Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or dreaming about your next getaway, here’s why New
Zealand should be on your travel bucket list in 2024.
Across the North and South Islands, New Zealand is home to iconic natural landscapes, rich
cultural experiences and adrenaline-pumping activities. No matter what kind of traveller you are – outdoor enthusiast, a culture buff, or a seeker of natural wonders – New Zealand has something for everyone.
To help you plan for your travels in the new year, we’ve compiled a guide of top-rated and newly opened attractions in New Zealand to help you make 2024 filled with extraordinary exploration across New Zealand.
North Island
● Hobbiton Bagshot Row, Waikato [under embargo until 5.59pm NZDT, Thursday
30th November 2023]
Immerse yourself in the enchanted and whimsical atmosphere of the Hobbiton Movie Set. Make sure you check out the latest experience at Bagshot Row, where you can explore a fully themed Hobbit Hole which will open from December 2023.
● Hot Water Beach, Coromandel
“Unique” doesn’t begin to state how rare Hot Water Beach is. Within two hours either side of the tide visitors can dig themselves a pool (using their hands or a spade) where extremely hot water will sprout from the ground. Handmade hot pool, anyone?
● Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Often described as New Zealand’s greatest day walk, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a
challenging journey across a remarkable volcanic landscape. Tongariro National Park was the first national park in New Zealand, and the first in the world created by gift from an indigenous people. It is recognised as a dual World Heritage Area for its outstanding natural and intangible cultural values. Lord of the Rings fans might also recognise the familiar landscape as Mt Doom in the iconic films.
● Waitomo Caves, Waikato
Waitomo Caves are an ancient wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites and millions of
glow-worms, named by early Māori explorers, Waitomo translates as wai (water) and tomo
(hole). For an off-the-beaten path adventure, take a guided kayak tour down the Waikato River at night, the only light is tens of thousands of glow-worms who call the canyon home.
● Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, Rotorua
Rotorua Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa is the largest spa and wellness centre in the Southern
Hemisphere. This is a premium, five-star experience. Māori owned, Wai Ariki is a haven of
relaxation and rejuvenation offering a unique blend of traditional Māori healing practices and modern wellness experiences. The facility even has a purpose-built stargazing pool for twilight bathing overlooking Ngāti Whakaue mountain.
This unique spa and wellness experience offers authentic manaakitanga – the centuries-old and internationally-renowned concept of welcoming and caring for manuhiri (visitors). Visitors can indulge in the therapeutic mineral-rich hot springs, renowned for their healing properties and soothing effects.
● Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours
If you’re down to hang out with the locals, Rotorua’s Kohutapu Lodge & Tribal Tours is a
must-visit. The unique accommodation immerses guests in the real home and lives of a modern Māori community. While staying here, guests can learn to fish for eels, weave, and perform the haka; experience a traditional hāngi or a guided marae visit; and view ancient Māori rock carvings amongst a host of additional experiences.
● Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
Leave your city worries behind and rejuvenate yourself in nature. Treat your mind, body and soul by forest bathing in The Whirinaki Forest, one of the world’s last and largest prehistoric rainforests. The forest is located in Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, a publicly accessible conservation park. Learn about the spiritual importance of the forest on a Whirinaki Forest Footsteps guided forest-bathing day tour. During the tour, you will also learn about Māori medicine, get a chance to touch a 1,000 year Totara tree and spot native and endangered birds.
● Auckland – Ponsonby
Check out Ponsonby, a trendy Auckland neighbourhood close to the city centre. Hip, residential Ponsonby is known for shopping and dining, with stylish boutiques, independent bookshops and trendy cafes along Ponsonby Road. The foodie scene ranges from gourmet taco trucks and burger stands in the market-like space of Ponsonby Central to upscale gastropubs and seafood bistros. Small galleries showcase Kiwi crafts and edgy modern art, while buzzing bars specialise in craft beers and cocktails. Auckland’s Ponsonby suburb has been ranked 33 in the top 40 coolest suburbs in the world by Time Out. The annual ranking showcased the top 40 worldwide suburbs that are great places for fun, food, culture and community.
South Island
● Milford and Doubtful Sounds
Situated on the west coast of the South Island, Milford Sound is a must-see with its towering peaks, cascading waterfalls and jaw-dropping views. A stone’s throw away, Doubtful Sound – sometimes called the ‘Sound of Silence’ – is the deepest and second longest of the South Island’s fjords. Both Milford and Doubtful Sounds offer stunning scenery that you can’t miss.
● Mount Cook
Aoraki Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in the country, famed for being used as a training ground by Sir Edmund Hillary before he was the first person to climb Mount Everest. Lying long and deep in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the incredible Tasman Glacier, the biggest glacier in New Zealand. You can explore Mount Cook National Park in a few ways including an easy hike through the Hooker Valley Track or see the mountain up close and personal for yourself on a scenic helicopter flight.
● Whale Watching, Kaikoura
The undersea Kaikōura Canyon brings abyssal depths and sperm whales close to the coast,
and whale watching has been a major tourist attraction since the 1980s. Crisp blue skies and winter peaks are the backdrop to the amazing whale watching opportunities. Whale Watch Kaikoura offers boat tours for a closer look, take to the skies for a spectacular birds eye view with Wings Over Whales or watch from land and keep an eye out for the seals that line the rocky Kaikoura coast.
● Mackenzie Region
The Mackenzie Region in New Zealand stands out as an unparalleled destination for stargazing, thanks to its pristine and secluded night skies. It is home to the world’s largest Dark Sky Reserve, known as the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve. The Southern Hemisphere’s unique celestial features, such as the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds, offer an enchanting view that is truly one-of-a-kind. Here are some stargazing experiences that you cannot miss in New Zealand:
Dark Sky Project, Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie – There are three different experiences to choose
from, including a Mt John summit stargazing experience, and two private indoor stargazing
experiences.
Tekapo Springs Star Gazing, Mackenzie – This guided hot pool and stargazing experience
makes it a literal ‘star bathing’ experience. Their floating hammocks are the ultimate way to relax with the best views, especially on a cold winter night.
● Franz Josef Glacier
Located on New Zealand’s stunning West Coast, Franz Josef Glacier is one of the most
remarkable glaciers in the world. One of the best ways to see the glacier is by helicopter. The Franz Josef Glacier Adventure is a new unique and bespoke glacier experience running from October to May. It includes a longer scenic flight over the breathtaking Franz Josef Glacier, lunch and drinks and up to 5.5 hours on the glacier, exploring exclusive trails and glacial features with your guide – a truly unforgettable experience.
● EcoZip Kaikōura
Calling all adventure lovers! EcoZip Kaikōura is the South Island’s newest zipline. Set amongst native bush on 3,000 acres just outside of Kaikōura, the new EcoZip experience will send you flying down five side-by-side ziplines, totalling more than 2km. Conservation also sits at the heart of the project, with native tree planting and pest eradication programmes set to return the site to its beautiful, untouched state.
