Where To Go In New Zealand Based On Your Travel Personality

If you know a thing or two about New Zealand, you’ll be aware of its sheer diversity of attractions. But which destination is right for you? Here’s a quick personality-based run-through that’s guaranteed to help all travellers fine-tune their itineraries.

For the self-professed coffee snobs: Wellington

There’s a good reason Wellington touts itself as the ‘coffee capital‘ of New Zealand. For one thing, the city is home to some of the country’s most famous coffee brands and roasters, including Mojo, Caffe L’Affare and Havana. Then there’s the fact that the flat white may or may not have been created by a Wellington barista. Needless to say, the local cafes take their roasts and brews seriously.

For the budding foodies: Auckland

Dessert from the Mexican Cafe in Auckland, New Zealand

For the wine connoisseurs: Marlborough

Again, this is a very tough contest. Marlborough is the country’s largest wine-producing region, though. That alone should be enough reason to place it at the top of all viticulture enthusiasts’ must-visit lists. More than 70% of New Zealand’s wines are made in Marlborough, with many of them earning top accolades locally and worldwide. To get a taste of the region’s famous Sauvignon blends, either take yourself on a self-guided trip of the vineyards or opt for a localised tour package.

For the thrill seekers: Queenstown

As the ‘adventure capital’ of New Zealand, Queenstown is home to a load of stomach-twisting activities. This was the place that introduced the world to commercial bungy jumping, after all. The town is also home to the world’s largest rope swing and is surrounded by some of the country’s best ski fields, canyons and river rapids (the latter two being ideal for rafting and jet boating).

For the snow bunnies: Wanaka

Queenstown may be adventure central, but Wanaka is the gateway to some of New Zealand’s best ski slopes. Treble Cone, the largest ski area in the South Island, is right on Wanaka’s doorstep. Similarly, Cardrona is just a 35-minute drive away and is known for its family-friendly runs and incredibly reliable snow conditions.

For the beach bums: The Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula is renowned locally and globally for its pristine beaches and natural landscapes. But did you know it’s also a prime surfing destination too? Towns like Whangamata, Whitianga, Tairua and Waihi become hot-spots over the summer for keen surfers scouring for those perfect points breaks and swells. Other points of interest include Hahei Beach, Hot Water Beach and Opito Bay.

For the architecture lovers: Dunedin

The South Island city of Dunedin is home to an enviable collection of Victorian architecture. True to its Scottish heritage, stone buildings and Gothic style churches are among the highlights you’ll encounter while strolling the streets. In fact, the Dunedin Railway Station is known for being the most photographed place in New Zealand and the second most photographed destination in the entire Southern Hemisphere — how’s that for impressive?

For the nature lovers: Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park has got everything a nature enthusiast could ever ask for. It is home to some of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the alluring Milford Sound, and a vast arrayof unique animal species, soaring mountain peaks, glacially carved fjords, native forests and waterfalls that are set to take anyone’s breath away.

For the avid hikers: Any national park, really

Each of New Zealand’s national parks has its own distinctive landscape and character. But if there’s one thing they have in common, it’s is that they all come with various single- and multi-day hiking opportunities for all levels and abilities. The Tongariro Crossing is a popular one-day trek, while the 3-5 day Abel Tasman Coast Track is the ideal choice for experienced hikers wanting to immerse themselves in a contrasting terrain of sand and forests.

For the marine wildlife enthusiasts: the Bay of Islands the in the north; Kaikoura in the south

There are so many places where you can see wildlife in New Zealand. In Kaikoura, you’ll encounter some of the country’s rarest dolphins, plus some whales, fur seals and native albatross species. The Bay of Islands is known for its migratory whale and bottlenose dolphin encounters, and is also a place where you might spot fur seals and penguins basking on the rocky shores.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.