New Zealand – Our Top 10 Most Beautiful Places!

The Most Beautiful Places in New Zealand – Our Personal Ranking!

New Zealand had been our dream destination for a long time—especially for Tomek, who’s the biggest “Lord of the Rings” fan ever! We spent ages planning and gathering info on how to organise this trip—we wanted to be 100% prepared and make the absolute most of our time there. However, this dream didn’t come true immediately. Before New Zealand, we had other destinations lined up, like Hawaii, the US West Coast, Patagonia, and Florida. We kept waiting for the right moment—and, more importantly, for the chance to take a longer break from work. This place is so far away that we knew a two- or even three-week trip just wouldn’t be enough for us.
Finally, in February 2024, our biggest travel dream came true, and New Zealand became our very first stop on our round-the-world adventure! We spent almost five weeks there, camping and road-tripping throughout the country.

And you know how it is when you have really high expectations, only to be brought back down to earth? That was something we were genuinely worried about—we were sure we’d love New Zealand, but we were also afraid it might not live up to our imagination. Thankfully, that didn’t happen at all. New Zealand completely stole our hearts. In fact, we loved it so much that we actually went back in November of the same year for almost another four weeks. Yes, you read that right! We returned just seven months later. Honestly, we can’t think of a better recommendation for this country!

Top 10 Places to Visit in New Zealand!

New Zealand completely stole our hearts as a whole, but there are some places we visited that truly made our hearts race. Today, we wanted to share those special spots with you—if you find our recommendations helpful, we’d love it if you’d join us for a virtual coffee!

1. Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki

   The undisputed winner of our ranking! The colour of Lake Pukaki with the majestic Mount Cook in the background is hands down our favourite place in New Zealand. And by that, we mean both the scenic viewpoints over the lake and the Hooker Valley Track, as well as all the other hikes within the National Park itself.

   

2. Roys Peak at sunrise

   To catch this view, you’ll need to put in a bit of extra effort—but trust us, it’s so worth it! Start your hike about 2.5 to 3 hours before sunrise. Don’t worry—the trail is super popular, so you’ll probably have plenty of company along the way. Bring a headlamp and some warm clothes, power up to the summit, and then take in the breathtaking views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains in that magical morning light! Just a heads up—it can get really chilly at the very top!

   

3. Tongariro Alpine Crossing

   This trail is a must for “Lord of the Rings” fans—but not just them! It takes you right into the heart of Mordor and up to Mount Doom, before leading you to stunning emerald lakes. The hike is over 20 kilometers one way, and to get to the trailhead, you’ll need to book a shuttle bus (there’s a parking lot, but you can’t leave your car there for more than 4 hours). Make sure to bring sturdy hiking boots—the route is absolutely beautiful, but some stretches are covered in loose, slippery rocks.

   

4. Lake Tekapo and blooming lupins in spring

   Lake Tekapo and its blooming lupins are the ultimate symbol of spring in New Zealand! The entire lakeshore is covered in purple and pink flowers, adding even more charm to this stunning place. While we usually recommend visiting New Zealand in autumn, the lupins around Lake Tekapo are honestly a great reason to plan your trip for spring (which is late November to early December down here).

   

5. The town of Wanaka

   Have you ever visited a place and instantly thought, “I could live here”? That’s exactly how we felt about Wanaka—it was love at first sight. We highly recommend spending a few days in town: hike up to Roys Peak at sunrise, rent a bike or a kayak, see the famous #ThatWanakaTree, and, most importantly, soak up the amazing atmosphere of this little town! Who knows, maybe our dream of living there will come true one day—though the house prices are definitely a bit jaw-dropping! 😄

   

6. Milford Sound

   This is one spot you absolutely can’t miss when visiting New Zealand! Cruising through the majestic fjord, surrounded by countless waterfalls, is an experience you’ll remember for a long time. Just be prepared for rain—this is one of the rainiest places on earth (which is why there are so many waterfalls!), and also for sandflies—those little New Zealand bugs are everywhere here. Although … the second time we visited, we actually lucked out with amazing weather—sunshine and just enough wind to keep the bugs away. It was perfect!

   

7. Egmont National Park

   Hiking in Egmont National Park (Taranaki) was actually our very first trek in New Zealand! We especially recommend the Pouakai Circuit Reflective Tarn—if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see Mount Taranaki perfectly reflected in a small mountain pond. The photos are absolutely stunning! Your best chance of catching that reflection is on a clear day at sunrise, before the wind and clouds roll in.

   

8. Piha Beach

   It was actually Piha that made us fall in love with New Zealand at first sight! We had never seen a sunset as beautiful as the one we witnessed there. On top of that, Piha has its own unique vibe—there’s just something special about this place. We always feel so good whenever we’re there.

   

9. The road to Glenorchy

   Some of the best views in New Zealand are literally right by the road. The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is surrounded by mountains and lakes. It’s supposed to take only about 40 minutes, at least in theory, but we made countless stops for photos along the way. It’s also worth going a bit further to Isengard Lookout, the filming location from “The Lord of the Rings,” just past Glenorchy.
   P.S. In our minds, the road to Glenorchy is tied with the drive from Haast to Wanaka—both are incredibly scenic!

   

10. Cape Reinga

    A little cape with a lighthouse at the very northern tip of New Zealand, separating the Tasman Sea from the Pacific Ocean. It’s a place of special spiritual significance—the indigenous Māori consider it sacred, as it’s the starting point for the spirits of the dead on their journey. Sunset here is especially magical.

    

Of course, this ranking is just our personal opinion—you might have completely different experiences depending on the time of year and the weather. For example, we visited Milford Sound twice, and it honestly felt like two totally different places. We only got that truly spectacular sunset at Piha once. The second time we climbed Roys Peak, it was so cold I could only last 15 minutes at the top before I had to run down to warm up! But honestly, we still think these are the places you absolutely shouldn’t miss if you’re visiting New Zealand.