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Ackers Point boasts a combination of historic and natural features. As you follow the walkway you will come across one of New Zealand's oldest buildings and a sooty shearwater colony!
Over 70 species of waterbirds feed and nest in this estuary! Many of these birds, like the godwit/kuaka, knot and golden plover fly all the way here from the northern hemisphere to enjoy a well deserved holiday in the sun.
Learn about early logging history and see some breathtaking views on this adventure to Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge.
This beautiful regional park has everything you need for an awesome family adventure. Discover farm animals to meet, fascinating volcanic history, heaps of bird life and beautiful views over the Manukau Harbour. The best part is this park is right in the heart of Auckland.
Gaze in awe at New Zealand’s tallest mountain, surrounded by a glacial landscape that includes ancient glacial debris and a glacier-fed lake.
It’s time to hit the beach! You might come across some seals and if you’ve got keen eyes you might see a majestic royal albatross/toroa. What creatures live in a salt marsh? And what’s this about a bear? We don’t have bears in New Zealand do we?
Go high up into the mountain pass that Māori first used to travel from east to west in search of pounamu/greenstone. Travel by car, train or bus, then go and see one of the horse drawn coaches that carried passengers through this rugged landscape in the 1800s - the trip was much bumpier back then!
Pack your togs and picnic for a trip to Ashley Gorge and discover this new walking track developed and maintained by local volunteers. Nestled in the foothills of the southern Alps, the walk provides great views over the Canterbury Plains.
Walk around the bend! Hundreds of years ago Puketapu Hill stood at the end of a long narrow-necked peninsula, forcing the river to flow in almost a complete circle around it. Get your boots on and check it out!
Explore one of the best gardens in the country, filled with all sorts of weird and wonderful things to see and do. Free fun for the whole family and located right in the heart of South Auckland.
Combine past and present at Battle Hill Forest Park - visit the site of one of the last battles in the region between Maori and early colonial forces, where traditional hill country farming, forestry, recreation and environmental restoration now blend.
Walk through native beech/tawhero forest in Mt Aspiring National Park to a swing bridge overlooking deep pools of perfectly clear, turquoise blue water in the Makarora River.
Ancient trees, raucous birds, Hawke’s Bays highest waterfall – Boundary Stream has got it all! Arrive earlier to hear the incredible dawn chorus or stay late to hear dusk chorus. Bring your togs if you want to swim in the pool under the waterfall (you’d be mad not to!).
Branford Park Edible Walk is a fantastic opportunity to collect fresh fruit and nuts when they are ripe, show children fruit trees and have a fantastic play day at the park.
Sun, surf and sea creatures! Beautiful golden sand at a safe swimming beach, plenty to do for visitors of both the human and flippered variety!
We may not be the largest zoo in New Zealand but at Brooklands Zoo we really pack some punch with our diverse range of species.
Robert Cunningham Bruce, an early conservationist gifted several patches of forest and this is one of them – good on ya Bruce! Check out the mighty trees – is that a bellbird up there? Stay until dark for a chance to see long tailed bats, yes bats!
Cross a swing bridge over the Hāwea River for a pleasant loop walk around a spring fed wetland and picturesque views of the surrounding peaks.
Explore the spectacular Cape Foulwind Walkway with a seal colony, a lighthouse and big views of mountains and coastline.
Splash about in rock pools, discover a hidden forest or dive in to get up close with thousands of fish on Goat Island (Motu Hāmure). Beneath the waves you may see seaweed forests, sponge gardens, snapper/tāmure and crayfish/koura.
This pleasant and easy walk begins below the car park area, just beyond the bridge across Catchpool Stream. It leads upstream through a nikau grove and mature podocarp/broadleaf forest to another bridge and the Orongorongo Track.
Enjoy the fabulous views of the Twelve Apostles Range, Southern Alps and out to sea, while keeping watch for water birds and native fish.
When the tide rolls out in Curio Bay it exposes an ancient fossil forest. This is one of the most extensive and least disturbed examples of a Jurassic fossil forest in the world.
Go through the mysterious goblin forest and discover trees with antifreeze leaves! And if you’re really keen, tramp to the swing bridge high above the river for awesome views!
