HOT springs, glow-worm caves, paradise beaches and incredible stargazing make this a trip of a lifetime, says Deputy Digital Editor Josie Griffiths.
1. SECRET BEACHES
New Zealand is home to 14 national parks, including the stunning Abel Tasman on the South Island’s north-west coast.
Kayak past snoozing seals and soak up the sun on golden beaches that appear and disappear with the changing tides.
Awaroa Lodge sits on the famous coast track and is only accessible by boat or foot.
Double rooms cost from £122 per night (Awaroalodge.co.nz).
Take on the 7km walk from Totaranui beach and camping ground, before settling in for a fish taco lunch, £13, in the treehouse restaurant overlooking the sprawling nature reserve and kanuka tree forest.
Plus, there’s even a glow-worm spot to explore after dark.
2. HOT-SPRING SOAKS
Rotorua, on the North Island, is famous for its bubbling geysers and Maori culture.
Visit the Polynesian Spa at sunset for a dip in a private lakeside pool, before hitting the other pools and springs with temperatures of up to 43°C.
Spa experiences cost from £37 (Polynesianspa.co.nz).
Celebrating something special? Overlooking the glorious Lake Hayes, just outside Queenstown on the South Island, is family-run vineyard Stoneridge Estate, also home to a five-star retreat with saunas, infinity pools and hot tubs.
B&B costs from £359 per night, and include a cheese board and two glasses of wine (Stoneridge.co.nz).
3. SAUV GOOD VINO
Marlborough is known for its excellent sauvignon blanc, but there’s equally delicious pinot noir, too, so cycle between vineyards in this famous region to soak it all up.
At Brit fave Cloudy Bay, tastings cost from £11 for four wines, and they’re not snobby about two sharing a tasting (Cloudybay.com).
Meanwhile, at Allan Scott Family Winemakers, it’s a relaxed, self-service affair where samples cost between 90p and £2.90 a glass (Allanscott.com/cellar-door).
Over at stylish Saint Clair Family Estate Wines, three wines and a shared cheese board cost £15 per person (Saintclair.co.nz/pages/vineyard-kitchen).
But Wither Hills wins our overall vote for its rosé sauvignon, which pairs perfectly with the delicious rib-eye steak, £19 (Witherhills.co.nz).
4. HEAVENLY HIKES
Don’t fancy trekking the 3,724m-high Mount Cook?
Take the fairly flat Hooker Valley Track instead, then picnic at the top by a lake full of icebergs that have fallen from the surrounding peaks.
In Wanaka, a one-hour drive from Queenstown, the easy Mount Iron Track takes little more than an hour but has incredible panoramic views over Mount Aspiring National Park and Lake Wanaka.
Or tackle the Bush Creek Track just outside the old mining town of Arrowtown.
It takes 1 hour 40 minutes to reach the summit, and while it’s steep and slippery in parts, it’s worth it for epic views over the Wakatipu basin.
Reward yourself back in Arrowtown with a Moroccan halloumi salad, £14, at atmospheric Bendix Stables (Bendixstables.com).
5. WILDLIFE WONDERS
For a proper bucket-list moment, swim with dusky dolphins in the Pacific Ocean off Kaikoura on the South Island.
Tours cost £108 per person (Dolphinencounter.co.nz).
Take an overnight boat with Real NZ to jump in a kayak and see the yellow-crested penguins – the world’s third-rarest breed – swim in crystal-clear waters and sail out to the choppy Tasman Sea to get a taste of what explorer Captain Cook experienced in 1773.
Boat trips cost from £73 per person (Realnz.com).
On the North Island, sail through a glow-worm cave, just like Sir David Attenborough.
Tours cost £43 per person (Glowworm.co.nz).
6. STARRY SLEEPS
SkyScape is a romantic couples’ retreat in the heart of Mackenzie’s International Dark Sky Reserve on the South Island.
Stay in one of three glass pods with vistas over Mount Aspiring National Park and insane sunrise views.
B&B costs from £335 a night (Skyscape.co.nz).
You may even spot the Aurora Australis, AKA the Southern Lights.
7. FAB FEASTS
In Kaikoura, seafood is in abundance, and at Hiku the catch-of-the-day fettuccine, £15.50, is not to be missed (Hiku.co.nz).
At The Grill in Auckland, feast on a pasture-fed fillet steak, £25, paired with zingy gin cocktails, £11 (Skycityauckland.co.nz).
Kisa in Wellington serves up huge flatbreads, £1.50, and kebabs, £11.50, in a buzzy art-deco building (Kisarestaurant.co.nz).
FYI
Return UK flights to New Zealand cost from £609.
Hire a car from £128 per day (Avis.co.nz).
Take the Picton-Wellington ferry between islands. Stay at Mövenpick Hotel Wellington, rooms from £75 a night (Movenpick.accor.com).