New Zealand
Travel Guide
In Aotearoa, the Long White Cloud, you can feel nature’s heart beating everywhere you go. The scenery, packed with fjordlands, mountains, vineyards and beaches, is out of this world (it’s no wonder it was the setting for the Lord of the Rings films). Its towns and cities are full of friendly locals. To help you choose where to go, our New Zealand travel guide is full of inspiration for the ultimate New Zealand trip. Whether you’ll be spellbound at Milford Sound, bungee jumping in Christchurch, or enjoying a Maori feast, its time to visit New Zealand.
Top New Zealand destinations
Latest New Zealand stories
Sweet tooth? Bake this Be My Guest host's specialty New Zealand pavlova
What is Waitangi Day and how does New Zealand celebrate it?
Iconic sights and things to do in New Zealand
Festivals and cultural events in New Zealand
Matariki
A highlight of Māori festivals, Matariki marks the start of the Māori New Year late June or early July. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades, which rise in midwinter, heralding the start of a new year.
Hobbit Day
Celebrating the birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo of Lord of the Tings, International Hobbit Day is the 22nd of September 2021 with celebrations and merriment all round. One of the quirkier New Zealand events you must not miss.
Pasifika Festival (Auckland)
Held in early March, the Pasifika Festival is a vibrant New Zealand event that brings together the rich traditions, music, dance and food of Pacific Island nations. Established 1993, it’s the largest festival of its kind globally, drawing more than 200,000 attendees each year.