New Zealand

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

New Zealand

$28.99

Overview

Get ready for mammoth national parks, dynamic Māori culture and world-class surfing and skiing. New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, but it's always epic.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

One Tree Hill
Auckland
Maungakiekie was the largest and most spiritually significant Māori pā (fortified village) prior to British arrival. At the top of this volcanic cone (at…
Huka Falls
Taupo
The Waikato, New Zealand’s longest river, squeezes through a narrow chasm at Huka Falls, making the dramatic 11m drop into a surging crystal-blue…
Lake Wakatipu
Queenstown
Shaped like a cartoon lightning bolt, Lake Wakatipu is NZ's third-largest lake. It reaches a depth of 372m, meaning the lake bed actually sits below sea…
Te Puia
Rotorua
Te Puia dials up the heat on Māoritanga (things Māori) with explosive performances from both its cultural troupe and Pōhutu (Big Splash), its famous…
Orakei Korako
Taupo
Tucked away from other more popular thermal fields, Orakei Korako is (since the destruction of the Pink and White Terraces, at least) arguably NZ's most…
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
The most visible wound from Mt Tarawera's 1886 eruption, the Waimangu geothermal area spreads down a valley to Lake Rotomahana (Warm Lake). The experience…
Auckland Museum
Parnell & Newmarket
This imposing neoclassical temple (1929), capped with an impressive copper-and-glass dome (2007), dominates the Auckland Domain and is a prominent part of…
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
Rotorua & the Bay of Plenty
The most colourful of the region's geothermal attractions, Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters) has a variety of features packed into a relatively compact, heavily…

View more attractions

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Experience the very best of New Zealand with this guide to the country's top activities.

Read article

Things to Know

To visitors, New Zealand can feel comfortingly familiar and completely strange all at once. Here are some key things to know before you go.

Read article

Transportation

Whether you're pulled in by the popping cities, wonderful wildlife, Māori culture or the outdoor adventures, here's how to navigate New Zealand.

Read article

Visa Requirements

New Zealand is an incredible country that appears on many travelers' bucket lists. Start planning your trip now with our guide to visa requirements for NZ.

Read article

Money and Costs

Affordable travel in New Zealand is possible – if you plan carefully.

Read article

Traveling with Kids

With many of New Zealand's major attractions also outdoor activities, it's a great destination for kids.

Read article

Best Road Trips

There might be no better way to explore New Zealand than by car or camper van. Here are six ways to get going.

Read article