Top 5 Things to Do in New Zealand

My husband and I spent 8 days traveling across New Zealand over Christmas and New Year’s in 2024. We started in the North Island with Auckland and Hamilton, then flew to the South Island for a long road trip from Nelson to Queenstown, stopping at Greymouth and Mt. Cook along the way. While New Zealand was expensive to visit and rain cut into parts of our trip, the diverse and epic scenery made it all worth it. Here are our favorite experiences:

1. Waitomo Glowworm Caves (North Island)

Why Visit:

Waitomo glowworms are found only in New Zealand, and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves are the most famous place to see them. Inside the pitch-dark caverns, thousands of glowworms light up the ceiling like a starry night sky—a wow inducing experience!

Highlights:

• Drift quietly on a boat through the cave while gazing up at the glowing ceiling.
• Learn about glowworms and their life cycle from knowledgeable Maori guides.

How to Go:

We stayed in Hamilton (~1.5 hour drive from Auckland) and drove to the cave on a rental car (~1 hour). We booked the standard tour in advance from the official website.

2. Milford Sound (South Island)

Why Visit:

Rudyard Kipling once called Milford Sound the “8th Wonder of the World”—and it’s easy to see why. Towering peaks, lush rainforests, and cascading waterfalls make this fiord one of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes.

Highlights:

• Admire snow-capped mountains and dramatic cliffs.
• See the “Four Sisters” waterfalls tumbling down the rock face.

How to Go:

We stayed in Queenstown and booked a fly-cruise-fly tour. Flying saved us hours on the road and gave us stunning views of the Southern Alps.

3. Hobbiton (North Island)

Why Visit:

Whether or not you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbiton is enchanting. The rolling green hills dotted with colorful hobbit holes make you feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook.

Highlights:

• Step inside a hobbit hole and admire the intricate set details.
• Add on a feast! We wanted to try the evening banquet but it was sold out, so we opted for the lunch buffet which still had plenty of hearty meats and desserts.

How to Go:

We stayed in Hamilton and drove to Hobbiton on a rental car (~45 minutes). We booked the Movie Set Tour + Lunch Combo in advance from the official website.

4. Pancake Rocks (South Island)

Why Visit:

Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks are a rare limestone formation unique to New Zealand. Layer upon layer of rock has eroded into stacks that look like piles of pancakes—complete with dramatic blowholes where waves crash and spray through the gaps.

Highlights:

• Capture photos of the “pancakes” from different viewpoints along the coastal walkway.
• Watch waves surge through blowholes on a windy or high-tide day for the most dramatic effect.

How to Go:

We stopped here on a road trip from Nelson to Queenstown. It’s a bit out of the way from major cities but well worth the detour.

5. Hamilton Gardens (North Island)

Why Visit:

Hamilton Gardens is a journey through different cultures and eras of outdoor garden design, with each section transporting you to somewhere new.

Highlights:

• Indian Char Bagh Garden → a Persian-style carpet of colorful flowers.
• Ancient Egyptian Garden → complete with hieroglyphs and an enclosed temple feel.

How to Go:

We stayed in Hamilton and drove to the gardens on a rental car. We bought tickets when we arrived there.