Add these 12 unmissable experiences in New Zealand on your bucket list! Here’s a list of fun things to do in New Zealand including travel tips!
It’s not a secret – New Zealand is an AMAZING country. With its dramatic landscapes, super kind Kiwis and a lot of fun experiences to try, you can’t get bored in New Zealand.
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- Foodie Experiences
- Adrenaline Experiences
- Fun Outdoor & NZ Great Walks
You can also find travel tips towards the end.
Fun Foodie Experiences in New Zealand
Giapo Ice Cream
If you’re looking for things to do in Auckland, look no further. Merging art, science and technology to creatively rewrite traditional ice cream consumption is Giapo Ice Cream. As self-proclaimed “Wannabe Artists”, Giapo, his wife Annarosa and their talented team have innovated the world’s favorite dessert not only in terms of flavors but by making it a fully-fledged culinary experience.
Never has a savory ice cream been so irresistible. Never have we been given the opportunity to eat an ice cream out of chocolate-lined Yorkshire pudding or out of a tiny cone that you can wear on your finger.
And we have certainly never witnessed New Zealand’s main attractions in form of a sweet ice-cold delight; experience New Zealand’s famous giant squid as an indulgent edible treat in form of the incredible Colossal Squid – a chocolate encrusted ice cream with wild tentacles escaping from its core; or give your taste buds the chance to visit Auckland’s tallest landmark, the Auckland Sky Tower – delicious ice cream inside a chocolate Sky Tower shell that celebrates the landmark’s 20th anniversary.
As if this weren’t enough, Giapo is currently working on incorporating bioluminescent bacteria into his creations to give his deserts an extra-terrestrial glow, truly solidifying its position as one of the world’s best ice creams and most innovative and disruptive ice cream kitchens in history. It is no surprise that Giapo’s ice cream masterpieces are Auckland’s most featured treat on Instagram.
Fergburger
Head to Queenstown for what many have dared to call… the world’s best burger. Experience a mouth-watering mound of meat packed in a crispy bun, succulent juices and flavorsome sauces emerging from the edges more and more with each decadent bite.
What started out like a sweaty little shack in an unknown area of the city, soon became a world-known gourmet burger joint, attracting people from all over, despite not being a chain and only having a single location.
The power of word-of-mouth recommendations from one backpacker to the next is what turned this late-night food haven for the ravenous, drunk people of the night into a restaurant that serves customers for 21 glorious hours of the day, with long queues throughout.
What better way to taste prime New Zealand beef than in the form of an enormous, juicy, delicious bundle of joy? The reviews are unanimous: this burger will leave you coming back for seconds.
Māori Hāngi
For a taste of some ancient Māori culture, the Tamaki Māori Village in Rotorua is definitely one of New Zealand’s top rated tourist attractions. This experiential, culinary tour will take you on a journey through history in the form of some traditional entertainment, enchanting tales, ceremonial rituals and, of course, a delicious meal.
The ancient style of cooking the Hāngi is by digging a pit in the ground and filling it with stones – often handed down through the generations – that is subsequently heated with a large fire.
The food is then placed into wire baskets that are lowered into the hot pit and covered with earth for approximately 3 hours before being lifted from the Hāngi, ready to enjoy.
The award-winning Tamaki Māori Village will give you a cultural insight into some of the traditions and customs that date back to ancestral times, filling your bellies whilst surrounded by some of New Zealand’s most enchanting views. It is worth mentioning that Rotorua is also home to the famous Waiotapu – a colorful, geothermal hot pool that is definitely worth a visit while you are in the area.
Wine Tours
A trip to NZ would not be complete without a vineyard tour and wine tasting experience. The classic New Zealand Wine Trail offers a great way to do this.
Start in Central Otago for a full-bodied Pinot Noir and some of the most incredible, untouched nature views the country has to offer before you head to the central Marlborough District, the country’s largest wine region and home of the Sauvignon Blanc. Then hop on a ferry to the North Island to experience what will probably be the most awe-inspiring, beautiful boat trip of your life, and make your way to the Wairarapa region for some rural charm.
A little further North, Hawkes Bay is definitely worth visiting too as it is the oldest wine region in the country, highly celebrated for its premium red wines.
Finally, be sure to also indulge in some of New Zealand’s luxury dining at the acclaimed Mudbrick Restaurant and Vineyard if you happen to visit Waiheke Island.
