If you are looking for the perfect New Zealand road trip, the drive between Christchurch and Queenstown is breathtaking journey that winds through stunning landscapes that showcase New Zealand’s beautiful nature.  Traveling from Christchurch to Queenstown, you’ll pass by picturesque lakes, gorges, the Southern Alps, and so much more. Along the way there are so plenty of opportunities to stop, explore, and grab a bite to eat.  I created this post to outline our New Zealand road trip between Christchurch and Queenstown to include our recommended stops, places to eat, and share tips that we learned along the way. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Christchurch We started our vacation in New Zealand in Christchurch. We spent Christmas in Christchurch and unfortunately mostly everything was closed, so I don’t have a lot of personal experience in Christchurch.  I spent a day in Christchurch and although it was a ghost town around Christmas time I still really enjoyed the city. I walked over the Bridge of Remembrance and along the Avon River.  I stayed at the BreakFree on Cashel Hotel and found it to be a nice hotel for the budget, breakfast was great and the rooms were unique, not to mention the location was right in the heart of Christchurch.  Queenstown Known as the “Adventure Capital of New Zealand,” Queenstown is a must visit place on the South Island.  Queenstown is a great destination in New Zealand for those looking for adventurous and thrilling activities such as bungee jumping or sky-diving.  Queenstown is also a great town to visit to kick back and relax. It lies right on Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by beautiful scenery.  When we visited Queenstown, we took a day tour to Milford Sound, drove one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives to Glenorchy, and ate at Fergburger, New Zealand’s best burger.  If you are looking for a cheap place to stay in Queenstown, we stayed at the Haka Lodge Queenstown. The rooms were clean, there were shared bathrooms, but it was within walking distance to downtown Queenstown and the customer service was great!  Christchurch to Queenstown Distance The most direct route for driving from Christchurch to Queenstown is around 480 km (298 miles) and takes about 6 hours via State Highway 1 and 8.  If you are flying between Christchurch and Queenstown, it is only about an hour flight. But this post is about driving, so I won’t get into flying or airports between the two destinations.  Renting a Car in New Zealand We found that renting a car in New Zealand was fairly straight forward.  We booked a car in advance through Rentalcars.com. We chose to pick up our rental car in Christchurch and drop it off in Queenstown. Price wise it is a little more expensive that way as opposed to dropping the car back off in Christchurch but it allowed us to stick to our New Zealand itinerary with more flexibility. Like anywhere else, when renting a car in New Zealand, make sure you have a valid driver’s license, passport (which you should have), and be of age which is 21 in New Zealand. Also, I did not need an international driver’s license for renting a car in New Zealand. Doing research online it looks as if your license is in English then you don’t need an international license. It’s best to double check before visiting New Zealand.  Tips and Safety ✅ In New Zealand, you drive on the left side of the road. So the opposite side of where you drive in the United States or Germany.  ✅ I learned the hard way and wish I knew this before visiting New Zealand. But if you fill up your car at the gas pump even f you only put in a few Dollars, it will charge you NZ$250 and show on your bank statement. Don’t worry though, after a few days the bank statement fixes itself and shows the correct amount, so no need to be concerned. Apparently this is done just to make sure you have enough money in your account.  ✅ The default speed limits in New Zealand were 50 km/h in urban areas and 100 km/h on open roads.  ✅ I found even 100 km/h to be fast for many of the roads in New Zealand. A lot of the open roads were curvy and narrow.  ✅ Allow yourself plenty of time to drive, I found myself pulling off to the side of the road quite a bit to take photos of the beautiful nature and animals.  ✅ Some distances are long, like the day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown. It’s best to prepare in advance because there might not be any towns or convenience stores.  Road Trip: Attractions, Stops, and Everything in Between A New Zealand road trip has been on my bucket list for a long time now. Everyone has their own version of their ideal road trip. We saw camper vans, RVs, and even motorcycles fully equipped. We decided on just renting a car and booking motels along the route near attractions we wanted to stop at between Christchurch and Queenstown.  We spent nearly a week on the South Island. Here is our New Zealand road trip itinerary between Christchurch and Queenstown. Some of these stops were planned while others were random but I feel are worth visiting.   Barnett Cave Walk We started our New Zealand road trip just outside of Christchurch and hiked the Barnett Park Cave Loop Track.  The Barnett Park Cave Loop Track is a fairly easy roundtrip hike that takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours.  At the parking lot, you cross Barnett Park and the real trail begins. It’s clearly marked and easy to follow. Barnett Park Cave is the highlight. We took a small break in the cave before continuing along the hike.  It’s a beautiful hike with gorgeous views looking out into the ocean.  Scarborough View Point and Godley Head Gun Battery From the Barnett Cave Walk, we drove along Evans Pass Rd to the Summit Road toward the Godley Head Gun Battery. This can easily be done too as a day trip from Christchurch.  