New Zealand Holidays
New Zealand
Holidays
Two islands of extraordinary beauty — Milford Sound, Queenstown's adventure capital, Rotorua's geothermal wonders, the Bay of Islands and landscapes so dramatic they were chosen to be Middle-earth
Search New Zealand Holidays
Flight Time
24–26h from London via Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong to Auckland (AKL) or Christchurch (CHC)
Best Time
December to February (summer — warmest, best for beaches and outdoor activities); March to May (autumn — quieter, beautiful colours, good weather); June to August (winter — ski season in Queenstown and the South Island)
Country
New Zealand
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
New Zealand Holiday Guide
New Zealand is best explored over 2–3 weeks — enough time to cover both islands properly. The classic itinerary: fly into Auckland (North Island), spend 2–3 days in Auckland and the Bay of Islands, drive south via Hobbiton and Rotorua (2–3 days), fly to Queenstown (South Island), spend 3–4 days in Queenstown and Fiordland (Milford Sound), drive north via the West Coast glaciers and Abel Tasman to Christchurch (3–4 days), fly home from Christchurch. Hire cars are available at all major airports and the roads are excellent.
Getting there: Flights from London to Auckland (AKL) take 24–26 hours via Dubai (Emirates), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) or Los Angeles (Air New Zealand). Air New Zealand flies direct from London Heathrow to Auckland (17 hours) — the longest scheduled flight in the world. Christchurch (CHC) is an alternative entry point for the South Island.
Visas: UK citizens do not require a visa for New Zealand for stays of up to 6 months. However, from 2026 an Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) is required — a simple online application (approximately £10) that must be completed before travel.
We search Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best New Zealand deals.
Popular Areas in New Zealand
Average Temperatures
Jan
23°C
Feb
23°C
Mar
21°C
Apr
18°C
May
15°C
Jun
12°C
Jul
11°C
Aug
12°C
Sep
14°C
Oct
17°C
Nov
19°C
Dec
21°C
Ready to Book?
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll find you the best deal across Travelpack and JTA Holidays.
Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in New Zealand
The fjords, the adventure, the geothermal wonders, the Maori culture and the extraordinary landscapes that make New Zealand one of the greatest destinations on earth.
Milford Sound — The Eighth Wonder of the World
Milford Sound is the most famous fjord in New Zealand and one of the most spectacular natural landscapes on earth — a 15km-long fjord carved by glaciers over millions of years, with sheer rock walls rising 1,200m from the water, ancient rainforest clinging to the cliff faces, waterfalls cascading from every ledge and the permanent snow of the Darran Mountains above. Rudyard Kipling called it the eighth wonder of the world. The fjord is best experienced by boat — cruises range from 2-hour scenic cruises to overnight stays on the water — and the experience of sailing through the fjord in the early morning mist, with the waterfalls in full flow after rain, is one of the most extraordinary in travel. Milford Sound is accessible by road from Queenstown (4 hours) or Te Anau (2 hours) — the drive through Fiordland National Park is itself one of the most spectacular in New Zealand.
Queenstown — The Adventure Capital of the World
Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world — a small resort town of 15,000 people on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the Southern Alps, surrounded by some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in New Zealand. The town invented bungee jumping (the Kawarau Bridge, 43m above the Kawarau River, is the world's first commercial bungee site) and is the home of jet boating (the Shotover Jet, through the narrow Shotover Canyon, is the most famous jet boat ride in the world). Other activities: skydiving (over the Remarkables mountain range), white-water rafting (the Shotover and Kawarau rivers), paragliding, canyon swinging, mountain biking and skiing (four ski fields within 1 hour of the town). Queenstown is also the gateway to Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park and the Otago wine region.
Rotorua — Geothermal Wonders & Maori Culture
Rotorua is New Zealand's most extraordinary natural and cultural destination — a city built on one of the world's most active geothermal fields, where geysers erupt, mud pools bubble, hot springs steam and the smell of sulphur hangs permanently in the air. The Te Puia geothermal park (home of the Pohutu Geyser, the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere) and the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (with its extraordinary coloured pools — the Champagne Pool, the Artist's Palette and the Lady Knox Geyser) are the main geothermal attractions. Rotorua is also the heart of Maori culture in New Zealand — the Tamaki Maori Village (an evening cultural experience with a hangi feast) and the Te Ara Ahi cycling trail (through geothermal landscapes) are the best cultural experiences in the North Island.
