From vivid geothermal landscapes to alpine lakes and fjords, New Zealand packs an extraordinary range of scenery into a small and very travel-friendly country.
Travel here naturally falls into two halves. On the North Island, compact distances and geothermal regions make it easy to explore without a car — something I focus on in this guide to things to do in Rotorua without a car, with nearby destinations covered in related posts.
The South Island lends itself to longer journeys through mountain passes, glaciers, and fjords. My one-week South Island road trip itinerary provides an overview, with individual posts diving deeper into the places along the route.