The Godley Head Gun Battery has an interesting history and was used as a defense during WWII. The are more then 110 structures here, some you can freely explore.  The best feature about this area are the views. There is a small trail around the gun battery that offers stunning views of the ocean.  On our way back to from the gun battery, we briefly stopped at Scarborough View Point. You can see the turquoise color water in the bay and might have to tip toe around some sheep.  Rakaia Gorge We ended up taking State Hwy 77 from Christchurch and stopped at the Rakaia Gorge or a brief hike.  We parked at the Evans Reserve parking area, crossed the road and began the Rakaia Gorge Walkway. We only hiked about 15 minutes one-way. Even 5 minutes into the hike, there are beautiful views of the Rakaia River.  The Rakaia River is turquoise in color and absolutely stunning. Many of the lakes in the Southern Alps of New Zealand are turquoise color as well. Apparently the turquoise color is a result of broken down particles from glacial erosion.  Mount Sunday (Edoras: Lord of the Rings) One of my favorite stops along our New Zealand road trip was the hike to Mount Sunday which is the filming location for Edoras in The Lord of the Rings.  The Mount Sunday Track was an easy 1.5 km hike to the top of a hill which is the rock formation used as Edoras in Rohan.  Once on top of the hill, the views were some of the best in New Zealand.  The Mount Sunday Track is well worth driving out of the way for. It was only an hour from Rakaia Gorge and 1 hour and 20 minutes from Ealing on Hwy 1.  Geraldine Farmshop & Cafe After the Mount Sunday Trach, we stumbled upon a local farm shop called Geraldine Farmshop & Cafe.  Geraldine Farmshop & Cafe had both a restaurant and grocery store. The grocery store sold local farmed produce and the restaurant had a nice selection of hardy meals and pastries.  We ordered a sausage roll and meat pie to go. I fell in love with sausage rolls in New Zealand.  Lake Tekapo There are quite a few activities to do in and around Lake Tekapo. You could spend a few days exploring this area alone.  We stopped at Lake Tekapo briefly while en route to Mount Cook to load up on snacks for our trek.  There is a Four Square grocery store here, hotels, and gas stations. Many visitors stop here to get a photo of the Church of the Good Shepherd. It’s a small picturesque church with Lake Tekapo in the background. Honestly, I felt it was a bit to crowded for it’s size, it was hard to take a good picture.  Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley Track Another must do hike in New Zealand is the Hooker Valley Track to Mount Cook. Again, some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand, this 10 km there and back trail was fairly easy with stunning views every step of the way.  It took us about 3 hours to complete the trek, including stopping for photos and a quick lunch stop at Hooker Lake. If the clouds part ways and Mt. Cook shows itself, it’s an incredible mountain to see. Mt. Cook is New Zealand’s tallest mountain at 3,724 m (12,218 ft). Omarama We stayed in Omarama for one night. It had accommodations that were within our budget and it was only 1 hour from Mount Cook.  Omarama is a small town along Hwy 8. But a great place to stop for gas, groceries, or grab lunch at one of the restaurants. We ate at a local place called Boots and Jandals. They served good Fish & Chips with local craft beer.  Lindis Valley Between Omarama and Tarras is an area called the Lindis Valley. The Lindis Valley looked nothing like the rest of New Zealand we drove through. The Lindis Valley was drier with rolling hills and grasslands. Reminded me of the states of Colorado a bit. There are a couple scenic lookouts that are worth pulling over for photos and a break. We stopped at the Lindis Pass Summit Scenic Lookout. Tarras Country Cafe For our last stop on our New Zealand road trip between Christchurch and Queenstown, we made a quick visit to Tarras Country Cafe for some ice cream, coffee, and sausage rolls.  Tarras Country Cafe was a nice area equipped with a restroom, local shops, and a cafe. Their sausage rolls were very good and the coffee was excellent!  From Tarras, it’s another hour drive to Queenstown.  Conclusion When visiting New Zealand, a road trip is a must. It’s the best way to see the country and explore at your own pace. Everyone’s journey will be different, but I highly recommend checking out some of my recommendations listed in this post.  Obviously, there is so much more to see, we did this all in a week and didn’t get a chance to see places like Arrowtown or the Wanaka Tree.  If you’ve done a New Zealand road trip and have additional places to share, please leave them in a comment for myself and others.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇳🇿 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through

Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand is a must visit destination for those looking for epic road trips, exhilarating attractions, or just want to see beautiful scenery. Whether you are visiting here to take a day trip to Milford Sound or want to try New Zealand’s best burger, here are some of my recommended top things to do in Queenstown, New Zealand.   **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Why Visit Queenstown For a small town, there are tons of things to do in Queenstown. Queenstown is a great base location for exploring New Zealand’s southern Island and partaking in exhilarating outdoor activities.  Queenstown is surrounded by beautiful scenery. It’s located at the edge of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by mountains in every direction.  