Our mates Madeleine Sami and Jackie Van Beek explored the length and breadth of New Zealand on an epic roadie earlier this year to discover all the new things there are to do!
From exploring the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves(opens in new window) to tasting fresh crayfish at Nin's Binn in Kaikōura, the pair discovered all of the amazing homegrown ‘touristy stuff’ we have right here in Aotearoa.
Keep scrolling for some inspiration for your next trip and learn about the places they visited and experiences they had on the road.
Come on, Aotearoa. Do something you’ve never done before.
There are so many exciting options to see and do in Auckland and if you’re into adventure and culture, you’ve come to the right place. Have you ever had a go at New Zealand's only Bridge Climb or bungy(opens in new window)?
Head to the Auckland Harbour Bridge for an exciting jump into the Waitemata Harbour to get your blood pumping! Or visit world-class exhibitions at the art galleries and museums and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of traditional and contemporary international works right in the heart of Auckland City.
Hit the road this weekend and see the world-famous glowworms. For a magical underground experience, drive south to Waitomo Caves(opens in new window), where the natural beauty of stalactites and stalagmites lit by the blue light of glowworms will take your breath away; or for those seeking more of an adrenalin rush, black water rafting(opens in new window) and abseiling are not to be missed.
Bypass the batch this weekend and explore somewhere new like one of the most active geothermal wonderlands in Rotorua(opens in new window), Te Puia, home to Pōhutu(opens in new window) geyser(opens in new window) the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere. See the extensive geothermal activity in action with bubbling mud pools, a naturally heated pool used for traditional cooking or enjoy a traditional Maori Hāngī experience. Or head to Hell's Gate(opens in new window) and see the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere and the only geothermal mud baths in New Zealand.
Do something new in the Canterbury region. Explore off-the-beaten track adventures at Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park, home of the highest mountain and the longest glacier. Take on that road trip and explore boutique galleries, museums(opens in new window) and hidden bays in Christchurch and Akaroa or enjoy the turquoise lakes, and the rugged sky-piercing alps of the Mackenzie district.
Make a stop at the ultimate natural playground, Kaikōura, and explore some hidden gems. Meet some fur seals at Point Kean Seal Colony, go on coastal walks and indulge in the famous, delicious crayfish from one of the many ‘Seafood Caravans’.
Why not try the New Zealand’s highest and world's first and most famous bungy(opens in new window) jumps in Queenstown, the Kawarau Bridge Bungy(opens in new window) with AJ Hackett? Or float down a river and go on a jet boat(opens in new window) through the rugged beauty and unspoilt grandeur of the white-water rapids of the Shotover River.
