7 Amazing Adventures you need on your NZ Bucket List

Everyone should have a bucket list. Don’t have one yet? Now’s the perfect time to get started. We’ve rounded up 7 of the most unique New Zealand items you’ll want to add to your ultimate bucket list.

Let’s check them out.

1. See the 8th Wonder of the world: Milford Sound

Hobbiton

Each year more than 1 million visitors come to marvel at Milford Sound’s beauty, so naturally we had to include it as our number one bucket list item. The bus ride in is worth the trip alone, especially the stunning Mirror Lakes. These lakes have a mesmerising shimmer and reflect the surrounding mountain ranges in natural high definition. But the real showstopper is Milford Sound itself (technically it’s a fiord, but we do things differently here).

Its vast expanse of crystal-clear water gives way to sheer cliffs, forest-lined banks and dramatic mountain faces. It’s a truly breathtaking sight and one that will be etched in your memory forever. If you’re lucky enough to visit after rainfall, you’ll see some of the most beautiful waterfalls anywhere in the world.

2. Take a trip to Hobbiton

Tolkien fans may already have this one to their bucket list, but we think Hobbiton is worth the trip whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fan or not. After all, few people can claim to have visited the set of one of the most famous movies of all time. Hobbiton is a 12-acre wonderland complete with iconic locations like the Green Dragon inn, Bag-End and the Shire’s Rest. If you’re a hardcore Tolkien nerd or just love movies, don’t be scared to fire out some choice quotes as you explore Hobbiton’s green rolling banks. You’re going on an adventure!

3. Experience an All Blacks game

You’ve no doubt heard of New Zealand’s most famous export, and no it’s not lamb or dairy products; it’s our national rugby team—the All Blacks. The “men in black” recently announced their home-game schedule for 2020, and they’ll be playing in stadiums around NZ across July, August and September 2020. Get yourself a ticket to see the spine-tingling haka live in person, and watch rugby at its finest.

4. See the lights at Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

Maori Culture in Rotorua

The bright lights of New Zealand aren’t found in the city, they’re in caves, deep underground in the small country town of Waitomo. Here, the caves are lined with thousands of glow worms which put out a spectacular blue-green glow. Wander through the caves or take a relaxed boat ride through the underground river with the glow worms above. There’s a real sense of magic here, and we consider it an unmissable stop on any North Island trip.

5. Visit the epicentre of Māori culture and Geothermal activity: Rotorua

Add some true Kiwi culture to your bucket list with a visit to Rotorua. This city in the North Island is a stronghold of Māori tradition, where you can learn the art of Haka (war dance), Hāngi (a traditional cooking method where food is buried in sacks and cooked over hot rocks), Tā Moko (Māori tattoo), and much more. You can also see the iconic geysers and bubbling mud pools while in Rotorua.

6. Whale Watch in Kaikoura

A Queenstown Wine Tour

The small seaside town of Kaikoura is world-famous for whale watching. Here, you can see many different species of whales in Kaikoura’s unusually deep waters; Orca, Right whales, Humpback whales and if you’re lucky, the largest animal ever to live—the Blue whale. Kaikoura is also one of the only places anywhere in the world you can see Sperm whales all year round.

7. Taste NZ’s best wines on a wine tour

We think it’d be a waste for any foodie or wine lover to visit our shores and not go on a wine tour. It’s convenient too, as New Zealand’s top wine regions are dotted around both islands, so wherever you are, you’re never far from some top-notch Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris. Gibbston Valley, Hawke’s Bay, Martinborough and Marlborough—these are the place names you need to add to your wine bucket list.

That’s a Wrap!

These are just some of the best experiences New Zealand has to offer—there are many more. Contact us today to learn more, and tick off your bucket list with us!