How to Make the Most of Your Trip to New Zealand

New Zealand may be a fairly small country, but you won’t be short of places to see and things to do. We crammed our eight-day trip with as many experiences as possible and still have plans to return one day (hopefully soon!)

This is how we made the most of our trip to New Zealand, and how you can, too.

The North Island

Auckland

Auckland features in most people’s itineraries and nothing beats seeing it from above; the Auckland Bridge Climb was definitely a highlight of the trip.

You ascend from the base to the summit of the bridge as your friendly guide answers all your questions and points out the landmarks along the way — it’s the perfect introduction to the city, and although at 200 feet it’s not exactly close to the ground, it’s not a difficult walk.

This is also a good time to get recommendations from a local, so get your questions in while you have the chance.

Matamata

There was no way I was leaving New Zealand without visiting Hobbiton, the village created especially for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. The attention to detail is astonishing, with every little detail thought out, and you get a real kick out of seeing the film sets in person.

You can combine this trip with a visit to the Waitomo Caves, where you sail underground to see the glowworms. Ticking off two excursions in one package is cheaper than going on separate trips, and it means you get to see more in one day.

Napier

We planned our time in New Zealand by researching and booking everything we really wanted to do before we went, leaving enough free time to explore on foot and be spontaneous. A last-minute bus trip led us to Napier, where we explored exhibitions at MTG Hawke’s Bay and strolled along the elegant Marine Parade.

Wellington

We spent a day in Wellington, riding the cable car and visiting the Carter Observatory. The city has a plethora of amazing cafes, stalls and restaurants, so you won’t be short of opportunities to eat (60% of travellers put on at least two kilos on holiday and we suspect most of them went to Wellington).

The South Island

In hindsight, we probably could have split our time between the two islands more equally. It’s easy to get carried away when there are so many interesting places to visit — take this into account when you’re planning your trip and don’t make the same mistake!

Christchurch

One thing we did manage to do was a few scenic trips, including the bus trip from Picton to Christchurch.

There’s lots to do for adrenaline junkies, including an aerial obstacle course, bungee jumping and a tandem skydive in nearby Canterbury. I couldn’t quite bring myself to brave the bungee jump, but we did hire mountain bikes and go on a cycling tour through the pine trees of Bottle Lake Forest.

New Zealand has stunning scenery nearly everywhere you go, and this was what made the trip so special. Lush greenery, rocks and mountains, glaciers… they’ve got it all, and you’ll find yourself staring constantly. Take pictures, but don’t get too carried away — this is a country best appreciated away from the camera. I’ll be heading back as soon as I get the chance.