New Zealand holiday
Travel tips, best time to visit & highlights for your New Zealand holiday in Oceania
Middle-earth in real life: New Zealand offers the most dramatic landscapes on Earth – glaciers, fjords, volcanoes, rainforests, and endless hiking trails. Plus, a relaxed Kiwi culture and adrenaline activities.
Capital
Wellington
Language
English, Māori
Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Time zone
UTC+12
Flight time from DE
approx. 24–30 hours
Entry requirements
Passport, NZeTA required
Top hotels & accommodations in New Zealand
Selected hotels and holiday accommodations in New Zealand — with images, reviews, and direct booking links with our partners.
Hotel Royal Lakeside Novotel Rotorua
Rotorua, Neuseeland
Hotel Stamford Plaza
Auckland, Neuseeland
Hotel Pullman Auckland
Auckland, Neuseeland
SKYCITY Grand Hotel
Auckland, Neuseeland
Fable Auckland, MGallery
Auckland, Neuseeland
Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
Auckland, Neuseeland
Mövenpick Hotel Auckland
Auckland, Neuseeland
Hilton Auckland
Auckland, Neuseeland
Top 5 highlights in New Zealand
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Milford Sound
The most beautiful fjord in the world: steep cliffs, waterfalls, and dolphins.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
One of the best day hikes in the world – past Mordor (The Lord of the Rings).
Queenstown
Adrenaline capital: bungee, skydive, jetboat, and stunning mountain scenery.
Hobbiton
The Shire: original film set from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Abel Tasman
Golden beaches, kayaking, and the most beautiful coastal hiking track in New Zealand.
Hotels in New Zealand
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für New Zealand
Prepaid-SIM mit Datenvolumen für New Zealand. Einfach einlegen und sofort lossurfen – keine Roaming-Gebühren.
* Weiterleitung zu travSIM.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reiseversicherung abschließen
Rundum-Schutz ab 9,90 € auf TravelSecure.de
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to visit New Zealand
Recommended travel time
December–March (Southern Hemisphere summer)
Summer
20–28°C
Winter
5–15°C
How much does a holiday in New Zealand cost?
Average cost per person per day (excluding flight)
Budget
60–90€
Hostel, street food, public transport
Mid-range
90–160€
Hotel, restaurant, excursions
Luxury
160–350€
Boutique hotel, fine dining
5 travel tips for New Zealand
Insider knowledge to make your holiday better.
Campervan is THE way to travel New Zealand
Plan for 3-4 weeks for both islands
DOC campsites are cheap and in nature
Book Great Walks early – limited spots
No tipping required – it's not customary in NZ
Food & drink in New Zealand
These dishes you must try!
Discover New Zealand
5 regions, cities and highlights in New Zealand
Cities
Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, is located on a narrow isthmus between two harbors and is characterized by over 50 extinct volcanoes. The "City of Sails" has more boats per capita than any other city in the world. The Sky Tower, at 328 meters the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, dominates the skyline. Auckland combines urban flair with immediate nature: within 30 minutes, you can reach black volcanic beaches on the west coast, the wine region of Waiheke Island, the rainforest of the Waitakere Ranges, or the bays of the Hauraki Gulf. The multicultural population — one third of New Zealanders live here — is reflected in a diverse culinary scene that blends Polynesian, Asian, and European influences. Auckland is the gateway to New Zealand's North Island with Rotorua, Hobbiton, and the Coromandel beaches.
Queenstown
Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island rightfully holds the title of Adventure Capital of the World: The city, spectacularly located on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the snow-capped Remarkables, is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping and offers an unparalleled density of outdoor activities in breathtaking mountain scenery. The Kawarau Bridge was the first commercial bungee site in the world in 1988, and since then, Queenstown has steadily expanded its offerings: jet boat rides through narrow gorges, skydiving over the lake, paragliding from Bob's Peak, canyoning, and mountain biking on top-notch trails. In winter, the surrounding mountains transform into excellent ski resorts like Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. But Queenstown offers much more than just adrenaline: The Skyline Gondola takes you to Bob's Peak with one of the most beautiful panoramas in New Zealand. The wine region of Central Otago around the nearby town of Cromwell produces some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world. Day trips to Milford Sound, a dramatic fjord with 1,000-meter-high cliffs and waterfalls, are unforgettable. The city served as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings and offers film tourism to the iconic locations. Queenstown is appealing year-round.
