In New Zealand, it gives a lot to experience. I could list hundreds of beautiful places. But here you will find my top 10 and some more.

Abel-Tasman-National park:

You can only explore the Abel-Tasman-National park by feed, from the sea with a boat taxi or with the kayak. It is possible to camp in Manau where you can also rent kayaks and use as a start point for long hikes. It is stunning to go to skydive in Motueka where you have the best and beautyful view of the whole national park.

Queenstown:

Queenstown is the Interlaken (in Switzerland) from New Zealand. It gives a lot of action and everywhere beautyful places to see. The city them self is nice, direct on the lake and you can go out or have a nice dinner. Paragliding, bungee jumping, zip line, hiking or just walk along the lake is just next to you. From Queenstown, you can do a lot of tours and trips as for example go to Milford Sound or for horse riding to Glenorchy.

Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook:

A landscape straight out of a picture-book. You can camp direct on the Lake Pukaki with a stunning view to the Mount Cook. The water of the glacier is refreshing but with the view to the mountains a nice swim. Around the Mound Cook it is good for hiking or short walks. You can check in the tourist office the routes and the conditions for the hike.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing:

The hike to Mordor starts. To climb up the mountain was hard and it costs me quite an effort. The challenge was not the length of the hike; it was my fear of high. But it is worth it and we were rewarded with a breath-taking view. The hike between the volcanos was stunning and even though the last 3km were a torture, we’ve done in 7,5 hours including lunch and breaks the 19,4 km.

Wellington:

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. For me the city was adorable and we could explore Wellington over weeks. A walk up to Mount Victoria is rewarded with a beautyful view over Wellington. On the harbour and along the Oriental Bay you can go with a bycicle, go for a swim in the sea and you can find a lot of restaurants and bars as well a jump from a diving platform into the water. The De Papa Museum offers different themes with a good an interesting insight on the history, culture and environment of NewZealand.

Arthurs Pass:

The panoramic view and the view on the viaduct of Arthurs Pass is beautyful. On The pass you can see and hear some Kea’s. On the Rakaia Gorge River, it gives a beautyful camp site with view on the blue river as well a little walk to go for a swim there.

Glenorchy and horse riding in Paradise:

On the River Wild Tour, you have a horse ride through rivers with a mountain panoramic view in the background. Just gorgeous and it is worth it. The same stable offers also a horse riding tour in Paradise. There you can only go on food or on a back of a horse. The place is not only called Paradise, with the beech forest, the wide green fields, rivers and the mountains it is a feeling to be in a paradise. This place was also a film location for many of famous movies like lord of the rings, Hobbit, Narnia, Wolverine and so on.

Cathedral Cove by Coromandel:

Hahei on the Cathedral Cove is a lovely small village direct on the sea. From a parking space above Hahei you can walk to the Cathedral Cove. The walk them self is worth it and will get reward on the beach by this stone building with a nice view.

Lake Wanaka:

The Lake Wanaka has a beautyful landscape. The city Wanaka is small but a good starting point to discover the Mount Aspiring national park or to go to the Diamond Lake. On the Diamond Lake, you can walk on a great view point with an awesome view to Lake Wanaka.

Franz Josef Glacier:

It is fascinating to see a glacier from close. By the Franz Josef Glacier do you have a good look how it was going back. You have the possibility to do a tour on the glacier with a helicopter or simly walk close to it. It is stunning to walk through the rainforest and then close to the glacier. On the village Franz Josef you can also go insight hot pools where you can enjoy the water.

And while I can’t help doing it, here some additional recommended sights:

• Waitamo Tubing in Caves:
  To go and swim with a tube trough the caves a see the glow worms. Fantastic.
• Auckland:
  Nice city. A visit on the Skytower worth it.
• Pancake Rock:
  Special stone building to walk along on the sea.
• Cape Reinga:
  Norths point from New Zealand and close to the beautyful 90 miles’ beach. Stunning view.
• Matamata Hobbingen:
  The Shire. You feel yourself like in another world. Specially if you go after the tour for a beer in the Green Dragon.
• Stones from Moaraki:
  Round stones insight the sea. Charming on high- as well on low tide. Close to it you can watch for Penguins and Seals.
• Nugget Point:
  View point with a lighthouse on the sea. With some luck, you can see seals playing in the water.
• Rotorua:
  Lovely town, a mountain to experience and the geothermic park Wai-O-Tapo. If you like, you can meet the Maori culture.
• Shipwreck Bay und Blue Pools:
  South Island on the way from Lake Wanaka to Franz Josef. A bit hitting but worth seeing.
• Millfort Sound:
  Mystic mountains in a fiord with mist is really special. On a boat tour, you see waterfalls and seals really close.
• Lake Manapouri:
  In the morning, we walked a little bit on the Lake Manapouri and gaze the mountain view.
• Christchurch:
  Special city with a special mood. You can feel the continuing effect of the earthquake on February 22, 2011. But the city is rising. You can go shopping in ReStart (shops in Containers), walk to the botanic garden or eat in one of the many restaurants. Also, the memorial from the earthquake is good to see.