A staggeringly beautiful island nation defining adventure tourism — volcanic North Island, dramatic South Island mountains, intense Maori culture, and incredibly friendly locals.
The essential apps and websites every traveller needs before hitting the road
💡 Pro tip: For the South Island, hiring a campervan is often the most flexible and affordable option — Freedom Camping is permitted in many areas but book early in summer (Dec–Feb).
📍 Where to buy: Both sold at Auckland & Christchurch airports. Passport required for registration.
The global adventure capital, positioned dramatically on Lake Wakatipu beneath the massive Remarkables mountain range. Extremely expensive but incredibly fun. Famous for bungee jumping, jet boating, and world-class skiing in winter. It has a heavy, perpetual party atmosphere driven by seasonal workers and backpackers.
The largest city on the South Island. It has almost entirely rebuilt itself conceptually following the devastating earthquakes a decade ago. It is now highly modern, incredibly flat (making it a massive cycling city), and serves as the perfect base camp for trips into the Southern Alps.
Queenstown’s slightly quieter, arguably more sophisticated neighbor. It provides access to the same spectacular alpine environment and ski fields (like Treble Cone) but with slightly less intense commercial tourism and a stronger local community feel.
The heartland of Maori culture and intense geothermal activity. The entire region smells slightly of sulfur due to the boiling mud pools and geysers. Taupo is centered around the country’s largest lake and is a major hub for skydiving and hiking the massive Tongariro Alpine Crossing.