40 Things New Zealand Is Famous For

Last Updated on 18th September 2023

This post about what is New Zealand famous for includes affiliate links.

What Is New Zealand Famous For? 40 Things That Make New Zealand Special

New Zealand, Aotearoa or The Land of the Long White Cloud is one of the most beloved and beautiful in the world.

Renowned for its epic mountainscapes, an abundance of wildlife and natural habitats, plus cities, towns, rivers, lakes, beaches and so much more, New Zealand is famous the world over for its vast and diverse landscape.

I was lucky enough to live in NZ as a teenager when my family emigrated there and I also spent three months exploring the entire country in 2019 with my boyfriend when we began travelling full-time. It holds an incredibly special place in my heart and it’s somewhere that I love sharing about as I would love for everyone to have the chance to visit at least once in their lives.

If you’re thinking of planning a trip to New Zealand and you’re curious about what it’s famous for, or you just want to know more about Aotearoa in general, I’ve put together this huge list of things that New Zealand is famous for!

What is New Zealand famous for?

New Zealand is famous for the epic filming locations for The Lord of the Rings movies, one of the most epic bungee jumping sites in the world, and sights such as Tongariro National Park, Milford Sound and Aoraki National Park, plus so much more!

Check out the awesome list below for more things that New Zealand is best known for!

1. The Lord of the Rings – things New Zealand is famous for

Lord of the Rings/Hobbiton - things New Zealand is famous for

The fact that New Zealand is known as “The Lord of the Rings land” is obviously a fairly recent attribute, as the hit movie franchise was only released in the early 2000s.

However, since then, New Zealand has become the home of LOTR and is now synonymous with The Shire, Mordor and Rivendell, as well as many other places featured in the fantastical world of The Lord of the Rings.

There are so many famous places in New Zealand that you can visit as a LOTR fan, including Mount Ngāuruhoe (Mount Doom), Hobbiton (The Shire), Mount Victoria in Wellington (Hobbiton Woods) and so much more.

More than 150 filming locations featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies can be discovered across both the North and South Islands in New Zealand, so LOTR fans won’t be short of an adventure when it comes to finding all the top spots!

You can take a tour of some of the best LOTR filming locations in the South Island from Queenstown and you can also visit the permanent village of Hobbiton on a tour where The Shire and Middle Earth come to life!

Book a guided tour of Hobbiton here!

2. Rugby/All Blacks

The sport of rugby is as synonymous with New Zealand as football is with Barcelona or the English Premier League, and the New Zealand All Blacks national rugby team, in particular, is one of the most famous rugby teams in the world.

Rugby is considered as the country’s national sport and it’s played in schools and local clubs by kids from a very young age.

The All Blacks have won three Rugby World Cups, including the inaugural cup in 1987 and they have an impressive 77% winning record in test match rugby!

New Zealand is certainly famed for its spectacular landscapes and remarkable nature, but its effort in sports is not to be diminished!

3. Bungee jumping

New Zealand is famous for being the unofficial home of bungee jumping and the city of Queenstown is often cited as the adrenaline capital of the world thanks to the vast and varied adventure sports on offer.

Bungee jumping was popularised and commercialised by entrepreneur AJ Hackett in the 1980s and now NZ is famous all over the world for being one of the best countries to go bungee jumping.

Top bungee sites in New Zealand include The Nevis Bungee Jump (Queenstown), Kawarau Bridge Bungee (Queenstown), Velocity Valley Bungee (Rotorua), and the Waiau Ferry Bridge Bungee (Hanmer Springs).

Book a Hanmer Springs Bungee Jump off Waiau Bridge here!

4. Maori culture – history, culture and traditions New Zealand is famous for

The Māori are the indigenous people of mainland New Zealand whose culture is such an incredibly important and poignant part of Aotearoa.

Unfortunately, the Māori people are often underrepresented and Te Reo Māori, the Eastern Polynesian language spoken by the indigenous people, only became recognised as one of New Zealand’s official languages in 1987!

There are so many places in New Zealand where you can learn more about the incredible Māori culture and its history, including Whakarewarewa Village, Tamaki Māori Village and Mitai Māori Village, as well as The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington where you can learn more about the history of the Māori people and their culture.

Book a guided tour to Whakarewarewa Village here.

5. Glaciers

New Zealand is famous for many natural elements and glaciers are just one of the many beautiful feats of nature that can be enjoyed across the country. Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier are two of the most famous glaciers in New Zealand, along with Tasman Glacier, Hooker Glacier and Murchinson Glacier.

There are numerous ways to see the glaciers but arguably one of the most exciting ways is to take a helicopter flight over Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers which also includes a snow landing so that you can get up close and personal to these magnificent feats of nature!

