99% of travel blog listicles with the word best in the title are misleading.1
They include every possible attraction/restaurant/(insert whatever) the blogger has seen in the destination they’re writing about. There’s no actual best element to the post.
What is the definition of best? Of the most excellent or desirable type or quality.
You can’t include everything, otherwise best becomes redundant. As a blogger, you need to curate the list when you write these posts talking about the best XYZ.
Why do bloggers do this?
They love to include best in their title as it helps the articles get seen in Google search results. Yes, they’re writing for Google, not you.
That said, I’m going to give this post some criteria to ensure these are the BEST views in New Zealand.
Remember, when it comes to the best views, we will have a different opinion and I haven’t seen everything in NZ (yet).
MY ‘BEST’ CRITERIA
- I will post a maximum of two photos from each of New Zealand’s 16 regions.
- I must have visited the place personally.
- This post will be an ongoing work. If I come across a better view in a region, it can replace existing views. Ouch!
Let’s get into it!
- Northland
- Auckland
- Waikato
- Bay of Plenty
- Gisborne
- Hawke’s Bay
- Taranaki
- Manawatu-Whanganui
- Wellington
- Tasman
- Nelson
- Marlborough
- West Coast
- Canterbury
- Otago
- Southland
THE BEST VIEWS IN NEW ZEALAND ON A MAP
If you click on a pin, you’ll see a photo of the viewpoint.
You can see the breakdown of the region boundaries on this Wikipedia map.
THE BEST NEW ZEALAND VIEWPOINTS (IMO)
Note: If I don’t happen to have a photo of the view, I’ll use a stock photo and put an * at the end of the description.
NORTHLAND
MOUNT MANAIA LOOKOUT OUT ON WHANGAREI HEADS
The Whangarei Heads is sparse! There really aren’t that many people venturing out this way, and I love it. The Mount Manaia Track is steep, but overall it’s really high value with panoramic views.
RELATED: THE MOUNT MANAIA TRACK
THE SWIMMABLE WHANGAREI FALLS
RELATED: THE WALK TO THE WHANGAREI FALLS IS GREAT
AUCKLAND
MANSION HOUSE BAY ON KAWAU ISLAND
I suspect once I visit Waiheke Island, this view may get dumped, but Kawau Island is gorgeous and an off-the-beaten-path gem.
Mansion House Bay is where most tourists visit, but this view is cool. You’ve got a beautiful field surrounded by native bush, which looks out to the harbour.
If you look left from where the photo above, you’ll see the impressive Mansion, formerly home to ex-Governor George Grey.
THE BLACK SAND PIHA BEACH IN WEST AUCKLAND
I’m a little surprised about the lack of beaches in this list but I do prefer being in the mountains so it makes sense. These are my best views after all.
Piha Beach is the most well-known of Auckland’s black sand beaches and makes it a popular thing to do in the city, but it’s awesome. You’ve got Lion Rock that can’t be missed and on either side of the rock are large stretches of sand.
Bordered by nature, with no public transport to take you out there, it’ll still be busy, but it’s large enough that there’s plenty of space for all. If you’re swimming, you need to swim between the flags for your own safety…the TV show, Piha Rescue, was made for a reason.*
WAIKATO
Wow, the Waikato views were tough to choose from! I struggled big-time choosing the best ones here, it was tough to leave out views from the Tongariro Crossing, Raglan, and the Cathedral Cove, but here we are.
THE WORLD FAMOUS HOBBITON
Hobbiton gets the nod for me. It’s one of the most famous attractions in the country, and for good reason. The tours are full of interesting information, and the hobbit holes and surroundings are immaculate. I’ve yet to watch the movies but had a blast on the tour, and highly recommend everyone check it out.
RELATED POSTS: MY HOBBITON REVIEW AND IS HOBBITON WORTH IT?
THE MAORI ROCK CARVINGS ON LAKE TAUPO
Story-telling is powerful. As is photography. The photo above doesn’t show you how awesome this view is. You’re out on Lake Taupo, riding on an eco-friendly yacht, and your heading to Mine Bay to see this carving.
It’s only accessible by boat, and all the while the captain is giving you the story about the carvings you’re looking at. Turn around and you’ve got stunning lake views (assuming it’s sunny and the wind is calm).
