25 Impressive Hidden Treasures of NZ’s North Island

by Flip Flop Wanderers
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While the north island of New Zealand might be the most populated, there are still heaps of hidden treasures to be found on the island. We even had to shorten this list because we had way too many hidden spots written down. There is so much to discover in New Zealand! Especially if you are a backpacker, the advantage is that you have plenty of time to discover great parts of the country away from the crowds. Most people have limited time visiting New Zealand, visiting only the well-known highlights, and they are missing out on some of New Zealand’s best spots! 

During our road trip through the north island, we’ve literally seen every road, every corner and every bush on the island and in this article, we’ll tell you what the most impressive hidden treasures are that we have seen! Be warned: they may impress you more than the touristic places!

1. Omanawa Falls

Let’s kick off with a spectacular one: the Omanawa Falls! It is 35 meters high and you can walk behind the waterfall! It used to be accessible with a 30 minute easy walk BUT that walk is closed which is probably the reason that this waterfall isn’t overwhelmed with tourists. You can still reach it over a dangerous unofficial track over a steep hill, which takes at least one hour each way, although it’s not recommended to do so.

2. East Cape

This is the place where you can see the first sunrise of the whole world! The East Cape is a big corner of New Zealand where hardly any tourists go and that makes it even more special. Most tourists who drive from Opitiki to Gisborne or the other way around take the highway, cutting off the East Cape. It’s worth taking the long drive to get there though, which is called the Pacific Coast Highway. The coastal drive takes you through small remote towns, rich in Maori culture, and spectacular views. In the middle is a big mountain in Raukumara Forest Park, and you should also watch the sunrise at the East Cape Lighthouse! East Cape is also home to NZ’s second largest pier in Tolaga Bay.

3. Whangaroa Harbour

In Northland, about 50km above Paihia at the Bay of Islands, you can find this place which is even better than the Bay of Islands itself! This hidden treasure is an inlet with clear blue water. We recommend to walk and climb the St. Paul’s Rock from where you have the best views over the amazing blues! You can’t tell that 50km south of you it is buzzing with tourists, while not many make it up here.

4. Putangirua Pinnacles

Only a short drive from Wellington you can find an unearthly landscape at the southernmost point of the North Island called the Putangirua Pinnacles. Corrosion turned these cliffs into huge pinnacles and it is also one of the film locations of Lord of The Rings. This sure is an impressive hidden treasure! Close to here you can also find the Cape Palliser lighthouse and you can spot some seals sunbathing on the shore.

5. Pouakai Tarns – Mount Taranaki

There are choices to make when you only have limited time to explore New Zealand, and people are often in a rush to make it to the South Island, but please, don’t skip Mount Taranaki on the North Island! This perfectly formed volcano stands proud at the west coast, and it is even used in the film ‘The Last Samurai’ because it looks a lot like Mount Fuji in Japan. Next to the mountain you can find the Pouakai Ranges, where you can do some awesome hikes with the best views over the mountain. At the Pouakai Tarns you can get the best reflection photos, and you can even see Mount Ruapehu from here on a clear day. Don’t miss out!

6. Tarawera Falls

This impressive waterfall is located in a forestry area and you need a permit to get there because you have to go via private roads. First, you will need to get the permit from the Kawerau information center (only $5 at time of writing), then you’ll have to follow a 12km gravel road to get there, and then via a 40 minutes return walk you can see this stunning view for yourself!

7. Coromandel Coastal Walkway

At the top of the Coromandel Peninsula you can find the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. This 10 km long walk goes from Fletcher Bay to Stony bay and the views are incredible! The reason why not many people go there is because of the way to get there. Besides being a 10 km walk between the 2 bays, it is also an almost 60 km drive of mostly gravel roads if you want to go by car and you have to allow 2 hours for this drive. You might consider walking up and down the track and I would recommend to start at Fletcher Bay since the bumpy way over there is very scenic!

8. Te Urewera National Park

Everybody always talks about the national parks of Fiordland, Mt Cook, Tongariro etc, but there are so much more beautiful national parks, such as Te Urewera. You’ll find this national park between Gisborne and Taupo and the easiest way to get there is from the east coast. There is a big lake, called Lake Waikaremoana, and there are many scenic walks, including the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk. 

