Tap each region to learn what it has to offer, or see all regions of the north and south island below the map.
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Step inside a Hobbit hole near Matamata, float beneath a galaxy of glowworms at Waitomo, and watch surfers carve the Southern Hemisphere’s longest left-hand break at Raglan — all within two hours of Auckland. The Waikato hides more world-class experiences per kilometre than almost anywhere in New Zealand, and most visitors have barely scratched the surface.
Taranaki is New Zealand’s best kept secret — a near-perfect volcanic cone rising from a surf-lashed coastline, with world-class gardens, kinetic art, and one of the country’s most awarded coastal walkways on its doorstep. From the Pouakai Tarns at dawn to the breaks of Surf Highway 45, Taranaki rewards every traveller who makes the detour.
New Zealand’s sunniest region delivers golden beaches, world-class surf, and a coastline that rewards slow exploration. From the sheltered sands of Pilot Bay to the vast sweep of Ōhope Beach, the spectacular Wairere Falls, and the Cathedral Cove sea arch on the Coromandel — the Bay of Plenty lives up to every word of its name.
New Zealand’s largest city spans two harbours and the Hauraki Gulf’s islands. Auckland combines urban dining, beaches, and volcanic cones with easy day trips to Waiheke Island vineyards or Rangitoto. Best for first-time visitors, city breaks, and travellers wanting culture, nightlife, and coastal scenery within one destination.
New Zealand’s compact, walkable capital blends culture, coffee, and coastline. Wellington offers Te Papa, a thriving food scene, and film industry attractions, while the Wairarapa wine region sits just over the hill. Best for culture seekers, foodies, and wine enthusiasts wanting city and country in one trip.
Art Deco architecture, award-winning wineries, and 2,200 annual sunshine hours define Hawke’s Bay. Centred on Napier and Hastings, the region offers cellar door tours, coastal walks, and a relaxed East Coast pace. Best for wine tourists, architecture fans, and travellers seeking New Zealand’s sunniest, food-focused region.
Two lakes, two personalities, one impossibly beautiful corner of New Zealand. Queenstown delivers the bungee jumps, the ski fields, and the finest pinot noir on the planet. Wanaka offers the same mountain backdrop with half the crowds and twice the soul. Between them, the Southern Lakes region is simply unmissable.
Stand at the edge of Milford Sound as Mitre Peak rises from black mirror water. Walk four days through ancient beech forest to get there. Kayak the silence of Doubtful Sound. Watch the Southern Lights burn above Stewart Island. Southland and Fiordland don’t just show you New Zealand — they show you the end of the world.
From the rebuilt laneways of Christchurch to the ice-blue immensity of Aoraki/Mount Cook, from sperm whales breaching off Kaikōura to the Milky Way blazing over the Mackenzie Basin — Canterbury contains more extraordinary landscapes per square kilometre than almost any region in the Southern Hemisphere. This is New Zealand’s South Island at its most varied and spectacular.
Ancient glaciers descending to sea level, 30-million-year-old rocks stacked into impossible formations at Punakaiki, turquoise gorges glowing like gemstones, and gold rush towns that once rivalled Dunedin in their ambition — the West Coast is New Zealand at its most elemental. Remote, rain-drenched, and utterly unforgettable, this is the South Island’s wildest edge.
New Zealand’s adventure capital meets alpine serenity Best For Adventure seekers, couples, winter skiing, wine touring, family holidays Accessibility Queenstown’s town centre is largely flat
Sun-soaked top of the South Island, Nelson & Marlborough pairs golden beaches with world-class Sauvignon Blanc. Abel Tasman National Park offers New Zealand’s most accessible coastal walk, while the Marlborough Sounds delivers sheltered water-based adventure. Best for wine lovers, hikers, and families seeking warm, easy-going holidays.
