New Zealand · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in New Zealand
These are our favourite places to eat, drink, explore and stay across New Zealand, from harbourside classics to quiet lakeside corners. Check opening days before you go, as some spots, walks and festivals are seasonal.
Places to Visit in Auckland
Things to Do
- Sky Tower (City Centre)
Ride up for the widest views over the harbour, volcanoes and gulf islands. - Waiheke Island (Hauraki Gulf)
Vineyards, olive groves and beaches a short ferry ride from downtown. - Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium (Mission Bay)
Penguins and sharks in an aquarium built in old sewage tanks. - Devonport (North Shore)
Ferry to a seaside village with volcanic lookouts and old villas.
Nature and Outdoors
- Maungawhau Mount Eden (Mount Eden)
Walk up a grassy volcanic cone with a deep crater and city views. - Rangitoto Island (Hauraki Gulf)
Ferry out to climb a young volcano through lava fields and pōhutukawa forest. - Karekare Beach (West Coast)
Wild black sand beach and waterfall in the Waitākere Ranges. - Piha Beach (West Coast)
Dramatic surf beach below Lion Rock, swim only between the flags. - Tiritiri Matangi Island (Hauraki Gulf)
Open sanctuary where rare native birds come close on the trails. - One Tree Hill Maungakiekie (Epsom)
Volcanic summit in Cornwall Park with grazing sheep and city views.
Arts and Culture
- Auckland War Memorial Museum (Auckland Domain)
Superb Māori and Pacific collections plus natural history. - Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki (City Centre)
The country's largest art collection in a striking timber canopied building. - Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery (Titirangi)
Small hillside gallery on the edge of the Waitākere Ranges.
Shopping and Markets
- Otara Market (Otara)
Saturday market full of Pacific food, music and island crafts. - La Cigale French Market (Parnell)
Weekend market of pastries, crêpes and local produce.
Restaurants
- Dominion Road dumpling houses (Mount Eden)
A long road of Chinese eateries, perfect for a cheap, filling dumpling feast. - Ponsonby Central (Ponsonby)
Food hall and laneway of eateries with something for every appetite.
Bars and Nightlife
- Wynyard Quarter waterfront bars (Wynyard Quarter)
Harbourside drinks with yachts and sunset over the Harbour Bridge.
Cafés
- Britomart cafés (Britomart)
Restored heritage blocks packed with good coffee and brunch.
Events
- Auckland Lantern Festival (Auckland)
Lunar New Year celebration of lanterns, food stalls and performances.
Stays
- Hotel Britomart (Britomart)
Design-led hotel in the heart of the waterfront precinct.
Places to Visit in Wellington
Arts and Culture
- Te Papa Tongarewa (Waterfront)
The national museum, free to enter, with Māori treasures and a colossal squid. - Wellington Museum (Queens Wharf)
Lively museum of city and maritime history in a heritage bond store. - Parliament Buildings and the Beehive (Pipitea)
Free guided tours of New Zealand's Parliament. - BATS Theatre (Te Aro)
Small theatre showing new local plays and comedy.
Things to Do
- Wellington Cable Car (Lambton Quay)
Short ride up to Kelburn with views and the Botanic Garden. - Wētā Workshop (Miramar)
Behind the scenes tours of the film props and effects studio. - Matiu Somes Island (Wellington Harbour)
Ferry to a predator-free island with history and wildlife.
Nature and Outdoors
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne (Karori)
Fenced urban ecosanctuary full of native birds and tuatara. - Mount Victoria Lookout (Mount Victoria)
Panoramic view over the harbour, city and airport. - Red Rocks Coastal Walk (Owhiro Bay)
Rugged south coast walk with seasonal fur seals. - Wellington Botanic Garden (Kelburn)
Native forest, rose garden and city views, free to wander. - Ōtari-Wilton's Bush (Wilton)
Botanic garden devoted entirely to native plants with a canopy walkway.
Cafés
- Cuba Street cafés (Te Aro)
Bohemian street of coffee roasters, vintage shops and buskers. - Fidel's Café (Cuba Street)
Long-running, quirky café beloved for brunch and coffee.
Restaurants
- Harbourside Market (Waterfront)
Sunday fresh produce and street food beside Te Papa. - Logan Brown (Te Aro)
Classic fine dining in a grand former bank building. - Ortega Fish Shack (Mount Cook)
Relaxed seafood restaurant with a nautical feel.
