New Zealand Off The Beaten Path

  Moeraki Boulders
by Robmj
 
  • Moeraki Boulders
      Moeraki Boulders
    by Robmj
  • New Zealand fur seal basking on Tonga Island
      New Zealand fur seal basking on Tonga...
    by JohanIsWeg
  • An easy walk to the Pyramides, Otago Peninsula.
      An easy walk to the Pyramides, Otago...
    by Kakapo2
  • Always a refreshing walk home in Dunedin
      Always a refreshing walk home in Dunedin
    by cannedbeets
  • Taupiri Bay
      Taupiri Bay
    by iandsmith
 

Most Viewed Off The Beaten Path in New Zealand

1.

West Coast Beaches   Auckland

West Coast Beaches, Auckland

 10 Reviews  Our local West Coast Beach is great for some fresh air, a walk along this beach is fantastic! Always popular for swimming, surfing, picnicking and fishing but not as crowded as other West Coast... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

2.

Port Hills   Christchurch

Port Hills, Christchurch

 18 Reviews  Gethsemane Gardens If you would like to visit a wildly romantic garden with a Christian theme, then this is it! St. Cecilia Chapel is an enchanting little trellis structure in the heart of Gethsemane... 

 See All 121 Off The Beaten Path in Christchurch

3.

Arrowtown   Queenstown

Arrowtown, Queenstown

 9 Reviews  Arrowtown was well publicised as ..... New Zealand's only living historic gold mining town , so we decided to go for the short 20 minute drive on a wet day, and check it out. Arrowtown is an old... 

 See All 59 Off The Beaten Path in Queenstown

4.

Wai-O-Tapu   Rotorua

Wai-O-Tapu, Rotorua

 1 Review  This attraction consists of a serious of geothermal pools and bush walks and the infamous Lady Knox Geyser. They are located just south of Rotorua and are best reached by car. You should buy your... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

5.

Port Chalmers   Dunedin

Port Chalmers, Dunedin

 2 Reviews  Port Chalmers is located on the north shore of Otago harbour and is the deep water port for Otago. A short, 15 minute drive from Dunedin, and we were here! We found a nice lookout here, where my... 

 See All 44 Off The Beaten Path in Dunedin

6.

Otago   South Island

Otago, South Island

 8 Reviews  When gold was discovered in in 1863.in a valley in the foothills of the Mt Ida Range in Central Otago it wasn't long before the town now known as Naseby quickly began to grow as prospectors followed... 

 See All 25 Off The Beaten Path in South Island

7.

Sightseeing   Auckland

Sightseeing, Auckland

 15 Reviews  One of the nice little suburbs of Auckland is Mission Bay, with the beautiful water view and the nice park set against the beach, this is definitely worth the 10 minute drive from downtown. Sarah is... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

8.

Lake Tekapo   Christchurch

Lake Tekapo, Christchurch

 9 Reviews  New Zealand's most famous sheep stealer, James McKenzie owned a dog named Friday. Both the Mackenzie County and the pass are named after him. McKenzie was apprehended at the Mackenzie Pass by an... 

 See All 121 Off The Beaten Path in Christchurch

9.

Milford Sound   Queenstown

Milford Sound, Queenstown

 4 Reviews  Milford Sound is a stunning body of still dark waters from which rise forest covered sheer cliffs to a height of up to 1,692 metres. The township itself is fairly unimpressive despite the grandeur... 

 See All 59 Off The Beaten Path in Queenstown

10.

Skyline Gondola and Luge   Rotorua

Skyline Gondola and Luge, Rotorua

 1 Review  Skyline Skyrides take you up 487m above sea level to a fun on Mt Ngongotaha which overlooks Rotorua, Lake Rotorua and the surrounding areas. There is a restaurant and bar at the top which of course... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

11.

The Catlins   Dunedin

The Catlins, Dunedin

 1 Review  Waipapa Point is one of several places along the Catlins Coast where it is possible to see Hooker’s Sea Lions. These endangered animals are found mostly at the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, but a... 

 See All 44 Off The Beaten Path in Dunedin

12.

Canterbury   South Island

Canterbury, South Island

 6 Reviews  Peel Forest is about halfway between the towns of Timaru and Christchurch, via the back roads. Its a great spot for walking, picnicking and just enjoying the outdoors. Several waymarked trails through... 

 See All 25 Off The Beaten Path in South Island

13.

