Travel

50 Incredible Places to Visit in New Zealand (PHOTOS)

From volcanic peaks to plunging valleys, golden beaches to underground caves, New Zealand is full of breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable natural wonders. In addition, the country has relatively mild weather all year-round, according to Ari Sarasalari, meteorologist for The Weather Channel. “There’s really not a bad time to visit,” he says, though in summer “they have a bit less rain and temperatures are warmer.”

Travelers looking to relax by a New Zealand beach during the summer have lots of options, from the golden sanded shores of the Abel Tasman National Park, to Hot Water beach of the Coromandel Peninsula. Some lucky visitors can even spot some wildlife by the shoreline: Sea lions are known to congregate along the Kaikoura coastline and even swim up Ohau stream, and the world’s smallest penguins - the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony - can be spotted daily as they wade ashore at dusk.

(MORE: 50 Amazing Travel Destinations for Animal Lovers)

Movie lovers might recognize New Zealand’s beautiful scenery from Peter Jackson’s popular movie franchises “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” both shot entirely in the country. In fact, the Oscar-winning trilogy of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ filmed at over 150 locations across the country, according to the New Zealand Tourism website. Today, fans can visit such shoot locations as 2,500 year old volcano Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in the movie), the sheer-sided hill of Mount Sunday (Edoras), or the rolling hills of Hobbiton, which has remained open as a tourist attraction.

Not to be missed are some of New Zealand’s incredible caves, including Ruakuri Cave, Aranui cave and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. The Waitomo Glowworm caves are naturally illuminated by thousands of shining glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa). Visitors can witness this spectacle by boat ride through the caves.

(MORE: 14 Spectacular Caves of the World)

New Zealand is also famous for its wine. Waiheke Island, located in the Hauraki Gulf, is home to several beautiful vineyards that are open to tourists, but 77 percent of the country’s wine is produced in the picturesque region of Marlborough, reports the Scoop Independent News.

So whether you are looking to relax in the sand, climb a glacier, visit a movie set location, or marvel at the stunning colors of a geothermal pool, there are countless incredible adventures awaiting in New Zealand. View the slideshow above for our 50 favorite destinations to visit.

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