This post is part of my Blog4NZ series. Blog4NZ, running March 21-23, is an initiative by travel bloggers to share memories, photos and stories from New Zealand in order to bring awareness to the fact that, despite the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake, the country is still very much open for business.
New Zealand is full of beautiful views.
From snow-capped mountains, to untouched beaches, to geothermal wonders, to lush rainforests, to rugged coastlines, to colorful towns… need I go on?
Though it’s really difficult to chose my “favorite” views and landscapes in this picturesque country, I’ve narrowed it down to the 5 that I find to be most memorable.
My 5 Favorite Views in New Zealand
Top of the North
Cape Reinga
Te Paki Sand Dunes
Cape Maria van Diemen
TheNorthland Region of New Zealand — full of beaches, forests, and gently-rolling hills under a big blue sky — has some of my favorite views in the country. Whether it’s the golden sand dunes along 90 Mile Beach, the Tasman meeting the Pacific at Cape Reinga, or the towering old kauri trees in nearby forests, Northland has a lot to offer someone who loves nature and the untouched beauty of undeveloped land.
Wellington
Oriental Bay
Wellington from the Kelburn cable car station
The fern ball sculpture in Civic Square
It’s no secret thatWellington — New Zealand’s political and cultural capital — is my favorite city in the world. Whether it’s taking a stroll along the waterfront, visiting the lookout at the top of Mount Victoria, or riding the historic cable car up to the botanic gardens, some of my favorite views in New Zealand are located right in downtown Wellington. It’s no wonder that Lonely Planet called Welly “the coolest little capital in the world.”
Above the Southern Alps
Flying over Lake Wakatipu
Southern Alps
Southern Alps
There really is nothing quite as breathtaking as soaring over snow-capped mountains and crystal-clear alpine lakes on a perfect, blue-skied day. I had the chance to do just that over New Zealand’s craggy Southern Alps between Milford Sound and Queenstown, and it ranks up there as one of my most memorable NZ experiences.
Queenstown
Looking out over Queenstown from Deer Park Heights
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown
Queenstown, from the Skyline Gondola
Queenstown calls itself “New Zealand’s Adventure Capital” — and I would have to agree. Here you can do everything from bungy jumping to jetboating to skydiving. But, along with being home to a slew of extreme sports, Queenstown also has some of the most spectacular views of any city in New Zealand. With green hills and the blue waters of Lake Wakatipu set before the backdrop of the Remarkables mountain range, it’s hard to imagine wanting to be anywhere else when you’re here.
The Wind-Swept Southern Coast
The Catlins Coast
Nugget Point
The Southern Coast
If you do one road trip in New Zealand, pick this one — theSouthern Scenic Route through the Catlins along the coast of the country’s South Island. It only takes about a day to drive, but there’s so much to see that you could let it last much longer. I wore out my camera battery on this drive, and it’s not difficult to understand why with coastlines and landscapes like this.
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