Unfortunately, due to climate change and other natural issues, both glaciers are retreating at a mightily quick rate, which means that they won’t last forever. These iconic NZ elements are such an important part of the country’s landscape and scenery and it’s so sad to think that they might completely disappear one day.

Book a helicopter flight with snow landing to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers here!

6. Hot springs

Another thing that New Zealand is known for is its many hot springs that are located across the country.

From Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel to Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown, New Zealand boasts many places to luxuriate in naturally-occurring thermal springs and they’re something that should be enjoyed on any trip to NZ.

7. Star-gazing – things New Zealand is famous for

I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the best star-gazing experience of my entire life in New Zealand and seeing the stars on a clear night in NZ is a very common occurrence.

We saw the most incredible night sky, including the Milky Way, from a tiny free camping spot on Ahuriri Bridge, just outside of Omarama on the South Island, and it was one of the most breathtaking things I’ve ever seen.

New Zealand as a whole is famous for its epic star-gazing opportunities, especially when you get out of the cities, as there are so many places in the country that have very little pollution, creating the perfect environment to see the most remarkable starry skies at night!

One of the best places in the country for star-gazing is at Lake Tekapo and you can take a tour to the Mount John Observatory at Lake Tekapo for the chance to explore the pristine night sky through their state-of-the-art telescopes.

Book a star-gazing tour at Lake Tekapo: Mount John Observatory here.

8. Whale watching

New Zealand is famous for many bucket list experiences and whale watching, specifically a whale-watching cruise in Kaikoura, is often cited as one of the top things to do in NZ.

You can also enjoy a whale-watching experience in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park in Auckland, but Kaikoura is arguably the best place to enjoy these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Book a whale-watching cruise in Kaikoura here.

9. Mountains/lakes

There are no shortages of lakes and mountains in Aotearoa and the likes of Aoraki (Mount Cook), Mount Taranaki and Mitre Peak set the precedent for some of New Zealand’s most famous mountains while Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo and Lake Wanaka feature as some of the most impressive bodies of water in the country.

The landscape in New Zealand is stunning almost everywhere you go and whether you spend 3 days in New Zealand or 3 months, you’re guaranteed to see some of the country’s best and most prestigious lakes and mountainscapes.

10. Kiwi birds – what is New Zealand famous for?

This flightless bird is one of the most iconic symbols of New Zealand and yet it’s also one of the most elusive creatures in the country!

A visit to NZ doesn’t guarantee a sighting of the kiwi bird and in fact, you’re actually super unlikely to see one!

According to the New Zealand Department of Conservation, there are only around 68,000 kiwi birds left and around 2% of their population is dying every year! Not only are they an important symbol of the country of New Zealand, but they’re also considered to be a treasure (taonga) to the Māori, so their conservation is of utmost importance.

11. National parks

Mirror Lakes, Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, South Island New Zealand

There are no shortages of incredible national parks in New Zealand; from Fiordland National Park to Abel Tasman National Park to Tongariro National Park, there are 13 official national parks in NZ that cover an area of a whopping 30,000 square kilometres!

The nature you’ll find inside these national parks is unlike anything else and the vast mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, beaches and more that comprise each national park make New Zealand famous for its awesome scenery and hiking abilities.

12. Haka – sports and dance New Zealand is famous for

Haka is a ceremonial Māori dance that has been made famous worldwide by the All Blacks Rugby team who perform it before every match.

This traditional war dance/challenge is an integral part of New Zealand and Māori culture and it’s an incredible thing to witness, especially if you’re lucky enough to see it in real life while exploring the country.

13. Manuka honey – things New Zealand is famous for

Manuka honey is a specific type of honey that originates from New Zealand (and Australia).

The honey is made by bees that get their nectar from the indigenous Manuka bush (hence its name) in New Zealand. As well as actual pots of honey, you’ll also find several other products made with Manuka honey, including candles, face creams, antibacterial products and even whisky!

14. Glowworm caves

Another remarkable feat of nature that makes New Zealand so famous is the spectacular glowworm caves that can be discovered around the country.

One of the most famous glowworm caves in New Zealand is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves which you can take a guided tour of by boat. It’s an absolute joy and privilege to see these tiny bioluminescent insects up close and personal and it’s one of the greatest adventures to enjoy in NZ.

You can also find glowworm caves in Te Anau and Karangahake Gorge, but the ones in Waitomo are arguably the best and most well-known in New Zealand.

Book a guided boat tour to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves here.

15. New Zealand wines

New Zealand’s Marlborough region is famous all over the world for its impeccable wineries and there are many wine tours that can be enjoyed when visiting this special part of the northern tip of the South Island.

A delicious Sauvignon Blanc is one of the specialities that originates from the Marlborough region in NZ, but you’ll also find incredible vineyards and wine tours available in the Napier region of the North Island, as well as on Waiheke Island which can be visited on a day tour from Auckland.

If you’re a wine connoisseur, you’ll love exploring the many famous wine regions of New Zealand!

