18 of the best things to do New Zealand

New Zealand is a land of unmatched contrasts, where you can experience the world's most thrilling adventures and its most peaceful natural beauty within the same day. Deciding what to do can be overwhelming, so we've curated the ultimate list of 20 essential experiences to guide your journey.

1. Explore Fiordland National Park

The Eighth Wonder of the World. This UNESCO World Heritage site is defined by dramatic, glacier-carved fiords (like Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound), towering waterfalls, and ancient rainforest clinging to sheer cliffs. It’s a journey into a primal landscape, offering world-class scenic cruising, kayaking, and three of New Zealand's Great Walks.

2. Explore Mt Aspiring National Park

The Heart of the Southern Alps. This is the ultimate wilderness experience, a paradise of striking landforms, towering mountains, and tranquil river flats. It’s perfect for keen trampers, climbers, and sightseers looking to explore remote valleys, glacier-fed rivers, and high alpine scenery near Wanaka and Queenstown.

3. Heli skiing the Tasman Glacier from Queenstown

Epic High-Altitude Powder. This is a bucket-list winter activity, offering the thrill of heli-skiing on New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman. You get an exhilarating scenic flight over the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park followed by runs on pristine, high-altitude terrain that few others ever touch.

4. Jet Boating the Dart River

Wilderness, Lore, and Thrills. Starting near Glenorchy, this experience combines an adrenaline-pumping jet boat ride through a UNESCO World Heritage Area with an enriching journey into indigenous Māori and pioneer history. You skim across the glacier-fed, crystal-clear water of the Dart River, surrounded by the stunning landscapes of Mount Aspiring National Park.

5. Tongariro Alpine Crossing

New Zealand's Greatest Day Hike. This is a world-renowned, 19.4 km trek through a UNESCO Dual World Heritage site. It showcases incredible, ever-changing volcanic terrain, including steaming vents, ancient lava flows, and the famously vivid Emerald and Blue Lakes, all set against the backdrop of Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings).

6. Hiking in Mount Cook National Park

Standing in the Shadow of Giants. Home to New Zealand’s highest peaks and largest glaciers, this park offers accessible day walks, like the famous Hooker Valley Track, that lead directly to iceberg-dotted lakes and stunning views of Aoraki/Mount Cook. It also sits within a massive International Dark Sky Reserve, perfect for stargazing.

7. Visit Huka Falls in Taupō

The Power of Water. Witness one of New Zealand's most spectacular and visited natural attractions. The mighty Waikato River, normally 100m wide, is forced through a narrow 15m gorge before erupting over an 11-metre cliff, creating a torrent of foaming, unique blue-coloured water that is mesmerising to behold.

8. West Coast Adventure

Limestone, Lighthouses, and Luminous Water. This combines three iconic West Coast sites: the surreal turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge, the unique stacked layers of the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks (best seen at high tide!), and the serene, sub-tropical beauty of the Pororari River Track, often paddled by canoe.

9. Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike

Hiking on Moving Ice. This is the only way to experience the fastest-moving commercially guided glacier in the world. A short, spectacular helicopter flight delivers you high onto the icefall where expert guides lead you on an adventure, cutting steps to explore constantly changing features like ice caves and crevasses.

10. The Siberia Experience

The Ultimate Fly-Walk-Jet Boat Combo. This action-packed day trip allows you to experience the heart of Mt Aspiring National Park from every perspective: a scenic flight over glaciers, a peaceful walk across open tussock flats and rainforest, and a thrilling jet boat ride down a crystal-clear, shallow river.

11. Private helicopter flight into Earnslaw Burn and Milford Sounds

Exclusive Aerial Majesty. Elevate your sightseeing with a luxury flight that gives you unrivalled access to remote alpine wilderness. Landing at the stunning Earnslaw Burn allows you to stand right next to ice caves and countless waterfalls before flying over the famous peaks and fiords of Milford Sound.

12. Bike Glendhu

World-Class Flow with Epic Views. Located near Wanaka, this pedal-powered mountain bike park offers over 40km of world-class, purpose-built trails ranging from beginner to expert. The trails flow through stunning landscapes overlooking Glendhu Bay and Mount Aspiring National Park, combining great riding with spectacular scenery.

13. The Shotover Jet

The Iconic Queenstown Thrill. The world's most famous jet boat ride takes you exclusively through the spectacular, narrow Shotover Canyons at speeds up to 90km/h. It's an adrenaline rush defined by near-misses with canyon walls and the exhilarating signature 360-degree spins.

14. Visit the famous Hobbiton movie set

Step into The Shire. Walk directly into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien at the perfectly preserved Hobbiton Movie Set. Explore the hobbit holes, the Mill, the double-arched bridge, and enjoy a pint at the Green Dragon Inn, offering an immersive, magical experience for film fans.

15. Take a trip to Wharariki Beach

Wild, Windswept Coastal Photography. Located at the top of the South Island, this beach is famed for its wild, rolling dunes and the magnificent Archway Islands rising from the Tasman Sea. It's a dramatic, remote, and beautiful location, often home to a colony of playful young seals.

16. Sea Kayak in Abel Tasman National Park

Golden Sand and Turquoise Water. This is the quintessential way to experience New Zealand's smallest but most beautiful national park. Kayaking offers silent access to sheltered coves, golden sand beaches, and the abundant marine life, including seals and penguins, along a coastline fringed with lush native forest.

17. Immerse yourself in Māori culture at Te Pā Tū

A True Cultural Journey. Located in Rotorua, this experience offers a deep, authentic immersion into the traditions of the indigenous Māori people. From the powerful Pōhiri (welcoming ceremony) and spine-tingling Haka performance to the traditional Hāngī (earth oven feast), it provides profound insight into their history and customs.

18. Cathedral Cove Cruise, Hahei Explorer

Sea Caves and Coastal Masterpieces. This boat tour provides a quick, comfortable way to explore the stunning volcanic coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. You get up close to towering white cliffs, sea caves (including the huge Orua Sea Cave), and, of course, the world-famous Cathedral Cove rock archway.

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