Another beautiful walk is the Onepoto Caves walk. It goes through many rock formations and a few caves. It is just incredible to walk through the thick dark forest with all these special sights! And again, there is no-one there!

9. King Country

New Zealand is the land of the Hobbit and there are many film locations spread all over NZ, so you can enjoy the typical scenery in many places. While everybody goes to Hobbiton, there are also much lesser-known film locations, like King Country, an area around Piopio, which is home to some amazing views. There is a farm where parts of the movie were filmed and you can do a film tour at the Hairy Feet film location. You can also just drive around in the stunning landscape full of green cliffs, which is just perfect!

10. Kohi Point Walkway

East of Tauranga you can find the place Whakatane, which has a beautiful 7 km coastal walk towards neighboring town Ohope. It gives you some great views over Whakatane, the beautiful coastline and the long beach at Ohope. From Ohope you can catch a bus back to town. It seems that only the locals know about this walk!

11. Mahia Peninsula

It is easy to see why many locals love to visit this place for their summer holidays! 80 kilometers south of Gisborne the Mahia Peninsula stretches out into the ocean. The peninsula is rarely visited by non-locals, but we can tell you, it is worth a visit! At the beginning of the peninsula you can find Mahia Beach and from there you can take a scenic drive along the west coast to the end of the peninsula, called the Kinikini road. Also along the east coast there is a nice drive with some stunning beaches and rock pools.

12. Donut Island / Whenuakura

Doesn’t this sound like an island you would love to visit?! I hate to bring it to you though: you can’t eat the island! In the south of the Coromandel Peninsula is a place called Whangamata. From there you can take a kayak through the surf towards 4 little islands not far from the shore. One of the islands is called Whenuakura island, but it’s better known as Donut Island. There is a cave that brings you to an inner lake in the small island, and that’s where the name comes from. It really is magical!

13. Putaruru Springs

On the way from Hamilton to Rotorua is this blue spring which produces 60% of NZ’s bottled water. It takes about 100 years for the water to make its way to the surface, and it is so incredibly clear! The water temperature is 11°C all year round, pretty cold to take a dip but that isn’t allowed anyway because it has a negative impact on the water vegetation.

14. Tutukaka Coast

The Bay of Islands is famous for its amazing coastlines and people tend to drive directly over there, taking the highway up. We’d prefer to turn off the highway 70 km earlier though and head towards the Tutukaka Coast. This is one of the most beautiful coastlines of New Zealand and yet still people ignore it. Unfortunate for them, lucky for you because it won’t be crowded!

15. Lake Tarawera

Everybody knows Rotorua is one of the biggest tourist hotspots in New Zealand, for obvious reasons. But if you want to find a more peaceful place close, you can go towards the lakes south east of Rotorua. It’s not a long drive and it will take you to the Blue and Green lake first, and then you will find the beautiful Lake Tarawera! Tip: go watch the sunrise over the lake, it’s just magical!

16. Rere Rockslide & Falls

One of our favorites: the Rere rockslide. Get yourself a body board and make your way to this place close to Gisborne. The water flows over a wide rock down and it’s the best natural slide you have ever seen! Bring that bodyboard because you don’t want to scratch yourself on the rocks. Close to here are also the Rere falls which are worth a look as well now that you’re there anyway.

17. Wanganui National Park

Since Taranaki is on this list, you’ll also have to visit a place close to there! In between Taranaki and Tongariro, there is another big National Park: Wanganui National Park. Nobody seems to know if it’s Whanganui or Wanganui, but from this little town goes a scenic drive up through the national park: The Wanganui River Road. The views are absolutely amazing!

18. New Chums Beach

This beach is considered the most beautiful beach in New Zealand, and it’s still a hidden treasure! The best time to go there is low tide since with high tide you have to cross a waist-deep river to get there. Via a 30 minute walk over rocks, you will find this stunning hidden beach. Next to the beach is a hill, and via a steep climb up there you can see even better why this is the most beautiful beach in NZ!

19. Kapiti Island

Before people brought all kinds of animals that did no good for New Zealand’s wildlife, there were many many birds everywhere. Just off the coast close to Wellington is Kapiti Island, nowadays a nature reserve, where an intensive program got rid of the threats, and where the birdlife is getting back to normal. Even though we are not really into bird watching or anything, it is awesome to check out this amazing island, where you can spot kiwi’s at night!

