Things to Do in New Zealand

New Zealand’s architectural symbol is the beehive-shaped Parliament House in Wellington.

Hosting the executive wing of parliament, ‘the Beehive’ was built between 1969 and 1981, and features murals and artworks by noted New Zealand artists.

The building has 10 floors, filled with cabinet rooms, prime ministerial offices, a banqueting hall, function rooms and several restaurants.

Take a free guided 1-hour tour or drop into the visitor center in the ground-floor foyer. You can sit in the public galleries of the debating chamber when the House is sitting.

The Museum of New Zealand, also known as Te Papa Tongarewa, takes visitors on an inspiring and interactive excursion through the country's history, art, and culture. Called Te Papa ("our place") by locals, the site and its prized collections focus on Maori culture, as well as the natural environment and the Pacific.

One of the best places to get your bearings in the city of Wellington is from the Mount Victoria Lookout.

The panoramic views stretch from the harbor islands all the way to planes taking off and landing at the airport south-east of the city center.

Mount Victoria is 196 meters (642 feet) high. The lookout is topped by a triangular memorial to Antarctic explorer Admiral Byrd.

If you're seeking the thrill of a fine glass of wine or a round of golf then Central Otago could be just your place. The hottest, coldest and driest part of New Zealand is also home to some of its most adorable towns and finer vineyards.

The capital of Central Otago is Alexandra and its boutique hotels are a great base for exploring. The highlights of Central Otago (besides its gourmet delights) include the very well-preserved gold-rush towns of Ophir and St Bathans, the art-deco charms of Ranfurly and the picturesque orchards of the fruit-bowl area surrounding Cromwell.

Eleven golf courses dot the countryside and curling (the ancient Scottish sport) is popular in Naseby where you can play in year-round facilities. Otherwise the majority of action takes place along the Central Otago Rail Trail with walkers, cyclists and horse riders all enjoying the gentle gradient of the former railway line.

Ohinemutu was the first settlement in the region established by the Ngati Whakaue people. Originally used as an entry hub for visitors and food headed to the neighboring villages, Ohinemutu is now a suburb of Rotorua city, but it is still a perfect example of how Western and Maori cultures integrated. Visit the Te Papaiouru Marae and St Faith’s Church, and you'll see how the two peoples collaborate, as Maori carvings and woven panels complement the Tudor-style architecture.

Ohinemutu's preservation of Ngati Whakaue is not to be missed. St. Faith's church is well known for a window etching of Jesus wearing a Maori cloak - it faces the lake, giving you the impression that Jesus is walking on water. The century-old church's rich decorations are a must-see.

The resort town of Paihia services the villages and islands of the Bay of Islands.

Boasting the area’s best accommodation and restaurants, Paihia Harbour is the ideal place to base yourself while you explore this lovely part of New Zealand.

Hire a kayak to paddle out to the islands, follow the rivers winding in from the bay, or take a walk through kauri forest to lookouts over the water.

To walk from Paihia to neighboring Waitangi is a pleasant 40 minutes one way.

To put in perspective just how high the Nevis Swing actually is, the launch deck from where the swing is released is higher than the highest elevation of three different US states. From a platform approximately 530 feet above the valley floor, drink in the panoramic view of the surrounding Southern Alps—and then fly at speeds over 70mph in a free fall down towards the ground. Unlike traditional bungy jumping (which is located right next door), the Nevis Swing is an enormous pendulum where travelers race across the sky in a high-speed, 300-meter arc. Also unlike bungy jumping, it’s possible to strap yourself into your harness in whichever position you choose—whether that’s backwards, upside down, facing forward, or tandem jumping with a friend. Since the Nevis Swing is operated jointly with the nearby Nevis Bungy, travelers can combine the pendulum swing with the highest bungy in New Zealand, and get a double dose of adrenaline in the adventure capital of the world.

