Most Instagrammable Spots in New Zealand – For many domestic or international travelers, traveling to New Zealand may be on their travel bucket list due to the country’s astonishing views.
New Zealand is a small country that is breathtakingly beautiful. No wonder that the country has become a famous filming locations. Many famous Hollywood movies were filmed in this Kiwi Country, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
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Instagrammable Tourist Attractions in New Zealand
If you are traveling to New Zealand for the first time or you want to repeat your holiday there, there are some tourist attractions that you must visit.
tiket.com has helped you come up with ideas for places you can put in your itinerary. Below are the lists of places you should visit while you’re there!
1. Queenstown
Queenstown is a city located in the South Island. This city has a reputation for being the “Adventure Capital of the World” because in this city, you can do many adventurous things, especially during the winter season.
Some interesting things that you can do in Queenstown during winter time are bungee jumping, rafting, skydiving and many other activities that will pump your adrenaline!
One of the famous bungee jumping spots in Queenstown is at the Kawarau River. The jump point is on the Kawarau Bridge, which stands 43 meters above the river that once featured in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie. Pretty cool, right?
2. Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is a quaint little town nestled by the side of a lake. This lake is famous for its absolutely captivating views, with its turquoise color and the mountain ranges that stretch out behind it.
This spot in New Zealand is one of the best places to catch stunning aurora views. The perfect time to witness this natural phenomenon is around March through September.
3. Auckland
Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand, is also one of the most Instagrammable spots to visit in this country. You can book a flight to Auckland Airport and kick off your New Zealand adventure from there.
Here, you can soak up some culture by visiting one of the many museums in Auckland. Take the Auckland Art Gallery, for example; it’s home to over 15,000 pieces of historical, modern, and contemporary artworks.
Oh, and don’t forget to find nice hotels to stay at in Auckland before you fly there to get the most out of your vacation, t-mates!
4. Matakana
Still in Auckland, there’s this pretty area called Matakana that you’d totally regret missing out on. It’s just about an hour away from downtown Auckland, heading north.
This area is super famous as a foodie’s paradise where the locals grow the ingredients themselves, and they even have award-winning coffee!
If you’re planning a weekend trip to Matakana, don’t forget to swing by the Matakana Farmers’ Market on Saturday. You can grab some fresh produce and indulge in some seriously addictive food!
5. Matamata
If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, then a visit to Matamata is an absolute must! This place offers an awe-inspiring opportunity to step into a real-life Hobbiton, just like those magical scenes from your favorite movies.
It’s just about a two-hour drive from Auckland. Here, you’ll find over 44 hobbit houses, including Bilbo’s very own! Plus, there’s the Green Dragon Inn, where you can chill out and grab a drink. Sounds like a blast, right?
6. Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Don’t miss out on the Waitomo Glowworm Caves when you’re in New Zealand. This unique tourist spot is a cave lit up by thousands of glowworms—groups of insect larvae that glow through bioluminescence. You can hop on a boat to explore this cave and learn about why this cool phenomenon happens.
The word Waitomo comes from Maori; “wai” means water and “tomo” means sinkhole; combined, the name means “Places Where Water Passes Through Holes.” This cave has been around for millions of years, and now it’s one of the hottest tourist spots in New Zealand. So, are you up for a visit, t-mates?
7. Christchurch
Big earthquakes struck Christchurch in 2010 and 2011. Despite the big damage caused by the natural disasters, Christchurch has been able to bounce back after the quake. Now, it’s one of the most Instagrammable spots in New Zealand and is loved by many tourists all over the world.
One of the famous tourist attractions in this city is Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Inside the garden, you can see the oldest and biggest tree in New Zealand. There’s also an abundance of cozy hotels in this city, and you can conveniently book a hotel in Christchurch through tiket.com as well!
8. Kaikoura
If you hit the road and drive for about two hours north of Christchurch, you’ll find yourself in Kaikoura. In Maori, ‘kai’ means food, and ‘koura’ translates to crayfish. So it’s no surprise that this place serves up some seriously tasty crayfish dishes!
The main draw of Kaikoura isn’t just its crayfish but also the sea mammals you can encounter up close and personal. Whales, seals, and dolphins are just a few of the marine creatures living in its coastal waters.
9. Franz Josef Glacier
If you want to experience the ultimate glacier adventure, head to Franz Josef Glacier. Franz Josef Glacier is a spectacular World Heritage Area. You can explore the place, take a guided ice walk tour among the ice caves and pinnacles or do aerial sightseeing. It’s up to you!
Don’t worry, you won’t freeze on the top of the glacier! The bright sunshine and temperature on the top of the glacier is not very different from the temperature below.
10. White Island
White Island is an active volcano in New Zealand. This beauty of the volcano has attracted many tourists from all over the world. To enjoy the view of White Island, tourists can go for a helicopter tour to see the spectacular views from up there!
Although the volcano is widely known as White Island, the real name of this volcano is actually Te Puia o Whakaari, which came from Maori language, meaning “A Dramatic Volcano”.
11. Milford Sound
Milford Sound is also a must-visit Instagrammable spot in New Zealand that you have to include in your travel plans. It’s tucked away on the west coast of the South Island. This place offers stunning natural wonders like towering mountain peaks, amazing waterfalls, and extraordinary wildlife.
The best way to soak up the sights of Milford Sound is by boat, sailing through the sea while spotting wild dolphins and penguins swimming. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss!
12. Rotorua
Your journey in New Zealand isn’t complete if you haven’t visited Rotorua. Rotorua is one of the favourite destinations for tourists. Here, you can see a geothermal valley called Te Whakarewarewa where you can taste foods that are cooked with ancient geothermal techniques.
Te Whakarewarewa is home to active geysers, including Pohutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere.
While you’re in Rotorua, don’t forget to swing by Agrodome. It’s a massive farm spanning 350 hectares, and it’s just a quick 10-minute drive from downtown Rotorua.
You’ll get to meet adorable farm animals that you can cuddle and take pictures with. Plus, they also offer tours where you can taste fresh fruits grown right on their land.
13. Napier
About a 3-hour drive from Rotorua, you’ll stumble upon a beachside city called Napier. This Instagrammable spot in New Zealand was rebuilt in an art deco architectural style after it was hit by an earthquake back in 1931.
No wonder this city is known as the “Art Deco Capital of the World.” If you happen to visit Napier in February, you can join in on the Art Deco Festival and witness the whole city decked out in 1920-30s style decorations, which is when this architectural style first popped up.
14. Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is a popular New Zealand tourist destination that is known for its stunning beauty and history. This place can be reached by car in less than three hours from Auckland.
One thing’s for sure, you’re going to have a blast with the water activities here! You can try out scuba diving or get up close and personal with sea creatures. If conditions allow, you might even get to swim with dolphins—how cool is that?
15. Tongariro National Park
This oldest national park in New Zealand offers breathtaking views and challenging trekking trails for all you adventure lovers out there.
There are three active volcanoes here, namely Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe. Fun fact: Ngauruhoe was featured as “Mount Doom” in The Lord of the Rings movie! This place is total eye-candy with its stunning blue crystal lake views and mesmerizing rock formations.
Get Ready to See the Stunning Landscapes of New Zealand!
The thrilling adventures and novel experiences that await you in New Zealand are absolutely mind-blowing! Each and every tourist spot there is guaranteed to leave you utterly spellbound by the country’s breathtaking beauty. It’s a spectacle like no other!
Have a good vacation, t-mates!
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