20. Matapouri Mermaid Pools

Just above the Tutukaka coast is Matapouri Bay. The drive up here along the beautiful coast is already amazing and the beach at Matapouri Bay is pretty popular. What not many people know though is that via a walk along that beach across a hill are the Mermaid pools. These natural rock pools just ask for you to jump in there, so don’t miss out!

21. Longest place name of the world

Taumata­whakatangihanga­koauau­o­tamatea­turipukaka­pikimaungahoro­nuku­pokaiwhenua­kitana­tahu. Yes that is a place name, and it is quite hard to pronounce 😛 Ok, essentially it isn’t really anything special because it’s just a small hill with a sign in front of it with the place name, but how cool is it to say to people that you have been to this place?! You’ll first have to learn how to pronounce it though.

22. Owharoa Falls in Karangahake Gorge

Our last hidden treasure on the Coromandel Peninsula is located in the Karangahake Gorge. There are many awesome sights in this area, but one that tourists apparently don’t know about is the Owharoa Falls. It’s another beautiful waterfall where you even can take a dip if you fancy!

23. Whirinaki Forest

This hidden treasure is hidden for sure! It isn’t easy to get there since we came via the Urewera Rainforest route, about 100km on a very windy gravel road. It goes slow, but there are great views and beautiful walks along this way. And once we finally got to the Whirinaki Forest, the place that surprised us the most was the Te-Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi Canyon. This canyon and the forest is very beautiful and we can guarantee that you won’t see many other people there!

24. Waipu Cave

If you want to see glowworms, you might have heard of the famous glowworm caves in Waitomo, where you have to pay an expensive entry/tour fee. Although these are a nice visit anyway, there is also a free cave in Northland where you can see many glowworms too: Waipu Cave. And the good thing is: you can go here all by yourself! Bring a torch and some good shoes (it is muddy in the cave) and explore them as long as you want. There is even a free campsite in front of it.

25. Marokopa Falls

30km west of the touristy Waitomo caves you can find the Marokopa Falls, which are hardly visited by the big crowds. Via a short easy track you can see these 35 meter impressive waterfalls for yourself!

Where to Stay

Looking for a hostel/hotel when you arrive in Auckland or Wellington?

Find all hotels in Auckland here and in Wellington here!

Read all our other blogs about New Zealand here!

So that were all the hidden treasures you must visit on the north island of New Zealand! It was still a long list but New Zealand literally has so many off-the-beaten-track spots, that you can easily spend a year on only these spots. We hope you get to visit some of these hidden treasures and if you did, then let us know in the comments!

Check out all our other Hidden Treasures blogs here!

~

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60 comments

Ugne Papievyte - Ugne in the Fields August 30, 2018 - 8:35 pm

I’m so pumped about NZ, that’s my dream country now! That is sooo cool that you guys show hidden spots and all this Lord of the Rings spirit, I liked that movie series a lot. NZ is a must visit for me.

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 30, 2018 - 9:15 pm

Ahh that’s so good to hear Ugne! We absolutely love this country as well, you should definitely visit! Especially if you loved Lord of the Rings, you find all those great spots over here 🙂

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Unravelling Travelling August 30, 2018 - 9:38 pm

Wow, these pictures are truly beautiful! New Zealand looks like such a magical place, especially Waipu Cave. Thanks so much for sharing (and making me restless wanting to visit!)

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 2:31 pm

Thank you so much! It is an incredible country! And the Waipu Caves are just impressive!

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Katerina August 31, 2018 - 12:43 am

The landscape looks just amazing! I knew that New Zealand is such a wonderful country, but now with this post I just want to go to New Chums Beach. Also who on earth named that hill like this? 🙂

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 2:32 pm

Yeah New Chums Beach is just heaven on earth!! And that name haha, I have no idea who called it like that 😛

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Mohana and Aninda August 31, 2018 - 3:03 am

NZ is such a gorgeous nation! Your photographs have given me a serious case of wanderlust 🙂

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 2:34 pm

Thank you very much!!

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Rio August 31, 2018 - 4:02 am

Absolutely stunning photography and what an impressive list of hidden gems! When I visited the North Island of NZ I absolutely loved the Coromandel Peninsula.

