Things to Do in New Zealand

1. Tandem Skydiving: One of the most adventurous things to do in New Zealand, Tandem Skydiving involves jumping off a plane in flight while harnessed to a parachute. Skydivers will be greeted with fantastic panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu as they freely fall across the skies of Queenstown.

The experience lasts for about a minute, with divers falling at a speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour. The sport is guided by special skydiving instructors, who train the drivers extremely well before the actual experience commences.

Location: NZONE Skydive Centre, 35 Shotover Street, Queenstown
Timing: Every 30 minutes, between 06.00AM-04.00PM
Price: Starting from Rs. 12,699/- per person

2. Dolphin and Whale watching cruise: Among other things, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in New Zealand is known for its dolphins and whales. One of the best things to do in New Zealand, the cruise here lets you witness these fantastic marines at close hand.

Cruisers are met with fantastic views of the Auckland Harbor Bridge as they travel along the Gulf, spotting dolphins and whales as they go. The cruise is guided by the Park’s special marine scientists and researchers, who offer invaluable information on dolphin and whale life.

Location: New Zealand Maritime Museum, 175 Quay Street, Viaduct Harbor, Auckland 1010
Timings: 1:15PM-5:45PM
Price: Starting from Rs. 7,499/- per person

3. Tour the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves: If you’re a fan of J R R Tolkien’s Hobbit world, then this tour is definitely one of the top things to do in New Zealand for you. Located close to Auckland are the Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves, which formed the setting of the famous series The Lord of the Ring’s resident town The Shire.

The fully guided tour of the Caves will take you across some of the most prominent shoot locations here, such as the double arch bridge, the Dragon Inn, and 44 different hobbit holes. The group tour will also include a Hobbit styled buffet lunch at the Dragon meal.

Location: Auckland
Price: Starting from Rs. 14,274/- per person


4. Try Bungee Jumping over the Nevis River: If you have a taste for adventure, then the Bungee Swing by the Nevis River is one of the best things to do in New Zealand for you. New Zealand’s highest bungee jump, the Nevis Bungee falls from a height of 134 meters above land.

The Bungee jumpers will experience a 9 second freefall before landing on the bungee pad below, all the while harnessed to a tight security rope. The sport is guided by special instructors, who will equip the jumpers with all safety guidelines required.

Location: Nevis River, outside Queenstown
Price: Starting from Rs. 11,599/- per person

5. Take a wine tour in the Gibbston Valley: Among other things, Gibbston Valley in New Zealand is known best for its wine caves and the array of specialized wine it produces. One of the best ways to explore the wine culture here is to take a tour of the caves and the wineries of the place.

There are several tours available here, spanning from 30-minute ones to 3-hour long ones. The tour will not only let you witness the process of wine making at a very close hand, but also allow you to taste some of the best local wine made here.

Timings: 30 minutes to 3 hours
Location: Gibbston Valley Winery, 1820 State Highway 6, Gibbston 9371, New Zealand
Price: Starting from Rs. 830/- per person

6. Take a mud bath at Hell’s Gate: Also known as Tikitire, Hell’s Gate is New Zealand’s largest active mud volcano. Among the best things to do in New Zealand is to take a mud bath and spa here. Known for their healing properties, the mud and the spring-fed waterfalls here are said to replenish and heal one’s skin. The spa here has a public mud bath, as well as smaller, private baths. A large freeform Sulphur spa is available as well.

Location: Hell’s Gate, Highway 30, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Timings:
Winter: 08.30AM-08.30PM
Summer: 08.30AM-10.00PM
Price: Starting from Rs. 3,250/- per person

7. Watch the Farm Show in Agrodome Farm: Located in Rotorua, Agrodome Farm is a traditional Kiwi farm. One of the best activities to do in New Zealand for animal lovers, the Agrodome Farm Show lets you interact with the many friendly animals that reside in the farm such as alpacas, sheep, ostriches. Spectators can also take part in activities such as sheep shearing, milking, and playing with dogs.

Location: Agrodome Farm, 141 Western Road, Ngongotaha, Rotorua
Timings: 09:30AM, 11:00AM and 02.30PM on all days of the week
Price: Starting from Rs. 1,199/- per person

8. Take a cable car ride in Wellington: Offering fantastic aerial views of Wellington City, the historic Wellington Cable Car is one of the most popular things to do in New Zealand. Operating across the famous funicular road, the cable car ride lasts about 10 minutes each, and is known for the views it commands of the city.

Location: Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Timings:
Monday to Friday: 7:00am-10:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-10:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am-9:00pm
Price: Starting from Rs. 245 per person

1. Skydiving in Wanaka: A totally guided sport, skydiving involves jumping off a suspended plane while harnessed to a parachute. The skydiving experience in Wanaka is a two-person one, with a professional guide accompanying the diver in the activity. The dive here is known for its scenic views of the six lakes in Wanaka.

2. Hot Air Balloon: One of the most sought-after things to do in New Zealand, the hot air balloon ride across Queenstown offers some of the best aerial views of the scenic city. The activity takes place in the earliest hours of the morning, aimed to provide the best seats for the city’s scenic sunsets.

3. Ziplining in Waiheke Island: Among the many cool things to do in New Zealand is ziplining, which involves travelling across a harnessed rope. Teeming with thick forests, the Waiheke island offers a unique ziplining adventure that lets you travel from one forest to another.

4. Quad Biking in Queenstown: If biking is your thing, then this activity is one of the coolest things to do in New Zealand for you. The activity allows bikers to enjoy the beautiful terrain of Queenstown in an ATV Quad bike. The sport can be attempted by children and adults alike.