RELATED: SAILING TO THE MAORI ROCK CARVINGS
BAY OF PLENTY
CHAMPANGE POOL AT WAI-O-TAPU
Wai-O-Tapu Wonderland is full of some incredible pools with a seemingly random array of colours thanks to the underground geothermal activity that I don’t understand. But you’ve got to give credit to the Champagne Pool, the marque pool.
While the view of the whole pond comes and goes with the steam, the colours really are unreal!*
THE ICONIC MOUNT SUMMIT
The Mount gets a lot of love from both domestic and international tourists. I think the town, Mount Maunganui, is overrated. But the view from the summit of the Mount? Epic.
This makes Mount Maunganui worth a visit, no question. You can’t drive to the top, so you’ll need to put in the effort to make it to the summit. No excuses though, the tracks easy to navigate and the reward is worth the sweat. The view in the photo above is looking south over the town, out to Papamoa, and beyond.
Further west you’ll see Tauranga and the harbour, and on the way up you can look out north over Matakana Island. It’s such a high-value walk to an iconic spot.
RELATED: THE BEST WAY TO THE MOUNT MAUNGANUI SUMMIT
GISBORNE
N/A
HAWKES BAY
N/A
TARANAKI
MOUNT DAMPER FALLS ON THE FORGOTTEN HIGHWAY
The Forgotten World Highway is stunning, with the main attraction being the Republic of Whangamomona. Out of respect, I felt like I couldn’t include the Republic under Taranaki.
So I’ve gone with Mount Damper Falls which is about 30 minutes away.
It’s a remote waterfall, and given the surroundings they’re stunning. You’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s bamboozling that this highway is ‘forgotten’.
RELATED: NEW ZEALAND WATERFALL QUEST
MANAWATU-WHANGANUI
UPPER TAMA LAKES TRACK VIEWPOINT IN TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK
There’s a loophole! Phew, as I really wanted to include the Tama Lakes viewpoint, but I assumed it was in the Waikato region which is a tough category. But when you zoom in, the viewpoint from the upper Tama Lake viewpoint is in Manawatu-Whanganui. Yay! The Tama Lakes are a pair of alpine lakes, with deep blue water and even in the summer, they’re striking. I’d love to see them in the winter when surrounded by snow, just after they’ve melted ideally.
RELATED: THE TAMA LAKES TRACK WALK
WELLINGTON
My home region, where I grew up and spent the first 21 years of my life. This was never going to be easy!
THE CRAZY ROCKS AT THE PUTANGIRUA PINNACLES
This place is totally different from anything else I’ve seen in NZ. It almost feels like a quarry, but you 100% know it’s natural so can’t be. The walking track is maintained, but it’s not easy. They filmed one of the scenes from Lord of the Rings here so you should dress up and recreate the scenes. Please send me photos if you do (learn more here)!
HEMI MATENGA SUMMIT ON THE KAPITI COAST
This is up the back of my hometown, Waikanae, and I genuinely think it’s one of the best views in NZ. That island in the distance is the predator-free, Kapiti Island (worth a visit). This is a reasonably easy walk. It’s worth it, trust me. But if you’re not a walker, watch the sunset with some fish and chips from Waikanae Beach.
RELATED READS:
WALKING THE HEMI MATENGA SCENIC RESERVE
MORE AMAZING WALKS IN WAIKANAE
12 AWESOME PHOTOS OF KAPITI ISLAND
TASMAN
THE SUPER CLEAR TE WAIKOROPUPU SPRINGS IN GOLDEN BAY
These springs are some of the clearest in the world, with an average visibility of 76 metres underwater. That’s crazy! This is a sacred spot, so no swimming is allowed. Annoying but understandable. The springs aren’t going to be damaged anytime soon as long as they keep swimming from being allowed. It’s something you have to see!
RELATED: VISITING THE TE WAIKOROPUPU SPRINGS
ABEL TASMAN BEACHES
Eenie meenie miney moe. You can pick more or less any of the beaches in Abel Tasman National Park and no one can argue you’re wrong. There’s a reason why the New Zealand public wanted Awaroa to be owned publically.
40,000 people willingly chipped in when the private landowner put the land up for sale which was prime territory for some snob to come and ruin a piece of paradise in New Zealand. If you love hiking, I highly recommend giving the Abel Tasman track a whirl!
