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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!
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Golden treasures await in the forests and wetlands and along the windswept beaches surrounding Ōkārito.
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.
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.
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.
Lush coastal forest, limestone cliffs and caves, and an absolutely spectacular coastline – all in one national park.
Walk in the footsteps of historic gold miners and strike it rich with stunning sea views, iconic West Coast bush and wildlife.
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!
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.
Rugged and remote, the perfect location for exploring some of our unique wildlife and history. You may even get to see some royalty…
Bike over board walks and a suspension bridge, pass by farms and a wetland, and end up on the beach!
Run like a river through the heart of Blenheim. The Taylor River is home to many freshwater plants and creatures – what can you see?
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.
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 boardwalk winds through low-growing manuka and shrubs, emerging at a viewing shelter that overlooks Waituna Lagoon.
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!
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.