Visit the site of what was once New Zealand's largest producing coal mine, and one of the most isolated and difficult mining towns to live in.
Where in the city can you see wildlife? The Dunedin Botanic Garden of course! Spot lizards in the rock garden, visit the kākā and kea at the aviary, spy a stick insect among the flowers. Some plants have been here for over 150 years. Can you guess which ones?
Grab your lizard goggles and climb some rocks, spy some bugs and soak up the sun at one of the driest places in New Zealand.
Forest Hill is a great example of native bush surrounded by agricultural land. It is an island of forest rich in flora. An example of a rich forest community that would have once covered the limestone outcrops of the Southland plains.
Discover the beautiful views, wonderful coastal treasures and amazing history of O Peretu/Takapuna Head, right on the doorstep of the North Shore.
A hidden patch of forest so close to Whanganui! Cool off in the shade of the tall trees and see what you can discover. Enjoy the short walking track and see how many types of plants you can name.
Immerse yourself in a ‘living museum’, a small remnant of what use to be, before the Gisborne plains were changed forever.
Set your imagination free on this windswept rugged headland in Karitane where history runs rife. In this place a great fortress once stood, the chief Te Wera ruled, Te Puna Wai spring kept the people of the land alive and whalers hauled the great sea creatures ashore.
Pause in the bird hide and stop at the weta hotel to see what you can see. Discover rocks that are millions of years old. It's an easy walk so bring the whole family and have a picnic by the creek!
Looking for a natural adventure playground in the city? Come to Jubilee Park! Build a stick fort in the forest, ride the tracks on your mountain bike, or explore the rest of the Dunedin Town Belt from here.
Discover New Zealand’s unique wildlife just 10 minutes by boat from Picton.
Explore our ancient rainforest with it’s 1,000 year old trees. Discover the real location of Rivendell, a refuge and rallying place for elves in the The Lord of the Rings movies.
This short walk boasts beautiful scenery and spectacular mining remnants including disused gold mining tunnels - kids will love it!
Kauaeranga Valley has it all - camping, walking and tramping, swimming and more!
This unique island paradise is packed with fun for the whole family! Take in the amazing views, enjoy a stroll through the forest, relax on the beach, try to spot a wallaby, explore the historic Mansion House or enjoy a break at the café.
Explore an underwater world – stare face-to-face at sharks, have sting rays fly above you, and see penguins in their freezing, icy home.
Go for a forest adventure on one of New Zealand’s beautiful Great Walks. Explore the world beneath the giant beech trees – look out for colourful fungi, rare mistletoe and native birds.
Where in the world can you play eels and ladders, mudfish scrabble, or guess “Whose poos”? At Lake Rotopiko of course!
Combine a walk to a beautiful lake with a picnic and maybe even a swim.
So close to Dunedin centre yet you might be lucky enough to see New Zealand sea lions here – just remember to keep your distance. There are rockpools to explore. And what will you make with the bull kelp? Bring your creativity!
Jump on your bike for a lakeside ride along this historic rail trail. Stop at the world famous bird watching lake Te Waihora - a migration destination for some amazing birds. Spot the long distance godwit, or a velvet-black tuna/eel.
Visit the largest estuary in the lower North Island. It's home to a diverse range of birds, and is popular for fishing and whitebaiting too!
Matiu/Somes Island, known as Matiu to Maori, has long a pre-European history dating back to Kupe. Discover native wildlife, visit the lighthouse and WWII bunkers for a journey back in time, and meet the local sheep on the island’s farm.
Maungauika/North Head is an important historical site but it’s also a totally awesome place to explore. There are forts with interlinking tunnels, spooky caves, massive old guns, trees to climb, hills to run down – it’s got everything!
Mountains, lakes, forests and grasslands are all waiting to be explored. Admire the spectacular views, skim stones on the lake and look for birds in the trees. And, if you’re really keen, stay the night and go stargazing after dark.
Pack a picnic and head to the foothills of the Richmond Ranges to explore the native forest of Marlborough. Breathe in the waterfall at Mill Flat, cross a swingbridge and even taste some sweet honeydew.
Come out for a picnic in the beautiful Wooded Gully camping and picnic area, splash in the stream and explore the recently upgraded Kererū Loop Track.
