Things to do in New Zealand
Milford Sound Tours18 optionsZiplining5 optionsDay Trips from Auckland12 optionsAuckland Harbor Cruise22 optionsAuckland Airport Shuttle11 optionsWaiheke Island Wine Tour15 optionsAuckland City Tour22 optionsWaitomo Caves Tours13 optionsQueenstown Wine Tour14 optionsWhite Water Rafting5 optionsWaiheke Island Tours13 optionsWaitomo Caves from Auckland11 options
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Arthur’s Pass: Day Tour from Lyttelton with Sheep Farm & GuideYou’ll travel from Lyttelton Port into New Zealand’s high country with a local guide, stopping at a working sheep farm for morning tea and a close-up look at sheepdogs in action. Explore Arthur’s Pass National Park and its alpine village before heading back — it’s those small moments (and maybe that mountain air) you’ll remember long after the trip.
Queenstown to Arrowtown E-Bike Ride with ShuttleThis e-bike activity in Arrowtown pairs a six to seven hour self-guided ride through the Arrow River Bridges Trail and Gibbston Wine Region with accommodation shuttle service from Queenstown and a Moustache e-bike with Bosch motor. The Bosch-powered motor removes the strain of climbing, so you set the pace through some of the most photographed scenery on the South Island, stop at wineries as long as you want, and let the shuttle handle the return. Pickup from your Queenstown accommodation is included; if you stay longer at the wineries, a small extra fee covers pickup from Gibbston instead of Arrowtown.Is it for me?Cruise Arrowtown's winery trails at your own pace with a shuttle from your accommodation and an e-bike that handles the climbs while you enjoy the scenery.
Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Christchurch City & Waipara Wine TourThis shore excursion from Lyttelton combines a morning tour of Christchurch with lunch and wine tastings at three wineries in the Waipara region, timed to match your cruise ship's disembarkation and return. The guide meets you at the port, handles all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and adjusts the start time to fit your ship's schedule. Lunch and tastings at Waipara Springs Winery and Cafe, Torlesse Wines, and a third boutique winery are included; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Book this if your ship docks at Lyttelton and you want to combine Christchurch's landmarks with Waipara wine tastings in one day—the timing is coordinated with your cruise schedule.
Auckland Dolphin, Whale & Island Cruise: Marine Wildlife ViewingThis marine wildlife cruise departs from Auckland Viaduct and searches the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park for dolphins, whales, seals and birdlife aboard a purpose-built vessel with expansive viewing decks. The tour includes a guided island stop at either Rotoroa Island—with 8km of walks and native wildlife—or Man O' War Vineyards on Waiheke Island (weekday and Friday departures only), plus live commentary on the region's volcanic history and Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki heritage. If no marine mammals are spotted, you return for free.Is it for me?Choose the 9:15am departure if you want both the wildlife search and an island stop to explore; the 11:30am weekend option works better if you prefer a shorter outing focused only on marine viewing, or if you're arriving late in the morning.
Private Martinborough Wine Tour: WSET Guide, Five WineriesA private wine tour of Martinborough with a WSET Level 3 qualified guide takes you to five boutique wineries over a full morning and afternoon, tasting flagship wines and exploring barrel rooms while learning each producer's story directly from their staff. The itinerary is customized ahead of time based on your wine interests, and lunch is included at one of three vineyard venues. Pickup is available from Wellington or Masterton; individuals are welcome with a small surcharge.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to taste strategically rather than hit every winery in town—the WSET-qualified guide and pre-tour customization mean you're not following a standard route, and the five stops are chosen to match what you actually came to learn about. Solo travelers are welcome; just note the small surcharge for individual bookings.
Auckland Walking Tour: History & Viaduct Harbour with Local GuideYou walk through Auckland's volcanic origins, colonial past and Māori heritage across Albert Park, Britomart and the Viaduct Harbour. The tour includes a local guide, a coffee break, and ends at the waterfront with harbour views. Small groups keep the pace relaxed and the conversation real. No need to arrange transport between stops or figure out which landmarks matter — it's all woven together for you.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to understand Auckland's story — from its volcanic origins through Māori heritage to colonial Britomart — without arranging your own transport or trying to figure out which stops matter. The small-group format and local guide are what make the backstreets and hidden details actually stick.
