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
Napier - a wet delight
Hello dear ones, On Sunday (08.10) we set off from Taupo towards Napier. Unfortunately, it rained incessantly all day, so we arrived in Napier already at noon. We had our lunch...
Christchurch - 185 empty chairs ...
...to honor the 185 victims of the earthquake on 22.02.2011, I can probably best describe the city of Christchurch. A city that still hasn't settled down even after the smaller...
Bicycle tour to Cape Kidnappers
You can reach Cape Kidnappers by tractor tour, on foot or by bicycle. The decision was quickly made. Off to the bike rental in Napier. We quickly and easily rented two fat bikes...
Queenstown & Fiordland
Queenstown
From Christchurch to Akaroa from 18.02. to 22.02.2017
01/18/2017 Rain. Rain, and more rain. Nothing would describe this day better. From Greymouth, it took six hours to get to Waikari Reserve Campground. The long drive brought my...
Kajak tour in Abel Tasman National Park
Packing for our 3-day kayak tour from Marahau to Mosquito Bay and back. For the first night, we chose Watering Cove. View of Anchorage Bay. Dinner with a...
Dunedin
Tunnel Beach Little man on a huge sandstone rock. To get to the beach, you have to go through a tunnel (as you can probably guess from the name). ...
Kia Ora Aotearoa!
On Sunday, January 22, 2017, we started our journey! We say goodbye to our loved ones for six months, shedding tears but also looking forward to the exciting new time on the...
Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki
A breathtaking display of colors (when the sun shines) ... see for yourself... Lake Tekapo from Mount John. Mount John Observatory Infinite expanse ...
Abel Tasman 2.0
10./11.01.2017 Der Dienstag soll ein warmer, sonniger Tag werden, also legen wir einen Strandtag ein. Da der Hauptstrand in Kaiteriteri zu überfüllt ist, folgen wir dem Tipp...
Coromandel
On the way to Port Jackson. Port Jackson - camping site directly in the bay. Muriwai Walk - A short walk along the coast ...
Roadtrip Day 4: Paihia
On our fourth day on the road, we wanted to drive to Paihia. Lee, our former Wwoof host, had raved about how beautiful it is there, so we decided not to miss out on this place....
Akaroa for relaxation
The journey from Dunedin to Akaroa took a good 5 and a half hours. I had a short stop at the Moeraki Boulders, which are considered a wonder of the world. The round stones look...
Kerikeri - first job
First job - sun
Hakuna Matata? Oh no, Tane Mahuta? Both!
The Tane Mahuta Kauri tree
The tourist town of Paihia
Paihia is promoted as THE destination in the North of New Zealand, but we find it to be too touristy and crowded.
01.08.-17.08. Time flies
My two weeks at the language school and with the host family went by in a flash. Even though I wasn't with the family for long, I already miss the political and history...
Abel Tasman
Unfortunately, we didn't have the best weather, but we had a lot of fun kayaking! We cooked fresh mussels during a stop at the bay, spotted seals and stingrays, and sailed with...
Kaikōura Whale 🐳 Watch
Giants of the Deep and an incredibly amazing day at sea!
#9 Moeraki Boulders
Today we visited the Moeraki Boulders, some strange stone formation at the beach. After that, we drove to Dunedin where Dorian went fishing in Port Chalmers while I was reading....
Mount Cook - 🚁
Fly like a bird - high above the mountain ranges at the end of the world.
#8 Little blue penguins
Today we went to the Elephant rocks (near Duntroon) where a scene of Narnia was filmed. Despite cloudy and chilly weather we explored Ōamaru at the coast with its ancient...
Day 25 - Drive to Franz Josef
Hurrah! I even have one more :D Today we went to Franz Josef because we still have a big tour planned here before my departure on Sunday. But tonight we have first made a 'Carve...
Tag 3 - Arrowtown
In the morning we went for a walk with Odinn. I was able to take photos of grasses in the morning dew and a pretty bumblebee. We had breakfast in the Boat Shed, with a great...
On the road again - off to Rotorua
Late to the next destination - finally hot
Milford Sound
Nomen est Omen, or something like that. Milford Sound is today's destination. We thought we would go on Monday so that there would be enough space on Sunday for the masses of...
26th February Stratford - New Plymouth
Originally, we wanted to go on a hiking tour at Mt Taranaki, but as we drive to our starting point, there is nothing to see but gray. It's raining and it doesn't look like it's...
22nd February Pahia - Richmond Downs
The drive from Paihia to Richmonds Down was a nerve-racking journey. First, half an hour of traffic before the major detour of SH1, and then an hour and a half of crossing...
21st February Paihia
After breakfast, we went to Russell to visit Long Beach. Wonderful beach, some waves, but not too strong, so you can swim perfectly. Ahh, what a morning. Amazing!!!!! After...