all the way back! I hopped off at Anchorage and enjoyed my day walking part of the trail and admiring an inlet — and, later, the main beach.

To be up high in trees is something rare to experience! When it’s beautifully decorated, it’s another experience altogether. Rotorua Treewalk is not easy for those with a fear of heights, but it’s well worth facing your fear to see.

Everyone raves about the Milford Sound for a reason: It is stunning. Not only is the landscape beautiful, but this was my first time near the Tasman Sea (and by near, I mean, within a few hundred meters), and there was something magical about the entire experience.

This is where the familiar Shire of the Hobbit films was built. I was fortunate to go at a time when only 40 tourists per hour were there, as opposed to the normal 4,000. You will no doubt delight in the tiny houses and the wonderful scenery.

While the Gannett colony in Auckland is also stunning, in Napier, you are so close to the birds that it’s startling. Luckily, there’s a chain to keep tourists out of their nesting area. You will delight in watching young birds try to fly for the first time, and in marveling at the adults’ colorful markings.

There are several tracks to hike here. If you take the one towards the sea (hard to miss!), you will open your mouth and stare at the beautiful scene that meets your eyes. By night, this is a great place to see kiwi birds in nature.

If you do the Hole In The Rock tour, the boat stops at this hard-to-pronounce island. It’s the quintessential New Zealand scene, with sheep on a hill. If you walk beyond the sheep, you won’t know which direction to stare, as they are all stunning.