The idea of crafting a bucket list sounds so damn grim, but if you ignore the mortality side of things, it’s actually a really endearing concept! It means you’re super determined to visit as many beautiful sites as you can in your lifetime. And here’s a tip: you can tick off a bunch of those items with one trip to New Zealand!
Our Kiwi neighbours boast a bunch of incredible locations and activities that you probably already have on your bucket list, and if they’re not, they absolutely will be after you’ve had a read of the amazing time I had over there.
From sleeping under the stars to visiting the very location where the Lord of the Rings flicks were filmed, here are a list of bucket list items you can gleefully tick off from a stop over at New Zealand.
1. Bike ride through Hamilton
As Kiwi queen Lorde will tell you, the best way to fang around town is via bicycle!
A must-visit region in New Zealand is the glorious Hamilton — it’s a vibrant city with a relaxed vibe, rich cultural experiences, and easy access to some of the country’s most iconic attractions such as the Hamilton Gardens and MADE Markets.
During your stay in Hamilton, you can get your hands on a set of wheels via River Riders, the largest bike hire operator along the Te Awa cycleway, with three conveniently located pick up and drop off depots in Hamilton, Ngaruawahia and Cambridge.
You have the option of hiring a bike and riding at your own pace or joining a tour and having an experienced guide immerse you in the culture, history and DIVINE views of the area.
If you’re not much of a cycler, rest assured that I had not been on a bike in oh, about 10 or so years and I was not only able to keep up with the tour, but it also reinvigorated my love of cycling. It really is the best way to spend an afternoon and see some gorgeous New Zealand sites while you’re at it! (Not to mention work off the endless local delicacies you’ll be sampling during your trip.)
2. Visited Hobbiton
No bucket list is complete without ‘visit Hobbiton’ stamped on it, and good news, my fellow hobbits, you can do just that during your stay in New Zealand!
As any Lord of the Rings fan worth their salt would know, the movie series was filmed near Matamata (about an hour’s drive from Hamilton) and you can now tour the very location and pop your head into the hobbit houses (but watch your head, ofc!).
Visiting Hobbiton has been on my bucket list since I was nine!!!!! (Credit: Supplied)
The set tour now allows guests to peek inside the houses and take piccies! (Credit: Supplied)
The Green Dragon Inn’s mantra. (Credit: Supplied)
The guided set tour includes a peek at the hobbit holes (including Bilbo and Frodo’s iconic Bag End), learning behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and enjoying a bev at the Green Dragon Inn.
If there had been an orc attack while I was touring the hobbit houses, I would’ve perished a very happy and content lad, having spent time in the most mystical place on earth.
3. Stay at an Unyoked Cabin
If you’ve been sleeping on Unyoked Cabins, you’d better wake the fuck up. And the good news is that you’ll be waking the fuck up under the stars, so not a bad place to rest your head!
I’ll admit, I too had been sleeping on the off-grid wilderness cabins. I knew there were a bunch around Oz — I had watched vicariously through other people’s Insta Stories as they had the time of their freaking lives sleeping out in the wild in self-contained cabins, but I had yet to give it a crack myself.
Welp, my trip to New Zealand was the opportunity to pop my Unyoked cherry!
The view from our Unyoked cabin in Raglan. (Credit: Supplied)
There are six locations across Auckland, each one nestled within native forest, surrounded by some of New Zealand’s oldest and largest trees, as well as rare and unique birdlife. Inside, you’ll enjoy all the creature comforts, including a cozy bed along with complimentary local teas, freshly roasted local coffee beans and a fully-stocked bar for some sunset bevs as you light your campfire and enjoy the scenery.
I’ve always wanted to sleep under the stars in New Zealand, and staying in an Unyoked Cabin was the perfect way to do it — cozy and safe, but still totally immersed in nature.
4. Learn about the Māori culture
If, like me, you’ve always wanted to immerse yourself in Māori culture and learn about their traditions and heritage, there are many sites to visit and activities you can do while you’re in New Zealand.
For instance, you could attend one of the many cultural experiences at Te Pā Tū, including the Winter Matariki Celebration (May 2025 – September 2025) and the Summer Matariki Harvest Celebration (October 2025 – April 2026) where you’ll learn about the Māori people, watch performances, partake in activities and enjoy a delicious feast.
The Haka performed at the Summer Matariki Harvest Celebration. (Credit: Supplied)
To attend, you’ll hop on a bus from their HQ in Rotorua then head to the sacred sight to enjoy a night of rituals and stories of ancient Māori warfare and peace in a feast of culture and cuisine.
You can also learn more about the Māori culture (and enjoy the incredible geothermal activity) at the Te Rā Guided Experience at Te Puia in Rotorua.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a lover of history and culture, or simply looking to explore Rotorua’s unique offerings, the Te Rā Guided Experience provides a comprehensive and enriching adventure.
A gallery of Māori art at Te Puia. (Credit: Supplied)
5. Oyster tour
An oyster tour is the bucket list item you never knew you had!
I love me some oysters, I slurp ’em up like nobody’s business. But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d ever have the lush honour of visiting an oyster farm and watching the salty treat be harvested and shucked by the experts, then sampling them on the boat ride home.
All of this is on offer via the Tio Ōhiwa cruise, which disembarks from the Ōhiwa Harbour at Toi-Kai-Rākau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The 90-minute tour includes an interactive experience of oyster shucking and tasting by experienced and passionate oyster farmers.
And if you’re lucky, you might even get to see some stingrays being fed:
See that? That’s a stingray being patted like a puppy. Now THAT’S bucket list shit, right there. (Credit: Supplied)
Drooling just thinking about how bloody delicious this feast was. (Credit: Supplied)
6. Enjoy fush and chups
When you think ‘New Zealand food’, naturally, you think fish and chips. Not just because it’s fun to say it in the Kiwi accent (“fush and chups!”), but because New Zealand is known for the top notch quality of its seafood.
If you fancy yourself a fush and chup aficionado, then you’re in luck because the country is teeming with A++ options, from Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market at Tauranga Waterfront to Fisherman’s Wharf.
FUSH. AND. CHUPS!!!!!! (Credit: Supplied)
The best part about enjoying fish and chips in New Zealand is the unbeatable combo of fresh, locally caught seafood and stunning natural backdrops.
7. Glow worm kayaking
One of the most magical experiences of my life thus far came on the last night of our trip when we embarked on a glow worm kayaking tour.
We opted for Waimarino Kayak Tours (based in both Tauranga and Rotorua), which showcases some of the best waterways in the Bay of Plenty.
Our chariots await! (Credit: Supplied)
Paddling across a lake at dusk to watch a canyon glow with thousands of glow worms was truly one of those breathtaking moments that you never forget.
Cannot recommend this enough!
8. Visit New Zealand wineries
As a wine lover and vineyard frequenter, I just had to visit the holy grail of vino!
Whenever I hit up a bottle-o in Australia, I always b-line for the New Zealand wine because it’s a known fact that the Kiwis bloody know how to do good wine!
If you’re keen on sampling the local food and bevs, I highly recommend Matakana Tours which is a family-run business based in the stunning Matakana region. As part of the tour, you’ll visit boutique wineries, breweries, a bee farm, and other stunning sights and activities.
Nectar of the gods! (Credit: Supplied)
And that’s a wrap on just some of the glorious activities New Zealand has to offer!
Wanna suss more off-the-beaten path adventures? Check out more options for your New Zealand getaway.
The writer visited New Zealand as a guest of Tourism New Zealand.
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