Rotorua
Rotorua is New Zealand's geothermal wonderland — a city on the North Island where the earth bubbles, steams, and hisses, where boiling mud pools gurgle, geysers shoot high into the air, and the omnipresent smell of sulfur reminds you that volcanic forces are at work beneath the surface. At the same time, Rotorua is the cultural heart of the Maori and New Zealand's adventure capital. Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Water) is the most colorful geothermal area in the world: The Champagne Pool glows in orange, green, and turquoise, the Artists' Palette shimmers in surreal pastel tones, and the Devil's Bath is a surreal neon green crater lake. The Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15 AM, shooting water up to 20 meters high. Te Puia is New Zealand's most significant Maori cultural center: The Pohutu Geyser, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, erupts up to 20 times a day and reaches heights of 30 meters. In addition to the geysers, carving schools, weaving workshops, and evening Hangi feasts (food cooked in the ground) convey the vibrant culture of the Maori. The Redwood Treewalk leads over suspension bridges through the crowns of ancient Californian redwood trees: during the day, enjoy forest air and birdsong, at night illuminated by 30 lanterns — a magical night walk at 12 meters high. Rotorua is New Zealand's adventure hub: Zorbing (rolling down a hill in a plastic ball), luge (summer tobogganing), mountain biking trails through the Whakarewarewa Forest, rafting on the Kaituna River (the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world), and ziplining through the rainforest.
Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand's capital, is the southernmost capital in the world and a compact, creative city nestled between steep hills and the harbor. Known as Windy Wellington, the city withstands the storms of the Roaring Forties with an unwavering café and culture scene. Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum, is Wellington's crown jewel: interactive, free, and brilliantly designed, it tells the story of New Zealand from geology to Māori culture and the Treaty of Waitangi. The Weta Workshop tour (Peter Jackson's film studio where The Lord of the Rings and Avatar were created) is a pilgrimage site for film fans. Cuba Street, the colorful pedestrian zone, is the soul of Wellington: independent cafés, vintage shops, street art, and a bohemian flair reminiscent of Portland or Melbourne. The café culture is legendary — Wellington has more cafés per capita than New York and roasts some of the best coffee in the Southern Hemisphere. The Cable Car from the city center to the Botanical Garden offers iconic views over the harbor. The coastal promenade at Oriental Bay has a nearly Mediterranean feel, and the Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary protects endangered New Zealand birds in a fenced rainforest in the middle of the city.
Complete guide for New Zealand
Regions, attractions, food, routes, costs & practical tips — all in one digital guide.
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Plan a holiday in New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the most popular travel destinations in Oceania, offering Nature, Hiking, Adventure and much more. The best time to visit New Zealand is December–March (Southern Hemisphere summer), when the weather is ideal for exploration and relaxation. With a daily budget starting from 60–90€ (Budget) to 160–350€ (Luxury), New Zealand is suitable for various travel budgets.
From the capital Wellington, New Zealand can be excellently explored. The official language is English, Māori, and the currency is New Zealand Dollar (NZD). From Germany, you can reach New Zealand in approx. 24–30 hours. Whether you want to try culinary highlights like Pavlova, Meat Pie, Fish and Chips, visit top attractions, or simply enjoy the atmosphere: New Zealand has something for every type of traveller.
Use our free travel tools to prepare your New Zealand holiday perfectly. With the holiday finder, you can discover if New Zealand is the right destination for you. The budget calculator helps you plan costs realistically, and with the packing list, you won't forget anything.
Suitable holiday types for New Zealand:
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