Wild landscapes, seasonal cuisine and Māori culture
New Zealand is a small country with a remarkable variety of places to explore. Its two main islands are strikingly different. The less renowned but larger South Island is dotted with clear lakes, tranquil alpine ranges and abundant marine and birdlife. The North Island is rich in Māori culture, and is home to the cosmopolitan cities of Auckland and Wellington.
Some of the world’s best hiking is in New Zealand. And many of the most celebrated trails are in the South Island with remote and tranquil hiking trails. Follow one of its nine Great Walks between forests, rivers and wild coastline, with chances to spot native birds such as kākā and kererū. Many of these routes can also be enjoyed as shorter day walks if you prefer a gentler option.
Learning about New Zealand’s history and culture is one of the best ways to connect to the country and the people who live here. We recommend spending time within Māori communities to understand their ancient, enduring cultural beliefs and practices. For example, at Lake Taupo you can visit sacred Mount Titiraupenga, to experience a Māori welcome and an introduction to Ngāti Tūwharetoa (guardianship of ancestral lands).
You can appreciate New Zealand’s remote, natural world during stargazing experiences in the Dark Sky Reserve at the Aoraki Mackenzie region. The observatory is built into an underground wine cellar, so you can combine telescope viewing and astrophotography with some of New Zealand’s best wines and gourmet nibbles. Let Jacada help you experience this diverse country with a personalised itinerary. Take a look at our example journeys for ideas, and then start planning your own New Zealand trip with our travel designers.
Experiences picked by our destination specialists
A word from one of our experts
New Zealand may be small, but I could spend months here and still not see it all. What I love most is the mix of wild landscapes and excellent food and wine. I also treasure the quiet moments of stargazing under a vast night sky or standing high up on a mountaintop.
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in New Zealand
There are many incredible places to stay in New Zealand. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
New Zealand trip inspiration
Get inspired with our New Zealand example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
Where to go in New Zealand
Auckland
New Zealand’s largest cosmopolitan centre is a lively mix of culture, cuisine, music and art with ample green spaces and easily accessible beaches.
Bay of Islands
Equally beautiful and historically significant, the bay is peppered with 144 vastly untouched islands that are renowned for their inviting clear waters, subtropical climate and diverse marine life.
Christchurch
Curious travellers will relish all the new eclectic hubs to discover in a city and region that is full of surprises, friendly locals and an inspirational community spirit.
Coromandel
A classic Kiwi beach holiday destination made up of petite coastal towns, velvety white-sand beaches and native rainforests teeming with birdlife.
Dunedin and Coastal Otago
Dunedin is a university town and there is a good selection of lively restaurants and bars. It is also a great base from which to explore the Otago Peninsula with its rugged landscape, beautiful beaches and wildlife.
Hawke's Bay
The North Island’s wine country is one of New Zealand’s warmest, driest regions with golden colours stretching across arid plains.
Kaikoura
With the swelling Pacific Ocean on one side and the snowcapped Kaikoura Range on the other – Kaikoura is a quaint peninsula village that is a base for discovering some of New Zealand’s best wildlife.
Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook
New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook, is an arresting sight dominating the skyline of the national park which surrounds it.
Marlborough Sounds and Wine Region
Hop from vineyard to vineyard on the wine trail in this diverse, sun-drenched plateau and sample some of the country’s finest wines, most notably the internationally renowned Sauvignon Blanc.
Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park
With the snowy-peaked Southern Alps sloping down into deep blue waters and lushly forested shores bursting with wildlife, the spectacular Fiordland National Park area in the south-western corner of the South Island is known for its stunning vistas.
Nelson and Abel Tasman
New Zealand’s sunniest region has a diverse geography ripe for exploring from golden sand beaches to dense forests, the clearest fresh water lake in the world and secluded, enticing rivers.
Queenstown and Wanaka
Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns, sitting on the tip of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu. It’s a bustling hub of international and local visitors come to seek out one of the endless thrills on offer here from skiing, white water rafting, canyon swinging, jet boating, mountain biking and bungy jumping.
Rotorua and Taupo
Steaming mud pools, erupting geysers and Maori traditions all make Rotorua and Taupo a special area to visit – one that is distinctively unique to the rest of New Zealand.
Wellington
Nestled on rolling green hills that spill down to a charming harbour, New Zealand’s capital is an epicentre of culture and creativity – renowned for its arts, gastronomy, heritage and bohemian character.
West Coast and the Glaciers
The narrow strip of coastline squeezed between the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea plays host to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscape, which is quite some claim.
Meet your Australasia team
When to visit New Zealand
New Zealand is a good choice year-round, with each season offering its own highlights. Temperatures stay generally mild, ranging from around 10–15°C (50–59°F) in winter to 20–25°C (68–77°F) in summer.
December to February is one of the best times to visit, with warm summer weather that’s ideal for the beaches of the Bay of Islands, coastal walks in Abel Tasman National Park and cruises on Milford Sound. Spring (September–November), stands out as parks and walking trails fill with tulips and spectacular blossom. And winter – from June to August – is one of the best times to spot migrating whales such as humpbacks and southern right whales off Kaikōura.
Wine tasting
March–April
Hiking and sightseeing
June–September
Whale and dolphin spotting
Year Round
New Zealand travel guides
Plan your trip to New Zealand
Whatever you want from your adventure in New Zealand, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Don't take our word for it
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
