In case you WEREN’T aware, Yale and I spent 2 incredible weeks traveling throughout New Zealand for our honeymoon a few weeks ago. If you didn’t know that, you probably don’t follow me on Instagram, where I spammed my lovely followers with photos and videos galore. Also, if you’ve heard anyone talk about their travels to New Zealand, you’ve probably witnessed them gushing all over the country and their experience. To date, I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love NZ. There is something for everyone! Adventure, beautiful scenery, scenic hikes, sprawling beaches, lush vineyards, the list goes on. The variety of weather conditions and climates offers an array of activities from skiing, to rafting and jet boating. We TRULY had the most fabulous two weeks in NZ, that we already are dying to go back (except not yet because those flights were LONG AF!). It was such a fun and unique place to spend our honeymoon, I can’t imagine having gone anywhere else. If you saw this blog post, you know we waited over a year to take our honeymoon, which I think was perfect. It gave us time to plan the trip thoroughly, and gave us something to look forward to.

If you are planning on traveling to New Zealand sometime soon, I hope this blog post offers a helpful jumping off point for your trip. I am also planning on doing a packing list in the near future as well, so stay tuned for that. Until then, here is our complete honeymoon itinerary with where we stayed, what we ate and what we did while traveling in NZ! Feel free to email me directly for a more complete list of recommendations for dining and things to do in NZ. We weren’t able to take advantage of all of the places I researched on this trip.

Travel note: We rented two cars while staying in New Zealand (one on each Island). If you or your travel companion(s) are comfortable driving on the left side of the road, I’d definitely recommend this approach. I didn’t drive, but Yale got the hang of it after an hour or so. It was for sure an experience we will never forget.

If you’re of the guidebook type (I am!) we used THIS book and THIS book to help us plan our trip. Also definitely recommend AirBNB Experiences for fun things to do!

South Island:

Queenstown, NZ (November 28-29 & December 1-2)

Queenstown was the first stop on our honeymoon, and I must say, it was by far my favorite city. Mainly from a scenery standpoint, but in general we found the South Island to be more beautiful than the North (just thought I’d put that out there!). We LOVED Queenstown, and especially our hotel, The Rees. More on that below. When we go back to NZ, we will spend more time in the South Island.

Accommodation: The Rees Hotel Queenstown - As I mentioned above, our accommodation in Queenstown was incredible. We would absolutely stay at the Rees again (and that is coming from someone VERY picky!). The rooms were super clean and spacious! We stayed here for 2 nights (one before Te Anau, and one after), and they upgraded our room to an apartment during our first stay! The hotel was a 20 minute walk to downtown, and we appreciated the fact that it was off the beaten path. The views from each room are spectacular, and the service was incredible. This was awesome since it gave us the chance to do laundry after traveling for 34 hours. Highly highly recommend.

To Do:

Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world. If that is your thing, I’d suggest checking out many of the bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, and other crazy activities that are available to you. That is not exactly my thing, so Yale and I enjoyed exploring the town, visiting local shops, taking advantage of the sights. If we had another day in the area I would’ve loved to visit Glenorchy, which I hear is another cute nearby town. I would’ve been open to jet boating, but we didn’t have enough time in Queenstown. We were here for two half days, and definitely wished we had stayed longer.

Dining:
Public Kitchen & Bar: We ate here for late lunch on our first day and the food was great. A wide variety of options (which I appreciated), and great views. Eat outside if it is a nice day!

Botswana Butchery: Botswana is a cute little restaurant located in the heart of Queenstown. We loved the atmosphere and the food was good. Better for the meat-eater than vegetarian, but they did have some veggie options. I got the salmon, and Yale got the filet.

Fergbaker: Located next to the famous Fergberger, we stopped in here on a rainy afternoon for a quick meat pie. Considering it was the best one we had our entire trip, I wished we had gotten a couple!

Fergburger: We opted against Fergburger after seeing the super long line, but were told we could’ve called our order in ahead to avoid the lines! Supposedly the best burgers in NZ! Next time!

