Top 10 Tourist Attractions in New Zealand

10. Abel Tasman National Park

cc by Iris Liu

Abel Tasman National Park is a New Zealand national park located between Golden Bay and Tasman Bay at the north end of the South Island. The park is closed to vehicles, and access is either on foot, by boat, or small plane, but the trip is well worth it. While traversing the mountainous terrain, blue penguins, wekas, wood pigeons and other rare birds can all be seen.

9. Coromandel Peninsula

cc by Seamoor

The Coromandel Peninsula is on the north-eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored. Start your visit in Thames, a small but picturesque city with a rich history of gold mining. Don’t miss a stop at Hot Water Beach, where visitors can dig their own hot pool from the springs under the sands.

8. Sky Tower

cc by Eli Duke

The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located in New Zealand’s largest city. It is 328 metres (1,076 ft) tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It has become an iconic landmark in Auckland's skyline due to its height and unique design. The upper portion of the tower contains two restaurants and a cafe—including New Zealand's only revolving restaurant. There is also a brasserie-style buffet located one floor above the main observatory level.[wiki]

7. Kaikoura

cc by Sami Keinänen

Kaikoura is a small coastal town on the east (or Pacific Ocean) coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This area is famed for its seafood. You can spot fur seals, dolphins, sperm whales and albatrosses off the shore, then indulge in a feast of fresh crayfish, mussels, blue cod and more. The town is an ideal rest stop on a section of State Highway 1 that passes through isolated country both north and south of the town.

6. Napier

cc by Ronald Woan

Napier is a city in Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The town was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1931, then completely rebuilt in gorgeous Art Deco style. The other main attraction there is wine -- specifically from the wineries in Hawke's Bay, now New Zealand's second-largest wine-producing region behind Marlborough. Thousands of tourist visit Napier every February for the Art Deco Weekend, an event dedicated to the style, vintage cars, picnics and the soapbox derby.

5. Franz Josef Glacier

cc by Eric Carlson

Franz Josef Glacier is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Visitors can walk right up to the foot of the massive glacier or take a helicopter ride over the dazzling Ice Age remnant. Together with Fox Glacier it is one of South Westland’s major drawcards for tourists. The area surrounding the two glaciers is part of Te Wahipounamu, a World Heritage Site park.

4. Tongariro National Park

cc by Matti Vuorre

Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as one of the 28 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites. The park’s diverse range of ecosystems includes tranquil lakes, active volcanoes, herb fields, untamed forests and desert-like plateaus. It is one of the North Island's most popular areas for day tramping, multi-day tramping and snow sports.

3. Rotorua

cc by Paolo Macorig

Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. There are numerous natural vents, hot pools and other geothermal features in and around the city. Many of these are in parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally occur in new locations. Many places have their own private geothermal bores for heating and water for bathing although private use of naturally occurring geothermal water and steam is controlled. Nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also a popular tourist attraction with many hot springs noted for their colorful appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser.[wikitravel]

2. Bay of Islands

cc by Carmelo Aquilina

The Bay of Islands is a New Zealand enclave encompassing more than 140 subtropical islands by the country's North Island. It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in country. This bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. Not surprisingly, it is a popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen.

1. Milford Sound

cc by lwtt93

Milford Sound is a fiord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island. It has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey (the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by TripAdvisor) and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. Milford sound offers some of the world’s most staggering coastal scenery with its dramatic peaks and dark blue waters. The area’s frequent downpours only enhance this South Island beauty,  you will see more waterfalls on a rainy day.[wiki]