Best scenery in New Zealand (in 50 pictures)

Top 6 New Zealand views

Let's start strong, with my overall favorite views around both islands.
It is really difficult to choose, but those are the first ones I remember when thinking about NZ.
As you can see they are all very different and give you an excellent snapshot of what the country has to offer in terms of natural beauty.

#1 - View from Lake Mangamahoe

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West coast, not far from Plymouth
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is such a representative picture of New Zealand: you have a lake, the dense green vegetation, the magnificent volcano Mt Taranaki and it even has a little snow at the top. This is my absolute favorite picture from my trips around NZ. I think I will make a jigsaw puzzle out of it.

If you can't travel yet, you can enjoy it at home with this jigsaw puzzle:

#2 - View of lake Pukaki & Aoraki

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Middle of the island, North of Queenstown - this view was taken on the right side of the camping ground.
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  On a clear day the beautiful milky turquoise water of lake Pukaki (from the glacier) contrasts with the highest summit in NZ: Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook.
  You can walk along the shore and be mesmerized by those snowy mountains.
  Those mountains are snow-capped all year round, but others are not. Check out more in my guide about the best months to travel to New Zealand

#3 - View from Cape Reinga walk

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - At the North end of the island, view from the Cape Reinga walk
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is such an amazing place: the volcanic soil and features, the sand dunes, the meeting of the Tasman sea with the Pacific ocean. (And if you turn around, you will see the lighthouse and water water water...)

#4 - View from a Milford Sound cruise

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - As you cruise Milford Sound, West of Te Anau
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Milford Sound is such an impressive place. The towering walls are really plunging straight into the water. You feel so small and in awe during the cruise. It is hard to imagine how the cliffs are so vertical!
• This is an must do on your South Island itinerary
• If you can't travel yet, you can enjoy it at home with this jigsaw puzzle:

#5 - View around Orakei Korako geothermal wonderland

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Orakei Korako Geothermal park, North of Taupo
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This place is unbelievable. Already the colors and shapes of the geothermal features are out of this world, but on top of that the place is surrounded by dense forest! Plus the park walk is set up so that you have many viewpoints with different angles. My favorite geothermal park in the Rotorua-Taupo region.
  

#6 - View from the Castlepoint lighthouse walk

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West Coast, mid-way between Napier and Wellington
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The walk around the lighthouse and the lagoon offers some amazing viewpoints of this coastal area. The rocks, the shapes, the colors of the lagoon are even more appreciated from above. People often don't take the time to make the detour, but I think it is worth it. Just know that it can be very windy.
  See more photos in my article
• If you can't travel yet, you can enjoy it at home with this jigsaw puzzle:

New Zealand Scenery - a great variety of natural features 

Below is a little bit of geography for those interested. Otherwise you can skip to the next section and keep admiring the inspiring pictures of the New Zealand scenery.

Overview of New Zealand's geography

NZ is an archipelago composed of around 600 islands.
The 3 largest are North island, South Island and Stewart island.
The terrain vary a lot.

• The North Island is mostly covered by a volcanic plateau - it has smaller mountain ranges up to 1700m (5600ft). It is also home to volcanic summits (such as Mt Taranaki), large patch of forest, rolling hills and large lakes
• The South Island is mostly covered by the Southern Alps - on the West the landscapes are rough dropping into the sea with glaciers covering the summits. And to the East of the mountains are the Canterbury plains with farming land and lower cliffs. It is home of the highest point in New Zealand: Aoraki (Mt Cook)

The weather vary from Wet and cold around the fjords, to subtropical in the North of the North island.

You can read a lot more on the Wikipedia page

Best drives in the New Zealand mountains

To be able to see all the amazing landscapes around New Zealand, you will have to drive a lot. It is bigger that you imagine! But simply driving around is stunning, so nobody is complaining. It is a great country to plan a road trip (check out my planning article and my driving guide)
Below is my selection of the top 3 roads to enjoy:

#7 - Arthur's Pass

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Between Christchurch and Greymouth - road 73
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  It is difficult to describe. I hope you will get to see it when the clouds are high enough because it is spectacular. The middle section is like driving inside a painting for 1h. There are summits all around with contrasting colors. You don't know in which direction to look (well if you are the one driving, yes you do..)

#8 - Lindis pass

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Road 8 between Wanaka and Omarama
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is not a place for those who love trees. However if like me you love bare landscapes with intense colors and soft/hard lines, this is the place for you.

#9 - Road to Milford Sound

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Te Anau to Milford Sound, South of Queenstown
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  You start feeling the fjord-like landscapes. You drive in a succession of valleys and flats. Some are narrow with rivers, others are wider with lakes. And at one point you get to higher ground for fantastics views. Fascinating all the way.

