Top 10 Best Things to Do in New Zealand

Consistently ranked one of the world's best single-day hikes; the 19.4km trail through Tongariro National Park takes 6-8 hours and passes volcanic craters, emerald lakes and Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings films).

Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping; AJ Hackett launched the world's first commercial bungee jump in 1988 from the 43m Kawarau Bridge; the Nevis Bungy at 134m remains the highest in New Zealand.

The fully preserved Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film set near Matamata; covers 1,250 acres with 44 Hobbit holes; receives over 500,000 visitors annually since opening to the public in 2012; guided tours run daily year-round.

An archipelago of 144 islands north of Auckland, known for the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi signing site and some of New Zealand's best sailing and dolphin-watching; over 30,000 dolphins inhabit the waters and 90% of all charter fishing occurs here.

One of only three temperate rainforest glaciers in the world; the 12km-long glacier descends from 2,700m to 240m above sea level; helicopter tours and guided ice-hikes operate year-round, offering access to blue ice caves and seracs.

Home to 17 geothermal features including geysers, mud pools and silica terraces; the Pohutu Geyser erupts up to 30 meters high more than 20 times daily; the Maori cultural experience here attracts over 3 million visitors annually.

New Zealand's smallest but most visited national park at 225 sq km; the 3-5 day Abel Tasman Coast Track passes golden beaches, fur seal colonies and 100km of crystal-clear coastline; 29,000 guided track walkers annually.

A 35-minute ferry from Auckland city center; home to over 30 vineyards including Goldwater Estate (NZ's first serious Cabernet Sauvignon); 93 restaurants in just 21 sq km of land; consistently ranked in Lonely Planet's top islands globally.

A network of limestone caves near Hamilton inhabited by Arachnocampa luminosa, a glowworm unique to New Zealand; the 30-minute boat tour through the Glowworm Grotto passes thousands of bioluminescent larvae on cave ceilings; discovered by Maori chief Tane Tinorau in 1887.

Consistently ranked one of the world's best single-day hikes; the 19.4km trail through Tongariro National Park takes 6-8 hours and passes volcanic craters, emerald lakes and Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings films).

Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping; AJ Hackett launched the world's first commercial bungee jump in 1988 from the 43m Kawarau Bridge; the Nevis Bungy at 134m remains the highest in New Zealand.

The fully preserved Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film set near Matamata; covers 1,250 acres with 44 Hobbit holes; receives over 500,000 visitors annually since opening to the public in 2012; guided tours run daily year-round.

An archipelago of 144 islands north of Auckland, known for the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi signing site and some of New Zealand's best sailing and dolphin-watching; over 30,000 dolphins inhabit the waters and 90% of all charter fishing occurs here.

One of only three temperate rainforest glaciers in the world; the 12km-long glacier descends from 2,700m to 240m above sea level; helicopter tours and guided ice-hikes operate year-round, offering access to blue ice caves and seracs.

Home to 17 geothermal features including geysers, mud pools and silica terraces; the Pohutu Geyser erupts up to 30 meters high more than 20 times daily; the Maori cultural experience here attracts over 3 million visitors annually.

New Zealand's smallest but most visited national park at 225 sq km; the 3-5 day Abel Tasman Coast Track passes golden beaches, fur seal colonies and 100km of crystal-clear coastline; 29,000 guided track walkers annually.

A 35-minute ferry from Auckland city center; home to over 30 vineyards including Goldwater Estate (NZ's first serious Cabernet Sauvignon); 93 restaurants in just 21 sq km of land; consistently ranked in Lonely Planet's top islands globally.

A network of limestone caves near Hamilton inhabited by Arachnocampa luminosa, a glowworm unique to New Zealand; the 30-minute boat tour through the Glowworm Grotto passes thousands of bioluminescent larvae on cave ceilings; discovered by Maori chief Tane Tinorau in 1887.