If you want to plan a romantic escape in one of the world’s most picturesque countries – full of mountains and lakes, charming cities, and sprawling vineyards – it has to be New Zealand. The moment your flight touches down in Queenstown, you’ll be off on a stunning adventure, full of amazing views and spectacular scenery.
New Zealand’s heavenly coastlines, rare snow-capped hills, South Pacific continental islands and many other beautiful sights is the perfect spot for a romantic vacation. It’s one of our favorite adventure vacation destinations for couples.
If you are looking to woo someone special, we’ve listed nine romantic destinations in New Zealand that you absolutely must visit. These locations are perfect for lovebirds, no matter if it’s your honeymoon, anniversary, or just a special vacation for the two of you.
Where to Go in New Zealand
Coromandel Peninsula
Pristine white sandy beaches, hidden secluded coves, native wildlife, and laid-back vibe makes the Coromandel Peninsula a great place for any romantic retreat.
The wonderful walking trail from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove, kayaking together on blue water, and walks along the sandy beach are the key attractions. Spend sunny days surfing, paddle boarding, swimming, or enjoying a personal spa treatment.
Cathedral Cove is located in the southern part of Mercury Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula. You might recognize it as the cave in the Narnia movie that the children enter through. It’s an exceptionally beautiful beach with this incredibly rocky cliff and cove that you must walk or boat to get to.
The access point for the cove is at the northern end of Hahei Beach. The walk takes about 45 minutes to get from the carpark to the cove. Along the way are viewpoints that are great for photo taking, and there are benches to sit for a while and enjoy the views together.
» Try this tour: Coromandel explorer – Tuesday & Thursday
Queenstown
Lovebirds can cherish this small-but-mighty stunning location in New Zealand. Couples who want to get involved in many activities, stay in luxury accommodations, and check out the bars and restaurants in the city will love Queenstown.
It’s a resort town in the south west of the South Island and has a lot to offer visitors. It’s also a great home base for exploring the rest of the island. While in Queenstown you can go skiing, soak in the hot springs, go paddle boarding, parasailing, skydiving, bungee jumping or jet boating, and of course indulge in delicious food.
» Try this tour: Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown – Includes 4 Vineyards, Lunch & Wine
Rotorua
Lake Rotorua is a perfect spot to spend a weekend getaway. It’s a very popular tourist destination, due to all of the available activities in the area. Ever taken a mud bath? You may not think it sounds particularly romantic, but you’d be surprised!
You can try it at the Mud Spa in Hell’s Gate. You can also enjoy a hot mineral bath at the Polynesian Spa. With all the geothermal activity in the area, there’s even some geysers to see.
The Skyline Rotorua gondola will take you to the top of Mt Ngongotaha, where you can see the city from above, dine at the restaurant with breath-taking views, take short hikes, and even ride on the luge. It’s a nice, laidback destination that can be as active or as quiet as you want.
» Try this tour: Rotorua Rafting – Kaituna River White Water Rafting
Auckland
Your romantic trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting Auckland –a shopper’s paradise. Enjoy the many street markets, dine at restaurants with incredible views, go bungee jumping from the Sky Tower, or take a dinner cruise around Waitemata Harbour.
This largest city of New Zealand has been perfectly designed for a romantic break! The culture, environment and picturesque harbors, splendid isolation, majestic coastlines, and black volcanic sand beaches are the reasons why you should plan to visit the City of Sails.
» Try this tour: Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise
Waiheke Island
From Auckland, just a 35-minute ferry ride will take you to Waiheke Island – blessed with a warm, dry microclimate and covered with beautiful vineyards.
You can take a scenic tour of the stunning landscapes, go on a romantic walk on the white sandy beaches, or spend a day visiting the many wineries on Waiheke Island. The views from the island are incredible.
» Try this tour: Full-Day Waiheke Island Food and Wine Tour
Hobbiton In Matamata
A 2-hours drive from Auckland will take you to Hobbiton, aka The Shire – the movie set of “The Lords of the Rings” and the sequel “The Hobbit”. It’s located in the lush pastures of the Matamata district and it’s open to visitors.
You can explore and tour the movie set, have lunch or dinner at the Shire’s Rest cafe, or even stay for the evening banquet tour, where you’ll get to enjoy a banquet feast in the Green Dragon dining room (they have their own beer!).
There’s so much to see and do at Hobbiton that you should plan to spend an entire day exploring. If you wish, you can even stay overnight in a farm stay near The Shire. No matter what time of the year you visit, throughout the year the weather is fantastic.
» Try this tour: Hobbiton Movie Set Small Group Tour from Auckland
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fiord off the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is highly regarded as one of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand, and you’ll see why as soon as you arrive. It is one of the most dramatic natural wonders in the world, with its pristine waterways and dramatic peaks.
Milford Sound offers exotic activities including scenic deep sea dives, hiking, biking, and kayaking. It’s also known as the land of a thousand waterfalls, and in the Spring you’re pretty much guaranteed to see dozens.
It’s a shame to visit New Zealand and not take in Milford Sound’s stunning views of mirror lakes, mountain vistas, cascading waterfalls, and more. You can plan your own trip or visit on a day trip from Queensland or Te Anau.
» Try this tour: Milford Sound Scenic Cruise
Lake Tekapo
The list wouldn’t be completed without visiting the land of the most spectacular night skies of New Zealand. Lake Tekapo, located in the center of New Zealand’s south island, is part of the UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve.
Here you can enjoy many pitch-black nights with clear skies that afford you the ability to see an incredible array of stars. With a pair of zoom binoculars, you’ll be able to fully appreciate the stunning surrounds of the lake, but for some real stargazing you should visit the Earth & Sky Observatory for a tour.
They have two viewing locations within the dark sky reserve where you can catch a glimpse of the southern sky. Another popular attraction at Lake Tekapo is the hot natural springs. Tekapo Springs has five hot pools overlooking Lake Tekapo and the Two Thumb mountain range. Find out more here.
» Try this tour: Scenic 4WD Tour Lake Tekapo Backcountry
CONCLUSION
We hope you’ll find a romantic destination in New Zealand that fits your personal interests. With so many options, you will find wonderful things to do, stunning views and picturesque memories to build no matter where you choose to go.
Be Prepared For Travel
Planning is the most important part of any successful trip. Do it the easy way:
🧳 Travel Packing List | ✔️ Why You Need Travel Insurance | ✈️ What to Do Before You Leave Home
- Find and book the best hotel (our favorite booking site is Expedia)
- Research flight options (our favorite tool is Skyscanner)
- Book a tour (we always use Viator to find the best tours)
- Rent a car through Discover Cars (they search the best deals for you!)
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Like this post? Why not save it to Pinterest?
FOLLOW US on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook for more great travel inspiration and tips.
Sensational list! We visited Lake Tekapo, Auckland and Arthur’s Pass last month. Toss in Rotorua and we had quite the trip. One place to add: the most stunning place I have ever seen in person during my world travels….Mount Cook. Freaking eye-popping scenery, being surrounded by the Southern Alps. Romantic and plain jaw-dropping.
You would definitely know the best places, so we’ll definitely add Mount Cook to the list. I have to go Google it now! 🙂
I love to travel around such areas. Every month, we take a route with my husband and a place where we want to go. Not big distances or something. I will add this place to the list. Near me and from what I see, it really is very nice there. Great blog, I’m waiting for further entries. Traveling is a great thing! I can say that I live for it!
I live for it too Camilly. So glad you’ve found our site useful!