Queenstown: Omni VR Multiplayer Gaming with Motion ShoesYou put on motion-tracked shoes and a VR headset, then run through fully immersive gaming scenarios — zombie apocalypse, tactical missions, haunted environments — either solo or with friends using in-headset voice chat. All equipment is provided, and the experience works for anyone between 1.4 and 1.95 meters tall. Sessions run at Queenstown's first Omni VR station, accessible by public transport.Is it for me?Right for groups or friends who want a genuinely physical gaming experience that feels different from screen-based VR — the motion shoes are what make running inside the game actually work, which changes how immersive it feels.
Kerikeri historic tour Stone Store Mission Station with lunchA guided tour of Kerikeri's historic Mission Station, established in 1819, takes you through the Stone Store (1832, New Zealand's oldest stone building) and Kemp House (1821, the oldest wooden building), followed by Makana Chocolate Factory, Rainbow Falls and lunch with a glass of local wine at the Plough & Feather pub. The tour runs approximately 3 to 4 hours and includes transport by air-conditioned minivan, all entrance fees, lunch and beverages. A live English-speaking guide leads the group, and hotel pickup is included; children from age 13 are welcome.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a guide who speaks English throughout a 4-hour walk through New Zealand's oldest stone and wooden buildings—the Kerikeri Stone Store and Mission Station—rather than reading plaques on your own.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves & Zealong Tea: Private Tour + LunchYou’ll sip organic tea among misty fields at Zealong Estate, drift through Waitomo’s glowworm-lit caves in near-silence with a local guide, and watch shy kiwi birds shuffle under red lights at Otorohanga Kiwi House—all with lunch included and easy pickup from your hotel. It’s one of those days that lingers long after you’re back home.
Rotorua Day Trip From Auckland: Farm & Gondola with LunchYou're picked up from your Auckland accommodation and driven to Rotorua in a private Mercedes with a professional guide. You hand-feed farm animals and watch sheep shearing at the Agrodome, ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic lake and city views, then race down three luge tracks through a Redwood forest. Lunch at Stratosphere Restaurant overlooks Lake Rotorua. The driver handles all the logistics and timing, returning you to your starting point by evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want Rotorua's main attractions — farm, gondola, and luge — in a single day without arranging separate transport, tickets, or timing between stops; the private Mercedes and guide handle all the logistics, which is what makes it possible to fit three experiences into one outing from Auckland.
Auckland City Half Day Tour: Small Group, Top SightsA half-day small-group sightseeing tour of Auckland covering the Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, Devonport's heritage district, North Head Historic Reserve and Mount Eden, with a live English or Korean-speaking guide, private air-conditioned transport and hotel or cruise ship pickup included. Groups stay under 12 people, and the itinerary may adjust depending on cathedral access and tour timing.Is it for me?Pick this if you're arriving by cruise ship or based in central Auckland—the guide handles navigation and timing while you focus on the main sights, leaving your afternoon or morning free for other plans.
Waiheke Island Wine Tour: Three Vineyards & Beachfront LunchThis afternoon wine tour on Waiheke Island includes three tastings at boutique vineyards—one a must-visit small-lot producer, one the island's highest with panoramic views, and Mudbrick with its signature hand-picked wines and Rangitoto vistas—plus lunch at Ki Maha on Onetangi Beach with a glass of wine included. A live English-speaking guide leads the route and shares insider stories at a leisurely pace. Minimum age is 18; ferry tickets to the island are separate.Is it for me?Book this if you want the guide's full commentary and vineyard stories in English—essential for understanding what makes each tasting distinctive.
Auckland Harbour Cruise: Rangitoto & Sky Tower from WaterYou board a wooden vessel at Auckland's waterfront and cruise under the Harbour Bridge, past the working ports and the Maritime Museum, with Rangitoto Island and the Sky Tower as your constant landmarks. The 1.5-hour route includes live crew commentary, indoor and outdoor seating, and a licensed bar; you're not narrated to death, and you can move around freely. It's the kind of tour that works whether you're visiting the city for the first time or you live there and want to see it from a different angle.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Auckland's landmarks and working harbour from the water without arranging your own boat or spending a full day on a longer excursion — the fixed 1.5-hour route covers the main sights and gets you back to the city in time for the rest of your day.