Enjoy a day at a clear lake surrounded by rugged mountains. Play on the lake edge, or stroll through beech trees with their glistening honeydew and abundant bird and plant life.
Discover the wonders of our native flora and fauna at this idyllic bird sanctuary - explore Kapiti’s precious ancient forest remnant and look out for tui, bellbird, fantail, grey warbler and kereru; spot the kiwi and tuatara in their enclosures; get up close to kaka, kea and kākāriki in the walk-through aviaries.
See four volcanoes, adventure through the goblin forest, visit the oldest building in a National Park - what tales would it tell?
Golden treasures await in the forests and wetlands and along the windswept beaches surrounding Ōkārito.
Follow the Okere River as is cascades between narrow, steep ravines to enter the tranquil waters of Trout Pool.
Explore this urban oasis with native bush and birds.
Feel like you’re a world away from Auckland City, as you discover one of the best playgrounds around, native bird species, farm animals, amazing views over the Waitematā Harbour and rich Māori history.
Enter an ancient world of limestone arches and caves surrounded by dense rainforest. You'll find New Zealand's largest limestone arch as well as one that may just be the most picturesque.
Behind a predator-proof fence lies an idylic bush clad lake. Go through the ingeniously designed gate, which stops pesky pests sneaking in but still allows for kayaks.
Play eye-spy on the scenic 25-minute drive from Dunedin to reach this predator-free native cloud forest, home to some of our rarest birds, reptiles and plants.
Pack a picnic, grab your bicycles, and set off to explore this very scenic stretch of New Zealand rail history.
This isolated island in Lyttelton Harbour is the ultimate day trip! Rich in history; sea birds; Hector’s dolphins; skinks, fascinating geology; beach swimming and shady picnic spots; plus a magic harbour boat trip.
Explore a forest reserve that is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It's only 5 km from Wellington’s city centre.
Escaping the city for the spectacular Banks Peninsula, stop in at Ōtepatotu and enjoy darting around the trees, admiring the view and see if you can find the creatures of the “Goblin Forest”.
Come and explore this beautifully restored wetland that many birds call home. This reserve gives us a small glimpse into what our many wetlands once looked like long ago.
The Packhorse Hut is an awesome day walk destination or one of your first overnighters as a family in an amazing location! Come to check out the epic views down to Lyttelton Harbour or marvel at the geology.
From coastal wetland that's home to waterfowl and wading birds, to mature, dry terrace forest – Papaitonga Scenic Reserve is a rare habitat and there's lots to see!
Lush coastal forest, limestone cliffs and caves, and an absolutely spectacular coastline – all in one national park.
The reserve is the most significant saltmarsh in the lower North Island, containing a variety of vegetation from tidal mudflats to coastal forest. The area is home to many native plants and birds - you might even see some mud crabs!
Treat yourself to an escape from the city and step into this native slice of paradise. A perfect stop to stretch the legs and get some fresh air if you're heading away with the family.
Walk in the footsteps of historic gold miners and strike it rich with stunning sea views, iconic West Coast bush and wildlife.
Discover New Zealand's unique wildlife and learn about them in daily ranger talks and feeds.
Escape the city as you cross through lush farmlands into this beautiful native forest. This iconic feature of the Whangārei landscape offers a moderately difficult, but enjoyable walk through stunning native bush that is home to many precious native species.
Explore subtropical rainforest with amazing native trees. Find out what makes the pukatea tree so special. Guess how old the biggest nikau palm is. Look for fish splashing in the river.
In the heart of Christchurch is a wild forest, home to over 400 mighty kahikatea trees with their impressive buttress roots. There’s also the oldest remaining building in Canterbury, a large grassy spot for picnics and if you’ve got sharp eyes you might spot geckos. Too much!
Are you ready for an adventure? Rotokare is a Taranaki treasure just waiting to be discovered. Find a weta, spot the native fish and discover the secrets of this special place.
Experience an ancient, vibrant pest-free forest - alive with native wildlife including many of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered insects, birds and fish.
If you’ve got a head for heights and love speed, this adventure is for you! Bring a boogie board or cardboard box for the ultimate dune riding. Who will be fastest? You’ll see seabirds and jumping insects and if you’re lucky you might see sea lions and penguins. Think you can handle it all?
