7 Spend sunset at Cathedral Cove

The walk down to the white sands of Cathedral Cove is a must-do in itself, but time it right and you’ll get an even better sense of its beauty. Before sunset, the low light on the white cliffs reflects over the waters of Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve, and demonstrates how effective the cliffs were as coastal navigation beacons for early Māori as they travelled by waka through the region. For a more active adventure, head out with Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours for a sunset tour (December and January only) to see the cliffs in all their glory from the water. kayaktours.co.nz

8 Find dolphins in the wild

Hit the water in Tauranga and go in search of New Zealand’s common dolphins in their stunning natural habitat. Dolphin Seafaris has a 95 per cent success rate of finding dolphins and are the first Sustainable Marine Mammal Actions in Recreation and Tourism operator in the North Island. During the cruise, guides will tell you more about the other marine life in the area — whales, turtles, little blue penguins and seals — and you’ll often get to see them for yourself. nzdolphin.com

9 Experience Middle-earth magic at Hobbiton Movie Set

Remember in the 2000s when every New Zealander was either working as an extra or crew on Lord of the Rings, or knew someone who was? Fan or not, you can’t deny that Lord of the Rings helped cement New Zealand’s international reputation as THE place to visit, once in a lifetime. Rekindle that movie magic at the Hobbiton Movie Set, complete with 17 hobbit holes, and the Green Dragon pub. For an even more special experience, visit on November 27 for the Hobbiton Beer Festival where you can sample the Hobbit Southfarthing range, Middle-earth wine and ginger beer. hobbitontours.com

10 Go underground in Waitomo

Whether you take a gentle boat ride down a subterranean river, a walking tour of awe-inspiring limestone formations, or pump up the adrenalin with abseiling, zip-lining and black water rafting, the Waitomo Caves are a must-visit. Dating back about 30 million years, there are about 300 known caves in the Waitomo region. waitomo.com

11 Walk the Tarawera Trail

This 15km trail in Rotorua is gaining in popularity as one of the most beautiful day walks in New Zealand, in an area once devastated by the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption. The track begins with panoramic views of Lake Tarawera, then follows  the shore to a picnic area with lake access at Katukutuku Bay, then Rotomahana lookout point and more highlights along the way. The reward at the end is a soak in the natural springs at Hot Water Beach. totallytarawera.com/tarawera-trail

12 Watch Pōhutu go off

Covering 70ha  within historic Te Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley, Te Puia is home to the world famous Pōhutu geyser, mud pools, hot springs and silica formations, and has been a must-do for locals and visitors alike for more than 170 years. Take a guided tour to learn more about the area’s history and hear stories of the local iwi; visit the Kiwi Conservation Centre where three resident kiwi have a new, state-of-the-art facility to call home; and see master craftspeople creating taonga in traditional ways at the national schools of wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving. tepuia.com

13 Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Voted New Zealand’s greatest day hike, this summer is the perfect time for Kiwis to take on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to make the most of the extra space available while our international friends are out of the country. The hike is a challenging 19.4km journey across a remarkable volcanic landscape in a true alpine environment, with views that you’ll remember for a lifetime. tongarirocrossing.co.nz