If there is one thing that puts New Zealand on travelers’ lips and at the top of their lists of places to visit, it is its natural beauty. Nothing else on the earth has a wide variety of landscapes, amazing geological features, or a sheer quantity of sights that will make you halt in your tracks. These are the locations that will astound you from top to bottom of the land of the long white cloud.
1. Milford Sound
Milford Sound still manages to amaze you in a place that is brimming with breathtaking, soul-stirring natural beauty. The sound, hidden in Fiordland National Park, astounds tourists with its dark waves, pointed peaks, and cliffs covered in forest. We owe this environment, regarded as New Zealand’s most beautiful natural feature, to the glaciers that carved it out during the ice age. The best part, then? You can spend the evening cruising over Milford Sound while listening to waterfalls as you sleep.
2. Pancake rocks
What ingredients go into making the ideal pancake stack? Flour, milk, butter, and eggs? Consider the following: 35 million years, earthquake activity, erosion, and bits of plant and animal life. There are 100 people living at Punakaiki on the South Island’s west coast, as well as the captivating Pancake Rocks.
Visitors who come during high tide are treated to a spectacular display by these aged limestone structures, which resemble layers of thin pancakes. What else compares to the sea below being pushed into tunnels by the wind before erupting from vertical blowholes?
3. Waiheke Island
Waiheke Island, which is close by, has a laid-back vibe that balances Auckland’s energetic large-city vibe. A serene oasis with fine wines and sandy beaches is only a short ferry ride from the mainland. What a combination!
Skyscrapers in Auckland watch enviously as little white sailboats bob on sapphire blue waters while vineyards and olive groves give the island a pleasant green hue. This small piece of heaven will make it difficult to believe you were in New Zealand’s busiest metropolis an hour ago, whether you like to hike to find the greatest photo opportunities or spread out on the beach with a nice book!
4. Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
See an underground realm that is illuminated by a brilliant canopy of bioluminescent organisms by looking below the surface. The Waitomo Caves are a surreal maze of stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, and limestone formations, but the hundreds of glow worms that illuminate the caves are the real show stealers.
The acoustics in the caves are so superb that concerts are frequently held there, so perhaps use the opportunity to live out your opera singer ideal in front of a glow worm audience. Forget about singing in the shower.
5. Rotorua
Geothermal activity literally erupts in spades in Rotorua. The terrain is punctuated by erupting geysers, simmering mud pools, and geological anomalies. If you ever had any doubt that you were in Rotorua, the town’s unmistakable sulfur scent will serve as a prompt.
Te Puia is the place to go if you want to see Rotorua’s geothermal wonders at their most spectacular. Pohutu, the biggest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, is here. You won’t have to wait long to see this amazing spectacle, which explodes about 20 times per day. Be ready to be astounded!
6. Lake Wanaka
Long known for its serene waters and stunning peaks, Lake Wanaka offers something unique that sets it apart. At the southern end of the lake, an Instagram-famous willow tree stands out from its mirror-like waters. One of the most popular trees in the world for photography is the “Wanaka Tree,” and with good reason. A photograph of the sloping willow with the lake and mountains in the distance is one that should be taken.
7. Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park is a utopia that combines all the unique natural elements that make New Zealand so unique. A day spent here will repay you with stunning sights like snow-capped peaks and ethereal emerald pools, enough to last a lifetime. With its three mountains, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu, representing the significant spiritual connection between the community and environment, this World Heritage Site is vital to the Maori people on a spiritual level.
8. Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is huge, incredibly blue, and breathtakingly gorgeous. The lake not only has a lovely appearance, but it also provides a variety of fun activities. Popular water sports include swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and water skiing while sailing and cruise tours allow you to relax and take in breathtaking surroundings. A must-see while visiting the area is the stunning 14-meter-tall carving by Maori artist Matahi Brightwell on the cliffs surrounding the lake.
9. Franz Josef Glacier
Perhaps one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking vistas is the Franz Josef Glacier, a spectacular stretch of caves, tunnels, seracs, and crevasses that plummet from the Southern Mountains. You can walk within viewing distance of this glacial splendor, but you must board a helicopter if you want to actually interact with the glacier. You won’t soon forget the pleasure of exploring the glacier’s ever-changing vistas while surrounded by breathtaking alpine scenery.
10. Blue Pools
“The bluest water you’ll ever see!” is a phrase we frequently hear. Yet when it comes to New Zealand’s Blue Pools, I’ll guarantee you this water is maybe the bluest you’ve ever seen. The pools are a branch of the Makarora River and are hidden away deep within Mt Aspiring National Park.
They are surrounded by dense beech and podocarp forests. To view how clean the glacial water is, cross one of the two bridges spanning the pools. You’re going to want to have your camera ready for this one, so take a quick but worthwhile stroll through the neighborhood to appreciate the pools from every perspective.
