Country guide · New Zealand
Best places to visit in New Zealand
4 destinations compared, so you can choose where to spend your time.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: elpinto007, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
For a first trip to New Zealand, start with Auckland: Harbour city of volcanic cones, island ferries and west-coast surf beaches. For beaches, look at Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Auckland is the least expensive of the destinations in this guide.
Key facts
- Destinations in this guide
- 4
- Best months overall
- December–March
- Start with
- Auckland
- Least expensive here
- Auckland
4 places to visit in New Zealand
Best: February–April and December · 4 days
Auckland
Harbour city of volcanic cones, island ferries and west-coast surf beaches
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Best: December–March · 3 days
Christchurch
A rebuilt garden city on the Avon and the gateway to the South Island
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Best: July–August and December–March · 5 days
Queenstown
Lakeside adventure town under the Remarkables, with ski fields and Central Otago wine
Best: December–March · 3 days
Wellington
A compact, windy harbour capital of museums, coffee and craft beer
Compare the destinations
| Destination | Known for | Best time | Ideal stay | Mid-range per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Sky Tower and Volcanic cones | February–April and December | 4 days | $160–$280 |
| Christchurch | Garden City and Punting on the Avon | December–March | 3 days | $170–$300 |
| Queenstown | Bungy jumping and Lake Wakatipu | July–August and December–March | 5 days | $180–$320 |
| Wellington | Te Papa and Wellington Cable Car | December–March | 3 days | $180–$320 |
When to visit New Zealand
Across these destinations the most reliable months are December–March. Timing still varies by place: Auckland is best in February–April and December; Christchurch is best in December–March; Queenstown is best in July–August and December–March.
Signature dishes across New Zealand
| Destination | Try first | Also try |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Flat white | Meat pie and Fish and chips |
| Christchurch | Canterbury lamb | Whitebait fritter and Green-lipped mussels |
| Queenstown | Gourmet burgers | Central Otago pinot noir and Lamb |
| Wellington | Flat white | Craft beer and Martinborough Pinot Noir |
Events through the year in New Zealand
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Auckland: ASB Classic tennis tournament (usually early January); Christchurch: World Buskers Festival — street performers across the city (usually January) |
| February | Auckland: Waitangi Day — national day, with events around the city (6 February); Wellington: New Zealand Festival of the Arts (in some years, usually February–March) |
| March | Auckland: Auckland Arts Festival (usually March); Wellington: CubaDupa — street music and performance festival on Cuba Street (usually late March) |
| April | Auckland: ANZAC Day dawn service at Auckland Museum (25 April); Queenstown: Arrowtown Autumn Festival (usually April) |
| May | Auckland: Auckland Writers Festival (usually May) |
| June | Auckland: Matariki — Māori New Year public holiday (date varies, June or July); Christchurch: Christchurch Marathon (usually early June) |
| July | Auckland: New Zealand International Film Festival (usually July–August); Queenstown: Matariki — Māori New Year public holiday (date varies, June or July) |
| August | Christchurch: Christchurch Arts Festival (in some years, usually August–September); Queenstown: Winter Pride (usually late August to early September) |
| September | Wellington: World of WearableArt — costume and design show (usually late September to early October) |
| October | Auckland: Auckland Diwali Festival (usually October or November) |
| November | Auckland: Santa Parade on Queen Street (usually late November or early December); Christchurch: New Zealand Cup and Show Week — horse racing and the Canterbury A&P Show (usually mid-November) |
| December | Auckland: New Year's Eve fireworks from the Sky Tower (31 December) |
How far apart they are
| From | To | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Christchurch | 765 km |
| Auckland | Queenstown | 1,044 km |
| Auckland | Wellington | 493 km |
| Christchurch | Queenstown | 357 km |
| Christchurch | Wellington | 305 km |
| Queenstown | Wellington | 647 km |
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I go on my first trip to New Zealand?
Auckland: Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau, spreads across a narrow isthmus between the Waitematā Harbour and the Manukau Harbour, dotted with more than 50 volcanic cones. The compact city centre runs from the Sky Tower down to the…
+When is the best time to visit New Zealand?
Generally December–March, though it varies by region.