10 Reasons NZ Should be on your Bucket List
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There are hundreds of reasons why New Zealand should be on your bucket list – but here are our top 10 to whet your appetite.
1. Most of its best tourist attractions are free
Best known for its outstanding natural beauty – you don’t need to spend a single dollar exploring New Zealand’s main attractions that include glaciers, mountains, canyons and pristine beaches.
2. Its isolated location means it’s not bombarded with tourists
The world’s best destinations are the hardest to get to – and New Zealand is no exception. Most of New Zealand’s most beautiful attractions are off the beaten track, meaning only true travellers ever make it there.
3. It’s a land of many extremes
There aren’t many destinations where you can be trekking a glacier one day then lying on a postcard-perfect beach the next. Your holiday to New Zealand can be whatever you want it to be.
4. It’s home to (arguably!) the world’s best white wine
New Zealand’s Marlborough region is world-famous for its Sauvignon Blanc wine. While you can taste the region’s wine in restaurants around the world – there’s nothing quite like enjoying it as you overlook the vines from which it came.
5. New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world
Skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding and a whole lot more on offer – New Zealand is not for the faint hearted. For the best adventure activities, head to Queenstown on the South Island.
6. It’s the setting of Lord of the Rings
Movie buff or not, everyone can appreciate the sheer beauty of the country that was used as the setting for one of the most successful movie trilogies of all time – Lord of the Rings. There aren’t many places where you can tour a real movie set that isn’t surrounded in green screens, lights and scaffolding. You can even ride one of the actual horses used in the movie!
7. You can explore a town that literally steams
Rotorua, a small town east of Auckland, sits upon dozens of thermal springs that literally result in steam coming up from the streets. It may have a distinctive ‘rotten egg’ smell as a result of the high levels of sulphur dioxide, but surprisingly it doesn’t take that long to get used to.
8. You can learn the Haka
Scare your friends back home with a rendition of the ancient Haka dance. This famous Maori tradition is an important expression of New Zealand identity. Classes are available around the country.
9. Float through an underground cave covered in millions of glow-worms
It is one of the most surreal experiences you’ll have during your trip to New Zealand – and certainly one you won’t forget. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are one of the country’s leading tourist attractions – and a must-see on your itinerary.
10. It’s the best place in the Southern Hemisphere for stargazing
There’s nowhere else in the Southern Hemisphere where you can explore the night sky as clearly as you can from Lake Tekapo on New Zealand’s South Island. Join a stargazing tour or just sit back and drift away as you take in the magnificent night sky.
Article by Jennifer Kellet who a keen travel writer and explorer of the world. Having done New Zealand once as a backpacker a few years ago, Jennifer enjoyed this last trip in style staying at Peppers Queenstown accommodation which provided a much more luxurious stay.