This high-end restaurant has been tantalizing guests’ palettes for over 20 years now, offering breath-taking views of the ocean and the surrounding vineyards.
Adrenaline Experiences in New Zealand
Bungee Jumping in New Zealand
What you may not know is that the Kiwis invented bungee jumping – and what better way to get your ultimate adrenaline kick than to go straight to the highest jump in New Zealand? Head to the Nevis Bungy in Queenstown to experience 134 metres in 8.5 seconds of free fall from the world’s third highest bungee jumping platform.
This high wire platform is suspended above the Nevis river amongst the Southern Alps, guaranteeing some beautiful, serene views before you launch yourself into the abyss.
This is not an activity for the faint-hearted, that is for sure! Alternatively, you may choose to go on the world’s most famous swing, which you can do in tandem with a friend to lessen the blow or even catapult yourself into 100km/h speed and experience a truly extreme, heart-pumping adrenaline overload.
Heli-Skiing
Considering that New Zealand boasts the highest number of helicopters per capita, it is no surprise that Heli-Skiing is one of the country’s favorite sports. Reach the most remote and inaccessible peaks and ski down some of the steepest, untouched, powdery mountains.
The major bonus with heli-skiing is that you not only get to feel the rush of the descent but also the stunning, scenic views as you fly high above the mountains in the helicopter.
The North Island’s heli-skiing must-see is Mount Ruapehu – a sizzling active volcano that offers the highest peaks of the island, so daunting that Lord of the Ring’s Mordor was filmed on its slopes.
The South Island’s Mount Tasman is also a definite bucket-list contender – ski down a 2 million-year-old glacier, whizzing past some towering ice structures and through some huge icy caves. Ideal conditions are between July and October, so be sure to visit around then for maximum enjoyment and best views.
Shotover Jet
Another one of New Zealand’s famous adventure activities is racing over just 10cm high water at 85km/h in the Big Red speedboat. Skid along the Shotover River and into the narrow canyons as you hold on for dear life with every twist and turn, water spraying in your face as the tall canyon walls tower over you.
The absolute highlight of the ride is the perfectly executed 360˚ turn at high speed – guaranteed to leave you wanting more!
Located just a just short drive from Queenstown, you can plan your Shotover Jet trip in just a day, as the boats depart very regularly, almost every day of the year (weather conditions permitting). This is sure to be one of your most fun and thrilling days out.
Try the extreme jet boat ride!
Skydiving
Skydiving is without a doubt one of the best things to do in New Zealand. There is no better way to take in the beautiful landscapes than from over 3500 metres in the air.
Whether you choose to go the old-fashioned tandem skydive route, try static line skydiving, or go for a more advanced accelerated free-fall skydive, you are sure to see some of the most amazing views during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For glistening ocean and dotted island views, head to the Bay of Islands right in the North. For the cheapest skydive, but certainly no cheap views, Taupo is the one; the views of the giant lake surrounded by the flourishing landscapes are incredible.
For those of you who just want to see it all, go to Wanaka – deep blue lakes, colorful landscapes, snow-peaked mountains and rushing rivers allow for an all-around nature experience.
For the real adrenaline junkies, the highest skydive available should definitely be on the cards; the Franz-Josef glacier allows for a whopping 6700-metre drop, allowing you to take in truly sweeping views of this picturesque World Heritage site.
Fun Outdoor & NZ Great Walks
Kayak Tour Golden Bay
One of the most unique and best value ways to explore New Zealand is by kayak. Golden Bay Kayaks will take you on a guided tour of the Abel Tasman National Park where you will see some of the greatest scenes nature has to offer.
Whether you choose a 2-hour tour or a half-day trip, you will have the chance to witness the wonderful rock formations along the coast and on the islands, the golden beaches and the crystal-clear waters.
Your kayak will glide seamlessly through the naturally formed arches of the bays while the dark shadows of stingrays pass by beneath you. You may also come across some seals lounging on the rocks of Tata Island, or some reef herons pecking about in the shallows for food.
The beauty of a kayak tour is that you will be able to reach some of the most remote caves and beaches the coast has to offer, allowing for untouched, natural landscapes and some of the most scenic, breathtaking views.
