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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 QueenstownSee 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?
Nice! Continue following your dreams always, and you’ll never lack adventures!
New Zealand is definitely on my bucket list! I REALLY want to do the LOTR tour!