Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Experiences Courses Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All New Zealand

The Atlas Obscura Guide To New Zealand

116 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New Zealand

Updated March 16, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
Wellington
Dunedin
Auckland
Christchurch
Wanaka
Lake Tekapo
All Cities
  1. Auckland
  2. Christchurch
  3. Dunedin
  4. Hamilton
  5. Lake Tekapo
  6. Napier
  7. Nelson
  8. Waimangu
  9. Wanaka
  10. Wellington
Attractions
Food & Drink
Trips
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Lists

Unusual Attractions in New Zealand

Matamata, New Zealand

Hobbiton

The real life Hobbiton, this sheep farm has been forever transformed since being built for The Hobbit film series.

Waitomo, New Zealand

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Tubing through a cave lit with glowworms is a magical underground experience.

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound

Dolphins, ancient clams and hundreds of waterfalls make this one of the world's top tourist destinations.

Castle Hill, New Zealand

Castle Hill

The Dalai Lama named this New Zealand landscape the "Spiritual Center of the Universe."

Wanaka, New Zealand

That Wanaka Tree

A solitary tree has grown up all alone on Lake Wānaka, backdropped by the beautiful Southern Alps.

Ohaupo, New Zealand

The Tree Church

One man's dream has turned into this naturally growing chapel made of almost nothing but trees.

Waiotapu, New Zealand

Devil's Bath

This electric green sulphur lake in New Zealand looks like a cartoonish radioactive dump site.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Lake Tekapo

A perfect turquoise lake colored with glacier dust.
See All 116 Things To Do in New Zealand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New Zealand

Taupo, New Zealand

Taupo McDonald's Airplane

Eat your Big Mac in a DC-3.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Bunsen

Enjoy coffee and cake while viewing antique medical equipment at this unique cafe.

Springfield, New Zealand

Springfield Doughnut

A giant doughnut was given to the small New Zealand town of Springfield to promote "The Simpsons Movie."

Wellington, New Zealand

Hiakai

This fine-dining restaurant features native New Zealand ingredients and Māori cooking.
See all 8 Places to Eat in New Zealand
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

New Zealand: Māori Traditions & Natural Marvels

Learn More

Explore New Zealand

Nature 20
Natural Wonders 18
Geology 16
Animals 14
Water 11
Art 10
Plants 9
Geological Oddities 7
Film Locations 7
Film 7
Museums And Collections 6
Roadside Attractions 6
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

New Zealand Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Bananaface
    Bananaface
    5
  2. Avatar image for Tony Dunnell
    Tony Dunnell
    4
  3. Avatar image for Annetta Black
    Annetta Black
    4
  4. Avatar image for atimian
    atimian
    3
  5. Avatar image for dibbiejane
    dibbiejane
    2

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for Gavin
    Gavin
    12
  2. Avatar image for Rachel
    Rachel
    12
  3. M
    Martin
    10
  4. Avatar image for Blindcolour
    Blindcolour
    10
  5. Avatar image for Molly McBride Jacobson
    Molly McBride Jacobson
    8
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. D
    DawnC
    82
  2. Avatar image for testpatern
    testpatern
    58
  3. B
    belladonna668
    56
  4. B
    bellahampton3
    53
  5. D
    danielraynes
    52

Recent New Zealand Activity

  • K

    kevdonelly

    wants to go to Stonehenge Aotearoa

  • Avatar image for readayy

    readayy

    wants to go to Hokonui Moonshine Museum

  • Avatar image for reley250

    reley250

    wants to go to Natural Fizzy Spring

  • C

    campbellgrade

    wants to go to Rivendell

  • C

    campbellgrade

    wants to go to The Tree Church

Stories About New Zealand

The Mystery of New Zealand's Tamil Bell, an Archaeological 'UFO'

The strange bronze artifact perplexed scholars for more than a century, including how it traveled so far from home.
by Petrina Darrah
February 8, 2023

Aurora Hunters Capture the Wonder of the Northern (and Southern) Lights

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.
by Gemma Tarlach
December 21, 2022

Along New Zealand's Demon Trail, a Family Hunts for True 'Wildness'

A couple and their young daughter hike the South Island's Hollyford Track, enduring rough terrain and vicious sand flies for a glimpse of an untamed world.
by Phillip and April Vannini
November 28, 2022

New Zealand, Off the Beaten Path

Atlas Obscura’s Senior Trips Program Manager, Becca Glatz, speaks about our amazing trip “Natural Wonders of New Zealand’s North Island” and the country in general.
Sponsored by Atlas Obscura Trips

Podcast: The Livestock Living at the End of the World

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
May 26, 2022

Get to Know New Zealand's Hugely Popular, Thrillingly Blue Mushroom

It is a key part of local culture, and looks like it was colored with a crayon.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
November 2, 2021

Under New Zealand's Dark Skies, Insects Recover and Humans Reconnect with a Lost View

The massive South Island stargazing reserve is a respite from light pollution for many species, including our own.
by Petrina Darrah
September 15, 2021

New Zealand's Slow-Moving 'Living Fossils' Have the Fastest Sperm Among Reptiles

Discovering the trait may help scientists protect the tuatara, which has been around since the dinosaurs.
by Tess McClure
September 13, 2021

Lists Featuring New Zealand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Puzzles
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Trips Blog
  • Art & Culture Trips
  • Food Trips
  • Hidden City Trips
  • History Trips
  • Photography Trips
  • Wildlife & Nature Trips
  • FAQ
  • Experiences
  • Online Courses
  • Online Experience FAQ
  • Online Course FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2023 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.