Bespoke Kitchen: Healthy breakfast spot in Queenstown, we unfortunately didn’t have time to visit, as breakfast was included in our hotel reservation.

Te Anau, NZ (November 29-December 1)

Accommodation: Baldricks Farm Cottage - If you saw my stories (or check my highlights to see what I documented from our trip), our farmhouse AirBNB stay was absolutely incredible. Our hosts Wanda and Daryl were so kind, and greeted us with open arms. We felt extremely comfortable staying in their home and they even let us feed their ADORABLE farm animals. That was obviously a highlight for me. Te Anau is a really small town without a ton going on, however, we’re glad we stayed slightly outside of the town. About a 10 minute drive to the “downtown” area, we were secluded enough, but not too far from everything. We opted to stay in Te Anau because it was a 2 hour drive from Queenstown, and a 2 hour drive from Milford Sound. There is only one small lodge in Milford Sound, and very few (good) AirBNB options, so we thought we’d stay in another town and explore that area as well. If we had another day in Te Anau, we would’ve loved to see Doubtful Sound. It got rave reviews from other tourists we met on our trip.

To Do:

Doubtful Sound: We didn’t have time to explore Doubtful Sound while we were in Te Anau, but heard it is spectacular. We will be doing this if we go back to Te Anau.

Milford Sound: When researching New Zealand, Milford Sound kept popping up as a MUST SEE destination. Considered the 8th Wonder of the World, Milford Sound is truly out of this world beautiful. We did the Southern Discoveries Encounter Nature Cruise, because it carried the fewest number of passengers (aka less touristy). Our guides were super knowledgable. I’ve known other people to do helicopter tours of Milford, but we loved our scenic cruise! Something to note: if you’re driving from Te Anau, account for 2.5-3 hours to get to Milford. The drive is rather windy, with many picturesque stops along the way!

Hike the Kepler Track or Milford Track: Two famed hiking trails in the South Island. The Milford Track seems to be for the advanced hiker!

Visit Lion Lookout Point: Right up the street from our AirBNB, our hosts told us about a gorgeous lookout that has sprawling views of Te Anau. It is absolutely stunning.

Dining:

The Coffee Bomb: On our way to Te Anau, we stumbled upon a store called The Hunny Shop where we picked up some local clover honey and tried tons of Manuka honey. Next to The Hunny Shop was a cute airstream bus that sold coffees and pastries. This was the perfect midway stop to grab a quick coffee, use the bathroom and stretch our legs. Located in a town called Garston. Such a good find!

Restaurante Pizzaria Paradiso: Yale and I ate here for dinner on night one in Te Anau, and he still talks about the pizza we devoured. Cute little pizza spot.

Miles Better Pies: When traveling in New Zealand, you MUST taste as many local meatpies as you possibly can. We tried 3 different pies at Miles, which were all delicious. Vegetarian options available!

The Fat Duck: Yummy restaurant and bar in the heart of Te Anau. We enjoyed live music while we ate our dinner!

North Island:

Napier, NZ (December 2-4)

Accommodation: 453 By The Sea Apartment - By the looks of the pictures on the AirBNB listing, I had a feeling our accommodation would be great. And it certainly did not disappoint! I actually didn’t realize it was a 2 bedroom apartment until after I had booked it. Of course we only used one bedroom but it would be a great option for a family (they also had a pull-out couch), or two couples traveling together! The AirBNB was directly across from the National Aquarium and was right down the street from the main downtown area. We never met our hosts, but they lived in the apartment below our AirBNB.

To Do:
Prinsy’s Wine Tours: We had the best experience with Prinsy’s Tours. Yale and I had a private tour through the beautiful Hawke’s Bay wine country. We visited Church Road, Ash Ridge Wines, Smith & Sheth (our favorite! Sonja was amazing!!) and Craggy Range. Our tour guide Ian was very knowledgable on the area, and the vineyards. Doing a private tour for 2 was definitely on the pricier side, but we loved how intimate our experience was. They offer group tours as well! Highly recommend. You’re also welcome to explore all of the vineyards on your own, but we didn’t want to drink and drive.

