So many places to
explore
Made up of two large islands, conveniently named the North Island and the South Island, along with a number of smaller offshore islands, New Zealand is a relatively small country, a little larger than the United Kingdom. However, unlike the UK, New Zealand has around 61 million fewer people, so you could say we have a little more room to move.
Yes, there are tourist hotspots that get busy during the peak summer season (December to February) and yes, Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, can feel a little crazy at rush hour. But it’s never too hard to escape the crowds, especially if you’re willing to explore off the beaten track.
And there certainly is a lot to explore. New Zealand has a diverse landscape, shaped by volcanoes and the constant shifting of tectonic plates. From north to south and from east coast to west coast, the landscape, the vegetation and even the weather changes significantly. With so much to see and do, as a visitor, deciding where to go can be a little overwhelming. This page is a good place to start.
Regions, cities & towns
Across the North and South Islands, New Zealand is divided up into a number of regions, each with its own particular, and in some cases unique, features. These regions are listed below and you can explore each one in more detail to see where it’s located and read about some of the top attractions and activities for adventure travellers.
North Island regions
- Auckland - the gateway to New Zealand
- Bay of Plenty - home to a volcanic island
- The Coromandel - pinnacles, forests and golden arches
- Eastland - first to see the sun each day
- Hamilton & Waikato - surfing, glow worms and hobbits
- Hawke's Bay - eat, drink and play
- Lake Taupo - a once great volcano
- Manawatu - two mountain ranges divided
- Northland - islands, beaches and more beaches
- Rotorua - get into some hot water
- Ruapehu - an alien volcanic landscape
- Taranaki - home to a very distinctive mountain
- Wairarapa - rural charm and vines
- Wellington - the coolest capital city
- Whanganui - a river adventure awaits
South Island regions
- Central Otago - cycling gold
- Christchurch & Canterbury - from ocean to plains to mountains
- Clutha - wet & wild but worth the visit
- Dunedin & Coastal Otago - Scottish but sunny
- Fiordland - a World Heritage wilderness
- Kaikoura - time to eat crayfish
- Marlborough - unmistakably like wine country
- Nelson & Tasman - sunny top of the south
- Queenstown - the adventure capital
- Southland - truly off the beaten track
- Wanaka - lakefront gateway to Mount Aspiring
- West Coast - home to glaciers
Need help planning your New Zealand adventure holiday?
We get it. Visiting a new country for the first time can be both exciting and a little daunting. New Zealand is a welcoming country and kiwis are friendly people but they’re also quite protective of their island nation, understandably so given it’s natural beauty.
It pays to be prepared before you arrive with some important biosecurity rules to be aware of when you first step foot off the plane. Then there are our narrow winding roads to contend with, made even tricker if you’re not used to driving on the left hand side. Planning on freedom camping? You definitely need to be aware of the increasing restrictions around this popular form of accommodation.
But don’t worry, there’s nothing that a bit of forward planning can’t prepare you for and we’re here to help. Head on over to our New Zealand travel guide section where we’ll do our best to answer all your questions from our own experience or at the very least, guide you in the right direction as you plan your ideal New Zealand itinerary.