The most underrated beauty spot in every region of New Zealand

Even with all the domestic travel many of us did in the early Covid days, New Zealand is big and beautiful enough to continue to throw up seductive surprises.

Researching and seeking recommendations from the Stuff Travel Neighbourly community for a recent article on the most beautiful spot in each region in Aotearoa, we uncovered so many hidden gems we thought they deserved an article of their own.

As with the last piece, they merely scratch the surface of what’s on offer, so treat them as a starting point for wider exploration.

Northland: Kai Iwi Lakes

Northland’s beautiful beaches get a lot of love, but these dune lakes in the Far North have even more of an island vibe with water made milky by its clarity and fine white sand. More than 1.8 million years in the making, the calm triplet lakes are ideal for swimming and kayaking, and campgrounds cater for those who want to stick around a while.

Auckland: Āwhitu Peninsula

Lying between the peaceful Manukau Harbour and turbulent Tasman Sea, this lonely outpost of the supercity doesn’t feel like it belongs in a city at all. About an hour from central Auckland, the Āwhitu Peninsula boasts dramatic topography, a beautifully restored lighthouse, historic homestead, hidden winery, and a magic mix of black sand surf beaches and serene white sand bays perfect for family swims.

Waikato: Wairere Falls

The likes of Hobbiton and the Waitomo Caves are great and all but when it comes to above-ground natural attractions, it’s hard to beat the North Island’s highest waterfall. Located on the edge of the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, it’s reached by an hour-and-a-half trail through a fairytale-like forest of moss-covered tree trunks and rocks. Standing beside – or swimming in – the natural infinity pool overlooking thick bush and emerald fields, you can’t help but feel you’re living life on the edge.

Bay of Plenty: Hamurana Springs

Follow a riverside trail through towering redwood trees to a spring with water so blue it looks like it’s been filtered. Along the way you’ll pass sites of cultural significance to the local Ngāti Rangiwehi tribe, and learn about them too if you take a guided tour.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne: Eastwoodhill Arboretum

Gizzy’s famous surf beaches are the major draw for many, but this Noah’s Ark for trees offers a different kind of beautiful: serene with more than a touch of the magical. Home to more than 25,000 species of trees, shrubs and climbers, many of which are endangered or threatened, the arboretum will make you feel like you’re in a Japanese forest one minute and Central America the next.

Hawke’s Bay: Bell Rock

Standing atop this remote outcrop, the Kaweka mountain range spread out before you, you might just have a Lion King moment and feel compelled to shout “I’m king of the world”. It takes a bit of effort to get there: the 5.3km loop through thick forest and mountain holly takes about three hours to complete. But the payoff is so good Stuff Travel journalist Brook Sabin described it as “the best walk you’ve never heard of”.

Taranaki: Pukekura Park

A modern day pleasure garden which transforms into an illuminated wonderland over summer, this 52-hectare park could easily command a full day of your time. Follow the series of paths past lakes, a fountain, waterfall, playground, tea house and the Bowl of Brooklands, a lakeside amphitheatre which hosts acts from around the world. Sabin reckons the hand-dug tunnel to the fernery is one of New Zealand’s best short walks. Come summer, the TSB Festival of Lights makes the place shine brighter still.

Whanganui Manawatū: Paloma Gardens

This sprawling secret Garden of National Significance is divided into 10 zones which will take you on a journey from the jungles of Asia to the deserts of Africa and the Americas, the gardens of the Mediterranean and the tundras of the Arctic Circle.

Wellington: Aston Norwood Gardens

Can’t afford to holiday in Japan? Aston Norwood Gardens could be your best bet. Home to New Zealand’s highest number of mature cherry blossom trees in one place, the 14-acre garden hosts Upper Hutt’s version of Japanese cherry blossom celebrations in spring. After dark, you can follow illuminated pathways through a scene that looks like something straight out of a picture book.

Nelson Tasman: Nelson Lakes National Park

With two glacial lakes fringed by honeydew beech forests and steep mountains, this alpine wonderland is a haven for hikers, whether they’re after a flat lakeside ramble or challenging trek up a snowy peak. The Parachute Rocks hike is a good choice for daytrippers, offering sweeping views of Marlborough and Nelson Tasman, while Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus, an alpine tarn at the heart of the park, makes for an excellent long weekend mission.

Marlborough: Cullen Point

The maze of sheltered bays that are the Marlborough Sounds are arguably best explored by boat or a long hike or bike ride along the Queen Charlotte Track, but you can get a snapshot of the region’s signature scenery on a 10-minute walk off Queen Charlotte Drive. The 10-minute return Cullen Point Lookout Track ends in a tourism-campaign-perfect view of Mahau Sand, while the hour-long coastal loop offers views in all directions.

Canterbury: Flock Hill

You have to pay upwards of $10,000 a night to stay at nearby Flockhill Lodge, but you can get similar views for free at the actual Flock Hill. Just north of the Castle Hill Conservation Area, it’s a tussock-covered wilderness with mountain views to rival any in Aotearoa.

West Coast: Ōkārito Trig Walk

About 30 minutes’ drive north of Franz Josef Glacier, the tiny seaside settlement of Ōkārito is often bypassed by travellers intent on seeing the famous glacier. It’s best known of its snowy mountain-backed lagoon, home to more than 76 species of native birds, but its trig walk is one of the West Coast’s best-kept secrets. About 90 minutes return, it winds gently uphill to a viewpoint overlooking Westland/Tai Poutini National Park, from the Southern Alps to the coast.

Otago: Chrystalls Beach

Offering an inkling of what coastal life in Aotearoa looked like before rampant development, this long, dune-backed beach is a favourite with sea lions and seals. Wander along its golden sands, look out for wildlife on the rocks at the northern end, and generally soak up the serenity. Stay out of the water though – the undertow can be perilous.

Southland: Rakiura/Stewart Island

Often overlooked by visitors, New Zealand’s “third island” is one of the best places to see kiwi in the wild. The Rakiura Track, one of our Great Walks, will take you past beaches you might think were in the Pacific Islands if there wasn’t such a nip in the air and over a forested ridge to the sheltered Paterson Inlet. Bird sanctuary Ulva Island is another top spot to live life on the wild side and, as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, every clear night is a star-spangled treat.