In the rugged wilderness outside of Wanaka, Glenorchy, Makarora, and Haast, Mt. Aspiring National Park sits waiting to be explored. Here in New Zealand’s third largest park, glaciers hang suspended on mountainsides that are crossed by backcountry trails. Views of this pristine, South Island landscape are reserved for the hardiest of trekkers—or helicopter passengers who share the skies with kea, or alpine parrots. The hiking here in Mt. Aspiring National Park is some of New Zealand’s best, with the Routeburn Track being the most famous of the multi-day hikes through the park. Experienced trekkers seek out solace on the winding, Reed-Dart and Caples Tracks, and a large network of shorter day hikes make a playground of outdoor adventure. In the middle of it all towers Mt. Aspiring, which at nearly 10,000 feet is New Zealand’s tallest peak outside of Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park. Outside of Wanaka, the Rob Roy Track is a classic day hike with panoramic views of the lake, whereas Matukukituki is laden with trails that explore the isolated valley. Wherever you hike, scan the skies for the 59 bird species found flitting across the skies, and take the time to drink in the scenery of this stunning South Island park.

A geothermic wonderland of hissing geysers, bubbling hot springs and natural silica terraces, the Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park serves up some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery and makes a popular day trip from nearby Taupo or Rotorua. Nicknamed the ‘Hidden Valley’, the park is the country’s largest and one of its most impressive thermal areas, with the all-natural scenery providing a suitably dramatic backdrop for a walking tour.

Take the bush walk through the heart of the park and you’ll be surrounded by untouched geothermal landscapes – gurgling mud pools, piping hot springs and steaming fissures interspersed with 35 active natural geysers, spurting steaming water up to 9 meters in the air. Most notable are the series of fault-stepped silica terraces, over which up to 20 million liters of water flow per day. The ‘Emerald Terrace’, aptly named for its striking jade-green color, is the largest of its kind remaining in the country; above it the terraces take on a rainbow of shades – blue, green, yellow, black – thanks to the hot water algae growing on their surface. The highlight of the park is the unique Ruatapu Cave, one of only two geothermal caves in the world and stretching 120 foot to the Waiwhakaata ‘pool of mirrors’ hot pool.

Near the northeast coast of the North Island is Mount Tarawera, the volcano responsible for a massive eruption that destroyed the famed, naturally occurring Pink and White Terraces and buried three Maori villages, including Te Wairoa, in 1866. The volcano is currently dormant, but visitors can book several different guided tours of the mountain, ranging from helicopter, 4-wheel drive vehicles and mountain bikes.

The area around Mt. Tarawera is breathtaking in its beauty and captivating in its thermal characteristics. Nearby are both the Geothermal Wonderland of Wai-O-Tapu and the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley near Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. At Tarawera's foot is Lake Rotomahana, which offers numerous recreational activities including fishing, water skiing and boating.

In addition to Lake Rotomahana, Mt. Tarawera's eruption formed many others, as the rift and domes formed from the explosion dramatically altered the surrounding landscape. In fact, the blast was so massive that its ash could be seen as far away as Christchurch, nearly 500 miles to the south. The resulting topographic challenges have created some of the most exhilarating bike trails in the world.

The North Island’s Ninety Mile Beach runs northwards along the west coast near Kaitaia all the way to Cape Reinga on New Zealand’s northernmost tip.

This seemingly endless stretch of wave-lapped sand is rimmed by dunes and topped by the lighthouse at Cape Reinga, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea.

A 90 mile (145 kilometer) marathon is run along the beach each year, commemorating the race run by a legendary athlete along the stretch of sand in pre-colonial times.

Wellington’s first Anglican cathedral, the classic Gothic Revival Old St. Paul Cathedral’s is a picture-book wooden church built in 1845. The building was designed by the parish vicar, the Reverend Frederick Thatcher.

The simple white-painted exterior leads to a dramatic interior featuring bold use of native timbers. The piers of wood form trusses that curve upwards to meet in the roof’s center, a bit like the hull of an upturned boat.

Another highlight of this popular building is the lovely stained glass, particularly the windows surrounding the apse and south alcove.

While the church no longer hosts regular Sunday services, it’s a popular venue for weddings and funerals.