Travelogues New Zealand
4.0K Travel reports · 265 travel bloggers · 62.7K photos · Best time to travel: January & February · Create a travel blog · About Vakantio
Vacation in New Zealand : Highlights & Travel Tips
New Zealand is a dream destination for travelers who want dramatic scenery, outdoor adventure, and a relaxed, welcoming culture all in one trip. From snow-capped mountains and turquoise lakes to wild coastlines, geothermal valleys, and rolling green countryside, the country packs remarkable variety into two main islands. What makes it especially memorable is how accessible these landscapes feel: in a single itinerary, you can hike through alpine national parks, sip world-class wine, explore Māori cultural experiences, and unwind in small towns known for their friendliness and fresh local food.
Key highlights include Milford Sound and Fiordland for unforgettable fjord views, Queenstown for adventure sports, Rotorua for geothermal activity and cultural performances, and Auckland or Wellington for urban dining and arts. Many travelers also love driving the South Island for its cinematic scenery, including Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and the West Coast glaciers. For practical planning, renting a car or campervan offers the most flexibility, but distances can be longer than they appear on a map, so avoid overpacking your schedule. Weather can change quickly, especially in alpine areas, so layers and waterproof gear are essential year-round, and booking accommodations and transport well ahead is wise during the peak summer season.
Popular travel destinations New Zealand
Best time to travel New Zealand
The best time to visit New Zealand is during January and February, when travel popularity peaks and conditions are ideal for road trips, hiking, sightseeing, and enjoying the country’s beaches, cities, and outdoor experiences. December and March are also excellent choices, offering warm weather with slightly fewer crowds than the height of summer.
All travel reports from New Zealand
Queenstown where the bear dances and the wonderful Milford Sound
After a delicious scrambled egg breakfast (I love scrambled eggs and fried eggs 😛), we made our way to Queenstown, the next city we want to explore and from where we want to...
Windows Screensaver, Fireflies, Hobbits, and Rotorua (- you stink)...
The first night with Jason was surprisingly good and we wake up quite refreshed with the sunrise early in the morning with full enthusiasm to explore the area. The first stop...
In the far north
After a clarifying breakfast dispute (after 11 weeks, it can happen) and a look at the weather app, we decided to drive to Cape Reinga. The northernmost point of New Zealand....
Border crossing
After another too short night, we hear the mountains calling today. Carsten has chosen the Ben Lomond Track. 1400 meters of altitude to the summit. My enthusiasm was limited....
From Queenstown to Milford Sound
I posted my last update...
NEW ZEALAND
Who would have thought! After exactly 7 months of planning and preparing for my trip to the other end of the world and countless moments where I thought to myself: My departure?...
Mal ganz spontan nach Whangarei Heads
The morning started so calmly - awakened by the pattering of rain on the skylight, the bathrooms were still empty and clean, and the coffee didn't taste too bad. I was just...
Cape Reinga Day Trip
Kauri Forest
Finally out of the city
Rangitoto Island
Arrival in Auckland & Waiheke Island
Auckland is a pretty cute city, at least compared to the big cities in Europe. You could already tell that at the airport. Unlike the one in Frankfurt or Hong Kong, the one in...
Queenstown's Winter Festival: Dog races in the snow, heli bungee jumps, and lots of music
Queenstown, oh Queenstown! Here, friends of extreme sports can find new challenges every day, and everyone else will find plenty to do in this city surrounded by mountains....
12/07/2018 - The largest national park on the North Island
The morning in 'Bay View' started with a hot shower - who knows when we will have the chance again? ;) A German backpacker joined us in the kitchen for breakfast. In two weeks,...
Arrival in New Zealand and our way to our own car
After almost three weeks, we have finally arrived in New Zealand, approximately 18,273 km away from our starting point. The flight here was short and very turbulent, much to...
Welcoming joy in Neuland, off to the West Coast and much more
How I finally met my parents again, why we were in Dunedin, and how we spent the last time on the South Island
Day 12 - 15: Gisborne double shot or a slightly different birthday party
15.02.18 - 22.02.18: Mahia - Gisborne - Tolaga Bay - Gisborne - Wairata We climbed the hill, lost our condition along the way, and admired a great sunset. Sunset Hawkes Bay ...
In the middle of nowhere: Fox Glacier or kiwis and fireflies
The cities in New Zealand are, with very few exceptions, quite small. But even that is too much to say when it comes to Fox Glacier. This place consists basically of only one...
27.-31.1.2018: Multi-day hike on the Queen Charlotte Track
Day 1: Ship Cove - Endeavour Inlet (15 km, 4 hours 45 minutes including breaks) The alarm clock rings at 6:30 am, but I am already awake for quite some time due to my early...
Wanaka - We did it
Tekapo is small, quite nice.. the lake is not as beautiful as Lake Pukaki. The little church by the shore of Lake Tekapo is quite beautiful, if it wasn't for all the...
The bone of contention
Earlier than expected, we come back with new adventures. We had signed out for 30 days to advance 450km from St. Arnaud to Lake Tekapo in the south. But it only worked for 3...
What can happen in a month
When work is fun
Christmas in Napier, New Zealand
December 23, 2017 Christmas is just around the corner. We decided to spend the holidays in a bigger city, so we headed to Napier, which is 150 km away. We left Taupo around...
If you paddle a canoe into a tree, you do a somersault
A pre-Christmas hello from us to all bloggers. Time for news. A good time, as the festive season is a time of peace and contemplation😉. The last few days were quite...
At peaceful lakes, in exciting forests and hot baths
We have thought long and hard about whether it is right to write these lines. But it is part of our journey and has shaped this section of the journey. When our first photo for...
Haea Northland - Hello Coromandel
Time flies, it's unbelievable! On Sunday you will celebrate the 1st Advent. Obviously it is quite cold and uncomfortable at home, so we will try to get you in the mood for the...
Sulfur smell and gravel rash! - Rotorua
23/11 - 26/11 From Turangi, it is not even a two-hour drive to Rotorua, our next stop. However, since we could only check in at the next accommodation in the afternoon, we...
The journey to Dunedin (5-day road trip)
As announced in the previous reports, we continued our journey to Dunedin. We were both looking forward to our host families (although I had already seen mine) and our van had...
Swimming with Dolphins! - Kaikoura
13/11 - 15/11 Before the trip, we both thought about what things we wanted to do in the 6 months. Originally, my bucket list included 'diving with whales'. Since I can't dive...
In the Hotel of Curiosities! - Arthur's Pass
11/11 - 13/11 We had one last destination in the New Zealand Alps. Christchurch on the east coast and Greymouth on the west coast are connected by a road that cuts through the...
Life on the West Coast - three days between sea and bush
Hello dear readers! First of all, I apologize for the big gap between the last blog posts. We have been on the South Island for a few days now, but the internet here is very...
Adventure Great Walk - The Abel Tasman Coastal Walk
Hello dear ones, As promised, today I will tell you everything about my experiences with the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk. First of all, I want to say that I can cross off one thing...