Auckland Botanic Gardens   Auckland

Auckland Botanic Gardens, Auckland

 7 Reviews  On the edge of the large Central Lawn area is the Potter Children’s Garden which is designed with the little ones in mind. There is a maze and an interactive walled garden with stories of the puriri... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

14.

Lyttelton   Christchurch

Lyttelton, Christchurch

 11 Reviews  and lots of charm. With its brightly painted houses tumbling down the steep hills and narrow stairs to go up and down, Lyttelton reminded me of the Chilean port of Valparaiso way across the other... 

 See All 121 Off The Beaten Path in Christchurch

15.

Wanaka   Queenstown

Wanaka, Queenstown

 3 Reviews  Wanaka is a small town situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka and was originally settled during the gold rush excitement of the 19th century. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Parkand... 

 See All 59 Off The Beaten Path in Queenstown

16.

Agrodome   Rotorua

Agrodome, Rotorua

 1 Review  The Agrodome is a 160 hectare working sheep and cattle farm which gives international visitors a real hands on live experience of farming. There is complete interaction with goats, cattle, sheep, deer... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

17.

Taiaroa Head   Dunedin

Taiaroa Head, Dunedin

 1 Review  The Albatross has long been a creature of reverence and superstition. Well before Coleridge penned his 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner', seafarers believed that when their captains died their souls took... 

 See All 44 Off The Beaten Path in Dunedin

18.

Nelson/Tasman   South Island

Nelson/Tasman, South Island

 2 Reviews  Tonga Bay Beach among one of the many beautiful stretches of beach in the Abel Tasman National Park. We kind of just stumbled on it on our hike through the bush. A very tranquil and peaceful place.... 

 See All 25 Off The Beaten Path in South Island

19.

Hauraki Gulf   Auckland

Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

 9 Reviews  Update 24 July 2008 The ferry company operating the trip to Tiritiri Matangi has changed (and if only the name...) since I wrote my tip: It is no more the Kawau Cat Ferry but 360 Discovery - and it... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

20.

New Brighton Pier..   Christchurch

New Brighton Pier.., Christchurch

 4 Reviews  The pier was built originally in 1894 and was demolished in 1964. $4 million was raised by the council and community funds to build a new pier, and in 1987 it was opened. You can get good views of... 

 See All 121 Off The Beaten Path in Christchurch

21.

Kawarau River   Queenstown

Kawarau River, Queenstown

 2 Reviews  Even if you don't dare to do a bungy jump, you can walk around the Bungy Centre with exhibitions on the history and equipment used for bungy jump. The surrounding is very beautiful. You can take... 

 See All 59 Off The Beaten Path in Queenstown

22.

Rotorua Museum   Rotorua

Rotorua Museum, Rotorua

 2 Reviews  The Rotorua Art & History Museum (Te Whare Taonga O Te Arawa) has some nice exhibits and contains artifacts that display the cultural heritage of the Arawa tribe, who were the main pre-European... 

 See All 26 Off The Beaten Path in Rotorua

23.

Mount Cargill.   Dunedin

Mount Cargill., Dunedin

 1 Review  If you have a car, then a drive to the summit of Mount Cargill, northeast of the city, is a must. The views from here are expansive and you can see the entire Otago Peninsula and harbour. To the north... 

 See All 44 Off The Beaten Path in Dunedin

24.

West Coast   South Island

West Coast, South Island

 2 Reviews  The day we drove from Fox Glacier to Haast we passed some awesome scenery down the West Coast. This place was called Knight's Point Lookout and was great to spend a few minutes admiring before heading... 

 See All 25 Off The Beaten Path in South Island

25.

Mt Eden   Auckland

Mt Eden, Auckland

 1 Review  The Eden Garden is a privately operated garden open to the public on the slopes of Auckland's largest mainland volcano, Mt Eden. The garden occupies an abandoned quarry and was developed from 1964.... 

 See All 93 Off The Beaten Path in Auckland

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Bay of Islands: Hole-in-the-Rock Cruise

by vtveen

When visiting the Bay of Islands area we had to make at least one cruise to see at least a couple of the 144 islands. We decided to make the "Cape Brett Hole-in-the-Rock Cruise" with Fullers, leaving in the morning from Paihia for a halfday cruise. Fullers vessel is a nice catamaran, but if you want to sit outside on the deck be sure to board early. We made a stop in Russell before leaving to the Bay. The journey continues along beautiful bays and islands, surrounded by crystal clear sea. Some of them are inhabited; must be like a fairy tale to live here. But it is also exiting to see the 'fight' between sun and clouds in the middle of these amazing scenery.We didn't see the 'promised' dolphins, just a Gannet colony on Bird Rock. Motukokako Island is the island with the hole in the rock. Although the waves were pretty high the skipper succeeded to manoeuvre his 'huge' boat through the...