If you are looking for adventure and extreme sports, there are places to Bungee Jump and skydive in Queenstown. If you want to get out in nature to hike and explore, there are countless trails scattered throughout the mountains surrounding Queenstown.  Queenstown has something for everyone and can be enjoyed year round. We visited in December and January, New Zealand’s summer and primarily took road trips, ate, sampled craft beer, and just enjoyed wandering the town.  Recommended Things to do in Queenstown We spent a total of three days in Queenstown. You could obviously spend more time here, there is so much to see and do but I feel we saw a lot of what Queenstown and the surrounding area had to offer.  Any Queenstown itinerary will look the same. Day trips to Milford Sound, take the beautiful drive to Glenorchy, wait in line at Fergburger, etc..  We did a lot of sites and activities the guidebooks for Queenstown suggested and want to share our recommended things to do in Queenstown. 1. Take the Skyline Gondola & Luge For some of the best views of Queenstown and a thrilling experience, don’t miss out on the Skyline and some of the thrilling activities that come with it. Take the gondola up 480m to the lookout point to get a view of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the surrounding mountains.  The Skyline Gondolas are modern with floor to ceiling windows, so you won’t miss out on the views. You can also store your mountain bike on the gondola. One thrilling activity to do while at Skyline is the Luge.  The luge is definitely an adrenaline rush as you ride the luge 1,600m down the mountain.  2. See Real Kiwi Birds and Kiwi Park One of our goals in New Zealand was to see a Kiwi Bird a the Kiwi Park in Queenstown was the perfect place to learn and see New Zealand’s flightless bird.  The Kiwi Park is so much more then just seeing kiwi birds, there are many animals here from birds to reptiles that are native to New Zealand.  I found the Tuatara to be a fascinating species. The tuatara looks like a lizard but in fact it is its own species and was around over 220 million years ago. Of course, most visitors come to Kiwi Park for a chance to see the kiwi bird. Kiwi Park has Kiwi Encounters throughout the day.  The Kiwi Encounter allows you to see kiwi birds while they are active at night while it is day time for us. Where the tours begin, you adjust your eyes to the darkness within the facility. While the tour guide provides information on these cute flightless birds, you can potentially spot them running around their enclosures. We saw a total of 4 kiwi birds!  3. Try Fergburger: New Zealand’s best Burger You can’t not come to Queenstown without standing in line to try New Zealand’s best hamburger, Fergburger.  If you are staying in Queenstown for any period, you’ll notice there is one place that has a long line all day every day and people are waiting to try one of the world’s best burgers.  We stood in line maybe 10 minutes, it goes fast and then takes another 10 minutes or so to get your burger. Seating inside is very limited for the amount of people waiting.  We took our burgers across the street to a park and sat at a bench to enjoy our  Fergburgers.  I ordered the Ferg Deluxe and it was delicious, the bun seemed freshly baked, the burger patty was flavorful, and all the toppings complimented the burger well.  I’d consider myself a burger connoisseur and do I think Fergburger is the best burger in the World? No. But they were the best burger I had in New Zealand and definitely beat out other burgers I’ve had in the world. I’d say to 10 for sure.   4. Sample Local Craft Beer The craft beer scene in Queenstown was quite surprising and they love their Hazy IPA’s which I do as well.  I found some great restaurants serving craft beer and taprooms all around Queenstown, not to mention breweries.  Two of my favorite craft beer places in Queenstown were Smiths Craft Beer House and Beech Tree.  5. Drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy Considered one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives is the road from Queenstown to Glenorchy and beyond.  We drove the Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd mainly because there were a few Lord of the Rings sites that I wanted to see.  About 15 minutes from the town of Glenorchy is the Isengard Lookout. Further up the road you can find the Lothlorien filming location as well.  Driving back to Queenstown from Glenorchy we pulled off the road on several lookouts to take photos of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.  It’s hard to take a bad photo along this road just because the landscapes are so beautiful. I definitely see why this is one of New Zealand’s prettiest drives.  6. Road Trip to Milford Sound If you are looking to do a day trip from Queenstown, I highly recommend driving to Milford Sound. A day trip to Milford sound from Queenstown is easily done on your own if you have a rental car or you can take a tour to Milford Sound.  We had our own rental car and drove to Milford Sound. The drive is around 4-hours but totally worth it. You drive through parts of Fiordland National Park and some of the most scenic areas on the Southern Island.  Curious about how I visited Milford Sound, I have a dedicated post on taking a day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown.  To fully experience what Milford Sound has to offer, I recommend this 2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise. 7. Partake in an Adventurous Activity Queenstown is known as the “Adventure capital of New Zealand.”  Whether you want to try bungee jumping, skydiving, or mountain biking you can find all these activities in and around Queenstown plus much more.  Paragliding in Queenstown appeared to be a popular activity. Most the day, I’d see paragliders circling the city and landing at a local park. Check out GFORCE Paragliding for more information on paragliding over Queenstown.  