Backpacking New Zealand
18 destinations for backpackers. Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD).
Auckland
New Zealand
New Zealand's largest city straddles two harbours and is built on 53 dormant volcanoes. Known as the "City of Sails," Auckland is where most international flights land and where the vast majority of backpackers begin or end their New Zealand adventure. It blends urban energy with easy access to beaches, islands, and wine regions.
Bay Of Islands
New Zealand
The Bay of Islands is a subtropical paradise of 144 islands scattered across a sheltered bay in Northland, the warm top of the North Island. Paihia is the main backpacker base, with a waterfront strip of hostels, tour operators, and fish-and-chip shops. The bay offers some of the best marine experiences in New Zealand -- dolphins, sailing, diving, and kayaking -- alongside deep Maori and colonial history at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Christchurch
New Zealand
Christchurch is the South Island's largest city and the main gateway for exploring the southern half of New Zealand. After devastating earthquakes in 2010-2011, the city has reinvented itself as a creative, resourceful place full of street art, innovative architecture, and pop-up culture. It is not a destination most backpackers linger in for long, but it is worth 1-2 days to witness a city mid-regeneration, visit the free Canterbury Museum, and stock up before heading into the mountains.
Coromandel
New Zealand
The Coromandel Peninsula juts out from the North Island's east coast, offering pristine beaches, native bush, and some of New Zealand's most iconic coastal scenery. It is a laid-back escape from Auckland with natural attractions that cost little or nothing to enjoy. Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are two of the most photographed spots in the country.
Dunedin
New Zealand
Dunedin is New Zealand's wildlife capital and the cultural heart of the South Island, founded by Scottish settlers in 1848 and still nicknamed the "Edinburgh of the South." The Otago Peninsula hosts the world's only mainland Royal Albatross colony alongside yellow-eyed and blue penguin breeding grounds, fur seals, and sea lions. With the University of Otago driving a youthful, creative energy, Dunedin delivers world-class street art, a thriving craft beer scene, and surprisingly affordable backpacker living by NZ standards.
Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
New Zealand
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are two glaciers that descend from the Southern Alps almost to sea level, making them among the most accessible glaciers in the world. The twin glacier villages sit on the West Coast, 25 km apart, surrounded by lush temperate rainforest -- a unique juxtaposition of ice and green. Due to glacial retreat, you can no longer walk onto either glacier from the valley floor; the only way to set foot on the ice is by helicopter (heli-hike). The villages are small, purpose-built for tourism, and have a captive backpacker audience thanks to the single road through.
Kaikoura
New Zealand
Kaikoura is a small coastal town wedged between the Seaward Kaikoura mountain range and the Pacific Ocean on the South Island's east coast. An underwater canyon drops to over 1,000 metres just offshore, creating a nutrient-rich environment that attracts an extraordinary concentration of marine life. Sperm whales are resident year-round, dolphins play in the surf, and fur seals bask on the rocky peninsula. For backpackers, Kaikoura offers a rare chance to see big marine wildlife without a big budget.
Lake Tekapo
New Zealand
Lake Tekapo is a small village on the shores of a glacial lake whose impossibly turquoise water reflects the surrounding Southern Alps. The area is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve -- the largest dark sky reserve in the world and the first to receive Gold status from the International Dark Sky Association. Whether you come for the stars, the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, or the lupins that carpet the lakeshore in November-December, Lake Tekapo is one of the most photogenic stops in New Zealand.
Milford Sound
New Zealand
Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Maori) is a fiord carved by glaciers over millions of years, flanked by sheer cliffs rising up to 1,200 metres from dark water. Rudyard Kipling called it the "eighth wonder of the world," and it remains New Zealand's most famous natural attraction. Waterfalls cascade hundreds of metres down the cliff faces (especially dramatic after rain), dolphins and seals frequent the fiord, and the scenery is genuinely humbling in scale. Most backpackers visit on a day trip from Queenstown or Te Anau.
Napier
New Zealand
Napier is a coastal city on New Zealand's North Island, famous for its stunning Art Deco architecture rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931. Sitting at the heart of the Hawke's Bay wine region, it blends heritage charm with world-class vineyards, a dramatic gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers, and seasonal fruit-picking work that draws backpackers from around the globe. It is one of the sunniest cities in New Zealand, making it a reliable stop on any North Island itinerary.
Nelson & Abel Tasman
New Zealand
Nelson is a sunny, artistic city at the top of the South Island that serves as the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand's smallest but most visited national park. Abel Tasman is famous for its golden sand beaches, turquoise water, and the Abel Tasman Coast Track -- one of New Zealand's ten Great Walks. Whether you kayak, hike, or water-taxi between beaches, the coastline here is stunningly beautiful and feels almost tropical on a good day.
Queenstown
New Zealand
Queenstown is the undisputed adventure capital of New Zealand and arguably the world. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range as a backdrop, it packs an almost absurd density of adrenaline activities into a compact lakeside town. Bungee jumping was commercialised here, and skydiving, jet boating, paragliding, and canyon swinging follow. Despite its tourist-heavy reputation, Queenstown has a genuine backpacker soul with excellent hostels, lively nightlife, and endless free hiking. It is the most expensive stop on the NZ backpacker circuit, but also the most unforgettable.
Raglan
New Zealand
Raglan is a small, laid-back surf town on the west coast of the North Island, about two hours south of Auckland. Its point breaks at Manu Bay and Whale Bay produce some of the longest rideable left-hand waves in the world, drawing surfers from every corner of the globe. Beyond surfing, Raglan has a hippie-meets-creative vibe with yoga studios, organic cafes, and a strong sense of community. It is one of the most affordable and authentic stops on the New Zealand backpacker trail.
Rotorua
New Zealand
Rotorua sits in the heart of the North Island's geothermal zone, where the earth hisses, bubbles, and steams at every turn. The town smells unmistakably of sulphur, but that is a small price for access to some of the most dramatic geothermal landscapes on the planet. It is also the cultural heartland of New Zealand's Maori people, offering authentic cultural performances, hangi feasts, and living village visits.
Taupo
New Zealand
Taupo sits on the shore of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, which fills an ancient volcanic caldera. The town has become a backpacker magnet thanks to being the cheapest place to skydive in New Zealand and offering a wide range of adrenaline activities at competitive prices. The lakefront setting, free hot springs, and proximity to Tongariro National Park make it a natural hub on any North Island itinerary.
Tongariro
New Zealand
Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's oldest national park and a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site (for both natural and cultural significance). Three active volcanoes -- Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings), and Tongariro -- dominate a dramatic alpine landscape of craters, emerald lakes, and steaming vents. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is widely regarded as New Zealand's best single-day hike.
Wanaka
New Zealand
Wanaka sits on the southern shore of its namesake lake, surrounded by mountains and just an hour from Queenstown but with a completely different personality. Where Queenstown is loud and packed, Wanaka is relaxed, outdoorsy, and slightly more affordable. The Roy's Peak hike is one of the most photographed trails in New Zealand, and the town serves as an excellent base for hiking, skiing, and exploring Mount Aspiring National Park. Many backpackers find themselves extending their stay or returning on a Working Holiday to do a ski season.
Wellington
New Zealand
New Zealand's compact capital city is perched at the southern tip of the North Island, where it funnels Cook Strait winds through steep hillside streets. Wellington punches well above its weight in culture, food, and nightlife. The free Te Papa museum is world-class, Cuba Street is a bohemian hub of cafes and street performers, and the craft beer scene rivals cities many times its size. For backpackers, Wellington is where the North Island ends and the Interislander ferry to the South Island begins.