Attraction
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Neoclassical museum and war memorial on Observatory Hill in the Auckland Domain, home to major Māori and Pacific collections, natural history galleries and the Halls of…
New Zealand is a country of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, separated by Cook Strait, with a temperate maritime climate and landscapes that range from subtropical Northland to the Southern Alps. Auckland, the largest city, is the main gateway and a base for Waiheke Island, Rangitoto and the black-sand beaches of the west coast. Wellington is the capital. Further south, Queenstown, Fiordland, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Taupō and Central Otago draw visitors for their mountain, lake and alpine scenery, while Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves are popular trips from Auckland. Māori names are used for many places, including both main islands, Te Ika-a-Māui and Te Waipounamu, and English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are all official languages.
Attraction
Neoclassical museum and war memorial on Observatory Hill in the Auckland Domain, home to major Māori and Pacific collections, natural history galleries and the Halls of…
Attraction
Queenstown's gondola climbs from the top of Brecon Street to Bob's Peak, where a viewing complex, restaurant, café and two luge tracks look over Lake Wakatipu.
Attraction
New Zealand's longest lake, an 80 km dog-leg of deep glacial water that frames Queenstown and links it by boat and road to Kingston and Glenorchy.
Attraction
The 328-metre telecommunications and observation tower at the heart of the CBD, with glass-floored viewing decks, a revolving restaurant and the SkyWalk and SkyJump.
Attraction
New Zealand's first permanent art gallery, set in an 1887 French Renaissance building with an award-winning 2011 extension, holding over 18,000 works with free general entry.
Attraction
A 14.75-hectare public garden on the peninsula beside the town centre, planted from the 1860s, with lake views, a rose garden, memorials and New Zealand's first…
Café
The Freemans Bay home of Allpress Espresso, a light-filled roastery café near Victoria Park Market with its own art studio, pastries and light lunches on weekdays.
Café
An Isle Street café at the foot of Bob's Peak, known for all-day brunch with strong vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices and organic Allpress coffee.
Café
Britomart branch of the Auckland sourdough bakery, baking with a long-fermented starter and serving pastries, doughnuts and coffee from 7am every day.
Café
A chocolate, ice cream and coffee shop on the corner of Rees Street and the Mall, open until 10pm, with an upstairs lounge looking over the…
Café
The bakery next to Fergburger on Shotover Street, selling gourmet pies, pastries, sandwiches and cakes from 6am until 2am every day.
Café
City outpost of Kōkako, the Fairtrade organic coffee roaster founded in 2001 from a cart in Aotea Square, by the air bridge in Commercial Bay.
Hotel
Queenstown's oldest hotel, on the lakefront where the town's first building stood, now a luxury boutique hotel with eight suites, a lakeside bar and a MICHELIN…
Hotel
A 99-room hotel of handmade brick and timber in the Britomart precinct, New Zealand's only 5 Green Star hotel, home to the seafood restaurant kingi.
Hotel
Five-star waterfront hotel on Halsey Street with 195 rooms around a light-filled atrium, Māori artwork, a 25-metre harbour-view infinity pool and a spa.
Hotel
A small luxury lodge on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, seven minutes from Queenstown, with views to Cecil Peak, a spa, pool and Two MICHELIN Keys.
Hotel
Five-star Langham group hotel on Symonds Street with 642 rooms, the 17-storey Pinnacle Tower, Chuan Spa, a pool and afternoon tea in the Chandelier Lounge.
Hotel
A lakeside hotel on Frankton Road with rooms, apartments and residences, the True South Dining Room, an award-winning wine lounge and a private beach.
Bar
Intimate basement cocktail bar off Roukai Lane in Britomart, inspired by the golden age of bartending and open until 3am every night.
Bar
The lakeside bar of Eichardt's Private Hotel on Marine Parade, known for hand-crafted cocktails, a fireside lounge and a historic setting at the heart of the…
Bar
Rooftop brewpub above Quay Street with a balcony over Viaduct Harbour, more than 15 taps including in-house beers, giant pizzas, live music and a tenpin lane.