During the winter months, skiing and snowboarding is a popular activity on some of the nearby slopes.  8. Do Some Shopping Queenstown’s town center is very pedestrian friendly and full of shops and restaurants. You can find souvenir shops, art stores, outdoors stores, and even high end shops here.  There are even convenience, grocery, and liquor stores scattered throughout the downtown area. 9. Nightlife Queenstown has a pretty vibrant and diverse nightlife. Every night I walked around the city, there was always something going on and crowds of people.  There are lively bars, clubs, and restaurants that are open late. Don’t miss out on the Minus 5° Ice Bar for a unique experience.  10. Relax and Enjoy the Views One of the best places in Queenstown to relax and take in the views was Queenstown Beach. There are always people here living in the moment and enjoying the view of Lake Wakatipu and the mountains surrounding it.  There are so many other places in Queenstown to visit and just take in the views. Queenstown is located in one of the most beautiful places on earth, so enjoy every moment!  Conclusion Queenstown truly lives up to its reputation as being the adventure capital of New Zealand as well as a great place to stay and explore other areas of the South Island. Queenstown is a mecca of outdoor activities surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Don’t forget to visit the Kiwi Park and learn about New Zealand’s flightless bird and of course grab a delicious burger at Fergburger. Queenstown is a must visit destination in New Zealand and was one of my favorites places to explore.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇳🇿 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Located in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders and one of the countries most popular destinations. A day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown is a must and can be done either through a tour or driving yourself.  We rented a car and drove to Milford Sound, the drive there was worth it alone. In this post, I cover it all and go into detail about our day trip to Milford Sound to include what the drive was like versus booking a tour, taking a cruise, and stopping along beautiful sites along the way.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Milford Sound: Milford Sound is known as one of New Zealand’s most beautiful destinations and Mitre Peak is seen in almost any picture. The landscape is truly amazing and the journey to get to Milford Sound is just as spectacular.  Top Milford Sound Tours: 2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach & Cruise Full Day Trip Milford Sound Day Tour from Queenstown or Te Anau About Milford Sound Milford Sound is a scenic fjord located in Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zealand.  Milford Sound is known for its spectacular scenery and famous Mitre Peak. Mitre Peak is that iconic mountain you see in almost all Milford Sound pictures to include photos throughout this post. Mitre Peak stands at 1,683 m or 5,522 ft elevation.  Milford Sound was created by millions of years of glacial activity. According to information at Milford Sound, the glaciers created a sheer-sided valley. After melting over time, the glacial melt flooded the sea and helped carve Milford Sound we see today.  The glacier that created Milford Sound was around 2,000 m deep leaving the steep sea cliffs seen at the fjord. Milford Sound is part of Te Wahipounamu, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Te Wahipounamu was listed as a UNESCO site in 1990. Driving to Milford Sound from Queenstown A road trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown is a journey in itself. It’s about a 4-ish hour drive through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful landscapes.  The drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound is just shy of 300km and takes roughly 4 hours.  Many travelers chose to stay in Te Anau before going to Milford Sound. The drive from Te Anau is about 118 km and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours.  We decided to embark on our day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown early in the morning. We left at 6:00 am in order to catch our 11:00 am Milford Sound cruise.  We gave ourselves 5 hours before the cruise in case we had to make any stops and to find parking and walk around the ferry port.  I do recommend leaving enough time to dive, park, get ferry tickets, and maybe make a stop or two. We decided to make stops after the cruise on the way back to Queenstown.  Milford Sound Day Tours from Queenstown We ended up driving to Milford Sound by ourselves since we had a car rental. We booked this 2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise online in advance.  In case you don’t have a car rental or don’t feel up to the 4-hour drive, I’d recommend booking a tour to Milford Sound from either Te Anau or Queenstown. There are tour companies in Queenstown that offer tours, but I recommend just booking online prior that way you can secure your trip t Milford Sound.  I like to use Get Your Guide or Viator to book online, here are some recommended trips to Milford Sound: Milford Sound Coach and Cruise tour from Queenstown Milford Sound Day Tour and Cruise from Queenstown Queenstown: Milford Sound Coach and Cruise Full Day Trip From Te Anau: Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise Milford Sound Cruise If you really want to see Milford Sound beyond Mitre Peak, I highly recommend booking a Milford Sound Cruise.  You can either book your Milford Sound cruise online prior to your trip or at the ferry port. But I recommend booking in advanced since Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most popular attractions.  