National Aquarium of New Zealand: The National Aquarium of New Zealand was located directly across from our AirBNB. Since Baltimore is the home of the National Aquarium, we skipped this attraction, but it looked pretty cool!

Golf At Cape Kidnappers: A friend who took a trip to New Zealand last year golfed with her husband at Cape Kidnappers, and she said it was a highlight of their trip. I’ve heard it is VERY pricy, so keep this in mind, but apparently it is an awesome spot for the lover of golf!

Visit Te Mata Peak: Drive, hike or bike up to the top of Te Mata Peak for 360 degree views of Napier and Hawke’s Bay!

Dining:

Emporium Eatery & Bar: We ate here twice while we stayed in Napier! The first night we tried to go, but we had arrived after the kitchen closed. Nonetheless, they had bar food so we got a flatbread and some drinks. We wanted to give their menu a try, so went back for a second night. The food was delicious, and the ambiance is great! Highly recommend.

Hygge at Clifton Bay: Yale and I stumbled upon this adorable spot while we were exploring the area, and are SO glad we stopped. We popped in for coffees and scones which were delicious. Worth it to go in for a bite and to check out the local artists’ works inside.

Ajuna Eatery: A must stop for lunch! Delicious sandwiches, and cool vibes!

Mister D: We didn’t have time to go here for dinner but it came highly recommended.

Bistronomy: Another we didn’t have time to visit, but looked great!

Central Firehouse Station Bistro: 3-4 people told us to go here for dinner…again, time was an issue so go if you have a couple days!

Eskdale, NZ (December 4-5)

Accommodation: Boutique Modern Studio Apartment - Our Eskdale AirBNB was absolutely perfect. We chose to do 3 nights in the Napier area, since we drove from Wellington to Napier, and basically lost the entire day due to travel. We were SO GLAD to have stayed a third night in the area. The Eskdale AirBNB was a beautiful studio in a secluded neighborhood 20-30 minutes from downtown Napier. After a few busy days, we welcomed a quiet night in our peaceful little studio. Yale got in the hot tub on the property, and we took a nice walk on the many trails in the neighborhood. The AirBNB overlooks several vineyards that you can visit, and was 30 minutes from a few beaches. We loved this stay.

To Do: Just outside of Napier, Eskdale seemed to be a pretty quiet little town. In terms of things to-do, see Napier list above.

Rotorua, NZ (December 5-7)

Accommodation: Te Manawa House - Our final AirBNB of the trip! About a 10 minutes drive from downtown Rotorua, this AirBNB was located across from the Skyline gondola and luge! It was a 3 bedroom home, making it a great option for families visiting the area. Our hostess, Adele, greeted us at the home to check us in, and she couldn’t have been nicer. She was truly so proud of where she was from, and loves what she does! She was so sweet to leave us a bottle of wine and chocolates, as she knew we were celebrating our honeymoon. We felt right at home in our adorable AirBNB, and it was nice to be in an actual house, not an apartment or studio like the previous AirBNBs (although, we loved them just as much!).

To Do:

Huka Falls: Just outside of Rotorua and Taupo, Huka Falls is an unbelievable display of nature at its finest. Beautiful glacial waterfalls will blow you away. Seriously, such a stunning place.

Wai-O-Tapu: Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland (and you’ll smell it). The largest display of geothermal activity that we saw was in Wai-O-Tapu. Was it my favorite place we visited? No. It STINKS. But it is pretty cool to see the bubbling earth beneath you. Just know, you’ve been warned on the smell…ok?

Nocturnal Glowworm Night Hike: This was probably our favorite thing in Rotorua. Other glowworm hikes or excursions can be touristy, but not this one. You get up close and personal with glowworms, and the tour guide and owner, Stephen, made the experience so incredible. We also got to see hedgehogs and wallabies! So cool!

