Abel Tasman National Park

national park of New Zealand

Tokelau

New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

– lots of hiking opportunities and New Zealand's highest mountain

Wellington

capital of New Zealand; urban area of the cities of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Porirua

Coromandel Peninsula

– rugged coastline with plenty of beaches and hiking opportunities just one and a half hours from Auckland

Christchurch

largest city in the South Island of New Zealand

Marlborough (New Zealand)

– the country's largest wine-growing region

Hamilton (New Zealand)

largest city in New Zealand's Waikato region

Nelson (New Zealand)

city in New Zealand

Westland National Park

– home of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

Tongariro National Park

national park of New Zealand

Taupo

town in New Zealand's North Island

Milford Sound

fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island

Queenstown (New Zealand)

city the Otage Region on the South Island in New Zealand

Napier

city in the North Island of New Zealand

Dunedin

city in New Zealand's South Island

Auckland

city on the North Island, New Zealand

Rotorua

city in New Zealand

Auckland War Memorial Museum

museum in New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand

city in New Zealand

University of Otago

Has some great old buildings to wander about and see; when classes are on it's a good place to sit, people-watch and take it all in, some good food/cafes/bars are nearby too.

Hamilton, New Zealand

largest city in New Zealand's Waikato region

Fiordland National Park

national park on South Island of New Zealand

Wanaka

ski and summer resort town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand

North Shore, New Zealand

section of Auckland, New Zealand

Kaikoura

town and territorial authority in New Zealand's South Island

Whakatane

town in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty

Canterbury Museum, Christchurch

Includes colonial, Māori and natural history sections, Antarctic exploration display, and visiting exhibitions. Admission free to main exhibits (but donation appreciated), $2 for Discovery children's section.

Southern Alps

mountain range on the South Island in New Zealand

Kawerau

town in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty

ChristChurch Cathedral

church in Christchurch Central City, New Zealand

Auckland Zoo

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

30 hectares of exotic and indigenous plants and trees wrapped in a loop of the picturesque Avon River and linking to the 160-hectare Hagley Park. These put the "Garden" in the "Garden City", and the combined total with Hagley Park makes them the second largest inner city park in the world (after New York's Central Park). A new visitor centre and cafe opened in 2014.

Te Anau

Town in New Zealand

Mount Aspiring / Tititea

mountain

Zealandia (wildlife sanctuary)

A predator-proof fence encloses an old water catchment area, forming a mainland island that provides a natural haven for endangered native birds, tuatara, wētā, and other indigenous flora and fauna, safe from introduced predators. By far the most convenient place in the country to see rare New Zealand wildlife.

Otago Peninsula

peninsula

Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium

public aquarium in New Zealand

Old Government Buildings, Wellington

This is the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere and the second-largest in the world. It is now the home of Victoria University Law School.

Christchurch Arts Centre

Gothic Revival stonework of former University campus. This area was damaged during the 22 Feb 2011 earthquake. While reconstruction work is taking place some of these buildings are closed to the general public. However, the beauty and historical significance of these building can still be appreciated by viewing them from surrounding streets such as Worcester Blvd and Hereford St, and the excellent Canterbury Cheesemongers still operates from a modern building within its precincts. As of December 2018, the I-Site, a commercial gallery and the Great Hall (and the courtyard outside) are open. Rutherford's Den ($20 admission), an exhibition on physics, is open.

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Occupying over 50 hectares (123 acres) in the north end of the city; an excellent place to stroll for several hours. Has an aviary along with many themed garden areas such as Rhododendron, Azalea and Rose Gardens.

Baldwin Street

Located in Dunedin's North East Valley suburb. Used to be the world's steepest street according to Guinness World Records, but in 2019 they found a slightly steeper street in Harlech, Wales. Take the ten minute walk to the top or drive up to enjoy the view looking down! There is a drinking fountain at the top. Some people have tried, and a few have succeeded, cycling all the way up Baldwin Street - try it if you're a keen cyclist. That said, you will need to be careful coming back down - chances are the cycle's brakes will do little to slow a descent at such an incline!

Piha

human settlement

St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin

Catholic Cathedral built 1878-86, but the original design was never completed.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch

The Roman Catholic cathedral, which partly collapsed in the quake. It may eventually be partially rebuilt. View it from the outside.

Christ's College, Christchurch

80-minute tours of the independent (fee-paying) boarding school. The school was established in 1850 and follows the English public school model. The school has about 650 boys who wear a black and white striped blazer. Tour tickets can be bought from the i-Site.

Aratiatia Power Station

The first dam in the Waikato Hydro power scheme. The gates are opened daily at 10AM, noon, 2PM and 4PM in summer and 10AM, noon and 2PM in winter, which causes the spectacular recreation of the Aratiatia Rapids.

Massey Memorial

An interesting place to go if you want to see a large memorial in the middle of nowhere, with a good view of the surrounding harbour. The memorial's namesake is William Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1912 and 1925.