We booked this 2-Hour Milford Sound Scenic Cruise and were very happy with the tour. The cruise ship we were on was the Mitre Peak Cruise, it was a smaller ship and we couldn’t have asked for a better cruise line.  The captain was informative and if wildlife was spotted they tried getting as close as possible without disturbing the wildlife.  Wildlife you can see at Milford Sound include fur seals, dolphins, and Fiordland Crested Penguins. On the day we went, we saw several fur seals but sadly no dolphins or penguins.  Besides spottling wildlife, the cruise goes about one hour from the port to the Tasman Sea Coast and back.  We saw a few waterfalls, Bowen Falls was spectacular as was Stirling Falls.  In the end, it was just nice to kick back and enjoy some of New Zealand’s prettiest landscapes. Milford Sound truly is spectacular.  Other Stops Along the Way Part of the beauty of a day trip to Milford Sound is the journey of getting here. Milford Sound is a stunning location in New Zealand, but there are many other scenic attractions in Fiordland National Park that are worth stopping at.  Since we booked a tour to Milford Sound and were limited on time getting there, we saved all of our stops until after the tour for our drive back to Queenstown. Here are some of the recommended stops for wildlife, natural beauty, and food.  Eglinton Valley One of the prettiest stops to Milford Sound was a brief stop at Eglinton Valley. We only stopped here for a minute for photos, but the open valley with towering mountains off in the distance was beautiful.  Pop’s View Lookout Another lookout that is worth a brief stop is Pop’s View. There was a viewing platform here overlooking the valley and forests below. Monkey Creek Monkey Creek is a scenic spot that seemed to be popular as a rest area. Monkey Creek is also a popular place to see the Kea, although we didn’t see any here.  Milford Valley Lookout Right before or after the Homer Tunnel is the Milford Valley Lookout. This is basically a turn off from the road leading to Milford Sound, the views here are out of this world. Here, you can really get a sense of how gigantic the surrounding mountains are.  Homer Tunnel One of the best places to see the Kea Bird is near the Homer Tunnel. In fact, we saw a few here both going to and from Milford Sound.  On the way back from Milford Sound, we were stuck at the light waiting for cars in the opposite direction to pass and saw two Kea birds next to the road. The Kea is an alpine parrot that is endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.  Alpine Centre Cafe and Bar A great rest stop to fill up on gas and snacks on your way to Milford Sound is the Alpine Centre Cafe and Bar. Or you can stop here on your way back to Queenstown. We stopped at the Alpine Centre and Bar heading from Milford Sound toward Queenstown for a break and quick lunch.  This place had great lunch options to include sausage rolls, savory pies, and much more. Plus, they had great drinks like shakes and coffee.  We filled up our car here as well.  *Note: Some gas stations in New Zealand charge international credit cards a preauthorization amount of about NZD 200 even if you only fill up for a few dollars.  Learn from my mistake. I only added about $30 worth of gas to my rental car, looked at my statement and it was NZD200. Right away I called customer service and they told me that they charge the max amount to fill up to ensure money on the card is available.  After about two days the charge correctly showed on my statement. It’s shocking at first, but if you go in knowing this it isn’t bad.  Most Asked Questions About Milford Sound Can you do Milford Sound in a day?Milford Sound is an easy day trip from Queenstown or Te Anau. Just keep in mind it’s a full days trip but well worth it!  Can you do Milford Sound without a tour?There are multiple ways to get to and see Milford Sound. Many tours from Queenstown include transportation and a ferry. But if you opt to drive to Milford Sound, you can buy a ferry ticket at the terminal or book a ferry ticket to Milford Sound in advance. We booked this 2-Hour Milford Sound Cruise.  Is it better to drive to Milford Sound or take a tour? Getting to Milford Sound is entirely up to you! There are pros and cons to both driving yourself or tagging along with a tour. If you already have a car rental in New Zealand, then I recommend driving to Milford Sound. But if you don’t have a car, then perhaps a tour is the way to go.  In Queenstown there are many tour operators, but you can book online as well through Viator or Get Your Guide.  The pros of driving yourself to Milford Sound is that you can stop where ever you want along the way. But it is a long drive and perhaps relaxing in a vehicle while someone else is driving isn’t necessarily a bad option either.  Is Milford Sound worth it? Milford Sound is a must visit when touring New Zealand. Milford Sound is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and natural wonder. I recommend the Milford Sound cruises to make the most out of your experience. A trip to Milford Sound is absolutely worth it.  Conclusion A day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown or Te Anau is nothing short of spectacular. I’ll be the first to admit that it was a long drive but a beautiful journey through Fiordland National Park. Seeing Mitre Peak in person was a once in a lifetime opportunity and then being able to take a cruise within Milford Sound was an experience that made my trip to New Zealand complete.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇳🇿 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

