https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/new-zealand/best-things-to-do/10070100078090
Best Things to Do
Top 50 Best Things to Do in New Zealand [2025]
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Skyline Queenstown
4.7
/5
574 reviews
9.5
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6434410101
Address: 53 Brecon Street, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Skyline Gondola: A Night View Like a Painting
Thrilling activities with scenic views
Saved by 593 users467 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The skyline in Queenstown is similar to other cities in New Zealand, and Luge is worth a try. However, buying multiple tickets may be worth it, but it may be a waste if you get tired of playing. My friend just finds queuing and taking the cable car very tried, although she bought six tickets but only played twice.
Family trip, bring children with you. For children, the scenery on the top of the mountain is not impressive, but the skyline luge is really fun.
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Hobbiton™ Movie Set
4.7
/5
735 reviews
9.4
From US$ 68.69
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6478881505
Address: 501 Buckland Road, Matamata 3472, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Unique New Zealand hills & lakes
Sample Ginger Beer at the Green Dragon Inn
Saved by 1035 users526 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Highly recommended! The Chinese tour guide explained the indoor and outdoor scenery of the Hobbit Village. At the end, each person was given a glass of wine at the Kowloon Restaurant, and a souvenir cup of the Kowloon Restaurant was also given.
New Zealand 🇳🇿 Hobbytown: The immersive Midland World Tour View (5/5) Hobbytown's scenery is simply postcard-level, completely restoring the Shire scenery in the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies. Whether it is green grass, hobbit caves on hillsides, or well-maintained gardens and crops, it feels like you have really entered the Middle-earth world. The Hobbit Cave in the sun is brightly colored, perfectly blended with the surrounding natural environment, and every angle is beautiful. I especially like the iconic round doors and windows, full of fairy tale colors. Fun (4/5) As a movie lover, Hobbitun is very interesting. Guides will guide visitors through the Hobbit caves, explaining the anecdotes and details of film shooting, making the whole tour lively and interesting. It’s exciting to be able to experience movie scenes, such as sipping a ginger beer at the Green Dragon Tavern or taking pictures at Bilbo Baggins’ doorstep. This is not only a simple sightseeing, but also an immersive experience, making people seem to be part of the Hobbit world. Cost-effective (3/5) In terms of cost-effectiveness, the ticket price of Hobbitun is relatively high. Although it includes a guided tour and a glass of Green Dragon tavern drinks, it can be a big expense for budget-bound tourists. Given its unique film themes and carefully maintained scenes, the investment is worth it for the loyal fans of The Lord of the Rings, which offers an unparalleled experience. However, if only pure nature lovers, may feel slightly less cost-effective. Overall, it was a worthwhile pilgrimage, but it is recommended to plan the budget in advance.
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Waitomo Glowworm Caves
4.5
/5
666 reviews
9.2
From US$ 38.67
Based on 5,988 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +64800456922
Address: 39 Waitomo Village Road, Waitomo Caves 3977, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-6 hours
Selected for 2 years in a row
Highlights:
Listen to echoes in Cathedral Cave
Hear underground waterfall's unique echo
Saved by 468 users339 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The experience of the Waitomo Firefly Cave was amazing. As soon as you entered the cave, it was dark and quiet, and only the fireflies above you flickered like stars. Sitting on a boat, glide up and look up at the blue-green spots, as if floating in the galaxy. The whole process was quiet, no explanation, no noise, only the sound of water and light and shadow, making people completely immersed in the dreamy atmosphere. Short but unforgettable.
it was a trip to New Zealand with family. we visited Waitomo Glowworm Caves. it was a very fun and interesting experience.
No.
4
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Milford Sound Scenic Cruises
4.5
/5
148 reviews
8.9
From US$ 65.74
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6433981250
Address: 1 Milford Sound Highway, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Panoramic cabin & bow view
Waterfalls & wildlife up close
Saved by 219 users130 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Overall, the trip was below expectations. The round trip drive took nearly nine hours, but the fjords we saw were far worse than the hype online. Even in the rain, the space was quite ordinary. The seating was just enough; if everyone was inside, there definitely wouldn't be enough. We didn't see many animals, and there weren't many waterfalls. The scenery was average, and parking was incredibly expensive.
Milford Sound - famous for its towering snow-capped mountains, spectacular glaciers, lush rainforests, and cascading waterfalls, is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and is the only landform not found in China.
No.
5
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NZONE Skydive Queenstown
4.8
/5
132 reviews
8.8
From US$ 198.76
Based on 1,485 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6434425867
Address: 35 Shotover Street, Central Queenstown, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
Highlights:
Queenstown views from 15,000 ft
One-on-one coaching & guidance
Saved by 271 users57% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Skydiving is super fun, 15,000 feet, the free fall feels like life is free!
The package comes with a handheld camera, with photos and videos.
After the jump, it will be sent directly to your email for you to download.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the base.
Very good experience. I chose 15,000ft for my first skydive, which was perfect. Except for the slight weightlessness for 3-5 seconds after leaving the cabin, there was no weightlessness at all afterwards. I spent an extra $200 to buy a GoPro video. It is basically impossible to get a third-party shooting appointment during the peak season.
