A distant country at the end of the world, New Zealand is not the most popular destination for Russian tourists. Only a flight can take more than a day of clean time, and this pleasure cannot be called cheap either. And yet, the foot of a compatriot periodically steps on the distant islands. The answer to the question of what to see in New Zealand is sought by fans of diving and ecotourism, lovers of hiking in green valleys and fans of extreme entertainment such as bungee jumping and sky diving. Several years ago, New Zealand became a Mecca for JRR Tolkien's admirers, because films about hobbits based on the books of the famous Englishman were filmed here.
TOP 15 attractions in New Zealand
Hobbiton
The filming location of "The Lord of the Rings" made the New Zealand farm "Alexander" famous all over the world. Its surroundings were chosen by the director of the future trilogy for the construction of a hobbit village. As a result, four dozen fairytale houses, streets and a pub, a mill and a bridge appeared on the site of the farm.
Tour buses bring about three hundred people to Hobbiton every day. In the village you can walk along the streets, have a drink in the Green Dragon pub and feed the little lambs.
The nearest town is Matamata. From Auckland –2 hours by car.
Tour price: from 30 euros from Matamat.
Sky tower
The Auckland TV Tower is the tallest structure in New Zealand. What to see from a height of 328 meters? On the picturesque surroundings of the city: two mountain ranges, three sea bays and almost fifty volcanoes located on the Oakland volcanic field. A bird's eye view of the Manukau Bridge, which runs the road from the international airport, and the Auckland Bridge in the city's business district.
The Sky Tower looks picturesque on New Year's Eve. It serves as a platform for launching fireworks.
Ticket price: 18 euros.
Milford Sound
All tourists strive to see the famous fjord in New Zealand. It is called the Eighth Wonder of the World due to the harmonious combination of rocky shores and lush vegetation. In these places, a person begins to feel complete unity with nature. The animals and birds found on the shores of Milford Sound are remarkable for their amazing appearance, and the ecosystem of the region is unique due to the special microclimate.
Useful details:
- The fjord is located in the Fiordland National Park.
- Its length is 19 km, its depth reaches 500 meters.
- About 7000 mm of precipitation falls annually in the fjord area. Milford Sound is one of the wettest places on the planet.
Fiordland Park is located in the southwest of the South Island.
Available: fishing, diving, kayaking.
Mount cook
Mount Cook National Park was formed in 1957. Almost half of its territory is occupied by glaciers, and the most famous of them is the Tasman Glacier. It periodically thaws, due to which the lake of the same name was formed. It is interesting for its relief: the southern part of the reservoir is much lower than the northern one, and the width and length do not have constant values. New parts of the glacier regularly collapse into the waters of the lake.
The star of the local flora is the Mount Cook buttercup, which has 40-centimeter leaves in diameter and flowers up to 8 centimeters in size. It is the largest member of its family in the world.
Available: deer hunting with special permits.
Catlins
Catlins Forest Park in the east of the Southlands is popular with nature explorers and surfers. The park is full of New Zealand attractions and attractions to see:
- McLean Falls are formed by ledges and terraces, and the depth of the pools below them reaches 20 meters.
- The Cathedral Caves occupy a worthy place in the list of the longest sea caves in the world. The height of the vaults reaches 30 meters, and the caves become accessible only after low tide.
- The petrified forest in Cario Bay is another local attraction. Tree trunks are exposed at low tide, and you can look at the rare yellow penguins at any time of the day.
A particularly photogenic attraction of the park is the Nugget Point Lighthouse, built at the end of the 19th century and towering 76 meters.
Taupo
In the center of the North Island, a lake has formed in the crater of a volcano, from which New Zealand's largest river flows. You can easily look at the largest lake in the country and even catch rainbow trout there, because the banks of the Taupo are ideally ready to meet tourists. Infrastructure includes caravan parks, barbecues and other “amenities” that look fantastic at the edge of the world.
Taupo area - about 600 sq. km, and the greatest depth is up to 160 meters.
The largest settlement nearby is the city of Hamilton.