Are you a fan of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movie trilogies? If so, then visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand is a must!  Take a guided tour of Hobbiton and see charming hobbit-holes dotting the beautiful green landscape, stand in front of Bag End, and drink a pint of ale at the iconic Green Dragon Inn.  On a trip to New Zealand, we had the opportunity to visit Hobbiton from Auckland and want to share our journey into Middle-Earth from how we booked Hobbiton Movie Set tickets to what it is like walking through a hobbit-hole.  “I’m Going On An Adventure!” – Bilbo Baggins **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Hobbiton The Hobbiton Movie Set is located in the town of Matamata, New Zealand. From Auckland, the Hobbiton Movie Set is just shy of a two hour drive. From Rotorua, it’s about an hour drive.  Hobbiton is about 5.5 hectares or 14 acres and tours are offered daily. Just remember to book your tickets to Hobbiton online and well in advance.  All the information provided is what I learned from our tour or from the official Hobbiton Movie Set website.  Filming Location Peter Jackson, spent a considerable amount of time exploring New Zealand looking for filming locations for The Lord of the Rings. He was doing an aerial tour of New Zealand’s North Island, looking for a hilly landscape that would be perfectly suited for a place to represent The Shire.  As he flew over the Alexander Sheep Farm in Matamata and saw a giant tree surrounded by hills and a lake. At this moment, he envisioned J.R.R Tolkien’s Hobbiton from The Lord of the Rings novels.  The owner of the land agreed to transform a portion of his farm to the Hobbiton we see today.  Construction began in 1999, and 37 hobbit-holes were built along with trails, gardens, the bridge, and everything else you see in the trilogies.  According to our tour guide, Hobbiton was meant to be temporary and was dismantled after The Lord of the Rings.  Mostly everything was taken down with the exception of a few stairs leading to Bags  End. Over time, the owner of the land grew tired of fans of the movies trespassing on his property and taking photos near the steps.  Years later, Peter Jackson wanted to film at the farm again for the Hobbit trilogy. The owner decided that if this was going to happen, he wanted the set to become permanent so it could later be turned into a tourist attraction.  In 2010, Hobbiton was rebuilt in its original form with a few new additions and hobbit-holes and can now be enjoyed by everyone!  “The World is not in your books and maps, it’s out there” – Gandalf Booking Tickets to the Hobbiton Movie Set It is recommended to book tickets to the Hobbiton Movie Set well in advance. This is one of New Zealand’s most popular attractions. Visitors from around the world come to New Zealand just to visit Lord of the Rings sites and visiting Hobbiton is on everyone’s itinerary. Don’t wait until the last minute or think that you can buy a ticket the day of onsite.  Instead, you can book a tour directly through the Hobbiton Movie Set website.  There are various tours to choose from. Just select the tour you are interested in, pick a date, and enter in how many people are attending.  Alternatively, you can book tickets online like we did through travel sites like Viator, Get Your Guide, or Klook. These are great options if you are looking for day trips from Auckland or want package deals.  Here are a few tours that include Hobbiton that might interest you.  Hobbiton & Waitomo Caves Guided Day Trip from Auckland with Lunch The Hobbiton Movie Set Small-Group Guided Tour from Auckland Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour Ticket Auckland: Hobbiton, Rotorua and Wai-O-Tapu Day Tour Hobbiton Guided Day Tour “If I Take One More Step, It’ll be the Farthest Away from Home I’ve Ever Been” – Samwise Gamgee Do I need to book a Tour to Visit Hobbiton? To visit Hobbiton, you have to book a Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. You cannot visit Hobbit by yourself.  The film set is located on private land and cannot be accessed without booking a tour. Don’t worry, the tours are fun, you learn a lot of inside information, and you get plenty of time to explore the Hobbiton Movie Set.   “All we Have to Decide is what to do with the Time that is Given Us” – Gandalf Tour and Visit the Hobbiton Movie Set I booked the traditional Hobbiton Movie Set Tour from the Shire’s Rest. The Movie Set Tour is a 2.5 hour tour that includes transportation to Hobbiton. On the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour, you get to see the interior of a Hobbit-hole, see Bag End, stand on the Party Field, enjoy a pint at the Green Dragon Inn, and so much more!  After check-in at the Shire’s Rest, you hop on a 10-minute bus journey to Hobbiton where the tour begins.  The Shire’s Rest Cafe and Gift Shop Your journey to Middle-Earth begins at The Shire’s Rest. This is where you park and all visitors will begin the journey.  The Shire’s Rest is a cafe and gift shop, which I recommend browsing and sitting down for lunch after the Hobbiton tour, unless you need second breakfast. The gift shop is full of souvenirs and collectibles from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.  The cafe is more of a restaurant serving all kinds of delicious treats from Sausage Rolls to Fish and Chips.  “What about Breakfast? You’ve already had it. We’ve had one, yes. What about Second Breakfast?” – Merry and Pippin Hobbiton Alas! The moment you’ve all been waiting for. Hobbiton!  After disembarking from the bus, us visitors stood next to the Hobbit Sign prior to entering Hobbiton. We walked Gandalf’s Cutting into Hobbiton. You might remember this location from the opening scene in The Lord of the Rings where Gandalf is riding his cart into Hobbiton and meets Frodo. This is also in The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey where Bilbo runs from Bag End and shouts “I’m Going on an Adventure.” Apparently it’s quite popular to recreate that scene, so don’t be surprised to see a person here and there running and shouting “I’m Going on an Adventure!” Bag End Probably the most popular Hobbit-hole in Hobbiton is Bag End. Bag End is the where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins call home.  