There are countless natural wonders in New Zealand, and limiting them to a list of ten has been a painful, agonising task. One thing is for sure; every scene on this list will present you with an even more difficult dilemma. Reach for the camera, or just stand in awe?
Te Mata Peak
The Te Mata Park in the Hawke’s Bay region of the North Island is home to one of New Zealand’s finest long distance views. Inside the park is the famous Te Mata Peak, a sprawling, towering, mountainous corridor which is ascended by over 200,000 people each year. From the top of the 400m peak you will have an incredible panorama of the surrounding landscape, including Hawke’s Bay and the ocean to the north east, as well as the imposing shadow of Mount Ruapehu to the west.
Mount Victoria
Wellington’s Mount Victoria isn't a particularly big hill, but it is ideally situated and just about tall enough to offer a stunning perspective of New Zealand’s capital, the harbour and beyond. Why not take a picnic up to the lookout and watch the sun go down?
Nugget Point Lighthouse
The rocky nuggets which protrude out from the South Island’s south east coast are a photographer’s dream. There’s plenty of wildlife to be scene amongst the scattered rocks, including seals and the native Yellow-eyed penguins. Don't miss the sun setting over this picturesque destination.
Huka Falls
The Huka Falls are the most visited natural attraction in New Zealand, and it’s not hard to see why. As water from Lake Tuapo drains through the Waikato River, the current is narrowed into a turbulent crescendo, cascading down the Huka Falls with a staggering ferocity. Huka is the Maori for ‘foam’, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it…
Paradise, Glenorchy
Nestled between Queenstown and the Mount Aspiring National Park is Glenorchy. It’s a pretty small town, but is used by many as the starting point of a journey into Paradise (yes that is the actual name). Paradise is just north of Glenorchy, and has some of the greatest scenery that New Zealand has to offer. Much of the area was used for filming in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and there are plenty of tracks and trails which provide fantastic alpine views.
The Milford Road
As you enter the Fiordland National Park, the road that leads from Te Anua to Milford Sound sees you meander through a dramatic, snow tipped mountains, and past the renowned Mirror Lakes. It’s difficult to be specific and say which is the view that justifies an entry on this list, because they are both quite special.
The Auckland cityscape from Mount Eden
A climb to the top of Mount Eden will probably leave you out of breath, but it’s worth it. Honest. From the summit of the volcano’s cone you will be left with a breathtaking view of the Auckland skyline to the north.
The Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers
This isn’t exactly a single view; it requires more of an extended observation. Either way, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are a rather special sight to behold, and a trip to the Westland Tai Poutini National Park to admire them is highly recommended.
Lake Matheson
Near the above mentioned Fox glacier is Lake Matheson. It’s famous around the world for its reflective views of two nearby mountains, Mt Cook and Mt Tasman, and its picture is in every New Zealand catalogue you could care to buy- and quite rightly so!
Mount Taranaki
The Mt Egmont National Park is formed around the majestic Mount Taranaki. To be honest, any view from distance is dominated by New Zealand’s most perfectly formed volcano in the background, and it’s a true sight to behold from every possible angle.
