Visiting New Zealand was a bucket-list trip for me. I had been planning it with my cousin since 2018, because we had planned to visit the country in November the next year (and then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the world shut down). But, last year, we were finally able to make it happen and I’m so glad we did. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: New Zealand has ruined (most) other countries for me. Granted, I haven’t seen most of the world, but I fell in love with each and every aspect of it. I even started looking at houses for sale, because I didn’t want to leave.
Well, I’m back in the United States, so that plan didn’t work out. BUT one thing I miss about New Zealand (among dozens of other things) was the opportunity to check off some items on my bucket list. I mentioned that it was a bucket-list trip, and there were many reasons for that, but I got to see and do so many things that I couldn’t anywhere else (or I don’t have access to where I live).
If you’re also chasing bucket list experiences at the end of the world, this is the place for you. Here are some of the many bucket list experiences you can do in New Zealand:
Bungee-Jumping
If you’re looking for thrills, you need to visit Queenstown, one of the adventure capitals of the world. It also happens to be where modern bungee jumping began in the late 1980s. AJ Hackett’s Kawarau Bridge was the world’s first commercial bungee jumping site when it opened in 1988. You can still do it if you’re keen (you’ll drop 40 meters and can touch the water!), or if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you can do the Nevis Bungy like me, which lasts 8.5 seconds and you fall 134 meters. It’s also the highest bungy in the country. Was I a little nervous? Absolutely, but the team is great and I knew I would regret not doing it when I was there. I also lost a shoe! I highly recommend doing this.
Hiking the Tongaririo Alpine Crossing
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is located in Tongariro National Park on the North Island (the country’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is one of the best one-day hikes in the country and around the world. If you have time (and you may already be visiting for Lord of the Rings-related reasons), I highly recommend doing the moderate 12-mile (20.2-kilometer) trek. Its beauty and natural landscapes are second to none. I didn’t have a chance to, and I sorely regret it. It’s one of the most sought-after hikes in the world, so plan your itinerary around it.
Stargazing and Seeing The Southern Lights
Another reason I wanted to go to New Zealand was for its stargazing opportunities. Because of its remoteness and the fact that most areas outside the major cities are less developed and commercial, there are many dark-sky preserves where you can see the night sky blossom and twinkle with thousands of stars. The Mackenzie Dark Sky Preserve is one of them, and you can also find tours in Tekapo. However, these tours are weather-dependent. We had booked one for one of our nights in Tekapo, but it was canceled because it was storming until 10 PM, and we wouldn’t be able to see anything. We did, however, see a double rainbow!
Cruising Through Milford Sound
No visit to New Zealand is complete without seeing one of the world’s greatest natural wonders: Milford Sound. The best way to see it is on a cruise, and while you may prefer cruising when it’s sunny, you see all of its true beauty when it’s rainy. And while you’re there, you might as well explore the rest of Fiordland National Park and hike one of the many renowned hiking trails, including the Routeburn Track, Milford Track, or Kepler Track, all nearby.
Swimming with Dolphins and Whale-Watching in Kaikōura
One of the best places in New Zealand (and the world) for animal encounters, Kaikōura is a beautiful little town at the northeastern tip of the South Island (Marlborough). If you’re headed to Christchurch from Picton, you’ll drive right through it. There’s a seal colony that you can see when you walk along the Peninsula Walkway, but you can also book experiences to swim safely with dolphins or go on a whale-watching cruise if you visit at the right time of year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do either on my visit, but I will surely be back.
Going on an Adventure in Hobbiton
Even if you’re not a fan of the Lord of the Rings franchise, you may still want to visit the Hobbiton film set near Hamilton on the North Island. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so much larger than life once you’re there. You can explore one of the hobbit holes (not Bilbo’s), take plenty of pictures, and have a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn. If you are going, check out my list of what to know before your visit.
Seeing Glowworms at the Waitomo Caves
New Zealand is one of the best (and only) places in the world to see glowworms! If you’re intrigued even a little bit, you should book a tour of the glowworm caves. I recommend stopping by the Waitomo Glowworm Caves; we did a tour of these caves in the afternoon following our Hobbiton trip. We had booked the last tour of the day and had no one else with us (so it ended up being a private tour). It was a great experience, and the tour guides are so knowledgeable. If you’re looking for something more thrill-seeking, they also have a black water rafting option!
Witness New Zealand’s Geothermal Activity
While you’re on the North Island, it’s also one of the most volcanically active places on Earth, and there are several geothermal parks you can check out to experience that up close. If your itinerary includes Rotorua, check out Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, open seven days a week. The sights, the colors, and the smells make you feel like you’re on another planet. Definitely bring a face mask and/or an inhaler if you have difficulty breathing, and they will close the park early if they suspect any geothermal anomalies (or if it’s not safe for humans) so get there earlier in the day. It wasn’t crowded at all when we went in the afternoon.
Take the TranzAlpine Train Across The South Island
We didn’t have time to fit it into our itinerary, but the TranzAlpine Train is one of the world’s most scenic and greatest train journeys. This train takes passengers from the South Island’s east to west coast, through Christchurch, Arthur’s Pass, and Greymouth, where you can visit the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. It can be done in a day (if you really, really want to), but I wouldn’t. I’ve decided that my next trip to New Zealand will be the South Island only, and I want to explore more of both coasts (as we explored most of the center on this trip).
Go Glacier-Walking
Speaking of glaciers, you can walk and hike on them in New Zealand! The aforementioned Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are ideal for this kind of adventure, and you can take eco tours. You can also do a classic hike if you’re so inclined, or for more of an adrenaline-filled experience, you can also go ice climbing and snowshoeing on Mt. Cook on the North Island.
So, which bucket list experience do you want to check off first?
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