Bag End is perched on top of a hill overlooking the rest of Hobbiton.    SPOILER ALERT The Bag End you see today is just the exterior of the Hobbit-hole. The inside of Bilbo’s home was all shot in a studio in Wellington. All the trees in Hobbiton are real with the exception of one, the tree that can be seen on top of Bag End. The tree and leaves are all fake. We learned this on our tour.  Party Field Another highlight of Hobbiton was getting a chance to walk on the Party Field at the base of the famous Party Tree.  In The Lord of the Rings, this is where Bilbo celebrated his 111th birthday. And of course, where Merry and Pippin got into trouble after lighting the firework.  Bagshot Row Included in the Hobbiton tour is a chance to actually go inside one of the Hobbit-holes on Bagshot Row.  Watch your head! You can enter a home and see the detailed spaces that Hobbits call home. The tour allows you to walk around the Hobbit-hole and see the bedroom, kitchen, living area, and even the bathroom.  The interior is pretty interactive, you can lay in the bed, sit on chairs, and even see what is cooking on the stove. The interior is very decorative and really brings the Hobbit-hole to life.  The Green Dragon Inn What’s a better way to end a tour of Hobbiton then drinking a pint of Ale at The Green Dragon Inn.  All tours will end here and a free drink is included. We got about 20 minutes to spend here to enjoy our pints. There are non-alcoholic options as well for those that do not drink or are driving. Conclusion If you are on a mission to visit The Lord of the Rings sites in New Zealand, then a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set is a must! Experience the fantasy world of Middle-Earth and feel like you are actually visiting Hobbiton in the Shire. Walk across the same bridge Gandalf and Frodo rode the cart on, enter a hobbit-hole, and grab a pint at The Green Dragon Inn.  Visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand is a once in a lifetime opportunity and was worth the effort of getting here. Can you even call yourself a fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit trilogies if you visit New Zealand without a trip to Hobbiton?  “I Thought up an Ending for my Book: And he Lived Happily Ever After, Unto the End of His Days” – Bilbo Baggins Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇳🇿 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.

If you are traveling to New Zealand, chances are you are flying into Auckland. So if you are like me, you might wonder if Auckland is even worth visiting? After all, you came to New Zealand to see Lord of the Rings sites and beautiful nature. I spent a little over two days in Auckland and have mixed feelings. Personally, I feel Auckland is well worth visiting, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. But at the same time, I feel like Auckland wasn’t as exciting as I’d imagined.  As a tourist, is Auckland worth visiting? I created this post to share my experiences, things to do in Auckland, and how I spent my time here.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Why did I visit Auckland I spent two weeks in New Zealand. I basically ended up spending a week on New Zealand’s South Island and another week on the North Island.  When I visited New Zealand, it was during Christmas and New Years. I figured spending New Years in Auckland would be the best place to see fireworks. I ended up spending 2.5 days in Auckland before escaping the city to see places like Hobbiton and Tongariro National Park.  So is Auckland Worth Visiting for Tourists? Auckland being the largest city in New Zealand, I have a feeling many tourists are going to end up here one way or another whether it be a layover at Auckland Airport or like me, just curious to see what Auckland is like.  Obviously, I don’t know everything about Auckland or saw and did everything the city has to offer but after spending 2.5 days in Auckland as a tourist, I can comfortably say that yes, Auckland is worth visiting, but maybe prioritize some of the major attractions around New Zealand first.  What do I mean by this? New Zealand has so much to offer, the nature here is spectacular and there are so many other attractions that I feel are a must. So why spend an extra day in a city like Auckland when you can tack on an extra day elsewhere.  My recommendation, is spend a day in Auckland instead of 2-3 days unless you are staying in Auckland as a base for day trips and activities on the Northern Island. 5 Things to do in Auckland that Make it Worth Visiting I stayed in the city center and ended up walking to all the attractions and sites that I wanted to visit. There were a few attractions in Auckland that I missed out on, like Mount Eden and the Auckland War Memorial Museum. If are limited on time and only have a day or two to visit Auckland, I’d say don’t miss out on these must visit attractions.  Sky Tower When visiting Auckland, you have to visit it’s #1 attraction, the Sky Tower.  The Sky Tower is 328 meters tall or 1,076 ft and serves as both a telecommunications tower and tourist attraction.  As a tourist, the Sky Tower is a must. When visiting the Sky Deck, you are 220m above the city streets and get a 360° view of Auckland. For more information about the Sky Tower and to purchase combo tickets, you can view the Sky City website.  You can also purchase tickets beforehand for the Sky Tower on Klook.  Weta Workshop I purchased a combo ticket that included the Sky Tower and Weta Workshop. After all, both attractions are practically in the same building. You can do one right after the other.  