Practical maps and all the locations listed in this article are included in my eBook that will help you plan an unforgettable road trip!
Be overwhelmed by the beauty not the planning!

Best geothermal features in NZ - photos

I am always fascinated by geothermal activity (this is one of the reasons why I love Iceland). And New Zealand has a wonderful collection of them around Rotorua (see my article): colorful, powerful and out of this world. I think all the geothermal areas are worth being visited, but my favorite is Orakei Korako.

#10 - Pohutu geyser at Te Puia

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - In Rotorua
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is not the biggest geyser around the world, but it is quite constant and reliable. So if you wait a little you will see it in action. And the white and yellow terrace,  that has formed under, looks like another planet.

#11 - Champagne Pool at Wai-o-tapu

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - South of Rotorua
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Probably the most photographed place in New Zealand. Who has not see such a NZ picture?
  And believe me, it is even more impressive in reality. Plus Wai-o-tapu is full of colorful geothermal features. See my article
• Not to be missed on your North Island itinerary

#12 - Bird's nest terrace at Waimangu

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Between Rotorua and Taupo
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  In the Waimangu volcanic valley you can walk all the way to the lake along a variety of geothermal features. This one particularly caught my eye: a miniature silica terrace formed by the boiling spinggs where the algae create striking colors.

#13 - Silica terrace in Orakei Korako

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Just North of Lake Taupo
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  I have already selected one picture of Orakei (in my best views). This is another angle of the main terrace. The colors are out of this world the the walk path let you get right in the middle of it!

Best volcanic landscapes in New Zealand 

Geothermal activity means volcanoes.
There are many volcanoes around the island from various periods of time. Some are perfect cones while others have been eroded for a long time. Below are my favorite views of New Zealand volcanoes.

#14 - Mt Taranaki from Egmont

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West coast, Mt Taranaki
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  You can drive all around Mt Taranaki and see how magnificent it is from every angle. If there are not clouds, you won't be disappointed wherever you go. It has a perfect conical shape and dense forest on its slopes. This picture was taken from the end of Pembroke road, above the Egmont forest.

#15 - Tongariro

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - South of Lake Taupo
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Tongariro is the most famous volcanic landscapes in New Zealand because it is home to one of the most amazing day hike in the world: the Tongariro Alpine crossing. But if you are not up for the hike, you can still appreciate the stunning typical New Zealand landscape all around. For example, the photo above was taken on the drive to the Whakapapa ski fields (Mt Ruapehu)

#16 - Akaroa / Banks peninsula

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - South of Christchurch, Banks peninsula.
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Even though the volcanic activity is mostly in the North island, you can also enjoy the work of Nature around an old volcanic crater in the South. The peninsula formed as an island with volcanoes up to 1500m above sea level. Akaroa was one of the main craters. Erosion joined the sea to Akaroa harbour and the island to the mainland.

Best New Zealand landscapes around lakes

New Zealand is home to thousands of Lakes (according to Wikipedia: "There are 3,820 lakes in New Zealand that have a surface area larger than one hectare"). And a lot of them in the South island and surrounded by mountains. So it is difficult to narrow it down to just a few pictures.

I hope nobody will take offense that their lake is not included. 
Note that Lake Pukaki is already in the best views (when the weather is clear) so I have not included it again in this section.

#17 - Lake Tekapo

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Between Christchurch and Queenstown, Road 8
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The glacial color of the lake against the brown of the mountains, the view from above thanks to the public access to the Observatory 

#18 - Lake Wakatipu

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Queenstown
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  It is the most visit of all the lakes but is name is not so well known because everybody refers to the area as Queenstown. This is a vey long lake with 2 sharp bends. I have probably more than 500 pictures of the lake, it is hard to chose one. This is the view towards Glenorchy and Fjordlands.

#19 - Lake Ohau

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - West of Twizel, short detour from Road 8
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Often overlooked compared to its neighbours (Lake Pukaki and Tekapo), Lake Ohau is a Nature wonderland. if you are looking for peace and quiet with magnificent views, plan to stay overnight or longer!

Coastal landscapes in New Zealand

#20 - Tunnel beach

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - East Coast, South of Dunedin
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  A short walk down the cliffs offers magnificent views of the archways and the beaches. Plus you can walk inside a man-made tunnel to get to the sandy beach at the feet of the tall cliffs!
  See more pictures in my Tunnel Beach article

#21 - Wharariki beach

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - North West tip of the island, near The Spit
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  I think the photo says it all. You have to visit at low tide (preferably when the sea is retracting), to admire the giant rock formations and their reflections on the sand. The beach also offers sand dunes, caves and rock pools where you can see seal pups play (see photo later in the article)
  More photos in my Wharariki article

#22 - Cape Palliser

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - East of Wellington
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  At Cape Palliser, you can climb and impressive staircase to the base of the lighthouse and enjoy those magnificent views with black sand, turquoise water and hills dropping gently into the sea.

