Most Happening Cities in New Zealand for the Urban Tourist
Is New Zealand in your bucket list too? That’s great, because the country has several spots in the cities that will make it worthwhile for you to spend the summer vacation cheerfully. The country is for everyone – nature lover or city life lover.
Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand which also could be a starting point for your New Zealand tour. Be it the coffee or wine – the country could be the heaven for your taste buds. In this blog, we will talk about different cities and their specialty to attract tourists from around the world.
Wait a second, before we go further into the discussion, let’s see what document you need to travel to New Zealand. If you don’t know the complete procedure, don’t worry, we have you covered.
New Zealand Visa
The country has a wide range of visas that tourists can apply for. But we will go into details for each one of them. If you plan to visit from the UK, you don’t need a New Zealand online visa. You will be able to enter the country with the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
For UK citizens, the New Zealand eTA allows up to 6 months of stay; for other countries, it’s 3 months.
Now, let’s begin our discussion with the top cities in the country.
Auckland – The Cosmopolitan Hub
It is the largest city of New Zealand which can be your starting point for the New Zealand tour. Because most international flights land in the Auckland airport and you can go on exploring the city. Before you go about the city, know that weather in the visiting country can be unpredictable.
Choose a sunny day with a clear sky, to get the most out of the day’s tour.
Starting with the Sky Tower. The monument stands still at a height of 186 meters providing a stunning 360° view of the city. Orbit 360° Dining – up there offers you one of a kind experience. You can enjoy the stunning surrounding view while having breakfast in the revolving restaurant.
Once you are done with the Sky Tower, go to the Viaduct Harbour. The ever vibrant locality of the harbor is as luxurious as it can get. Hotels, business quarters and welcoming residents of the area will suit your taste for luxurious holiday vacation.
Auckland Art Gallery & Museum would be the next destination of your tour. The place is known as a leader in promoting art and culture. You can explore art exhibitions in the gallery and learn about the cultural legacy of local people.
Rest your legs while sipping the coffee in its beautiful and spacious café. Try its Specialty coffee and discuss modern arts and cultural development. But don’t forget, it’s open between 10am and 4pm (except Christmas day).
Wellington – The Coolest Little Capital
The little vibrant city on the Southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island will instill a feeling of goodness inside you that will keep you coming here for the rest of your life. It might seem to you that the city is from some fairyland – with a modern lifestyle, transportation on one side and on the other green hills.
Visit Cuba Street at least once. The old vintage shops will take you to old times while rooting your feet in the modern restaurants, cafes and bars. The city becomes more alive with occasional instrument playing by buskers, flash mob dancing with Spanish music and many more.
Courtenay Place is another vibrant location in the city. But the best time to visit there is in the evening or at night. You can party all night or enjoy different types of drinks and have a lovely evening with friends.
That’s not all! Before you visit Courtney Place at night, you can go to the Te Papa Museum. The largest museum in the country, based on an area of 36,000 square meters, the place is home to more than 800,000 artworks and other historical objects. You can explore the geographical history of the country through exhibitions and artworks.
If you have enough time after exploring the museum, you can go for a cable car ride from Kelburn Terminal to Lambton Quay Terminal. Travelling across the city while enjoying a stunning view of the city.
All of these can be possible if you apply for a New Zealand online visa before visiting the country. Otherwise, you can visit the country with NZeTA if you prefer not to apply for a visa.
Christchurch – The Rebuilding & Artsy City
You can get the most authentic taste of New Zealand while travelling across the city. An ideal destination for family vacation, with rich culture of arts and history, foods and natural attractions. The local city life can be best explored while visiting Riverside market.
The place is an ideal spot for shopping. You can explore indoor markets with bars, restaurants, boutique retail and many more. Before visiting the place know its timing. From Monday to Weds – 7:30am to 6pm, Thursday to Saturday- 7:30am to 9pm. On Sundays, it closes a little early – 7:30am to 5pm.
From there go to the New Regent Street which is a pedestrian-only road and accessible through tram. In 1981, the road was closed to all types of traffic, making it a place where modern pubs, eateries and shopping malls. With attractive Spanish Mission architecture, the place is claimed to be the best street in New Zealand.
From there head towards Christchurch Botanical Garden to explore the natural beauty and plant collection. If you have tired your legs, rest in the garden. The wide greenery might give your soul an escape from busy city life.
Finally, experience one of the most beautiful experiences in the city – punting on the Avon River. The eco-friendly tour on punt takes you to experience varied flora and fauna at the sides of Avon. But remember, you have to pre-book the ride.
Queenstown – Adventure & Luxury Combined
The city is rich with cultural beauty and natural tourist attractions. You might not be able to visit all the sites in one go and learn about their history. You can start with the skyline gondola and Luge. In the Gondola ride you can travel over Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob’s peak. You can enjoy a stunning view of the city Queenstown, Walter and Cecil Peak and many more sites.
You can also enjoy a Luge ride in the city. It is a kind of fast-paced go cart which can be enjoyable by both adults and children. The journey starts from up on the ground and goes downwards through a long way having corners, tunnels and more.
It is a sin to come back from Queenstown without visiting Fergburger. After trying their burger, you might say it is the best burger in the world. Hype or not hype – it deserves a visit at least once. Nourishing your taste buds is also an important part of your visit.
At night, you can go about visiting different bars and nightclubs to enjoy the nightlife.
Ready to Have the Trip of a Lifetime?
Your visit to New Zealand can be a story to tell future generations. Besides visiting the natural attractions in the country, you can explore different tourist attractions in the city. From visiting Te Papa Museum in Wellington to the Luge ride in Queenstown, the city life of the country offers a wide range of one-of-a-kind experiences. Visit the country with New Zealand eTA to stay and explore the country for up to 6 months.