7 outdoor destinations in New Zealand

New Zealand has some of the most impressive landscapes in the world, so majestic in fact that it was chosen to portray the fantasy world of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Perhaps you would like to experience these magical lands for yourself, whether to relive some of your favourite scenes or to simply enjoy an unforgettable outdoor adventure? Well look no more, we have you covered with this list of New Zealand’s 7 best outdoor locations!

1. Hobbiton

You can begin your journey at the starting point of any good Middle Earth adventure: Hobbiton! Nested in the lush green hills of Waikato, a region of the upper North Island, this former sheep farm is the set of the famous Shire.

While partially destroyed after the shooting of The Lord of the Rings, it was rebuilt for The Hobbit, and left as such for everyone to enjoy. And after visiting these adorable tiny round houses, you can even rest at the Green Dragon Inn for a refreshing beverage!

2. Mavora Lakes Conservation Park

This natural park is home to two magnificent lakes, the North Mavora and the South Mavora, which hosted many scenes from Peter Jackson’s movies. Surrounded by majestic mountains, these lakes truly feel out of our modern world, and provide lots of activities!

There are two camping grounds to spend a few nights ashore, with also the possibility to go fishing, biking, horse riding or to relax in a boat, and even the seasoned hitchhikers will be delighted with the Greenstone Walkway, a 50km tramping trip from the camping area to the Greenstone Track.

3. Earnslaw Burn

This trail was used by Thorin and his fellow hobbits to cross the Misty Mountains! You will indeed witness plenty of epic and towering scenery on this overnight hike, culminating before the magnificent glacier of Mt Earnslaw.

With 32km in total and an elevation gain of about 750m, this is definitely no piece of cake, but well worth it to avoid the crowds of the Routeburn and Kepler tracks while enjoying similar stunning views of New Zealand mountainscapes. And did you know that the “burn” refers to the glacial river that the trail follows?

4. Sutherland Falls

One of the tallest waterfalls in New Zealand, cascading at 580m from Lake Quill, located in Fiordland National Park at 979 meters above sea level. You likely won’t find any giant eagles there, but you can still admire the falls from an aerial perspective thanks to the helicopter tours.

This is also a short and easy hike, in a wonderful setting of abundant vegetation and steep mountain cliffs, which might ideally suit a relaxing trip to simply escape from the modern world. You don’t always have to push through your limits to enjoy enchanting wilds!

5. Mt Ngauruhoe

The iconic Mt Doom, where Frodo has to toss the ring! In reality, Mt Ngauruhoe is one of New Zealand’s active volcanoes on North Island. Its last eruption dates back to 1977, but there are still some sulphurous gases being released from its crater, so the climb is not recommended to anyone suffering from asthma.

If you are not at risk however, this can be a really interesting challenge with some tricks. For instance, in the summer the sun and heat will warm the tephra on the slopes making it loose and slippery, and there is even a climbing route which crosses lava! But in the end it’s all well worth it to gaze into the impressive gaping crater.

6. Putangirua Pinnacles

These natural rocky pillars seem to be straight out of a fantasy world, and yet you won’t have to travel to Middle Earth to find them, an hour drive from Martinborough will do! You can trace back the Path of the Dead while wandering among these beautiful pinnacles, and relive one of the most intense scenes from The Return of the King.

Or you can simply enjoy the camping ground nearby by the coastside for a more lively atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy Palliser Bay or Lake Onoke, two other amazing locations.

7. Franz Josef Glacier

And to conclude, another majestic glacier, as are most of them to be honest, but this one stands among the most accessible in the world! Whereas the Earnslaw Burn only takes you before the Earnslaw Glacier after a quite physical hike, Franz Josef actually allows you to venture into it and discover this uncanny world of ice.

There are also plenty of options to design your own experience with this glacier: you can simply hike over it, or climb through the ice for a more adventurous expedition, or even take a helicopter tour to get an aerial perspective, the choice is yours! And if you look close enough, you might just spot the Gondor beacons...

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