Book a Full Day Wine Tour to the Marlborough region here!

16. Kiwi fruit – what is New Zealand known for?

Along with the evasive Kiwi bird, New Zealand is also known for its production of kiwi fruit, however, you’ll be fascinated to know that the fruit isn’t actually native to NZ at all and it actually originates from China!

Kiwi fruit production only began in New Zealand in the early 1900s, although it’s one of the most famous exports of the country!

17. Sheep/lamb

At one stage, there were more than 70 million sheep in New Zealand, whereas there are only approximately 26 million sheep roaming the countryside today (that’s still approximately 5 sheep for every person in the country!).

Naturally, with so many sheep roaming around, it’s easy to see why New Zealand lamb is available in vast quantities and along with the UK and Australia, NZ lamb is often cited as some of the best in the world.

18. The Southern Lights

The Southern Lights might not be quite as popular as the Northern Lights, but when it comes to seeing the elusive light phenomena, New Zealand is one of the best places to witness them.

They’re best viewed between March and September and Lake Tekapo, Aoraki National Park, The Catlins and Stewart Island are amongst the best places to see them for yourself.

19. Road trips – things New Zealand is famous for

I’m a firm believer that everyone should experience a New Zealand road trip at least once in their life as our road trip across the South Island in 2019 was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life.

NZ is known for its awesome road trip routes and whether you intend on embarking on a 3-day or 3-month road trip around the country, I can guarantee that you won’t regret it!

From epic stretches of road such as Arthur’s Pass, the Milford Road, the Pacific Coast Highway and the Bay of Islands to places where you can spot wild seals, penguins, native birds and more to all the awesome free campsites in the country, New Zealand is arguably one of the best places in the world that is catered to epic road trips!

20. Pavlova – food New Zealand is famous for

There is much debate as to where exactly the meringue-based dessert is thought to have originated from, but New Zealand and Australia are both top contenders. As it’s one of the most popular desserts in NZ, I think we can agree that it deserves a place on this list!

Famous cities in New Zealand

While New Zealand’s cities might not be quite as famous as the likes of Paris in France, New York City in the United States or Rome in Italy, for example, it’s still home to some truly amazing cities that are known and loved all over the world!

Here are a few of the most well-known cities in NZ!

21. Wellington – what is New Zealand famous for?

Despite many people believing that Auckland is the country’s capital city, Wellington actually holds the title of the capital of New Zealand and during our 3-month trip in NZ, I fell head over heels in love with this incredible city.

It sits at the very southern tip of the North Island and it’s the gateway to the South Island if you’re taking the ferry across the Cook Strait to Picton.

Home to an awesome food scene, as well as the beautiful Mount Victoria, the archaic Cable Car and many vintage clothes stores, Wellington is a fantastic place to visit in New Zealand.

22. Queenstown

Queenstown is often cited as the adventure capital of the world and thanks to its brilliant offering of adrenaline-fuelled activities such as bungee jumping, skiing, rock climbing, jet boating and more, it’s clear to see why it’s one of the most famous places in New Zealand.

No trip to Queenstown is complete without a visit to the beloved Fergburger (you’ve got to try the Chief Wiggum!) and if you’re visiting NZ in the winter, head to the Remarkables for an epic ski session!

23. Auckland – cities and travel destinations New Zealand is famous for

Often mistaken for the capital of New Zealand, Auckland might not hold that title anymore, but it’s still one of the best cities in the country.

The CBD area of Auckland is great to wander around and of course, you’ve got to head to the top of the Sky Tower for awesome views of the city and beyond.

You can also take a day trip to Waiheke Island from Auckland to go wine tasting or you can even book a ride on the Zipline and Native Forest Adventure Tour which is so much fun!

24. Christchurch

Much of the historic city centre of Christchurch was destroyed in the dreadful earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, leaving a lot of the city in utter destruction. It’s taken a number of years for it to be repaired and it’s still on the mend now, but Christchurch is still a great city to visit in NZ.

I didn’t personally love Christchurch as much as Wellington, Queenstown or Rotorua, for example, but I still appreciated its awesome culture, brilliant street art and fantastic museums. It’s also a great city to begin/conclude a road trip around the South Island (which is exactly what we did).

25. Rotorua

If Queenstown is the capital of adventure on the South Island, then Rotorua deserves that same title for the North Island as it’s home to so many fun and exciting attractions and activities, including Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the Redwoods Forest, ZORB Rotorua and the awesome Skyline Luge!

There are also plenty of places to learn more about Māori culture in and around Rotorua, making it one of the best-known places in New Zealand.

Most famous sights and attractions in New Zealand

I’ve already mentioned many of the most famous sights and attractions in New Zealand above, but I wanted to include a whole section about some of the top things to do in New Zealand as well so that you’re fully equipped with everything you need to know about visiting this awesome country!