Muriwai

beach community near Auckland, New Zealand

Karori Cemetery

Olveston (house)

Olveston homestead provided the Theomin family with the perfect setting to entertain both professional and personal friends. Seven servants were employed to service the 35 rooms of the home and to manicure the acre of beautiful garden. The home is sited in the inner city and is within walking distance from the city centre.

Riccarton, New Zealand

The last remaining forest remnant on the Canterbury plains is in Christchurch city. If your time is limited in NZ, this is a great way to experience an example of the country's native forests. The circular track passes under tall kahikatea trees, and there is a diversity of small trees, shrubs, climbers and ferns. Christchurch's oldest house, Dean's Cottage (built 1843), is adjacent. Five minutes drive from central city and easily accessible by bus.

Okere Falls

human settlement in New Zealand

Knox Church, Dunedin

The largest church in Dunedin, used by a Presbyterian congregation. Built of bluestone and Oamaru stone, with a wooden ceiling between 1872-76 to design by Robert Lawson.

Coronet Peak

mountain in New Zealand

Mount Victoria, Wellington

196 m high, this is the best lookout in Wellington. The full 360-degree view is a great place to see the airport, the harbour, the CBD and the Town Belt with just a turn of the head. It takes about an hour to walk up from Courtenay Place. Many tourist buses go there but also a lot of the locals, especially at night to 'watch the view'.

Auckland Domain

public park in Auckland, New Zealand

Waimarama

human settlement in New Zealand

Cape Kidnappers

Mount Tauhara

mountain in New Zealand

Bowen River (New Zealand)

river in northern Fiordland, New Zealand

Rialto Cinema, Dunedin

Nice movie cinema in a converted old theater

Waiapu Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Napier

Art Deco Anglican cathedral consecrated in 1960. The original cathedral was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake with the loss of two lives.

Oriental Bay

suburb

Church of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch

This wooden Anglican church dating from 1872 suffered only minor quake damage (it was closed for three months). It has an unusual separate bell tower.

Tamaki Drive

road in New Zealand

First Church of Otago

One of the most impressive churches in New Zealand, looking like an English cathedral. Dunedin's primary Presbyterian church, built of Oamaru stone 1868-73 to a Spire is 56m high, making it the tallest building in Dunedin.

New Zealand Parliament Buildings

Home of New Zealand's lawmakers and leaders, the complex consists of four building: the Beehive (or Executive Wing), Parliament House, the Parliamentary Library and Bowen House. The grounds of Parliament are open to the public, and free tours of the buildings are available from the visitor centre located between the Beehive and Parliament House. Depending on parliamentary business, tours may include a visit to the House of Representatives debating chamber and the Select Committee rooms. For security reasons, you need to leave all your belongings at the visitor centre and clear a checkpoint.

The Catlins

Speight's

Shop hours: M-Th 09:30-19:00, F-Su 09:30-17:00. Tours daily at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00. Closed Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Sunday, and shortened hours on ANZAC day. Children under 15 require adult supervision. The brewery has been a Dunedin landmark since its founding in 1876. The guided tour takes you through the Speight's brewery, sharing the heritage and culture of beer, from the Babylonians to today. The tour's finale is a 25 minute beer tasting. You must be 18 years or over to join in on the tasting.

Abel Tasman Coast Track

Treble Cone

Taiaroa Head

Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Opened in 1987 before the closure of the Christchurch RNZAF base, this museum has full-size replicas of fighting planes and dramatizes the history of New Zealand's Air Force from World War I to Vietnam and beyond.

Moana Pool

Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson

a historic and often photographed Nelson landmark. Features iconic granite steps from Trafalgar Street to the Cathedral. Sunday Eucharist and Evensong services, usually with Choir.

Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial

Dedicated to those who died or were injured in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It is beside the Avon River, immediately downstream from Montreal St and upstream from Rhododendron Island in the Avon.

Government Gardens

Haulashore Island

island in New Zealand

Ohaaki Power Station

human settlement in New Zealand

Hemoana Stadium

Tunnel Beach

Dunedin suburb

Queenstown Gardens

Jutting out into Lake Wakatipu, these botanical gardens contain a variety of exotic and native trees and plants as well as a large pond and a range of facilities.

Anawhata

Waitakere Ranges

mountains in New Zealand

Dunedin Gasworks Museum

An old coal gasworks which operated from from 1863 until 1987.

Luana Liki Hotel

Mount Kaukau

455 m high, and easily recognisable by the 122-metre television transmitter atop it. A great lookout point, but not as close to the city as Mt Victoria.

Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park

Wairakei Power Station

The Octagon, Dunedin

in the city centre has an octagonal shape instead of the standard square and features a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns. This statue was unveiled in 1887 and was recently restored. It was cast by sculptor Sir John Steell of Edinburgh, Scotland, who made four other, nearly identical, statues, one of which stands in Central Park, New York. Several significant buildings are adjacent to the Octagon, including the Public Art Gallery, St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Regent Theatre.

Tahunanui Beach

beach in Nelson, New Zealand

Abel Tasman Inland Track

Snow Farm

Whatipu

BATS Theatre

church and historic church building in Wellington, New Zealand

Tonga Island Marine Reserve