New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes

From the tropical rainforests, beaches and rolling hills of the North Island to the majestic glaciers and fjords of the South Island, along with volcanic caldera and unique glowing caves, it’s hard to believe there is such a variety of New Zealand landscapes packed into a country that’s only slightly bigger than the UK.

So whether you’re joining a New Zealand group tour or heading off on your own self-drive adventure across the country, we’ve picked out the most beautiful New Zealand landscapes to visit along the way.

Set in the far north, this archipelago of 144 sub-tropical islands is a paradise for those wanting to explore unspoilt golden sand beaches, crystalline water and hidden coves, home to some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand as well as a chance to discover Maori culture.

Robertson Island, Bay of Islands

In the centre of the islands, you’ll find forests of giant Lauri trees and rugged peaks, along with dolphins, whales and seals in the water itself. Join a cruise to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock on Motukokako Island; according to Maori legend, local warriors would paddle through this naturally formed sea tunnel before departing for battle – depending on the swells, you may get to follow their example. Drops of water from the cave roof are said to be a good omen.

Back on dry land, you can also visit a traditional Marae (meeting place) and Maori village in Paihia.

Hidden away under the town of Waitomo lies a complex network of limestone caves, three of which can be explored. But unlike most other cave adventures, there’s something unique to discover in the Waitomo Caves – thousands of glow worms, known as arachnocampa luminosa, which illuminate the caverns.

Glow worms in Waitomo Caves

The eerie pale blue flashes light up the cave roof, almost as if it were sprinkled with stars, glimmering in the darkness and reflected in the still water below. As you explore, you’ll travel along an underground river, spotting the intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations, marvelling at the waterfalls inside Ruakuri Cave along the way.

In the centre of the North Island lies Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand by surface area – it’s around the size of Singapore. The tranquil deep blue waters shimmering in the sun makes for a New Zealand landscape you’re guaranteed to remember, but the views are only the start.

Huka Falls, Lake Taupo

Sitting at the foot of the Taupo volcano, there are walking trails around the freshwater lake or you can enjoy a string of water sports as well as boating on the water. Or for something more adrenalin- fuelled, head north of the lake to the dramatic Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second as the Waikato River narrows through a volcanic gorge. Jetboats get close enough to the crashing blast of water plunging into the turquoise pool below for you to be drenched in the spray.

The best New Zealand scenery needn’t necessarily be hard to get to, as beautiful Waiheke Island proves. Just a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland, set in the Hauraki Gulf, the island has some of the loveliest stretches of sand in the country, with green vineyards stretching away from the temptingly white beaches.

Waiheke Island

The turquoise waters of the South Pacific gleam in the sun, with hills rising from the curving bays. Secluded Sandy Bay and Little Palm Beach are both ideal if you’re looking to avoid some of the crowds, while you’ll also find vineyards overlooking the beaches. Less dramatic than some of New Zealand’s landscapes, it’s no less unforgettable.

Just a few hours east of Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula is packed with some of the most beautiful scenery of New Zealand, so you’ll discover tempting beaches and lush forests all across this stretch of land.

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula

Perhaps one of the most picturesque places on the whole peninsula is Cathedral Cove, unsurprisingly a popular spot for tourists. Part of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, covering 840 hectares in Mercury Bay, there’s a walking trail which leads you along the coastline to reach the cove itself.

With the beach and sea stacks framed by a natural rock archway, it’s well worth every step. Drink in the views before enjoying the translucently pale green water or heading out in a kayak or on a boat cruise to spot colourful fish, seals and dolphins.

Set within the ‘Pacific Rim of Fire’ on New Zealand’s North Island, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland, a natural volcanic landscape that’s never less than eye-catching. Along with bubbling mud pools, natural hot springs and geysers shooting into the air, you’ll find bright splashes of orange mineral deposits lining the lakes and steam drifting across the surface of the water.

Rotorua

Surrounded by mountains and forest, as well as a string of crater lakes, this particular New Zealand landscape is constantly changing as you explore. Make sure to save time to visit the Maori village of

Whakarewarewa, whose residents have used geothermal power to heat their homes for centuries.

