The best places to visit in New Zealand
The top 3 according to 12 votes from people: Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park · Queenstown · Abel Tasman National Park. (Updated Oct 4, 2026.)
Fiords, glaciers, geothermal valleys and golden beaches: New Zealand's highlights according to travel bloggers, locals and TripAdvisor.
Top 10
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1
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand's highest mountain and the Hooker Valley Track.
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2
Queenstown
Adventure capital on Lake Wakatipu, beneath the Remarkables.
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3
Abel Tasman National Park
Golden beaches and turquoise bays along a coastal Great Walk.
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4
Rotorua
Geysers, bubbling mud pools and Māori culture at Te Puia and Whakarewarewa.
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5
Hobbiton Movie Set
The Shire from The Lord of the Rings near Matamata.
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6
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Boat ride under thousands of glowworms.
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7
Lake Tekapo
Turquoise lake with the Church of the Good Shepherd and a dark-sky reserve.
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8
Wellington and Te Papa
The compact capital with Te Papa, the free national museum.
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9
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
New Zealand's most famous day hike, past the Emerald Lakes.
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10
Bay of Islands
Subtropical bay of 144 islands and Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Wānaka
Lakeside town near Queenstown, famous for the lone willow tree and Roys Peak.
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12
Kaikōura
Coastal town where you can see sperm whales, dolphins and fur seals all year.
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13
Cathedral Cove (Coromandel)
Natural rock arch between two beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula.
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14
Doubtful Sound / Patea
Remote fiord in Fiordland, quieter and larger than Milford Sound.
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15
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
Glaciers descending towards rainforest on the West Coast.
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16
Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
Fiord stretching 15 km inland, flanked by cliffs over 1,200 m and Mitre Peak.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (4)
Missing Wānaka, Kaikōura, Cathedral Cove and Doubtful Sound!
Milford Sound on a rainy day is even better, waterfalls everywhere.
Lake Tekapo at night, the stars are unbelievable ✨
Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the best day hike in the world.