Tip Photo
Truman Track - with a lovely beach

by vtveen

Just three km's north of the hustle and bustle of Punakaiki starts the Truman Track at a small car park along SH 6 between Greymouth and Westport.The track did lead us through dense native bush with lots of typical New Zealand trees like rata's, silver ferns and nikau palms. Closer to the coast there are bushes and flax plants. There is a viewing point with amazing views over the coastline of the West Coast and the green hills of the mainland.We reached the pebble stoned beach through a short stairway. The beach has some stunning limestone rocks and caves. We were lucky to see just one other person, so she could make a piture of us.Allow 15 minutes walk one way. Be aware of a 'west coast' shower and keep an eye on the tide, because the stairway is the only way out of the beach.

Tip Photo
Pororari River Track - green as it can be

by vtveen

Paparoa National Park on the 'wild' West Coach offers a lot of fantastic walks through typical New Zealand forest. If visiting the west coast you should make at least ONE of these walks. It is a magnificent way to feel, to smell this green landscape. Green means all varieties of green from light to dark, from moss to trees.Perhaps the best time to visit this forest is after (or even during) a rainy day or shower. Everything smells so 'pure New Zealand', it is almost unbelievable.We did a part of the Pororari River Track, which starts just north of the DOC Visitor Centre at the bridge over the river (SH 6). We just followed the track along the river with beautiful views on the river and the limestone rocks. It is more or less a kind of a gorge. We passed some small wooden bridges and were surrounded by all kinds of green trees and bushes. Everywhere we heard the sound of birds, but just...

Tip Photo
Three Sisters - amazing rock formations

by vtveen

Driving SH 3 from Hamilton to New Plymouth we reached Tasman Sea at Awakino. About 15 km's further along the road is the little settlement of Tongaporutu. On the southern side of the bridge over the river is Clifton Road and at the end a small car park.With low tide it is possible to walk along the rocks to the beach to the Three Sisters (and Elephant Rock), impressive rock formations standing in the Tasman Sea, with great views to the White Cliffs and further away Mount Taranaki (if not in clouds). We had bad luck and could not walk to the beach, but found on the north bank of the river a narrow road to a farmhouse. The owner allowed us to cross his land and after climbing fences and descending very steep stairs we had also a great view on The Three Sisters.

Tip Photo
make your own hot spa at the edge of Lake Taupo

by Sandpipers

We found most of the natural hot springs around Taupo were all concreted in like normal swimming pools, and we wanted something a la naturale.... so we asked around and were told about a hot spring that trickles and gushes up through the sand near rocks at the edge of Lake Taupo. You walk down from town to the Lake, and turn left toward the boat sheds, and wander down to the rocks nearby. Look around - there won't be any signs to indicate anything. We found the small gusher, and dug out a big bowl of sand with our hands, letting the freezing lake water (it was mid winter, with snow on the mountains across the lake) into our sand bowl, to mix with the boiling hot bubbling water....and had ourselves a lovely steamy sand spa, right on the edge of the lake, all to ourselves. Bliss!!Went down the lake again the next morning and all had washed away. Noone would ever know!!

Moeraki Boulders

by grets

There are many vesrions as to how these boulders were created, legend states that they aree food basked which were washed ashore when a canoe shipwrecked off shore on its search for prized greenstones.Eric von Daneken attributes the stones to space men.Some scientists say that they were eroded from the mudstone cliffs behind and got their shape when pounded by the surf.Others claim that they started as lime crystals, which then attracted other minerals around it to make the round shape.Whichever is the truth, they are more impressive than they sound, and worth the trouble to find them.