Abel Tasman may be New Zealand’s smallest national park, but this wilderness reserve at the top of the South Island has been called the country’s finest coastal park. A little slice of paradise simply packed with natural beauty, you’ll discover beaches and coves dotted through the forest and mossy valleys, bays appearing suddenly through the trees.

Abel Tasman National Park

One of the best ways to see this wonderful area of gorgeous New Zealand scenery is from the 37-mile Abel Tasman Coast Track, although you can also kayak along the coastline where you could even see dolphins, fur seals and blue penguins, not to mention tiny hidden lagoons. For a more relaxed way to soak up the views, you can also take scenic flights over the national park.

New Zealand is home to one of the world’s most unusual glaciers, Franz Josef, which descends for 12km from high in the Southern Alps down into the rainforest just a few hundred metres above sea level.

There are walking routes to take you close to the glacier to enjoy the views, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you could even take guided ice hikes and heli-hikes, where you’re transported onto the ice itself.

Franz Josef Glacier

There are also plenty of chances to explore around the bottom of the glacier near Franz Josef Glacier village, spying dramatic waterfalls, lakes and black sand beaches, all with the sight of the shining white ribbon of ice in the background. Or combine your hike with a cruise on Lake Mapourika, walking through rainforest where you could spot rare flightless kiwis in the wild.

In the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Mount Cook – or Aoraki, to use its Maori name – is the highest mountain in the country at 3,724m, and easily one of the most spectacular New Zealand landscapes to see on either island.

With its snow-capped peak and gleaming glaciers, it’s where Sir Edmund Hillary developed his climbing skills before tackling the challenge of summiting Everest. Surrounded by a string of other magnificent mountains over 3,000 metres, you can marvel at the towering peaks stretching high above the tiny Mt Cook Village in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.

Mount Cook (Aoraki)

Home to unusual milky lakes, where sediment from rocks ground to powder by the glacier turns the water opaque, one of the best ways to experience this awe-inspiring scenery is a cruise around Tasman Glacial Lake, where you’ll pass floating icebergs as you view the country’s largest glacier. Or head to Mount Cook after dark, set within the world’s largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserve for fantastic star-gazing.

You won’t be short of eye-catching lakes as you explore the New Zealand landscape, but the vibrant turquoise of Lake Tekapo makes it stand out from the competition. The milky aquamarine colour is caused by powder-fine sediment, ground into ‘rock flour’ by the nearby glaciers as they journey in their slow, stately fashion towards the water.

Lake Tekapo with blooming lupins

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with clouds reflecting in the opaque blue water, you’ll find wildflowers in the meadows nearby as well. The lake is also part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, so it’s another wonderful place to stargaze, seeing the sparkle of stars overhead and reflected in the still waters of the lake.

Milford Sound is New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination, a spectacular fiord found in the south-west of the South Island, famous for its deep blue water set against the dramatic cliffs rising up from the Sound.

Rudyard Kipling was so awed by the New Zealand scenery here that he named it the eighth Wonder of the World. Part of the Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site, it’s lovely at any time of day, although you can often see the triangular Mitre Peak reflected in the calm waters in the early morning. With cascading waterfalls in the surrounding cliffs, you can also spot fur seals, penguins and dolphins in the water as you cruise Milford Sound on a boat trip.

Milford Sound

The name of this mountain range in Otago sums up its ability to take your breath away – the Remarkables truly are remarkable, even if they gained their name for running true north to south rather than for the majestic views.

Just 40 minutes from Queenstown, the alpine peaks are popular with skiers, but you needn’t be a winter sports fan to enjoy the New Zealand scenery here. Take a trip up Cecil Peak in the cable car, and you can look out to the snow-capped mountains as well as down to Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

The Remarkables

The lake itself is New Zealand’s longest, stretching 50 miles from end to end, its third largest at 112 square miles, and 380 metres deep at its deepest point. With cruises and kayaking trips out onto the water, you can ponder the Maori legend that gave the lake its name, which tells of a giant whose body was burned, creating a crater which filled with water – it’s said that you can still see the giant’s heart beating as the water level of the lake rises and falls.

Discover New Zealand's incredible lakes, mountains and coasts for yourself on an escorted tour of New Zealand