Bars and Nightlife
- Garage Project (Aro Valley)
Experimental craft brewery tasting room in an old petrol station. - Hawthorn Lounge (Te Aro)
Speakeasy style cocktail bar with skilled bartenders.
Events
- Visa Wellington On a Plate (Wellington)
Winter food festival with special menus and burger challenges across the city. - CubaDupa (Cuba Street)
Street festival of music, dance and food in late summer.
Shopping and Markets
- Moore Wilson's Fresh (Te Aro)
Local favourite food market for regional produce and treats.
Stays
- QT Wellington (Waterfront)
Art-filled hotel across from Te Papa.
Places to Visit in Rotorua
Nature and Outdoors
- Te Puia (Whakarewarewa)
See the Pōhutu geyser and the national carving and weaving schools. - Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (Waiotapu)
Champagne Pool, the Lady Knox Geyser and vivid mineral colours. - Waimangu Volcanic Valley (Waimangu)
Walk through the world's youngest geothermal valley to a steaming lake. - Whakarewarewa Forest Redwoods (Redwoods)
Giant redwoods, a treewalk and world-class mountain bike trails. - Kuirau Park (Rotorua Central)
Free park with bubbling mud pools and hot foot baths. - Okere Falls (Okere)
Short bush walk to a waterfall where rafters drop over a seven metre fall. - Blue and Green Lakes (Tikitapu)
Pretty lakes for a swim, a picnic or a lakeside walk. - Lake Tarawera (Tarawera)
Quiet lake beneath the volcano that buried the Pink and White Terraces.
Things to Do
- Whakarewarewa The Living Māori Village (Whakarewarewa)
Guided tours of a village where families still live and cook with geothermal heat. - Skyline Rotorua (Mount Ngongotahā)
Gondola, views and fast luge runs down the hill. - Polynesian Spa (Lakefront)
Hot mineral pools overlooking Lake Rotorua. - Tamaki Māori Village (Tumunui)
Evening cultural experience with a hāngī dinner in the forest. - Hell's Gate Te Tikitere (Tikitere)
Geothermal park with a mud bath and the largest hot waterfall in the region. - Agrodome (Ngongotahā)
Farm show with sheep shearing and dog trials, good for families. - Buried Village of Te Wairoa (Tarawera Road)
Excavated village destroyed by the 1886 Tarawera eruption. - Rainbow Springs Nature Park (Fairy Springs)
Kiwi hatchery and native wildlife park.
Restaurants
- Eat Streat (Rotorua Central)
Covered dining strip with many cuisines and geothermally warmed pavement.
Stays
- Solitaire Lodge (Lake Tarawera)
Secluded luxury lodge on a lake peninsula.
Places to Visit in Queenstown
Things to Do
- Skyline Queenstown (Bob's Peak)
Gondola up for a sweeping view over Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables. - Milford Sound day trip (Fiordland)
Long scenic drive or flight to cruise beneath waterfalls and sheer cliffs. - TSS Earnslaw (Steamer Wharf)
Century-old steamship cruising to Walter Peak high country farm. - Kawarau Bridge Bungy (Gibbston)
The world's first commercial bungy site above a turquoise river. - Shotover Jet (Arthurs Point)
Jet boat spins through a narrow canyon. - Arrowtown (Arrowtown)
Gold rush village with autumn colours and a historic Chinese settlement. - Glenorchy (Glenorchy)
Lake road to a tiny settlement surrounded by mountains.
Nature and Outdoors
- Ben Lomond Track (Queenstown Hill)
Tough summit hike with views across the Southern Alps. - Queenstown Gardens (Town Centre)
Lakeside peninsula park with a frisbee golf course. - Moke Lake (Moke Lake Road)
Quiet lake loop walk a short drive from town. - Routeburn Track (Glenorchy)
One of the Great Walks, with a beautiful first section as a day hike. - Onsen Hot Pools (Arthurs Point)
Private cedar hot tubs above the Shotover River. - Coronet Peak (Coronet Peak)
Ski field close to town with night skiing in winter.
Restaurants
- Fergburger (Town Centre)
Famous giant burgers, open late with a queue to prove it. - Rātā (Town Centre)
Seasonal New Zealand cooking in an intimate dining room. - Amisfield Bistro (Lake Hayes)
Winery restaurant with mountain views and a trust-the-chef menu. - Gibbston Valley Winery (Gibbston)
Pinot noir tastings and a wine cave.