1. Black Water Rafting in Rotorua: Taking place in the underground rivers of the Ruakuri Caves, Black Water rafting is one of the most offbeat activities to do in New Zealand. A guided group activity, the rafting adventure takes you to the innermost depths of the caves.

2. Jet Boating in Queenstown: Taking place in the Shotover River, Jet Boating is one of the best activities to do in New Zealand for thrill seekers. Lasting for 30 minutes, the jet boat travels along the narrow canyon walls by the Shotover, offering fantastic glimpses of the scenic landscape here.

3. Mechanical Shark Ride: A quirky new watersport, the mechanical shark ride is quite literally a ride on a boat designed as a shark. Taking place in the river Wakatipu, the semi-submersible shark provides a great tour of the glittering lake.

4. White Water Rafting in Queenstown: Another popular activity on the Shotover River, Whitewater rafting involves braving the rapids of the river in an inflatable boat. A group sport, the activity has a high thrill value, and is best attempted by those keen on extreme sports.

1. Wanaka: Blanketed with thick layers of snow during the winter months, Wanaka is the go-to place for skiing in New Zealand. It is located extremely close to Treble Cone, the country’s biggest ski field, and has a long-running vertical ski lift as well.

2. Canterbury: Canterbury boasts of several ski-areas, ranging from the club run fields at New Zealand Clubfields to the more commercial run areas like Mount Hutt. The area remains largely uncrowded as well, offering a hassle-free skiing experience.

3. Mackenzie District: New Zealand’s Mackenzie district offers a variety of ski fields as well. Roundhill and Ohau are the best skiing attractions here, with the former also being home to the world's longest rope tow.

4. Mount Cook National Park: Mount Cook is home to the country’s largest glaciers. The views offered here makes skiing in Mount Cook twice as enjoyable.

1. Abel Tasman: One of the most adventurous things to do in New Zealand, skydiving involves falling from great heights while attached to a harness. With its gorgeous islands and plethora of beaches, skydiving in Abel Tasman offers some of the best views available.

2. Auckland: A special attraction in Auckland, the city offers some of the highest skydiving experiences in New Zealand. Offered by Skydive Auckland, the experience here will have you freefalling from a height of over 16,000 feet.

3. Bay of Islands: A popular spot for tandem skydiving, the Bay of Islands skydiving offers some of the best, uninterrupted views of the 144 islands that make up the island.

4. Fox Glacier: Said to be one of the most exciting spots for the sport in New Zealand, the skydiving experience in Westland National Park offers some of the best views of the towering southern alps glacier, which forms the backdrop of the park.

1. Nevis River: Home to the largest bungee jump in New Zealand and the third highest in the whole world, the bungee experience in the Nevis River takes place from a height of 134 meters above the Nevis Canyon Floor.

2. Rotorua: For those who are not too keen on extreme adventures, or are simply looking for a pocket friendly experience, Agroventures in Rotorua offers an offbeat bungee jumping experience.

3. Kawarau Bridge: Kawarau Bridge is the go-to place for commercial jumping in New Zealand. While jumping from the bridge, you could either choose to plunge into the river below, or remain high in the air.

4. Hammer Springs: Taking place from a historic bridge, Hammer Springs is among the most picturesque bungee jumping locations in New Zealand. The lowest bungy in the country, Hammer Springs is an ideal choice for first time jumpers.

1. Waitomo Caves: Littered with glittering glow worms that glow in the dark, the ‘Christmas cave’ of Waitomo is one of the most beautiful places for a kayaking or canoeing adventure in New Zealand.

2. Abel Tasman National Park: With its glittering blue lagoons, Abel Tasman is ideal for kayaking and canoeing sports. There are several rentals available here, that guests can avail at their own leisure.

3. Milford Sound: Although best known for its cruises, Milford Sound is also a good place for kayaking and canoeing. The bay offers nighttime as well as daytime kayaking tours.

1. Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruise: Taking place in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, the Auckland Dolphin and Whale watching cruise is an amazing way to spot and interact with these gorgeous water creatures.

2. Auckland Harbor Dinner Cruise: With its fantastic views of the Auckland Harbor, this cruise tour offers the dining experience of a lifetime. The tour includes a 3-course meal aboard the cruiser, as it sails towards the sunset of West haven Marina.

3. Akaroa Dolphin Cruise: Travelling along gorgeous cliffs, this catamaran cruise in Akaroa offers an ideal opportunity for dolphin spotting.

4. TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruise: Among the many famous things to do in New Zealand, the Steamship cruise is a must try for history buffs. Taking place in the historic cruise ship TSS Earnslaw, this cruise travels across the scenic Lake Wakatipu, crossing landmarks like the Walter Peak and Cecil Peak as it goes.

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the warmer summer months between December to March. During this time, the weather here remains cool and pleasant, making it ideal for outdoor activities and other sightseeing adventures. The lovely beaches here are also best explored during these warm months.

Replete with stunning glaciers, glorious beaches and vast farmlands, New Zealand is best known for its beautiful landscape. The variety of its terrain makes it an ideal visit for beach lovers, mountain hikers and city lovers alike.

Yes, with its glorious attractions like Tongariro National Park, Hobbiton, Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island, Lake Taupo and Museum of New Zealand and the plethora of activities like skydiving, hot air balloon rides and more that it has to offer, New Zealand is an absolute must visit for all.

The best thing to buy in New Zealand is its wine. Produced in the local wine caves and then refined in the wineries, the wine here is known for its unique taste and quality.

A good 10 to 15 days are required to explore the entire of New Zealand in a pleasant and hassle-free manner. Replete with things to do and places to visit, a visit of any lesser duration would not let you explore the best attractions here in a leisurely way.