NELSON
MARLBOROUGH
MARLBOROUGH’S CLOUDY BAY VINEYARDS
Back in my University days, Cloudy Bay was one of the few bottles of wine I’d drink. So when I got a chance to visit the winery itself, I was stoked. The whole Marlborough wine region is photogenic, but if you have to pick one, go with one of the well-known wineries in NZ.*
OVERLOOKING PICTON FROM THE TIROHANGA TRACK
The Malborough Sounds are absolutely stunning and if you catch the ferry from Wellington to Picton you’ll understand what I mean. That’s why I chose this view, from the little known Tirohanga Track behind Picton.
As one of the gateways to the South Island, it’s amazing to watch the ferry come into the harbour, surrounded by greenery.
WEST COAST
THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
The Franz Josef Glacier is an amazing site and there’s plenty of spots you can see it from. But I loved the above spot on the Roberts Point Track which is a gnarly hike on its own!
THE PAPAROA TRACK
The Paparoa Track is the newest Great Walk in NZ as of 2021 and is amazing. When the weather isn’t mediocre. The forest is so au natural with its Jurassic-like feel.
Fortunately, you don’t have to do a multi-day hike to get views with both the Pororari River Track and Pororari-Punakaiki Loop Track taking you on bits of the track.
CANTERBURY
THE KAIKOURA PENINSULA WALKWAY
I never visited Kaikoura before the earthquake struck. But it appears to have kept all of the natural beauty many a friend had told me about. The Kaikoura Peninsula is famous for the seal colony that calls the place home, and the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway begins next to its base before taking you up onto the ridgeline above the ocean.
As you walk along the ridge you’ve got epic views of the Kaikoura Ranges looking inland, and then as you can see from the photo above the coastline is insane! I highly recommend you complete the full walk.
RELATED: THE KAIKOURA PENINSILA WALKWAY
THE BIZARRE CASTLE HILL ROCKS
This isn’t what you’d call a Mars-like landscape, but it’s certainly random and otherworldly. There’s no hint that you’re going to be coming up to an unusual terrain until you’re moments away. The best part is you can run and climb all over the rocks. It’s all very random, but I love it.
OTAGO
ISTHMUS PEAK ON LAKE WANAKA
I’ve not been up to Roys Peak yet (update: have now), but this alternative, Isthmus Peak, has some pretty stunning views itself. It’s not until you get to the peak that you see Lake Wanaka, but the views of Lake Hawea on the way are photo-worthy on their own!
RELATED: ISTHMUS PEAK TRACK
NUGGET POINT IN THE CATLINS
This is a view fitting for a postcard. It lives up to the expectations, and knowing you’re more or less at the bottom of the country leads to so many questions about what’s beyond there. It’s such a dramatic spot! I couldn’t fit Cape Palliser on the list, so had to get Nugget Point here.
RELATED: A CATLINS ITINERARY
SOUTHLAND
CURIO BAY IN THE CATLINS
I include Curio Bay because as much as I thought the fossiled stuff on the beach was boring, the views are wicked! I suspect if I return on a nice day, the chance of seeing a dolphin surfing in the waves of Porpoise Bay might remove Curio Bay from this list. But we shall see.
WAIPOHATU WALK WATERFALLS
The Catlins is a very underrated area, which does mean it’s off the beaten path. Yay? There’s a tonne of waterfalls down in the area, but these two are within five minutes walk of each other so I’ve included a picture of both. The bigger of the two is the more epic view out of the two.
RELATED: WALKING TO THE WAIPOHATU FALLS
Well, this was a lot harder to write than I expected. I was scrolling through photos, zooming in and out of the map to trigger memories, and this is the result.
It also taught me there’s a shitload of New Zealand I’ve yet to explore (this will be never-ending).
Where are the best views in New Zealand that you’ve seen?
RECOMMENDED READING
200+ THINGS TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND
As I scroll through these activities, I’m excited to tick more and more off. There’s going to be lots of changes to the post above!
BEST NEW ZEALAND SIM CARD FOR TRAVELLERS
If you need a sim card for NZ, this is what I recommend.
CHEAPEST WAY TO SEND MONEY TO NEW ZEALAND
If you’re looking to send money to New Zealand, the two best options are TransferWise and CurrencyFair.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.