Hook Falls
Cascade of waterfalls on the Waikato River is a famous and very beautiful natural landmark in New Zealand. The falls are located in the Wairakei National Park. The sharp narrowing of the river at this point leads to the formation of a rapid stream rushing through the gorge, whose width is barely 15 meters. As a result, a beautiful canyon was formed, in several places of which the water falls down with ledges.
For a convenient view, the canyon shores are equipped with observation bridges and platforms. The 11-meter ledge looks especially picturesque.
For the most extreme travelers, rafting down the river is organized, the rest are content with photographs.
The nearest town is Taupo.
Wai-O-Tapu
The volcanic zone on the North Island is not called a thermal miracle for nothing. On an area of 3 sq. km here everything boils, boils, erupts, splashes out and shoots out columns of steam, mud and hot water.
The most popular sites in the reserve are the Champagne Pool and Lady Knox. The first is a lake with a huge number of bubbles. The second is a geyser that can erupt within an hour. The 20-meter pole can be seen daily at 10.15 am.
How to get there: by tour bus to the city of Rotorua or by car from Auckland along the Thermal Explorer Highway (approx. 200 km).
Ticket price: about 20 euros.
Wakatipu
The deepest and longest lake in New Zealand, Wakatipu on the South Island is of glacial origin. During the day, the water level in the lake varies greatly and this unique phenomenon is interpreted by science and local residents in their own way. Scientists believe that the reason lies in fluctuations in pressure and temperature, and the Maori believe that the water recedes and rushes due to the beating of the heart of a giant lying at the bottom.
Modern tourists are engaged in active tourism on Wakatipu. They practice kayaking, hiking around the lake, or cycling trails.
The largest city on the coast is Queenstown.
Natural History Museum
A museum with a strange Russian ear called Te Papa Tongareva is located in Wellington. The name is translated from the Maori language as "the place where the treasures of this land lie."
The exposition presents several natural science collections, including a collection of skeletons and stuffed animals of 70 thousand specimens of New Zealand birds. The exhibition "From the Mountains to the Sea" is very informative, where samples of the country's fauna are presented - from tiny insects to a huge blue whale.
Part of the exposition is devoted to the ancient culture of the peoples inhabiting the islands and the history of colonization of New Zealand.
The entrance is free.
Pataka Museum
The Art Gallery in the capital of New Zealand acquaints visitors with the country's cultural heritage and the work of the indigenous population and modern descendants of the colonialists. The museum houses an art gallery, a music museum, a city library, a Japanese rock garden and a cafe.
The Maori art exhibit provides an insight into the culture and history of indigenous peoples and is of greatest interest to foreign tourists.
Free admission.
Wellington Botanical Garden
You can get acquainted with the flora of the subtropics, admire hundreds of blooming rose bushes, see the twinkling lights of fireflies in the evening and feed domestic ducks in the Wellington Botanical Garden. On the territory of 25 hectares, various exhibitions are regularly held, famous botanists and gardeners give lectures, and in the summer there are also concerts of classical music in the open air.
You will find a garden on the hill between Thorndon and Kelburn.
To get there: by cable car.
Free admission.
Wellington zoo
New Zealand's oldest park, Wellington Zoo has been in continuous operation since 1906. The pavilions are grouped according to the regions of habitation of the animals represented in them. You will meet representatives of the fauna of the African savannah, get acquainted with the inhabitants of the monkey islands and get an idea of local endemics, for example, about New Zealand night kiwi.
To get there: bus. N 10 and 23, ost. Zoo.
Ticket price: 12 euros.
Bay of butterflies
Butterfly Cove is New Zealand's most beautiful landmark where you can look out over the ocean and enjoy the sandy Northland Beach. But the main thing is why tourists come here - about 30 species of tropical butterflies of different shapes, colors and sizes living in the bay.
Active tourists can go diving, kayaking, golf, horse riding and fishing.
How to get there: by Air New Zeland planes to Kerikeri, then by rented car along State Highway 10.
Auckland Antarctic Center
The Auckland Aquarium is the first in the world to create underwater tunnels for observing the inhabitants.
The main characters of the center are penguins, whose life is clearly visible through the glass. One of the halls is inhabited by a huge stingray, whose wingspan reaches two meters.
The Kelly Tarlton Center is considered the best in the world in terms of Antarctic wildlife.
Ticket price: 24 euros.