Tip Photo
Wanaka

by grets

Wanaka is 100 km from Queenstown, located at the southern end of Lake Wanaka.There is a lot of trekking available here, as well as skiing in the winter, with Mt Aspiring National Park and the Cardrona Harris Mountains and Pisa Range being easily accessible.Activities are also available on the lake - hovercraft, jet boats, fishing, wind surfing, water skiing, jet skiing and boat trips. Also available is: paragliding, rock climbing, cycling, kayaking, rafting, horse riding and various aerial sightseeing tours.Stuart Lansborough's Puzzling World “The Leaning Tower of Wanaka” is the first you notice. The leans a remarkable fifty-three degrees and balances on one corner!The large clock on the tower actually runs backwards. It was started on the stroke of the millennium and is ticking backwards into the 20th century!The main building called “The Four Leaning Towers”. These four towers are all...

Tip Photo
Caravan parking in farms

by sheherezad

Do you know that you can park your caravan at a farm while travelling in NZ? My friend whom I visited last Christmas/New Year allows caravans to park overnight at her farm in Mossburn, South Island at no charge!

Mt. Cook - Hooker Valley Walk

by klmousseau

Trail leaves from Mount Cook Village Campsite. Appx. 60-90 minutes walk up to Hooker Lake. Fantastic view of Mount Cook and the Hooker Glacier.Stay the night at the campsite, then get up early to beat the crowds!

Tip Photo
Mangawhai Beach

by kiwigal_1

This is a summer holiday place for mainly Aucklanders. I have been holidaying here since I was very little and my family has a caravan here at the MANGAWHAI BEACH HIDEAWAY PARKTent sites, powered sites & tourist cabins. Owners: Harold, Hazel and Neal, Moir Pt Rd. Ph: (09) 431 4251.This is the Ocean Beach and this shot was taken on the first sunrise of the new millenium. For more information on Mangawhai click on the linksRhianon's Mangawhai VT page www.northland.org.nz.This link includes information on Bay of Islands, Mangawhai, Whangarei and the Far North.

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Off The Beaten Path: Cities in New Zealand
  1. Auckland Off The Beaten Path
  2. Christchurch Off The Beaten Path
  3. Queenstown Off The Beaten Path
  4. Wellington Off The Beaten Path
  5. Rotorua Off The Beaten Path
  6. Dunedin Off The Beaten Path
  7. Napier Off The Beaten Path
  8. Paihia Off The Beaten Path
  9. Akaroa Off The Beaten Path
  10. Waiheke Island Off The Beaten Path
  11. Milford Sound Off The Beaten Path
  12. Kaikoura Off The Beaten Path
  13. Hamilton Off The Beaten Path
  14. Franz Josef Glacier Off The Beaten Path
  15. Wanaka Off The Beaten Path
  16. Arthur's Pass National Park Off The Beaten Path
  17. Matamata Off The Beaten Path
  18. Timaru Off The Beaten Path
  19. Mount Maunganui Off The Beaten Path
  20. Arrowtown Off The Beaten Path
  21. Bay of Islands Off The Beaten Path
  22. Gisborne Off The Beaten Path
  23. Lake Taupo Off The Beaten Path
  24. Whangarei Off The Beaten Path
  25. Tongariro National Park Off The Beaten Path
  26. Lyttelton Off The Beaten Path
  27. Invercargill Off The Beaten Path
  28. Hanmer Springs Off The Beaten Path
  29. Oamaru Off The Beaten Path
  30. Palmerston North Off The Beaten Path
  31. Hokitika Off The Beaten Path
  32. Lake Tekapo Off The Beaten Path
  33. Te Anau Off The Beaten Path
  34. Tirau Off The Beaten Path
  35. Mount Cook National Park Off The Beaten Path
  36. Greymouth Off The Beaten Path
  37. Picton Off The Beaten Path
  38. Whangamata Off The Beaten Path
  39. Fox Glacier Off The Beaten Path
  40. Waitomo Caves Off The Beaten Path
  41. Nelson Off The Beaten Path
  42. New Plymouth Off The Beaten Path
  43. Blenheim Off The Beaten Path
  44. Taupo (town) Off The Beaten Path
  45. Ninety Mile Beach Off The Beaten Path
  46. Cape Reinga Off The Beaten Path
  47. Abel Tasman National Park Off The Beaten Path
  48. Great Barrier Island Off The Beaten Path

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North Island Off The Beaten Path  South Island Off The Beaten Path 

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Questions and Answers

eddymario profile photo

Q:  Hi, Are there good beaches where you can go for snorkeling on the South island ? Eddy 

KShezz profile photo

A: You betcha Eddy! :-) Snorkelling off New Zealand's South Island coastline offers snorkellers the chance to snorkel alongside fur seals or the world's smallest... 

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