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 2:57 pm

Thank you so much! We love the Coromandel too! Actually worked there for three months during Summer, which was the best 🙂

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Kylee August 31, 2018 - 4:04 am

We cannot wait to hit up New Zealand! I am sure once we get there we will not want to leave. Your pictures are amazing!

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 3:09 pm

Thank you! Yeah we feel the same haha, we have been here now for 10 months but still don’t want to leave when our year ends!

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dalibro August 31, 2018 - 4:11 am

Such beautiful places but sooooooooo far away 🙁 Lovely list, lovely photography and 10 points for long-exposure selfie!

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 3:12 pm

Haha yeah New Zealand is far away from everything, but worth going!! Incredible country!

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Alici August 31, 2018 - 6:58 am

I would love to see the first sunrise on earth! What an experience! It looks really beautiful.

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 3:16 pm

It was a pretty great experience to see the first sunrise 🙂

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Erica Edwards August 31, 2018 - 10:38 am

Wow, I LOVED THIS POST! I used to work in New Zealand as a tour guide and you’ve really chosen some of the magical hidden gems that most visitors really never get to see! Sometimes I wonder if I feel so hard in love with New Zealand because it was the first country I visited, but when I see images like this I realize, NOPE, it’s because Aotearoa really is magical ?

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 3:18 pm

Aww love this comment! Thank you so much!! Where did you work as a tour guide? Over the whole country? So happy to hear you think we choose some magical hidden gems 🙂 We had plenty of time on the north island so really wanted to see everything and I think we did! And YES Aotearoa is really magical!!

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Ee Sing August 31, 2018 - 12:18 pm

I never knew there were more than just the typical beautiful places in NZ to visit. Keeping this post for my future travels there.

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 3:23 pm

Absolutely! On every corner you turn in New Zealand, there is some beautiful place! It really is packed with natural wonders! Hope you get to visit NZ sometime 🙂

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Monique August 31, 2018 - 12:36 pm

I am in awe of the beautiful locations you got to explore! I always wanted to get to NZ eventually, mostly because I am a LOTR nerd, but I realise that I hadn’t done any research on what else NZ had to offer. Pinning this for later so that I can follow your footsteps. Thanks so much!

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Flip Flop Wanderers August 31, 2018 - 5:21 pm

You will love New Zealand! Especially if you’re such a LOTR lover 🙂 There are so many film locations and the whole LOTR vibe is everywhere. Great that you’re saving it for later!

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Alex Trembath August 31, 2018 - 7:25 pm

I wish I had known about these places before our visit to the North Island last November! We only had a few days on the North Island but we really need to go back to see some of these spots.

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 1, 2018 - 12:15 am

Ohh it’s a shame you only had a few days on the North Island! Way too short haha. We had a few months so that’s why we could see everything 😉 Hope you get to go back one day!

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suvarna August 31, 2018 - 8:37 pm

Omanna falls and the mermaid pools have me convinced! I love the photos you have captured. They give a very real feel for the place

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 1, 2018 - 12:16 am

Both awesome places! There are so many gorgeous waterfalls and swimming holes in New Zealand! Thank you so much for the compliment 🙂

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Soumya Gayatri September 1, 2018 - 12:57 am

Whoa! You have some really amazing photographs there. I especially loved the ones of Mount Taranaki and Whirinaki Forest. Wondering if the Coromandel coast here has anything to do with the Coromandel coast in India.

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 1, 2018 - 1:09 am

Thank you so much!! Yes, Mount Taranaki is a truly special place! Haha is there a Coromandel coast in India as well? That’s funny, I didn’t know that!

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Meagan September 1, 2018 - 1:04 am

Your photos are stunning! We’ve been dreaming of New Zealand for years, but the flight prices from East Coast USA are…. yikes. Might have to start saving more aggressively now! 🙂

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 1, 2018 - 1:10 am

Thanks Meagan! Yes, I can imagine the prices are really expensive, and New Zealand itself is an expensive country too. But it is SO worth it! One of our favourite countries in the world 🙂 Hope you get to visit sometime!

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alison September 1, 2018 - 1:55 am

I’ve heard that NZ is beautiful and your pictures confirmed it. What a great trip and what great pictures to bring to light just how beautiful the country is. I just saw something on TV about Waipu Cave and the glowworms. That is so cool that you got to see them. I guess the lights attract other bugs for the worms to eat! Great post.

