9 Things to do in New Zealand

New Zealand is blessed with beautiful natural attractions from volcanic, glaciers, geothermal, deep fjords, and mountains. All these places are the jewels of the country. So while you're there, be sure to visit these places on 9 Best Things To Do in New Zealand.

1. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Enjoy the geothermal adventure in one of the earth's most natural theme parks, where you will feel like you are on a different planet. The place is formed by the sulphur and other minerals the numerous mineral natural water. These colors are beautifully coloring the area, makes you feel like not being in the earth. You will also see natural steam rises from the ground all around you. The steam is safe, don't worry. It's like having a steam bath. Another highlight of this place is Lady Knox Geyser that shoots red hot water up to 20 meters into the air. To witness this, you have to be there at exactly 10.15 A.M.

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2. Te Puia

Te Puia is an amazing geothermal vallet and Maori cultural centre, located just south of Rotorua. It's an educational as well as interactive natural place, perfect for all visitors from all ages. The gateway, a Hejeanga-a-Rangi monument of 12 skyscraping posts, is very impressive. Inside the area, you will find Kiwi House, opened in 1976 to teach visitors about this revered bird.  Find also Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley where 65 working geysers and 500 colorful mineral pools and volcanic waters. There is a Pohutu Geyser which can shoot boiling water up to 100ft into the sky!

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3. Rainbow Springs

If you love wildlife, Rainbow Springs can be put in your itinerary. The Rainbow Springs is a remarkable haven of wildlife, a house for both native species and plants and animals imported during colonisation. The park has magical walkways through huge forests. Theya re full of giant redwoods and kauri trees, which then harbour some wildlife. There are also huge glass-sided tanks inside the park where you see marine creatures. Not only that, at night you will see this place offers something more interesting such as underlit ponds, fairy lights, and nocturnal wildlife. This place is perfect for family trip.

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4. Skyline Rotorua

Bring your family to Skyline Rotorua where your family can experience gondola rides up the side of Mount Ngongotaha, luge rides, Skyswing and SkyVue cinema. The panorama from up above is really breathtaking, and one of the scenic area is the geothermal park below you. There is a fine dining Cableway Restaurant and Bar where you can have a romantic dinner. The night atmosphere is amazing for you and your partner to dine in to, as there are glittering lights of Rotorua sparkling half a mile below you.

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5. Skyline Queenstown

Skyline Queenstown is a must-see attraction during a visit to Queenstown. You can enjoy the best views in the region accessed by scenic gondola. Amazing views include Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. Here you can also enjoy the dinner in the Skyline Restaurant. Watch this video

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If you are looking for hotels in New Zealand, here you can find numerous hotels with ranging prices and stars from our partner Hotelscombined. You can find and compare prices from many hotels at once. Details here


6. SkyJump

For you who would like to test your nerves, go try SkyJump. You will stand on the tallest structure in New Zealand and then you jump off it with a wire attached to your body! Although it is impossible to enjoy the views of Auckland while facing your own fear while jumping off the structure, this place is ideal to admire the amazing views of Auckland. You will be traveling at approximately 85kph (or around 11 seconds) to land on the ground!

7. Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park

New Zealand has another spectacular geothermal parks with geysers, hot springs, and pools, lush flora and fauna as well as amazing silica terraces and geothermal cave. This place can be only reached by boat, makes it even more adventurous. Furthermore, as you explore more into the valley, there you find Soda Fountain and Ruatapu Cave where you find the bubbling mud pools. These mud pools look like a pool full of chocolate.

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8. Waimangu Volcanic Valley

Pay a visit to this Rotorua's wonderful geothermal wonderland which was formed from Mount Tarawera eruption in 1886. The geothermal park contains Lake Rotomahana, Iodine Pool, Marble Terrace, and the inferno Crater.

Inferno Crater Lake
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9. Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World

Bring your family to this puzzle theme park set in seven acres of land, where you find illusion rooms, a giant maze, tilted house, gift shops and cafe. Stuart Landborough's Puzzling World is one of the best attractions in New Zealand you should never miss out. Start with the Leaning Tower of Wanaka, a structure groaning out of the ground at an angle of 53 degrees. Go to Illusion Rooms where you find 3D images in Hologram Hall and Hall of Following Faces. It's weird to be followed around by all these faces! Continue to Ames Forced Perspective Room which is funny that you see a person seemed to grow at one side of room and shrink at another side. Carry on to Tilted Room, built at 15 degree angle but when stepping inside things seem flat and normal. Go to great Maze where you can test your skill in finding a way out of this big maze. Watch this video to make you see it better.

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If you are done with all these funny stuff, take a break in Puzzling Centre and Cafe to play games, solve puzzles while you eat or drink.


