New Zealand is one of the most fascinating countries in the world, with a thoroughly modern outlook mixed in with a long and interesting history. This means that there are huge amounts of activities for people to do in this country, ranging from adrenaline fueled sports all the way to sedate walks and sightseeing. One note of warning though — visitors should plan ahead as New Zealand is a deceptively large country, meaning that organization is key.
Te Papa
This is consistently named as the best attraction in the whole country, and it is a museum dedicated to the history and culture of this isolated island in the Pacific Ocean.
It is located in Wellington — one of New Zealand’s largest cities — meaning that it is easily accessible to all and has a collection that includes many Maori artifacts and other symbols of the nation. It is found on the waterfront and has become one of the symbols of the city. Definitely one not to missed.
Wellington Botanic Gardens
These gardens located on the hilltops in Wellington are some of the most famous in the world, partly due to the huge amount of specimens found here and also due to the fact that they can be reached by cable car, which provides a stunning view of the city. The gardens boast collections of plants from all over the world, as well as the most complete collection of New Zealand plants in the country. There is also plenty for children to do, with a number of playgrounds and cafes for them to visit, as well as a large duck pond.
Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers
Many people don’t realize that New Zealand is rather cold in places, and this is most evident when visiting the south of the country. The benefit to this is that here one can find these two glaciers, which are a natural wonder and provide perfect walks, as well as numerous spectacular photo opportunities. There are small towns nearby that can cater for all tourist needs, although the fact that they have a monopoly on accommodation means that prices can be slightly high.
Glow-worm Cave
The cave never fails to amaze visitors with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites, which adorn the main area — known as the Cathedral. The acoustics here are amazing and the cave has even hosted concerts by some of the world’s best opera singers due to this. The main attraction though is of course the glow-worms, which form a ring of light throughout the walls of the cave, giving the visitor a once in a lifetime experience.
Mt. Cook National Park
Mt. Cook Nationa Park — as the name suggests — is centered around the massive Mt. Cook, which is the largest mountain in the whole of Australasia. In fact, this park is home to 27 mountains that reach higher than 10,000 feet and nearly one third of the park is covered with snow and ice for the whole year. This place is a mountain climber’s dream, but is also great for those that just want to marvel at the scenery.
About the author
Mark is a travel agent and holiday lover. New Zealand is one of his favourite destinations and with cheap flights to Auckland available regularly there’s never been a better time to fly.
By Olivia GrilHey Folks! I'm Olivia from California, United States. I'm a blogger, travel lover, I can travel anywhere, whether it's a new place or already visited. I love meeting new people, clicking photos of every movement, and documenting my adventure. I also, write about travel, travel movies, the best places to visit, etc. Read my stories.