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 2, 2018 - 3:33 pm

Yes, New Zealand is an absolutely amazing country! And the Waipu Cave is just incredible, so amazing to see all those lightworms above you, it looks like a million stars above your head!

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nadine September 1, 2018 - 3:08 am

nz looks absolutely anazing. I love the way your blog is laid out with clear pictures to inspire and excite

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 2, 2018 - 3:35 pm

Thank you so much Nadine!

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Alexander Popkov September 1, 2018 - 8:33 am

I love your travel images. It is something I rarely say because I am very picky about photography. Your travel images really inspire to visit NZ

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:04 am

Aww that’s so good to hear Alexander! Thank you very much!

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Lisa September 1, 2018 - 9:29 pm

What a beautiful post! I’ve not yet made it to New Zealand, but reading this has really inspired me to visit! I love your photos, and you really show off the best spots to see.

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:06 am

Ohh you should definitely visit Lisa, you will love it!

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Nkem September 1, 2018 - 10:30 pm

Amazing and such a comprehensive guide! I’m bookmarking this post so I can use it on a future visit to NZ!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:11 am

Thank you so much! I hope you will get to visit some time!

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Saniya Puri September 2, 2018 - 5:46 am

Wonderful post, I haven’t been here yet but soon will be. Bookmarked this post. Thanks 🙂

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:12 am

That’s so cool! When are you planning to come to NZ?

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David September 2, 2018 - 11:15 pm

New Zealand has so many wonderful places to visit. It is just a shame it is too far away to take a weekend break to it!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:16 am

Haha yeah that’s definitely too far away. But such an amazing country to explore!

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Nina Nichols September 3, 2018 - 5:43 am

I’ve always believed that New Zealand is one of the most beautiful place on earth and your pictures just proved that. The pinnacles look like it was majestically designed!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:25 am

Aww thank you so much! We also think New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world 🙂

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SuBhaSun September 3, 2018 - 7:00 pm

Absolutely stunning place. Nature always appeal to me. Omanava falls looks magnificent and you have captured it beautifully. You must have used a tripod..didn’t you?

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:26 am

Yes we always use a tripod when making pictures of us together! We absolutely loved the Omanawa Falls too!

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Bailey Mills September 6, 2018 - 6:40 am

Wow, New Zealand seems like one of those hidden treasures I didn’t know I needed to visit! I will definitely be adding it to my bucket list. Your photos are stunning!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:27 am

Thank you so much Bailey! You definitely should visit New Zealand some time, it’s so beautiful!

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Jess September 6, 2018 - 2:16 pm

Love the photographs picture so beautiful!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:29 am

Thanks Jess

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Nicole September 7, 2018 - 12:19 am

Amazing photos! I can’t believe how beautiful this is. I hope to visit one day and I am saving this post to refer back to. Thanks for all the great tips.

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:31 am

Thank you so much Nicole! I really hope you get to visit New Zealand one day 🙂

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Louis September 7, 2018 - 5:04 pm

Hey, love this post. I’m actially visiting New Zealand for the first time at the end of this year. I will definitely be trying some of these out!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:33 am

Ohh that’s cool Louis! I hope you have an amazing time in New Zealand 🙂 Do visit some of the places in this list!

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Jonathan Morales September 8, 2018 - 3:59 am

Awesome talent on those photos, I really think NZ is worth visiting. Aside from the falls and the beach, the glow worms had me!!

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Flip Flop Wanderers September 21, 2018 - 2:35 am

Thanks so much Jonathan, happy to hear that 🙂 Ohh yes the glow worms are magical!

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Sasha November 23, 2018 - 1:45 am

Hello! I just found your account on Instagram and love your posts and this blog entry! What month of the year did you hike the Pouakai Tarns in the photo that’s in this post? Thanks!

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Flip Flop Wanderers November 23, 2018 - 10:22 pm

Hi Sasha, thanks so much for your compliment! We did the hike in June this year 🙂 we were very lucky with the weather cause sometimes it can be very bad up there! It was pretty cold during June on the mountain, but it was very beautiful because there was already some snow on the mountain and the tarns were frozen in the morning 🙂

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