Hobbiton — The Real Middle-earth
Hobbiton is the most popular tourist attraction in New Zealand — the real film set of the Shire from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, located on a working sheep farm near Matamata in the Waikato region. The set was built for the films and then rebuilt in permanent materials for the tourist attraction — 44 hobbit holes, the Party Tree, the Green Dragon Inn and the rolling green hills of the Shire are all exactly as they appear in the films. Guided tours (2 hours, departing from Matamata) take visitors through the set with a knowledgeable guide, ending with a drink at the Green Dragon Inn. Hobbiton is 2 hours south of Auckland and 1 hour north of Rotorua — it is easily combined with either destination. Evening banquet tours (with a three-course meal at the Green Dragon) are available and are one of the most magical experiences in New Zealand.
Bay of Islands — Dolphins, History & Subtropical Beauty
The Bay of Islands is New Zealand's most beautiful coastal destination — an archipelago of 144 subtropical islands in the Far North of the North Island, 3 hours north of Auckland, with crystal-clear water, white sand beaches, ancient kauri forests and an extraordinary marine life (dolphins, orcas, marlin, manta rays and the rare Bryde's whale). The Bay of Islands is also the birthplace of New Zealand — the Treaty of Waitangi (the founding document of New Zealand, signed between the British Crown and Maori chiefs in 1840) was signed at Waitangi, on the shores of the bay. The Hole in the Rock (a sea cave on Piercy Island, at the entrance to the bay) is the most famous landmark — boat tours from Paihia and Russell pass through the cave at high tide. Russell (the first capital of New Zealand) is the most charming town in the Bay of Islands.
Abel Tasman National Park — Golden Beaches & Sea Kayaking
Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand's smallest but most visited national park — a coastal paradise of golden sand beaches, turquoise water, granite headlands and ancient forest in the north of the South Island. The Abel Tasman Coast Track (51km, 3–5 days) is one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks — a coastal trail through the park, passing some of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand. The track is accessible by water taxi (which drops walkers at any point on the track and picks them up at another) — making it possible to walk the best sections without doing the full multi-day trek. Sea kayaking through the park (guided day trips or multi-day independent trips) is the best way to experience the coastline — paddling between the beaches, exploring sea caves and watching fur seals on the rocks.
Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers — Ice on the West Coast
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are two of the most accessible glaciers in the world — rivers of ancient ice descending from the Southern Alps to within 300m of the West Coast rainforest, in a landscape of extraordinary beauty. The glaciers are accessible by guided walk (on the glacier surface, with crampons and ice axes) or by helicopter (landing on the upper glacier for a guided walk on the ice). The helicopter flights over the glaciers and the Southern Alps are among the most spectacular in New Zealand — the view of the ice fields, the peaks and the Tasman Sea from above is extraordinary. The glaciers are retreating rapidly due to climate change — the guided walks on the glacier surface are no longer possible at Franz Josef (the ice has retreated too far from the valley floor) but are still available at Fox Glacier.
Marlborough — The World's Best Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough is New Zealand's most celebrated wine region — a sun-drenched valley at the northern tip of the South Island, producing the sauvignon blanc that has made New Zealand famous in the wine world. The Marlborough sauvignon blanc (with its distinctive flavours of passionfruit, gooseberry and fresh-cut grass) is the most exported wine in New Zealand and one of the most recognisable wine styles in the world. The Marlborough Wine Trail (a self-guided cycling or driving tour of the region's 40+ wineries) is one of the best wine experiences in the Southern Hemisphere. The Marlborough Sounds (a complex of drowned river valleys at the northern tip of the South Island, accessible by ferry from Wellington or by boat from Picton) are one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in New Zealand — excellent for kayaking, walking and wildlife watching.
Explore New Zealand on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
Google Maps embed — add your API key to activate
Set mapEmbedUrl in the destination data to display an interactive map here