Cafés
- Bespoke Kitchen (Isle Street)
Bright café with excellent coffee and brunch.
Bars and Nightlife
- Atlas Beer Cafe (Steamer Wharf)
Lakeside pub with craft beer and hearty food.
Events
- Queenstown Winter Festival (Queenstown)
Lively winter festival marking the start of ski season.
Stays
- Eichardt's Private Hotel (Marine Parade)
Historic boutique hotel on the lakefront.
Shopping and Markets
- Remarkables Market (Frankton)
Summer Saturday market of local crafts and food.
Places to Visit in Christchurch
Nature and Outdoors
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens (Hagley Park)
Large gardens on the Avon River, free to explore. - Godley Head (Port Hills)
Coastal walk past wartime batteries above the harbour entrance. - Akaroa (Banks Peninsula)
French flavoured harbour town where you can cruise with Hector's dolphins. - Orana Wildlife Park (McLeans Island)
Open range zoo with native birds and African animals. - Willowbank Wildlife Reserve (Northwood)
See kiwi and other native wildlife in a nocturnal house. - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Mackenzie Country)
New Zealand's highest mountain, with the easy Hooker Valley Track. - Lake Tekapo (Mackenzie Country)
Turquoise lake and dark sky reserve for stargazing.
Things to Do
- Punting on the Avon (City Centre)
Gentle punt ride past gardens and willows. - Christchurch Gondola (Heathcote)
Ride up the Port Hills for views over the city and Lyttelton Harbour. - International Antarctic Centre (Airport)
Hands-on Antarctic exhibits with blue penguins and a storm room. - Lyttelton (Lyttelton)
Port town with a Saturday market and cafés.
Arts and Culture
- Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū (City Centre)
Striking glass gallery with strong New Zealand collections. - Cardboard Cathedral (Latimer Square)
Temporary cathedral built from cardboard tubes after the earthquakes.
Shopping and Markets
- Riverside Market (City Centre)
Indoor food market with local produce and eateries.
Restaurants
- Christchurch Farmers Market (Riccarton Bush)
Saturday market in the grounds of a historic homestead. - The Tannery (Woolston)
Victorian style arcade of shops, eateries and a craft brewery.
Cafés
- C1 Espresso (High Street)
Quirky café that delivers sliders by pneumatic tube.
Bars and Nightlife
- New Regent Street (City Centre)
Pastel Spanish mission street of bars and cafés with a heritage tram.
Events
- World Buskers Festival (Christchurch)
Summer festival of street performers across the city.
Stays
- The George (Hagley Park)
Small luxury hotel beside the park and river.
Places to Visit in Te Anau
Nature and Outdoors
- Te Anau Glowworm Caves (Lake Te Anau)
Boat and walk into caves lit by glowworms.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Depot Eatery (City Centre, Auckland)
Busy small plates spot known for oysters and wood-fired dishes. - Pasifika Festival (Auckland, Auckland)
Large celebration of Pacific Island cultures, food and music. - Ponsonby backpacker and guesthouse stays (Ponsonby, Auckland)
Affordable rooms within walking distance of cafés and bars. - Ohtel (Te Aro, Wellington)
Small boutique hotel with mid-century design. - Rotorua Night Market (Rotorua Central, Rotorua)
Thursday evening street food and stalls in the town centre. - Capers Epicurean (Rotorua Central, Rotorua)
Café and deli for breakfast and local treats. - Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa (Government Gardens, Rotorua)
Tudor style landmark undergoing earthquake strengthening, check reopening. - Brew Rotorua (Eat Streat, Rotorua)
Local craft beer and pub food in the centre. - Regent of Rotorua (Rotorua Central, Rotorua)
Boutique hotel with a heated pool close to Eat Streat. - Little Blackwood (Steamer Wharf, Queenstown)
Cosy cocktail bar on the waterfront. - Queenstown lakeside holiday parks (Queenstown, Queenstown)
Budget cabins and campsites near the lake. - Canterbury Museum (Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch)
Major museum under redevelopment, check the temporary venue. - Quake City (City Centre, Christchurch)
Moving exhibition about the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. - Inati (City Centre, Christchurch)
Inventive shared plates at a kitchen counter. - Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park (Papanui, Christchurch)
Budget cabins and campervan sites with family facilities.