5 Experiences Not to Miss in New Zealand

Up next my blog is being taken over by the wonderful Laura of Wander with Laura, an amazing travel blogger, who will take you across the world, visiting some amazing sights. She today shares some of her favourite experiences from the beautiful country of New Zealand.

I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in New Zealand at the start of 2017 and it immediately captured my heart. The lush hills, the snow topped mountains and unbelievable views around every corner. It’s the most beautiful country to road trip around and honestly, I’d recommend that everybody visits once in their lifetime. While there are an almost infinite number of amazing things to do in New Zealand, I’ve rounded up (with difficulty) my favourites for you today!

Hike the Tongariro Crossing

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing has been named as one of the world’s greatest day hikes and for good reason. It’s a tough 19.4 km walk with plenty of steep uphill ascents that will have your legs aching afterwards but it’s so worth it. The higher you go, the more incredible the views get and crossing the highest point to see the Emerald Lake in the background is unbelievable. If you’re visiting New Zealand, you don’t want to miss out on this incredible hike through Mordor. Read more on my blog – what’s it like to hike the Tongariro Crossing?

Stay in the Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

Did you know that there’s only one Dark Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere and it’s in New Zealand? As there is barely any light pollution in this area, it makes for unbelievable stargazing and if you have time, you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity. If you want to stargaze with expert guidance, Earth & Sky do tours including at Mount John Observatory. I camped in the area on a cloudy night but on waking up at 3am, the skies had cleared to reveal the most incredible stars.

Explore the hip capital Wellington

The largest cities in New Zealand all have really different things to offer but while many backpackers flock to Queenstown, Welllington is known of the culture hub of New Zealand. It’s a creative hub – the world famous Weta Workshop is based here – with a gorgeous waterfront location. Te Papua Museum is well worth a visit and despite the notoriously bad weather, Cuba Street is a great indie haunt to explore.

See majestic Aoraki / Mount Cook on the horizon

If you take a road trip around the South Island of New Zealand, it’s pretty hard to miss seeing Mount Cook. New Zealand’s highest mountain dominates the landscape of the National Park and there are some stunning walks that you can do in the area. Whether you decide to walk the Hooker Valley track or take on a spectacular heli-hike, it’ll be an experience that you’ll never forget.

Enjoy all Wanaka has to offer

Wanaka is one of the most beautiful, laid back towns in New Zealand and honestly, I could have spent weeks here. It’s the kind of place where you can make it exactly what you want. You can relax, check out the cafes and shops surrounding the lake and head to the cutest cinema that sells homemade cookies in the interval. Or, you can go in the opposite with an adventure packed itinerary of hikes, kayaking and even skydiving! Either way, Wanaka is an unforgettable town that has embedded itself in the hearts of many – including me!

If you’ve ever been to New Zealand, what was your most unforgettable experience?

Laura x