Marlborough Sounds scenic flight from Picton: 20 minutes airborneA 40-minute scenic flight from Picton takes you over the inner Marlborough Sounds—Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Picton Sounds—with views extending to the Outer Sounds and Tory Channel. A live guide narrates the route in English, and pickup is included. Infants can sit on an adult's lap; the flight suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?This is a shared flight with a guide, so you're not piloting—you're watching and listening as the landscape passes below. It suits anyone with limited time in Picton who wants to see the full scale of the Sounds without a full-day boat trip, and it works for families with infants or anyone who prefers not to be on the water.
Auckland City Highlights Tour: Small Group, Hidden StoriesA full-day Auckland city tour with a small group (maximum 9 people) visiting Mount Eden, North Head Historic Reserve, Cornwall Park and the War Memorial Museum, plus Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Domain Park gardens. Your guide speaks English or Korean and picks you up from your CBD hotel. The pace lets you stand at viewpoints and absorb the place instead of rushing through a checklist.Is it for me?Pick this if you're based in a CBD hotel without a car—hotel pickup is included, so you start directly from your accommodation, and the maximum nine-person group keeps the pace unhurried at each stop.
Auckland City Tour & Kumeu Wine Country: 3 tastings with lunchA full-day tour of Auckland combining a morning city sightseeing loop with an afternoon wine experience in Kumeu Wine Country, including three tastings, lunch at a winery restaurant, and a stop at Muriwai Beach on the West Coast. The morning covers central Auckland neighborhoods and the Harbour Bridge; the afternoon moves to award-winning wineries in the Kumeu region with a maximum of 8 people for the wine portion. Live English-speaking guide, central city pickup and drop-off included.Is it for me?Book this if you want to combine Auckland's neighborhoods and harbor views with afternoon wine tastings at three wineries in one day—the morning city tour and fixed itinerary eliminate the need to coordinate separate activities.
Ski Tasman Glacier: 45-Minute Plane & Glacier LandingYou board a 9-seat ski plane, fly 45 minutes through the Southern Alps with live commentary, and land on the Tasman Glacier — New Zealand's largest. The flight includes the takeoff, the glacier landing, and the descent back to the airfield. Expect weather-dependent scheduling and a four-person minimum for the flight to run.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want the high-altitude views of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park without a full-day trek, and who don't mind the weather risk that comes with mountain flying. The 45 minutes in the air is short enough to fit into a day of other activities, but long enough to see the whole glacier and the Southern Alps from above.
Private Waiheke Wine Tour: Three vineyards with lunchA private guided wine tour of Waiheke Island visits three of the island's top vineyards for premium tastings, includes a two-course lunch with a glass of wine at a local restaurant, and covers transport by private vehicle with live commentary on the island's history and culture. Minimum two people per booking; minimum age 18 for wine tasting; ferry tickets purchased separately at Fullers Ferry Terminal.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to taste Waiheke's wines without arranging three separate vineyard visits or managing your own transport—the private vehicle, the guide and the fixed itinerary mean the day stays relaxed and you stay focused on what you're tasting.
Akaroa: Harbour tour & Giants House with local guideYou’ll ride along Akaroa Harbour’s crater rim with a local guide sharing stories, sample fresh cheese at Barry’s Bay, and explore the whimsical Giants House gardens and mosaics. With pickup from Akaroa Wharf included, it’s an easy way to see what makes this corner of New Zealand so quietly memorable.
Christchurch Highlights Half Day Tour: Gardens & WildlifeA half-day guided tour of Christchurch covering four key stops: Cashmere for panoramic city views, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve with native species and guaranteed kiwi sightings, the Cardboard Cathedral designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, and the 52-acre Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Your guide drives and narrates the route, with pickup included and the vehicle air-conditioned throughout.Is it for me?This is a shared tour with a guide driving the route, so you're not navigating between sites or managing transport yourself — it suits anyone wanting to see the main highlights in a single morning without the logistics. If you prefer to linger at one stop or set your own pace, a self-guided option or private tour would work better, but the fixed itinerary is what keeps four distinct attractions inside four hours.
