For a small island country, New Zealand packs a punch with one of the highest concentrations of natural wonders on Earth: geothermal pools, brooding volcanoes, majestic peaks, dense forests, deep fjords, and sunny beaches.
The national All Blacks rugby team confronts its rivals each game with the Haka, an iconic ancestral war dance of New Zealand’s native Maori people.
Visiting the bucolic Hobbiton movie set, where “The Lord of the Rings” was filmed.
Boarding an America’s Cup sailing yacht at the Viaduct in Auckland for a cruise around Hauraki Gulf.
Exploring the braided channels of the Dart River by jet boat, absorbing views of stunning snow-capped mountains, ancient native forests, waterfalls, and glacial valleys.
Things To See & Do
Stay in Queenstown, the center of activities and restaurants, as well as the jumping-off point for all the outdoor adventures Kiwis are famous for.
Stop by Rotorua, New Zealand’s cultural heartland, where the Earth’s crust is so thin that it bubbles and steams to the surface.
Check out the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which offers great insight into the people, flora, fauna, and landforms of NZ. The institution houses a superb collection of Polynesian artifacts, including an 80-foot Maori war canoe from 1836.
Earn your wine by touring Napier, the Kiwis’ vineyard country, by kayak, horseback, or whitewater raft—then take a break on one of the gorgeous local beaches.
Sail through Milford Sound, a picture-perfect fjord.
For the truly adventurous, consider trekking the Te Araroa, a long-distance hiking route that spans both islands.