Weta Workshop is a unique attraction and interesting especially for those that are interested in film making. You get to go on a moviemaking tour and get a behind the scenes look at how they come up with and create special effects, props, and so much more for movies.  For more information and buying tickets, you can view the Sky City website.  Tickets can also be purchased in advance online through Get Your Guide. Viaduct Harbour One of my favorite places in Auckland was the Viaduct Harbour. This area was full of restaurants, sites, museums, and so much more.  Here you can find the New Zealand Maritime Museum, markets, and the Wynyard Crossing.  The Wynyard Crossing in a fun folding bridge that raises and lowers as ships are coming and going.  Queen Street Queen Street seemed like the place to be in Auckland. When visiting the city, I highly recommend walking around Queen Street. Queen Street was full of shops and restaurants.  You can find everything from high end stores like Rolex to souvenir shops.  Eat International Food I’ll be honest, I didn’t come to New Zealand and expect great food and after traveling there for two week, I still stand with my statement.  That being said, I did find good restaurants throughout the country and found myself in many international restaurants.  While in Auckland, I got a couple of Kebabs. I got a really messy but good Kebab at Karadeniz Cafe, right on Wellesley St E.  I also had really good Indian Food at Chawla’s Indian Restaurant.  There are also a lot of great Chinese Restaurants, Vietnamese, Pubs, you name it, you can find it all in Auckland. Day Trips from Auckland Auckland is a great place to stay at if you plan on doing day trips around New Zealand’s North Island. Not to mention a lot of tour companies will be based out of Auckland.  Once you’ve fully explored Auckland and want to venture further outside the city, here are some day trips that I did and highly recommend.  Rangitoto Island One of the easiest and best day trips from Auckland is Rangitoto Island. This island is accessible by ferry from the downtown ferry terminals.  Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island. There is a shield volcano almost in the center of the island and you can see reminiscence of volcanic activity all around the island, from old lava fields to volcanic rocks.  The main activity to do on Rangitoto Island is to hike. There is a great hiking trail from the ferry terminal on the island to the summit. For ferry information, times, and purchasing tickets, feel free to visit the Fullers360 website.  Hunua Falls Hunua Falls is another doable day trip from Auckland. From the city center, it’s about a 50 km drive and takes around 45 minutes to one hour.  Hunua Falls is a beautiful 30 meter tall waterfall located in Hunua Ranges Regional Park.  Hiking to Hunua Falls is easy. It’s only a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot. I saw people here enjoying  picnic and even swimming in the waters below.  Hobbiton Movie Set Tours Of course, no trip to New Zealand is complete without visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set Tours in Matamata.  The Hobbiton Movie Set is about 2 hours from Auckland’s City Center.  This is a must visit attraction in New Zealand and probably one of the country’s most visited sites.  See where filming was done for Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies.  The set looks just like it does in the movies, you can visit Bilbo’s Bag End home, tour the inside of a few hobbit homes, and even get a pint of beer at the Green Dragon Inn. For more information on Hobbiton including times and tickets you can visit the Hobbiton Movie Set official website.  It is recommended to purchase tickets to the Hobbiton Movie Set online and in advance. You can also buy tickets through Get Your Guide, Klook, or Viator. Below are some recommended tours to Hobbiton from Auckland.  Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Lunch from Auckland Matamata: Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour Ticket Hobbiton Movie Set Day Tour from Auckland Common Questions About Auckland Is Auckland expensive to visit?– I found that Auckland was not that expensive. As long as you go in knowing that New Zealand is somewhat pricey as it is, there won’t be any surprises. Obviously, it’s much more expensive then most countries in South East Asia. Like any other place, Auckland can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. I found hotels were average in price and food was not outrageous.  Is Auckland a safe city? – To me, Auckland felt like a safe city. I never ran into any sketchy situations or ran into questionable people. That being said, always travel using common sense and be aware of your surroundings.  How many days in Auckland is enough?– One day in Auckland is plenty to see major attractions. If you stay in Auckland any longer then that, I recommend doing day trips from the city.  Conclusion So, is Auckland worth visiting as a tourist? My honest opinion is yes, but make sure to prioritize other plans first. I think Auckland has enough things to do for a day but anything beyond that I feel you are wasting your time. I did like Auckland, but it didn’t have anything that you can’t find in other big cities around the world. Yes, plan for a day here, see some of the sites. If you plan on staying in Auckland longer or are using it has a base, it is a great city for day trips.  Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸   Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇳🇿 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖  For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours  🏖️🚁  Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.  In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘  I recommend checking with Rental Cars.