Hotels in New Zealand

10 of Best Gardens in The World

Some travelers prefer to go to natural places in the beginning of their trips while the rest prefer it at the end. I personally like it better at the end as the energies left are less than when trip is started. In some places, you don't have to go far to find natural places to get refreshed as they can be also found in city gardens. Amazing botanical gardens and well-maintained parklands make it possible for travelers to experience nature during vacation. If you want to put some amazing gardens in your itinerary, then here are 10 of the best of gardens in the world.

1. Château de Versailles, France

This beautiful garden lies on the 250 acres (101 hectares) area, riddled with paths that lead to flower beds, quiet corners decorated with ornamental lakes, classical statuary, and a canal that King Louis used for gondola rides. These gardens are sitting around the stately Palace at Versailles, not far from Paris. It was built in 17th Century for King Louis the XIV. This garden is the most famous in the world.

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2. Sans Souci, Germany

This garden was built by the order of Frederick the Great of Prussia, for his summer place where he could live without a care. Here you can see decorative statues, and a Chinese teahouse, definitely an ideal place for natural retreat.

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3. Singapore Botanic Garden, Singapore

Established in 1859, Singapore Botanic garden is considered as one of the world's prettiest botanical gardens. This 128 acres (52 hectares) garden is divided into three unique areas. In Bukit Timah Core you find an education-oriented section where you can study plant's life. In Tanglin Core you can find a bandstand and an array of statues and other man-made features sprinkled among native plants and trees. The most famous is the third, The National Orchid Garden, where you can see about 60,000 orchids in many species!

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4. Villa d'Este, Tivoli, Italy

Come to this UNESCO World Heritage Site located just outside of Rome where you see collections of fountains, streams, and pools. of the the best ways to see best views of Villa d'Este is from the villa's terrace. There you can see some elements of symmetry in the garden, which was designed like that to be seen from above. Also see famous fountains here called Fontana del Bicchierone (water pours out from a large shell-shaped basin); the Rometta fountain, which is a miniature Rom complete with a wolf-suckling Romulus and Remus; and the Avenue of the Hundred Fountains, where animal heads, lilies, a small boat, basins, and so on all spurt water.

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5. Butchart Gardens, Vancouver, Canada

The Butchart gardens are so full of colors, a beautiful example of a successful reclamation project. Its breathtaking views will keep you stunned when you are there. The Buthchart Gardens spread over an area of 50 acres, placed near Victoria on Vancouver Island. In the garden there's never a dull season, which then keeps itself vibrating all throughout the year from summers to winters.

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6. Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai

Yuyuan Gardens were built more than 400 years ago during Ming Dynasty. There you can see classic Chinese buildings with terra cotta roofs and wide doorways and windows. You can wander around through paths and bridges, leading you to different corners of the garden, seeing ponds and dragon statues as well as other mythical creatures.

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7. Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands

One of the most famous gardens in the world, Keukenhof Gardens is surely a must-visit destinations when you are in The Netherlands. Be inspired by its colorful areas, full with more than 7 million tulips, including special hybrids that have been or are being developed. Never ever miss this spectacular floral displays in the world!

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8. Nong Nooch Gardens, Pattaya, Thailand

Enjoy breathtaking sceneries from Nong Nooch garden in Pattaya, an area complete with Thai style houses, banquet halls, villas, restaurants and swimming pools. This incredible park spread over 600 acres area bought by Mr. Pisit and Mrs. Nongnooch in 1954. The initial plan was to make the area as a fruit plantation, but then it was changed after Mrs. Ningnooch came back from a trip abroad. The land was then becoming a tropical garden of ornamental plants and flowers.  Finally in 1980 the tropical garden was open for public and officially named as Suan Nong Nooch or Nong Nooch Garden. Nongnooch garden has more than 2,000 visitors every day.

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9. Jardim Botânico de Curitiba, Brazil

This beautiful botanical garden is located in the city of Curitiba, the biggest city of southern Brazil. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Curitiba, spread over 240,000 m² of the area. The style of this garden is classical French, which you can see from the style of the extensive gardens as you enter the area, as well as the 458 square meters art Nouveau greenhouse, a home to various tropical plants. Aside from the tropical plants in the main greenhouse, this garden has a huge educational venue known as the Botanical Museum and lots of fountains, waterfalls and streams. The Botanic Museum has been attracting researchers from all over the world.
Visitors can also enjoy concerts during warmer months.

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10. Frederiksborg Palace Garden, Denmark

Frederiksborg Palace is located in Hillerød, Denmark, which serves as a museum of national history. Previously it served as a royal residence for King Christian IV. The current edifice replaced a previous castle erected by Frederick II and is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia.The palace is located on three small islands in the middle of Palace Lake (Slotsøen) and is adjoined by a large formal garden in the Baroque style. Frederiksborg Palace is situated at an elevation of 34 meters.

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