27 Ridiculously Cool Photos of New Zealand

Make Way for Kiwis

Kiwi safety is of utmost importance to New Zealanders! The flightless birds, native to New Zealand, can be found on both the North and South islands.

This Southern Fur Seal Is So Cute

This sleepy seal is napping in the tiny town of Kaikoura on the South Island. Kaikoura is a popular tourist spot for watching whales, swimming with dolphins, and spying a large colony of southern fur seals.

New Zealand Shows Off Its Mussels

Green-lipped mussels are one of New Zealand's biggest exports. They're also one of its tastiest. The bivalves are best eaten sauteed, steamed, roasted, baked, grilled, or raw—so, really, any which way you like!

Explore the Wonders of Cathedral Cove

Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, or Cathedral Cove, is home to this towering stone behemoth just offshore. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit its beaches, cove, and snorkeling trail each year.

Up Close with Maori Culture

Whakairo, or the Maori art of carving, can be found in Rotorua, still a stronghold for the traditional arts of the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand.

Sheep. Sheep Everywhere.

This scene is so quintessentially New Zealand that the only thing it's missing is a hobbit or two. But what it lacks in hobbits it makes up for in sheep: In 2012, the government estimated a human population of 3 million and a sheep population of about 60 million.

Lovely Lupines on Lake Tekapo

The brightly hued wild lupines along turquoise Lake Tekapo are some of New Zealand's most iconic sights. Travelers come to Lake Tekapo to cycle its shores, soak in its hot pools, or stargaze at night.

This Bird Wants to Eat Your Dinner

Oystercatchers breed on New Zealand's rocky beaches and sand dunes, nibbling on the mussels and cockles also favored by tourists.

Night Life Worth Traveling For

The bustling resort town and city of Queenstown is surrounded by mountains, where extreme adventurers find much to do, but there is also plenty of nightlife to be found in the metropolis when the sun goes down.

Tramp Through New Zealand

Tongariro National Park and its scenic Tongariro Alpine Crossing are the perfect places for "tramping," a uniquely New Zealand adventure activity that involves long hikes, overnight stops, and beautiful surroundings.

Diving the Pristine Poor Knights Islands

The Poor Knights are a collection of protected islands and marine reserves just off the coast of New Zealand's North Island that are known for their biodiverse dive sites. Fish and coral can be found among the drop-offs, arches, tunnels, and caves.

Arts in Akaroa

This region of New Zealand is known for its wide-open spaces and laid-back, artsy vibe. A community of local artisans and funky French-flavored villages make it a charming getaway from bustling cities and extreme sports.

These Guys

New Zealand's national rugby union team, the All Blacks, perform a haka, a traditional ancestral dance or war cry.

A Bird's-Eye View of Queenstown

Paragliders take to the sky over Queenstown. With amazing mountains in the near distance and an expanse of blue lake below, paragliding is a unique way to experience New Zealand from above.

A Garden City

More than a million visitors venture to the botanical gardens in Christchurch each year, giving this South Island spot its "Garden City" moniker. Best of all, admission to the gardens is free.

See the Sights and Sets of Middle-earth

Speaking of hobbits, discovering Middle-earth is a novel stop on any New Zealand route. Embark on one of the numerous tours of the bucolic movie sets made famous by Peter Jackson in his The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hot Springs Fueled by the Ring of Fire

Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Rim of Fire, which gives the area its distinctive hot springs, sprouting geysers, and boiling mud pits. Many visitors take soaks in the naturally heated mineral pools.

Waiheke Is a Vintner's Paradise

With its hot, dry summers, Waiheke is a vintner's paradise known for big red wines like Merlot, Cabernet, and Malbec. Travelers come from all over the world to sip wine at almost two dozen award-winning wineries.

This Watery Wonder

Rudyard Kipling famously called Milford Sound "the eighth wonder of the world." The vast glaciers and rocky landscape (not to mention the resident dolphins and penguins) are perfectly viewed from a boat.

Bungee Jumping Off This Bridge

Naturally, bungee jumping was born in adventure-crazy New Zealand. In fact, the Kawarau Bridge (pictured) is where it all started. It's still the jumping-off point (literally) for countless divers looking to plunge 154 feet toward Earth.

A Bit of Bioluminescence

Two visitors take in the wonder of Waitomo and the light show provided by its native glowworms. Thousands of the little Arachnocampa luminosa light the way on a guided boat tour of the caves' historical and geological significance.

Glacial Lakes and Mountain Climbing

A traveler takes in views of Mt. Cook and glacial Lake Pukaki. Rising 12,218 feet above sea level, Mt. Cook is a popular challenge for mountain climbers.

Glacial Pace

Amid the lush vegetation of a temperate rainforest, you'll find the Franz Josef Glacier. A helicopter can drop you off for a quick hike of its icefall and through its frozen tunnels.

Navigating the Northernmost Points

At the northern end of the North Island, this lighthouse marks the point at which the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. The Maori believed it is here that souls of the dead enter the underworld.

Just a 120-Day Hike

Tramping tracks can be found all over New Zealand. Some journeys take just a handful of days with overnight stops, while the complete Te Araroa Trail, which includes both the North and South island, takes about 120 days.

See This Sunrise on Lake Wakatipu

The sun rises on Lake Wakatipu, one of New Zealand's longest, deepest, and most famous lakes. The BBC murder mystery Top of the Lake was filmed here, and the watery expanse has even played the part of Loch Ness in a movie.

Auckland Is Awesome

The largest city in New Zealand is filled with streets as steep as those in San Francisco, a Sky Tower to rival Seattle's Space Needle, and enough wine from nearby Waiheke Island to make Napa blush.

You Might Also Like:

• 10 Best Places to Go in New Zealand
• How to Do New Zealand's North and South Islands in Two Weeks
• New Zealand's Best Food and Wine

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