Enjoy a Maori Experience: Maori culture is huge in Rotorua. We didn’t have time to visit a Maori village, but our AirBNB hostess was Maori, and we actually saw an impromptu haka while we were at dinner! Their indigenous culture is pretty amazing.

Skyline Rotorua: We didn’t have time do to the Skyline or Luge, but have heard great things! Our hostess also said there is a great winebar at the top of the Skyline!

Take a walk through the Redwoods Forest: Giant California redwoods….in New Zealand?! Yes! We took a nice walk through the forest, which we obviously adored. Don’t pay for the treewalk…get amongst the trees, for free!

Dining:

Eat Streat: There are no shortage of incredible restaurants in Rotorua, thanks to Eat Streat! Located in the center of town, you’ll find a plethora of restaurant options all on one street.

Atticus Finch Restaurant: This was one of our favorite meals of the entire trip! Located on Eat Streat, Atticus Finch had a bunch of options for both Yale and I to enjoy! Their dishes are smaller, and made for sharing! Highly recommend!!

Rotorua Night Market: Yale and I dined at the Night Market just before our nocturnal glowworm tour. Pick from a mix of street vendors, you’ll definitely find some delicious options here!

Lady Jane’s Ice Cream Parlour: After our dinner at Atticus Finch, we walked over to Lady Jane’s Ice Cream Parlour. They had delicious ice creams and plenty of dairy-free options!

Waiheke Island, NZ (December 7-9)

Accommodation: The Delamore Lodge: Let me start off by saying if you’re visiting Waiheke for a honeymoon or special trip, The Delamore Lodge is a GORGEOUS (& expensive) stay. Accommodating only 12 guests max, you’ll feel right at home with the welcoming staff and insanely beautiful scenery. I believe each stay includes pre-dinner drinks and bites, which we enjoyed. It gave us the opportunity to meet the staff and other guests staying on the property. We loved how small the lodge was and dream of going back someday.

To Do:

Visit the wineries: Waiheke is known for it’s wine, so of course Yale and I had a blast visiting a couple different wineries while we were on the island (more on them below). Take advantage of the options and do some tastings! Makes for a fun afternoon.

Walk along the beaches: There are many gorgeous beaches on Waiheke. Since it was a little rainy while we were there, we didn’t have time to have a beach day, but did get to take a quick walk on the beach near town.

Hit the shops in town: Self explanatory! We (I) loved visiting the local boutiques!

Dining:

Cable Bay Vineyards: If you are looking for some BEAUTIFUL views, head to Cable Bay Vineyards. It is seriously so stunning, we couldn’t get over it. However, to be honest our dining experience was not great (food was OK, and service was terrible). I wouldn’t recommend eating here, but would definitely recommend heading this way before your dinner for a wine tasting and the scenery!

Tantalus Estates: This was by far our favorite wine of the entire trip. If you’re a big-bodied red wine lover, go to Tantalus! We enjoyed a light lunch and a walk among the vineyards!

Mudbrick Vineyards: Mudbrick was BY FAR our favorite meal of the entire trip. We visited their Bistro, as opposed to their fancier multi-course restaurant, and couldn’t have been happier! It is so delicious, and their wine is spectacular.

Island Gelato Company: YOU GUYS! I am obviously dairy-free so normally wouldn’t be so passionate about gelato, but let me just say. Island Gelato had the most insane dairy-free Salted Coconut Passionfruit sorbet. I still dream of it. Go here. Just go. They also have an Auckland location!

Auckland, NZ (December 9-10)

Accommodation: SO/ Auckland : This was the perfect place to stay in the heart of Auckland. Honestly, we didn’t hear great things about Auckland, and only spent a few hours there…so didn’t end up doing much exploring. We were exhausted after 2 weeks of running around, so took advantage of our lovely hotel to rest and chill before we headed home. Would absolutely recommend the hotel though!

Dining:

Amano Restaurant: This restaurant was delicious! Recommended to us by our waiter at Mudbrick, we had a fantastic meal. Healthy options, delicious food and cool ambiance. We sat at the bar.