#23 - Cathedral cove

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Coromandel peninsula, South east of Auckland
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is one of the most famous coastal landscapes in New Zealand. The giant arch and sea stack offer wonderful perspectives. Plus the walk takes you through stunning forest and cliff tops with open views.
  See more photos

#24 - Cathedral caves (do not mix them up!)

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - East coast, in the Catlins region, South of Dunedin
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Accessible only at low tide, the giant caves are connected at the end. It was a lot more impressive than what I was expecting. The walk through the native forest is already enchanting, then you walk on the beach to reach the enormous cavities. See my article

#25 - Te Paki sand dunes

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - North end of the New Zealand , just South of Cape Reinga
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  I love sand dunes. Period. Those were no exception.

Best beaches in New Zealand

#26 - The beaches of Abel Tasman National Park

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Northern coast, West of Nelson
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Golden and orange sand, turquoise water, dense vegetation... The Tasman national park is world-renowned for tis beaches and easy walking opportunities.

#27 - Cable Bay

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - North of Nelson
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is not one of the typical beaches included in best-of lists but I absolutely love it: it has water on both sides (and large grey pebbles like in my hometown 🙂 )

#28 - Piha beach

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - East of Auckland
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  To change a little, it you are looking for black sand I recommend Piha beach. There is the large rock formation in the middle int he shape of a Lion. You can walk up to the Tasman viewpoint to better see it from above. And at low tide, you can go for a walk in the canyon created by Taitomo island

#29 - Matapouri bay

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - East coast, North East of Whangarei
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The shape of the beach feels absolutely perfect. The bay is protected and there are several walking opportunities from the beach.

Scenic Fiordland -  the most famous NZ scenery

Despite having such a variety of landscapes, New Zealand is mostly famous of its fjords. Located at the South West of South island they are simply magnificent.
They are called sounds but geographically they are fjords (or fiords) because they were created by glaciers.

#30 - Milford Sound

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - North West of Te Anau
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  There are no words to describe this landscape. The walls of the fjord are rising above 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) and are almost vertical. You feel so small as you cruise between them.

#31 - Doubtful sound

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - South West of Te Anau
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The experience of Doubtful Sound is quite different from Milford. You can't get there by car. You first have to cross Lake Manapouri then take a bus (with the view of the fjord above) and then cruise the fjord. There are a lot less tourists and boats so the experience is more peaceful and wild. 

Best waterfalls in New Zealand

#32 - Bridal Veil Falls

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Near Raglan, West Coast
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The walk to Bridal Veil falls is well organized with staircases and platforms to see from various angles and heights. The 55m (180ft) high drop is set in a lush cove with moss and palm trees.
• See more photos

#33 - Rere falls

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West of Gisborne (East coast)
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is the funniest waterfall I have seen. Kids were loving it, climbing the small slope at the bottom and getting behind the water.
  The wall of water is stunning and the area is great to relax.

#34 - Marokopa falls

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Near the Waitomo caves
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  So many people visit the Waitomo caves and yet only a very small portion drive a little further to admire to easily accessed Marokopa falls. They were my favorite because of the high number of cascades they make on the rocks.

#35 - Devil's punchbowl

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Arthur's pass
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  After climbing a lot of stairs, you will be rewarded with views of this 131m (430ft) tall waterfall. It is quite impressive!

Geological wonders of New Zealand

Geology of New Zealand - brief intro

Oh how much I love crazy  rock formations. New Zealand is the place you want to visit if you are like me. There are many places to visit with geological curiosities.

• New Zealand is part of the Zealandia continent that broke away from Gondwana millions of years ago and got mostly submerged.
  The country is at the meeting point of 2 plates which collide and push each other creating the mountains such as the Southern Alps.
• Both islands are made of greywacke with fossils (proving it was once under the sea). In the South the heat and pressure have transformed the rock into schist while on North island, it has ben covered by layers of volcanic rock.
• In the last 1.8 million years, the Earth's movements have created the current landscapes :the rise of the Southern Alps, the eruption of volcanoes. And during the ice ages, glaciers have shaped valleys and basins.
• You can learn more about the geology of New Zealand here.

