Tongariro National Park is the oldest park in the country. South of Taupo rise three huge volcanoes whose peaks are clad in snow: Tongariro, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe.
Urewera National Park - located in the northeast of the Volcanic Plateau. It is New Zealand's second largest national park. Visitors are attracted to the unique complex, which contains exhibits that provide insight into Maori history.
Egmont National Park - is located to the west of the Volcanic Plateau. After Tongariro, it is the oldest park in the country. It is home to Mount Egmont, or Taranaki, a 2,517-meter-high, symmetrical mountain considered one of the most beautiful on the globe.
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in the country. It lies 53 km north of Tekapo and has an elevation of 3754 m. The mountain is surrounded by the lands of Mount Cook National Park.
Westland National Park - stretches south of the village of Franz-Joseph-Glacier. It is known for its great diversity of plant and animal life, as well as its many lakes and two famous glaciers, Franz Josef (16 km. long) and Fox (14 km.).
Fjorland National Park is the largest park in the country. Within the park, you can find famous fjords like Milford Sound, considered one of the natural wonders of the world, as well as Ruthburn and Dusky Sound, and the Hollyford Track. The park also includes relict Catlins Forest, part of the Otago Peninsula, and Lake Manapouri. The forests of Fiordland are preserved as they were centuries ago, with numerous mountain lakes, rivers, beautiful waterfalls, and eternal snow-capped mountain peaks, attracting nature lovers. Fiordland is especially popular among birdwatchers, with parrots, penguins, kea, tui, and many other unique New Zealand birds inhabiting the area.
Paparoa National Park is located on the west coast and is the wildest and most rugged part of the country. It features fascinating coastal formations like Pancake Rocks, where sea water rushes through holes in the rocks with tremendous force.
Catlins is a hilly, forested, and sparsely populated area in the eastern part of Southland, much of which falls within the forest park of the same name. The Catlins coastline attracts a variety of marine mammals, including New Zealand seals and Hooker's sea lions, as well as rare birds like the yellow-eyed penguin.
Franz Josef Glacier is located within the Westland National Park, part of the Te-Wahipunamu region. The glacier moves at a rate of about 2 meters per hour, creating the Taiho River and several lakes from meltwater. The surrounding mountains offer numerous waterfalls.
Uai-O-Tapu is one of the most interesting and amazing attractions in New Zealand. Tourists from all over the world come to the Taupo Volcanic Zone on the North Island to see the hot springs, erupting geysers, and boiling mud springs with their own eyes. What makes it even more captivating is the fact that everything is boiling and bubbling, shimmering with incredibly rich colors. That's why Uai-O-Tapu is often referred to as a thermal wonderland and "Geothermal Wonderland."
Stephens Island may have bare rocky shores, constant surf, sparse vegetation, and perpetual fog, but it is home to one of the rarest animals on the planet, the tuatara, which is a contemporary and closest relative of the dinosaurs. The New Zealand government has maintained a strict conservation regime on the island for over 100 years.
In addition to the protected areas, New Zealand offers various interesting places and towns to visit. Major cities like Auckland and Wellington have their own temples, museums, squares, and monuments that will pique the curiosity of visitors. However, some destinations stand out for their unique charm.
Hobbiton is the New Zealand movie set that has become home to about 6,000 people. This is not just a movie set; it's a real farm and even a small town. It's famous for being the filming location for Tolkien's legendary trilogy "The Lord of the Rings." Tolkien tourism is incredibly popular in New Zealand. You can reach Hobbiton independently or with a tour from Auckland. It's about a two-hour drive south of Auckland, near the town of Matamata. A tour typically costs around 50 NZD and lasts about three hours.
Christchurch may resemble any provincial town in southern England, and it's precisely this unique flavor that attracts visitors to the city.
Baldwin Street is a street located in the town of Dunedin, New Zealand. This street starts at North Road and ends at an intersection with Buchanan Street. Baldwin Street is known for its remarkable steepness. It stretches for 359 meters and rises almost 80 meters. The steepest section has a length of 161.2 meters and rises 47.22 meters, creating a gradient of 19 degrees. This extraordinary street is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the steepest street in the world.
