All New Zealand

The Atlas Obscura Guide To New Zealand

116 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New Zealand

Updated March 16, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Auckland
  2. Christchurch
  3. Dunedin
  4. Hamilton
  5. Lake Tekapo
  6. Napier
  7. Nelson
  8. Waimangu
  9. Wanaka
  10. Wellington

Unusual Attractions in New Zealand

See All 116 Things To Do in New Zealand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New Zealand

See all 8 Places to Eat in New Zealand
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Trips

New Zealand: Māori Traditions & Natural Marvels

Learn More

Explore New Zealand

Nature 20
Natural Wonders 18
Geology 16
Animals 14
Water 11
Art 10
Plants 9
Geological Oddities 7

New Zealand Leaderboard

Recent New Zealand Activity

Stories About New Zealand

The Tamil Bell, the broken crown of a ship's bell embossed with Tamil script, has fascinated and perplexed scholars for more than a century.

The Mystery of New Zealand's Tamil Bell, an Archaeological 'UFO'

The strange bronze artifact perplexed scholars for more than a century, including how it traveled so far from home.
by Petrina Darrah
The Milky Way and curtain-like auroras fill a clear southern sky off Nugget Point, at the edge of New Zealand’s remote Catlins. While the island nation is too far north to see the aurora australis regularly, aurora-hunters flock to the Nugget Point lighthouse area for its dark skies and unobstructed view off the South Island’s southeastern coast.

Aurora Hunters Capture the Wonder of the Northern (and Southern) Lights

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.
by Gemma Tarlach
New Zealand's challenging Hollyford Track—including a stretch known as the Demon Trail—follows a river valley past stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

Along New Zealand's Demon Trail, a Family Hunts for True 'Wildness'

A couple and their young daughter hike the South Island's Hollyford Track, enduring rough terrain and vicious sand flies for a glimpse of an untamed world.
by Phillip and April Vannini
Frying Pan Lake, one of the world's largest hot water springs, Rotorua, New Zealand.

New Zealand, Off the Beaten Path

Atlas Obscura’s Senior Trips Program Manager, Becca Glatz, speaks about our amazing trip “Natural Wonders of New Zealand’s North Island” and the country in general.
Sponsored by Atlas Obscura Trips

Podcast: The Livestock Living at the End of the World

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
The mushrooms typically appear on their own or in a very small cluster.

Get to Know New Zealand's Hugely Popular, Thrillingly Blue Mushroom

It is a key part of local culture, and looks like it was colored with a crayon.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
The Milky Way above Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.

Under New Zealand's Dark Skies, Insects Recover and Humans Reconnect with a Lost View

The massive South Island stargazing reserve is a respite from light pollution for many species, including our own.
by Petrina Darrah
New Zealand's tuatara are the last members of Rhynchocephalia, an order of lizard-like reptiles

New Zealand's Slow-Moving 'Living Fossils' Have the Fastest Sperm Among Reptiles

Discovering the trait may help scientists protect the tuatara, which has been around since the dinosaurs.
by Tess McClure

Lists Featuring New Zealand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More