#36 - Kura Tawhiti (Castle Hill Rocks)

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Arthurs's pass drive, West of Christchurch road 73
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  I think the picture can already convince you to visit the place. You can see the scale of the giant limestone boulders with the people walking on the trail. What you don't see it that as you walk between those giants you get splendid views of the surrounding mountains. Such a special place!
  For those into movies, scenes from the Chronicles of Narnia were filmed here.
  See more photos of the Castle Hill Rocks

#37 - Omarama Clay Cliffs

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - South of Lake Tekapo, near Omarama
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Totally the type of scenery I love. The cliffs have wonderful shapes and colors plus the walk offers brilliant views of the valley. What more could you want?
  The track lets you walk at the base of the cliffs and enter one section where you are surrounded with those giants.
• See more photos and read guide

#38 - Moeraki Boulders

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - East coast, Norht of Dunedin
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Giant spherical boulders weighing several tons but laying on the beach... How is that possible? Well, they were formed over millions of year and appeared because of erosion over more millions on years. They kind of look like Dinosaur eggs. Best to visit between mid and low tide.
  More pictures and visit tips on my article.

#39 - Punakaiki (Pancake rocks)

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - North West Coast
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Still an enigma for the geologists, the stacks of rocks eroded by the sea and the rain create intriguing shapes. They do really look like pancakes.

#40 - Putangirua pinnacles

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - South Coast, west of Cape Palliser
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  To reach those giants Putangirua pinnacles, it is quite a walk inside a river bed under the sun. However once you are there, the sheer size of the pinnacles is impressive.
  Millions of years ago, the Aorangi Range was an island. As the mountains eroded, rocks were washed down and formed a sedimentary layer. Over the past 125,000 years, the Putangirua river and rains have eroded the layer of gravel: some of the sediments stayed concreted together, while others washed away. The result is the pinnacles.
  For those into movies, scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed her (Dimholt road)

Glaciers of New Zealand

New Zealand is home to several glaciers, the ice in the New Zealand scenery. They are retreating a lot and every walk will show you where they used to reach with small signs.
It is not easy to photograph glacier from a distance. So the pictures below don't do justice to them (especially as the clouds are often low on them). But I recommend you visit at least one.

#41 - Tasman Glacier

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Mt Cook village (North end of Lake Pukaki)
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is not the best walk to view a glacier as you are quite far away, but the views with the summits the lake and the valley behind are well worth the 15min walk up the stairs. The landscape is lunar-like
  See more photos

#42 - Franz Josef

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - West Coast, North of Wanaka
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Franz Josef was my favorite walk (see my comparions article). You can get quite close to the glacier with a great perspective. Because of its position it does not get as grey as the other glaciers from the dust around. Plus the walk to get there is beautiful with forest and waterfalls.

#43 - Fox Glacier

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - West Coast, North of Wanaka, South of Franz Josef
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  Another lunar-like landscape. You can get quite close (around 500m) from the glacier. It is probably the most famous of them all.

Unforgettable memories - more of my best pictures of New Zealand

I had so many more amazing experiences in New Zealand that don't fit into any of those categories. Because I want to share them with you, I have added those photos here.

#44 - Wild Seal pups at Wharariki beach

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - North Coast near the Spit
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  You remember Wharariki beach in the coast landscapes section (with the giant sea-stacks) ? Well there is even more to it. At low tide, pools of water remain and the local seal colony enjoys it. The seal pups swim and play together in them. And they are not afraid of us. Therefore we can stay there is silence to watch them have so much fun. It is difficult to leave them, so plan plenty of time!
  More photos and a video here!

#45 - Blue Springs

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West of Rotorua
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  It is hard to describe... The springs in New Zealand are so magnificent with the transparent water, the turquoise and emerald colors and the vegetation growing inside and around them. You need to see it to believe it.
  See more photos

#46 - Swimming with wild dolphins

• Which island? - South
• Where is it located? - Kaikoura
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  This is such an incredible experience. You leave by boat from Kaikoura looking for a pod of wild dolphins, it can be long before you find them, but then you jump make noise under water and they come play all around you. It can be a little scary because they swim very fast, but it is an experience you will never forget!

#47 - Tane Mahuta

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - Northland, West Coast
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  The Waipoua forest is the largest section of native forest in North land. It is home to the Kauri trees. Tane Mahuta is the largest of them (4.4m in diameter). It is 2000 years old and still growing.

#48 - Mangapohue Natural bridge

• Which island? - North
• Where is it located? - West of Waitomo caves
• Why is the scenery amazing?
  A simple 10min walk and you find yourself under a giant natural bridge with vegetation taking over of both side. This was almost more impressive than the Waitomo caves...

New Zealand pictures - Sunrise and Sunsets

And to finish, I am sharing a few pictures of sunrises and sunsets in the hope that it will incite you to wake up early and stay out in the evening. Those are really the most magical hours of the day.

All the locations listed in this article are included in my eBooks that will help you plan an unforgettable road trip!

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