No.
6
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
4.7
/5
347 reviews
8.8
From US$ 24.67
Based on 8,808 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6473666333
Address: 201 Waiotapu Loop Road, Rotorua 3073, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Watch "Ladies Hat" geyser erupt
Geothermal steam-cooked culinary experience
Saved by 363 users281 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
We rushed to the Knox Fountain at 10:15, but we had to stand on tiptoe in the crowd to see the water column rising into the sky. The smell of diesel and sulfur rushed straight to our heads. But it smelled really good! The champagne pool was bubbling like a giant soda pot, and the green Devil's Bath looked like an alien dye vat. The phone couldn't capture the weird color. When we were walking on the plank road, we almost stepped into a hot mud pit. The tour guide laughed and said, "The geothermal foot bath comes with a free scalding package." The best thing was squatting on the roadside eating a sandwich, the steam mixed with the smell of earth rushed to my face, and when I looked up, the hillside was smoking, and the branches were covered with sulfur frost. It was really a boiler room on earth! It was worth the price.
Wai-O-Tapu themal wonderlandThese places were amazing for the view and photo .Very good experience.
No.
7
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Whale Watch Kaikoura
4.7
/5
101 reviews
8.6
From US$ 93.55
Based on 3,030 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6433196767
Address: Whaleway Station Road, Kaikōura 7340, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Guided whale & marine biology tour
95% chance to see whales
Saved by 136 users73% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
We saw two sperm whales, and the sound of their tails was very shocking. Many dolphins chased the boat and played with it. Albatrosses floated leisurely on the sea. Standing on the bow of the boat gave us a feeling of riding the wind and waves. Be sure to buy tickets a few days in advance, as you may not be able to buy tickets at the last minute and will have to wait and see.
The check-in point is conveniently located right next to the train.
The weather was nice and the scenery was beautiful. We successfully saw whales, sea lions and dolphins.
I took medicine in advance and didn't get carsick, so I was satisfied overall.
No.
8
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Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
4.6
/5
429 reviews
8.6
Based on 5,854 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6434411137
Address: Southland, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day
Featured in 2025 Global 50 - Water fun & Cool Retreats
Highlights:
Boat tour: waterfalls & marine life
Boat tour: Bow Falls & marine life
Saved by 149 users170 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Milford Sound is like a magical movie! When you are on a boat, giant waterfalls on both sides of the river crash into the emerald sea from the cliffs, such as Stirling Falls, and the water vapor hits you with rainbows. The steep cliffs are covered with moss, seals lie lazily on the rocks, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance are looming in the clouds. It is even more amazing when it rains and fogs, the mountain peaks are shrouded in mist, the sea is dark blue, as if the whole world is quiet and only the sound of water remains. It is so shocking!
It is recommended not to drive there by yourself, the road is too difficult to drive. We live in Te Anau and drove there by ourselves. Although the scenery on the road is very beautiful, we usually only drive on city roads. This mountain road really left a psychological shadow. Especially the road close to the fjord can be said to be high and steep. New Zealand cars drive fast, so for safety reasons, I sincerely recommend taking a bus so that you can safely enjoy the scenery along the way.
No.
9
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Agrodome
4.7
/5
316 reviews
8.5
From US$ 20.79
Based on 1,702 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6473571050
Address: 141 Western Road, Ngongotahā, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.2 of Spring Outings in New Zealand
Highlights:
See sheep & deer up close
Sheep shearing & close encounters
Saved by 149 users165 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Kids will love this, it's quite interesting and worth a visit if you're on your way. First, you'll be taken on a tractor tour of the farm, where you can feed the lambs and alpacas. Then, there's an indoor farm show with wool shearing and other activities. The sheep on display are quite interesting, each one looking different. Headphones are available, so you can choose your preferred language.
This farm is perfect for taking children to play. The sheep shearing show has an interactive part, and the farm tour is explained in English. You can feed the lambs and alpacas on the farm, but the sheep are aggressive, so children should be careful!
No.
10
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Sky Tower
4.6
/5
903 reviews
8.4
From US$ 26.84
Based on 11,760 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6493636000
Address: 72 Victoria Street West, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Featured in 2024 Global 100 - Best Things to Do
Highlights:
630 ft platform skywalk experience
192-meter-high skywalk experience
Saved by 303 users416 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
As a famous scenic spot, the Sky Tower is basically a must visit place! The restaurant is also worth a try, as there are different packages available at different times. It is more convenient to book in advance on the website
The Sky Tower is a landmark building in Auckland. Take the high-speed elevator to the observation deck, where you can see the entire city, the port and even the volcanic landscape in the distance. The glass floor area makes you feel weak in the knees, but you can't help but step on it to experience it once. The city lights at night and the soft lights inside the tower interweave into a dreamy atmosphere. The high-altitude walking and tower jumping projects on the top of the tower are very exciting. Even if you don't try it, just watching others challenge it is exciting enough. Standing at such a height, watching the wind blow and the clouds move, there is an indescribable sense of freedom.
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