Best Things to Do in New Zealand (2026 Travel Guide)

Updated: 20 th June 2026

Explore New Zealand's Top Destinations

From world-famous landscapes to hidden local gems, this guide showcases the best things to do in New Zealand — from iconic North Island highlights to unforgettable South Island adventures. Whether you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip or building your NZ bucket list, discover top tours, natural wonders, wildlife encounters and free experiences across the country.

Top Attractions, Tours & Experiences Across New Zealand

Your Ultimate Guide to the North & South Islands

Why Travellers Use Must Do New Zealand

Must Do New Zealand is an independent travel guide dedicated exclusively to showcasing the best experiences across New Zealand. For more than 16 years, our team has worked with tourism operators throughout the country, creating travel content, photography and videos that help visitors confidently plan their New Zealand adventure.

Our destination guides, activity pages and travel resources are regularly updated with current tour information, pricing and local insights. From iconic attractions and family-friendly activities to hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track experiences, we help travellers discover the very best of both the North and South Islands.

Unlike large international booking platforms, Must Do New Zealand focuses solely on New Zealand experiences, connecting visitors directly with local tourism operators while providing independent travel inspiration and planning advice built on years of travel, photography and video production throughout New Zealand.

Plan your perfect New Zealand itinerary and let this guide lead you through unmissable experiences across both the North island and South Islands.

Things to Do in the North Island

Explore the North Island of New Zealand with Must Do New Zealand. Discover activities, attractions and unforgettable things to see and do across this diverse and vibrant island.

Things to Do in the South Island

Travel the majestic South Island of New Zealand and discover unforgettable experiences. Explore activities, attractions and incredible things to see and do across this spectacular island.

Some of New Zealands Recommended Must Do Experiences

Handpicked experiences showcasing the diversity of New Zealand — from wildlife encounters and scenic journeys to unique local adventures…

Guided Heli Hike Adventure Tasman Glacier Mount Cook

Explore Mount Cook’s Tasman Glacier with the best heli-hiking operators. Enjoy scenic flights, guided glacier walks, and breathtaking ice formations.

Packrafting Queenstown – Guided Hike & Paddle Trips

Packrafting in Queenstown with guided hike and paddle trips. Trek to remote rivers, inflate your raft and explore pristine backcountry gorges.

EcoZip Waiheke – Zipline Adventure on Waiheke Island

EcoZip Adventures Waiheke Island offers state-of-the-art flying fox ziplines and an eco-immersive forest walk for nature lovers of all ages.

Awakeri Rail Adventure Tours Whakatane

Explore a piece of New Zealand’s rich rail heritage while relaxing in the luxury of a rail-car, cleverly modified to be self-driven along the rail tracks

Driving Creek Railway & Pottery – Coromandel Town

‘Driving Creek Railway is the country’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway that began in 1975 and built mostly by hand.

Explore Marlborough Wine Tours By Bike or Vehicle

Enjoy a relaxing day cycling through vineyards, sampling the region’s best wines while taking in the beauty of the wineries and surrounding mountains.

Wine Tasting Tours Blenheim, Marlborough NZ

Stunning scenery, welcoming cellar doors, gorgeous wines and the option to sample local produce with a vineyard lunch

Wanaka & Milford Scenic Flights Southern Alps Air

Our scenic flights includes Mount Aspiring, pristine glaciers, rainforests, alpine lakes, rivers, cascading waterfalls & Milford Sound.

Alpine Jet Thrills – Jet Boat & AirBoat Adventures

Experience Alpine Jet Boat & AirBoat trips on the Waimakariri River near Christchurch. Ride New Zealand’s first commercial passenger AirBoat adventure.

The vintage ship the TSS Earnslaw cruising across lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruise – Lake Wakatipu Queenstown

Cruise Lake Wakatipu aboard the vintage TSS Earnslaw. Enjoy a 90-min steamship trip with alpine views, engine room access & upgrades to Walter Peak experiences.

Mount Cook Ski Plane Flights With Snow & Glacier landing

Experience Mount Cook’s stunning glaciers with ski plane tours. Enjoy scenic flights, glacier landings, and breathtaking views of New Zealand’s highest peak.

Waiheke Wine Tours – Group, Private & Bespoke Experiences

Discover Waiheke Wine Tours with vineyard tastings, group tours and private bespoke experiences. Visit boutique wineries and enjoy stunning island views.

Travel Inspiration, Expert Guides & New Zealand Travel Ideas

Planning a trip to New Zealand? Explore our growing collection of travel guides, destination features and experience comparisons designed to help you discover the very best of both the North Island and South Island. Whether you’re searching for New Zealand’s top attractions, scenic flights, jet boat rides, wildlife encounters, family-friendly activities, hidden gems or unforgettable road trip destinations, our guides provide inspiration, local insights and practical travel information to help you plan with confidence.

From iconic experiences such as Milford Sound, Queenstown and the Bay of Islands to lesser-known locations that many visitors overlook, these expert guides highlight some of the best things to do in New Zealand. Compare experiences, discover new destinations, explore seasonal travel ideas and find inspiration for your next New Zealand adventure.