26. Milford Sound/Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound is one of the highlights of any trip to New Zealand and if there’s just one place in the entire country that I could recommend visiting, it would be Milford Road and Milford Sound itself as it’s such a breathtaking experience.

There are many ways to experience Milford Sound, including via a simple Nature Cruise with a Picnic Lunch or if you’re feeling extra fancy, you can book an incredible Milford Sound Full-Day Trip by Plane & Boat from Queenstown which allows you to enjoy Milford Sound from both the sky and the water.

You can also just explore the sprawling Fiordland National Park and its many hikes and scenic spots, but I would highly recommend taking a cruise as it’s one of the best things to do in New Zealand!

Book a nature cruise with a picnic lunch in Milford Sound here!

27. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

Mount Cook, South Island New Zealand road trip

It might sound dramatic, but seeing Mount Cook for the first time was one of the best moments of my entire life, which is why I’ve included it in this guide of the things that New Zealand is famous for because it’s such an integral part of the country’s landscape and scenery.

Simply driving through Aoraki National Park is an enjoyable experience in itself, but taking a Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing directly at Mount Cook might just be one of the best bucket list experiences you can ever have!

Book a Scenic Helicopter Flight with Alpine Landing in Aoraki National Park here!

28. Tongariro National Park

Mount Doom (Mount Ngauruhoe) Lord of the Rings New Zealand

Tongariro is one of New Zealand’s best-known national parks, largely thanks to Mount Ngāuruhoe, also known as Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings trilogy!

There are so many ways to explore the national park, with one of the best and most popular ways to embark on a Guided Trek along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. You can certainly hike the crossing yourself, but it is renowned for being incredibly difficult, especially if you’re not a super experienced hiker, so a guided tour might be the best option for you.

Alternatively, there are many other shorter routes that you can undertake in the national park that don’t require too much hiking or arduous scrambling, but that still allow you to explore the delights of Taranaki Falls, Tawhai Falls (also known as Gollum’s Pool) and of course, Mount Doom!

Book a Guided Trek on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing here!

29. Hobbiton – what is New Zealand famous for?

The village of Hobbiton is now a permanent place on the North Island of New Zealand in Matamata and it’s remained there ever since The Hobbit movies concluded filming.

It was only a temporary set when Peter Jackson created The Lord of the Rings films, but after The Hobbit was made, it was decided that Hobbiton should remain as a “real” place for people to visit and it’s now one of the most famous attractions in New Zealand!

You need to book a guided tour when visiting Hobbiton which will take you from the Shire’s Rest carpark to Hobbiton Village where your tour will begin. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the LOTR or The Hobbit trilogies, I’d still highly recommend visiting Hobbiton as it’s such a fun and unique place in New Zealand.

Book your Hobbiton Movie Set Guided Tour Ticket here!

30. The Sky Tower – architecture and landmarks New Zealand is famous for

Sky Tower Auckland, best things to do in North Island New Zealand

Auckland’s Sky Tower is a prominent symbol of the city itself as well as New Zealand as a whole and it’s one of the best attractions to visit while you’re in the country.

Located right in the heart of the CBD and standing at an impressive 328m tall, it’s by far the tallest building in the country and it’s a brilliant place to admire the city of Auckland and beyond.

31. Huka Falls

Huka Falls, Taupo, best things to do in North Island New Zealand

Located just outside of Taupō, Huka Falls are one of New Zealand’s greatest attractions and phenomena, with a mighty 220,000 litres of water cascading over the 11m-tall waterfall per second!

As well as seeing the remarkable falls themselves, you can also take a Jet Boat Ride along the Waikato River which provides a water-level viewpoint of this magnificent feat of nature.

The Falls are located within the Lake Taupō region which is also worth exploring while you’re in the area.

Book a Jet Boat Experience at Huka Falls here!

32. Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel is one of the most famous regions of New Zealand’s North Island that’s home to some of the most pristine beaches in the country, as well as gorgeous forests and beautiful hiking trails.

Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove are two of the most popular attractions located in the Coromandel, but you’ll also find places such as Cooks Beach, Whale Cove and plenty of other geothermal waters such as The Lost Spring Geothermal Spa in Whitianga as well.

Famous people of New Zealand

As well as all the awesome national parks, beaches, forests, hikes, landmarks, mountains and lakes that New Zealand is famous for, there are also a few famous New Zealanders in the celebrity world who were born in New Zealand; check them out below!

Sir Peter Jackson
Russel Crowe
Jacinda Ardern
Taika Waititi
Sir Edmund Hillary
Sonny Bill Williams
Dan Carter
Lorde

Related posts:

Pin for later – what is New Zealand famous for?

Do you have any other things to add to this list of things that New Zealand is famous for? Let me know in the comments or on Instagram at @imjustagirl_16.