Stunning NZ Scenery

Undeniably New Zealand is one of the most picturesque countries in the world and there are so many stunning places to visit to admire the scenery. Plan a road trip to these locations for amazing displays and plenty of photo opportunities.

NORTH ISLAND

Whakarewarewa Forest (The Redwoods), Rotorua

This 55,000ha forest is most famous for the system of superb mountain biking and walking tracks and for the giant and magnificent Californian Coast Redwood trees from the northwest coast of America. Located just 10 minutes from the city get amongst stunning cool fresh forest air passing through New Zealand’s famous silver fern and native bush undergrowth. The shade of the huge trees above provide a cool environment to exercise, or simply admire the stunning surroundings.

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula

Accessible only on foot or by boat, famous Cathedral Cove is one of the “must visit” sites on the Coromandel Peninsula. The track begins at the northern end of Hahei. Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, Te Whanganui- A-Hei, covers 9 square kilometres and is New Zealand’s sixth marine reserve. This site was chosen for a marine reserve because of the rich and varied habitats associated with the coastline and outlying islands. Reefs of hard rock, soft sediments, intricate caves and underwater arches provide homes for complex communities of plants, crustaceans, molluscs and fish. Sheltered from the worst of the southerly winds Te Whanganui-A-Hei gives visitors an opportunity to learn from and enjoy an unspoilt marine environment.

Cape Reinga, Northland

Cape Reinga, at the northernmost tip of New Zealand where the Pacific and Tasman Sea meet, is a popular tourist attraction. Nearby Spirits Bay is also popular. Cape Reinga is located over 100 km north of the nearest small town of Kaitaia. The name of the cape comes from the Maori word ‘Reinga’, meaning the ‘Underworld’. Another Maori name is ‘Te Rerenga Wairua’, meaning the leaping-off place of spirits. Both refer to the Maori belief that the cape is the point where the spirits of the dead enter the underworld. The ligthhouse at Cape Reinga was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year, replacing a lighthouse located on nearby Motuopao Island, which had been built 1879. In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn. The previous 1000 watt light has since been replaced with a 50 watt flashing beacon.

Tongariro National Park, Ruapehu District

Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, and the 4th national park established in the world. The active volcanic mountains Mt Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park providing a stunning backdrop. The park includes many towns around its boundary including Ohakune, Waiouru, National Park Village, Whakapapa & Turoa Skifield and Turangi. The main activities are hiking and climbing in summer, and skiing and snowboarding at the local ski resorts on Mt Ruapehu . There is also opportunities for hunting, game fishing, mountain biking, e-biking, rafting and scenic flights. These surroundings are one of the several locations where Peter Jackson shot the Lord of the Rings trilogy; tours to view these places are commonly arranged by the tour’s operators and lodges. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the park is one of New Zealand’s most spectacular tramping tracks, and is considered the most popular one day tramp in New Zealand. The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and Maori cultural significance.

SOUTH ISLAND

Mackenzie District

Dominated by the peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest this region is renowned for its clear starry nights, beautiful sunny days, remarkable turquoise blue lakes, valleys of emerald green and snow-capped mountains. The Aoraki Mt Cook National Park is home to many of New Zealand’s native plants and animals – more distinctly the Mt Cook Lily (the world’s largest buttercup) and the Kea, our native mountain parrot.

The Catlins, Southland

The Catlins region, at the extreme south-east of the South Island, is an area of outstanding natural beauty and wildlife. Two often-visited coastal features of geological interest are the 160 million year old petrified forest at Curio Bay, and the nearby Cathedral Caves. Much of the coast is bounded by high cliffs, which cause rivers to cascade in waterfalls, such as the spectacular Purakaunui Falls, to reach the sea. The Catlins Forest Park is the largest remaining area of podocarp forest on the east coast of the South Island. It is home to a great variety of bird and reptile life, including rare bird species such as the kakariki and yellowhead, the Southern Forest Gecko, and the native long-tailed bat.

Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

New Zealand’s longest lake at over 80 kilometres long this stunning lake is located in the centre of Queenstown. Lake Wakatipu is renowned for its picturesque beauty, as it is surrounded by 2 mountain ranges, the Remarkables and the Hector Mountains along its southeastern edge. Frankton Beach offers the perfect spot to enjoy a sunset in Queenstown at the northeast end of Lake Wakatipu.

Milford Sound, Fiordland

Milford Sound is a glacier-carved fjord surrounded by sheer mountain peaks that rise up to 1500 m above the water. It is ranked as one of the best tourist destinations in the world for its majestic, unspoiled scenery. Mitre Peak, Milford Sound’s most famous landmark, rises over 2,000 feet above the water in an almost perfect cone shape. Other peaks with sheer rock faces rise 4-5,000 feet. Two large, permanent waterfalls plunge from mountain faces into the Sound. During periods of wet weather, hundreds of temporary waterfalls form an entrancing display of cascades.

Glenorchy, Fiordland

Glenorchy, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, is accessible from Queenstown, at its southern end, by boat or road (approx 40 minutes’ scenic drive). Noted for its unspoiled alpine scenery, Glenorchy came to recent fame as a location in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. It has also featured in the films Vertical Limit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Glenorchy gives access to several of New Zealand’s premier hiking trails, notably the Routeburn Walk, Dart River and Greenstone River trails.

Lake Matheson, Fox Glacier, West Coast

Lake Matheson is nestled in ancient forest and is famous for mirror views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Enjoy an easy 2.6 km walk on a very good bush track with lots of great viewing platforms and birdsong along the way. At the beginning of this stunning walk, enjoy great food and views at the Matheson Café. The best time to for photo opportunities of the lake is dawn and dusk when there is little breeze.