Bar
A tiny speakeasy-style bar in a former gold-rush era cold store down a cobbled Arrowtown alley, with schist walls, a fireplace, cocktails and live music.
Bar
Brewpub in the old Grafton library building at the top of Mount Eden Road, brewing English-style cask ales on site since 1995 and serving hearty pub…
Bar
A lively Church Street bar since 1996, famous for teapot cocktails, burgers, live music and DJs, with a fire-warmed beer garden.
Restaurant
Ben Bayly's contemporary New Zealand restaurant on the second level of Commercial Bay, awarded a Michelin star in 2026 and cooking with produce from its own…
Restaurant
The evening tasting-menu restaurant at ROKI Collection, holder of two MICHELIN Stars and Cuisine's Restaurant of the Year 2026, cooking New Zealand produce with European technique.
Restaurant
Josh Emett and Fleur Caulton's produce-led New Zealand restaurant on Ballarat Street, open since 2012 and awarded a MICHELIN Star in 2026.
Restaurant
Long-established Symonds Street fine-dining restaurant run since 2018 by Sid and Chand Sahrawat, serving seasonal tasting menus with an award-winning wine team.
Restaurant
A Central Otago winery at Lake Hayes with a MICHELIN-starred evening tasting menu and a relaxed Cellar Door and Bistro for lunch.
Restaurant
Contemporary Japanese restaurant in an old brick building off Ponsonby Road, led by chef and co-owner Makoto Tokuyama and known for its degustation menus.
Thing to do
AJ Hackett's original 43-metre bungy from the 1880 Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, where the world's first commercial bungy jump took place in 1988.
Thing to do
Auckland's youngest volcano, a short ferry ride from the city, with a summit walk over lava fields, lava caves and the world's largest pōhutukawa forest.
Thing to do
A 25-minute high-speed jet boat ride through the narrow Shotover Canyons at Arthurs Point, run since 1965 and owned by Ngāi Tahu.
Thing to do
Hauraki Gulf island about 40 minutes from the city by ferry, known for its vineyards, Bordeaux-style reds, sandy beaches and the WWII tunnels at Stony Batter.
Thing to do
Cedar-lined hot tubs perched above the Shotover River at Arthurs Point, booked by the hour for exclusive use, with a day spa and free shuttle from…
Thing to do
Black-sand surf beach on the Tasman Sea coast 39 km west of the city, divided by Lion Rock and backed by the forested Waitākere Ranges.
Tour operator
Small family-owned tour company running nature trips to Piha and the west coast rainforest, city highlights and wine country tours, with central hotel pick-ups.
Tour operator
A Queenstown 4WD tour company running small-group trips into Skippers Canyon, Macetown and Lord of the Rings filming locations around the Wakatipu Basin.
Tour operator
Auckland sailing and cruise operator offering trips aboard an America's Cup yacht, harbour sailing, dinner cruises and whale and dolphin cruises in the Hauraki Gulf.
Tour operator
A family-owned Milford Sound cruise company with a Queenstown visitor centre on St Omer Wharf, running full-day coach, cruise and flight combinations to the fiord.
Tour operator
Adventure operator running guided climbs and a 40-metre bungy from the Auckland Harbour Bridge out of its Westhaven base, plus the SkyWalk and SkyJump at the…
Tour operator
Jet boat and inflatable kayak trips up the braided Dart River into Mount Aspiring National Park, from Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu.
Distances are long, so most visitors combine flights between airports such as Auckland and Queenstown with travel by road; organised day tours from Auckland to places such as Rotorua, Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves are another option.
The climate is mostly temperate. Summer suits beaches, islands and walking, while snow falls mainly between June and October in the South Island's mountains, which suits skiers.
Popular choices include Wellington, Queenstown, Fiordland, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Taupō, Central Otago, Northland, Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves.