When you’re in New Zealand, you’ll be able to witness some fascinating natural surroundings, a unique Maori culture, and some historic attractions. This country is also among the world’s best hiking destinations. You can have a wonderful time relaxing on its beaches or indulging in some exciting outdoor adventures with activities like mountain biking and canoeing. During your time spent in this amazing country, you’ll be delighted to visit its most popular places:
- Tongariro National Park
The Tongariro National Park is known for its significance to the Maori culture and attractive volcanic features. It is located at the centre of North Island within a few kilometres of distance from Lake Taupo. This national park was a gift of the Maori chief, Te Heuheu Tukino, to the people of New Zealand. It is one of the world’s oldest national parks and would surely charm you with its turquoise lakes, hot springs, massive volcanoes, and alpine meadows. One of the most fascinating features of this park is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is among the popular places for day walks during the New Zealand tours.
- Fiordland National Park
Known for its spectacular scenery, this national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During your visit to this park, you’ll witness the magnificent glaciers and the famous fjords of Dusky, Milford, and Doubtful Sounds. You’ll come across virgin rainforests, gushing waterfalls, offshore islands, lakes, and mountains while exploring this beautiful national park. It hardly comes as a surprise that this particular place attracts hikers from various corners of the globe. Some of New Zealand’s best walks are located in this part of the country, such as the popular Milford Track. One of the exciting ways to explore the fjords is by sea kayaking.
- Rotorua
One of the world’s most active geothermal regions, Rotorua is a place where you’ll find hissing natural geysers, mud pools, steaming thermal springs, and volcanic craters. This city is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire and allows you to take a tour of its geothermal wonders and enjoy a dip in the steaming mineral springs. While in Rotorua, you can also know more about the local Maori culture and history. If you’re an adventure enthusiast, you’ll have plenty of things to indulge in, such as mountain biking and sky-diving.
- Aoraki National Park
Also known as Mount Cook National Park, this part of New Zealand has 40 percent of it covered in glaciers. The national park is also home to the Aoraki Mountain or Mount Cook, which is the tallest mountain in the country. It also houses New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier. The presence of these two natural wonders makes this park one of the top destinations in the country for mountaineering. It was here that Sir Edmund Hillary trained before embarking on his expedition to Mount Everest. Upon visiting the Aoraki National Park, you’ll also get to see diverse varieties of flora and fauna.
- Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
They are among the major tourist attractions located in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers can either be explored on foot or with the help of guided tours that take you to the pinnacles. Visitors can also enjoy aerial views of these glaciers with the help of seaplane or helicopter tours offered by the local tour operators.