Get out in the open fresh air at Sinclair Wetlands. Just 50 km south of Dunedin city lies this ultimate adventure with enough space for the whole family to be as free as the wind.
With coastal forest, spectacular views and WWII gun emplacements as well - there is plenty to see on this short, easy walk.
Connect with friendly animals, native birds and natural beauty - meet piglets, goats, rabbits and deer. There’s a a trout and eel pool too! Don’t forget to bring your togs!
Rugged and remote, the perfect location for exploring some of our unique wildlife and history. You may even get to see some royalty…
This reserve is only 6 km from Wellington's city centre. It's very accessible and offers snorkelling, diving and walking opportunities.
Bike over board walks and a suspension bridge, pass by farms and a wetland, and end up on the beach!
Spa Park is Taupō’s largest park and has a wide variety of family-friendly features.
Run like a river through the heart of Blenheim. The Taylor River is home to many freshwater plants and creatures – what can you see?
An adventure thousands of years in the making! Manawatu Gorge was made when the river carved out a route through a mountain range. Now it's a great place to spot kārearea, glow worms at night, and kōura in the stream. You might even find a perfect hiding spot in a hollow totara!
Discover the rugged beauty and rich history of Auckland’s west coast. This challenging walk takes you through native bush, over clifftops with amazing views and down to a beautiful secluded piece of west coast beach.
Discover a wealth of marine life up close in a protected environment in Te Tapuwae o Rongokako (“the footprint of Rongokako”.)
The Bluff/Motupōhue is a sacred, Topuni site for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. It's one of the oldest European settlements in New Zealand, with Europeans having a continuous habitation from 1824. Māori have been living at Bluff for much longer.
All aboard! Keep an eye out for marine life from the boat to Tiritiri Matangi. On the island there are no pests so you'll see some of New Zealand's most endangered birds in the wild, including takahē, kōkako, saddleback/tīeke and stitchbird/hihi.
Something fishy is going on here, but you’ll have to drop in to see! Step into our freshwater paradise and frolic with our fascinating friends - native fish, trout and even whio.
Tōtaranui is located on a beautiful golden beach with an estuary which is safe, sheltered and teeming with biodiversity – an ideal area for children to play and learn.
Ōruapaeroa/Travis Wetland is the ultimate inner city adventure, with a tower to climb, hides to spy from, and wetlands alive with birds. Imagine the Ōtautahi of long ago, as this landscape transforms from farmland back to wetland.
When you walk through the bush alive with birds, you'll begin to understand just what's possible without pests.
The Waipahihi Botanical Gardens are a piece of paradise close to Taupō town centre. Walking tracks take you through beautiful native bush and forest trees as well as flowering plants from faraway lands.
See the 55 m Wairēinga/Bridal Veil Falls from both the top and the bottom.
The boardwalk winds through low-growing manuka and shrubs, emerging at a viewing shelter that overlooks Waituna Lagoon.
The paved paths are just the beginning at Wellington Botanic Garden. As a Kiwi Guardian discover new paths and hidden surprises.
Get up close to native and exotic wildlife at New Zealand's first zoo. Explore Wellington Zoo's love story to New Zealand, venture into an Aussie backyard, or even look eye to eye with a giraffe!
Venture through this old, but still working, sheep and beef farm and recreation reserve for stunning views of the Kapiti landscape, to see restoration work in action and learn about the local wildlife.
Wharewaka to Waipahihi hikoi is a fantastic journey along the shore of Lake Taupō. Be amazed by the natural environment and amenities to cater for all age groups and abilities.
Enter the strange land of giant moths, plants that sting, Nikau palms and ancient Kahikatea trees. The trees are full of singing birds, the streams are full of water creatures - imagine what it was like when much of New Zealand looked like this.
If you love insects you’re in for a treat! Just a few kilometres from Dunedin city centre are some of the tallest trees in New Zealand, native pigeons, ducks and lots and lots of insects. Oh, and there’s a playground too!
Visit the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary - discover the 18 species of native wildlife that have been reintroduced into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years!
Auckland and parts of the Waikato are at Level 3. DOC huts and campsites are closed in these regions. The rest of New Zealand is at Level 2.