Whale Watching
Another great outdoor activity unique to NZ is whale watching. The Kaikoura canyon on the South Island is bursting with nutrients and is the only place on earth that the sperm whales feed on all year round, so this is a must-do trip for whenever you happen to visit.
During the warmer season, between March and October, there have been some sightings of killer whales passing by in large pods, so this is a great time to see these spectacular black and white creatures.
However, during the colder months you may be able to catch sight of some humpback whales migrating to warmer waters from the cold Antarctic, or perhaps even a blue whale – the giants of the ocean – which were last spotted just in July of this year, to the delight of many visitors.
Whale watching tours have a 95% success rate of actually spotting some whales, so this is a great opportunity to see some wildlife in action and, of course, some spectacular views of nature.
Another popular spot for whale watching includes the Marlborough Sounds, located on a popular migratory route between the North and South Islands, often sighting baleen whales and orcas.
The Auckland Hauraki Gulf is also a whale-watching favorite, with the opportunity to even see some playful dolphins skipping through the waters. If you’re planning a trip to Auckland, make sure to check this Auckland itinerary.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Experience nature at its best by exploring these 30-million-year-old caves on the North Island of New Zealand. You will not believe your eyes when you see the scintillating glow that emanates from the darkness, all thanks to these tiny little bioluminescent worms found exclusively in NZ.
The Glowworm Grotto’s river meanders through the limestone structures, revealing an endless light display that leaves the entire boat speechless, simply taking in the surrounding awe-inspiring natural beauty.
This is definitely nature at its best. A bonus is that there are a number of different caves to choose from, so every budget and preference can be catered to.
Great Walks of NZ
New Zealand’s Great Walks are world-famous for good reason. Fulfilling all your camping, hiking and nature dreams, the following compilation of routes caters to various levels of skill, within a variety of different areas, to make sure everyone has the chance to get their nature fix.
For a light loop hike of 30km, ideal for beginners, follow the Rakiura Track along some serene sandy beaches and through cool towering forests, perhaps even spotting some native kiwi bird footprints if you are lucky. For a circa 43km loop hike at a more intermediate level, head to the Tongariro National Park.
This truly spectacular World Heritage route offers everything from icy glacial valleys to beach forests and everything in between, although you must go between May and October to avoid avalanche risks and reduced facilities.
The Milford Track is probably the most acclaimed Great Walk, featuring epic views across the Mackinnon Pass, the mighty cascading Sutherland Falls and the ancient Fiordland National Park rainforest.
This trek is approximately 53km one way and should only be taken between October and April.
Finally, for the more experienced hikers, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track in the eponymous National Park offers beautiful sandy beaches, clear-blue Cleopatra Pool and an adrenaline-inducing 47m long suspension bridge over the Falls River. This walk offers a mild, temperate climate and a high chance of spotting some chubby seals puttering about the beaches.
If you’ve never been on a hike before, check out these tips for your first hike!
Getting to New Zealand | Finding a Cheap Flight
Finding flights to New Zealand can be quite scary. Your flight might be super long and possibly expensive. Depending on your current location, you might want to try to find a flight to Singapore, Australia or Indonesia and then reach New Zealand. This way you might be able to find cheaper flights.
How to Get Around New Zealand
If you feel confident, you could rent a campervan or a car and experience New Zealand with a bit more freedom.
On the other hand, some people might prefer to hitchhike around the country which would be the most budget-friendly option or use a bus pass such as New Zealand by Bus.
To get from an island to the other, you can take the ferry (with or without a car).
Make sure to read about the best cities to live in New Zealand.
- Depending on the season, you might need winter gear or summer clothing (or both, if you’re traveling in New Zealand long-term).
- GoPro: with so many fun outdoor activities, you should bring an action camera to keep some epic memories of your adventures.
- GoPro accessories: check out the selfie sticks and other GoPro accessories here.
- Dry Bag: Make sure to keep your valuables dry when playing around the water.
- Hiking Gear: If you’re planning to play outside and make the most of the pretty mountains, you might want to bring good shoes as well as hiking equipment.
- Day Backpack: Ideal for day trips and for hiking, make sure you bring a smaller backpack with you out there. Having an extra backpack is a great idea if you’re planning on buying gifts and souvenirs in New Zealand.
- Camping Gear: If you’re planning on doing camping while in New Zealand, you should also bring a sleeping bag, a small tent as well as other camping essentials (flashlight, camping pillow, etc).
