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Even though it’s been years (seriously, like, nine years) since I went to New Zealand, I think about it a lot and want to go back so bad!

I figured since I can’t go back anytime soon, I would make myself the ultimate New Zealand bucket list! It has some city things but it’s heavily focused on outdoor activities in New Zealand.

I already wanted to go back pretty badly but now I think I just made that worse by looking all these things up. Some of these things I’ve already done (just a few that I have posts for) but almost everything else on here are things I would like to do someday.

Some of the things I’ve included are fairly popular already and others are a little lesser know. You’ll find some adrenalin pumping activities, a lot of birds, and tons of hiking for all skill levels.

There are also a few things on here that I personally have no desire to do (like bungee jumping or skydiving) but figured are pretty solid experiences, especially in Queenstown, so I included them anyway.

I hope this adventurous New Zealand bucket list inspires you to visit and see all the amazing beauty (and wine) the tiny island nation has to offer.

Bucket list posts

• Try sailing in the Bay of Islands
• Hike Rangitoto Island
• Drink some wine on Waiheke Island
• Hike up Mount Eden
• Kayak Cathedral Cove at Te Whaganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve
• Hike on Fox Glacier (or heli-hike it!)
• See Franz Josef Glacier
• Visit Milford Sound
• Visit Doubtful Sound
• Hike the Blue Pools

• Hike the Tongariro Crossing
• Visit Hobbiton
• Relax on Tomahawk Beach
• Visit the Waitomo Glowworm Caves
• See the Punakaiki Rocks
• Go bungee jumping in Queenstown
• Go whale watching in Kaikoura
• See the lupins blooming in the spring
• See the geothermal pools in Rotorua
• Dig yourself a jacuzzi at Hot Water Beach

• See the Southern Lights
• Try heli-hiking
• Go to an All Blacks rugby game (I don’t care about sports, though I do like Rugby and want to do this SO BAD)
• See the Wanaka Tree
• See the Moeraki Boulders
• Visit the Steampunk HQ in Oamaru
• Drive the Forgotten World Highway
• Hike Mount Cook National Park
• Try skydiving over Lake Taupo
• Bike around Lake Pukaki
• Visit Cathedral Cove

• Go wine tasting in the Marlborough region
• See Marlborough Sound
• Visit the Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery
• Wander around the beautiful city of Dunedin
• Hike to the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier
• Do some wine tasting in Canterbury
• See a Kakapo bird
• See a Kiwi bird
• See Fiordland penguins
• Hike to Roy’s Peak
• See Kea Parrots

• Hike the Gertrude Saddle
• Hike the Ben Lomond Summit in Queenstown
• Hike the Kepler Track
• Explore Queenstown
• See the rocks at Castle Hill
• Climb Mount Taranaki
• See Maori rock carvings
• Explore Auckland
• Drive the 90-Mile Beach Highway (yes, an official highway on the beach)
• Visit the Kapiti Island bird sanctuary

• Explore Wellington
• Ride the Wellington Cable car
• Visit Abel Tasman National Park
• Explore Christchurch
• Ride the Christchurch Gondola
• Cage dive with sharks on Stewart Island
• Go stargazing at Lake Tekapo
• See the Church of the Good Shepard at Lake Tekapo
• Do a campervan road trip
• Hike the Cooks Cove Walkway
• Hike to the Paneikire Hut

• See New Zealand birds at Zealandia in Wellington
• Hike the remote Hollyford track
• See Tane Mahuta (the oldest known living Kauri Tree in New Zealand
• Go birdwatching at Tiritiri Matangi Island
• Dive the Poor Knights Islands
• Go sandboarding at the Te Paki sand dunes
• Visit Slope Point, the southernmost point in New Zealand
• Drive along Arthur’s Pass
• Go jetboating at Huka Falls
• Take the TranzAlpine Trail

• Take the gondola to Bobs Peak in Queenstown
• Hike the Isthmus Peak Track
• Visit the Waimangu Volcanic Valley
• Hike the Grandview Mountain Track
• Hike the Motatapu Valley
• Visit Arrowtown
• Visit Huka Falls
• Visit Akaroa
• Hike to Meg Hut
• Explore Campbell Island

• Visit the charming Stewart Island
• Visit one of the subantarctic islands, the Snares Islands
• Visit Macquarie Island
• Hike Mt. Aspiring National Park
• Look for penguins in the Catlins
• Visit Paparoa National Park
• Go rafting on the Landsborough River
• Do a flightseeing tour (or three)
• Walk the Mount Manaia Track
• Hike the Mangawahi Cliffs

• Hike the Te Whara Track
• Hike the Hooker Valley Track
• Hike to Mueller Hut
• Hike to the Moke Lake viewpoint
• Hike to the Welcome Flat Hut
• See the world’s longest bra fence in Cardrona Valley
• See the world’s steepest street in Dunedin
• Visit cape Reinga
• See the black sand beaches on the west coast
• Hike to Lake Marian

Have you been to New Zealand? What was your favorite thing to do there? What’s on your New Zealand bucket list?