5 Less Travelled New Zealand Destinations : Underrated Aotearoa

When you only have a short time in Aotearoa New Zealand, you will likely miss some of the top-rated tourist destinations and activities – you simply won’t have time to see it all. Even with a month in New Zealand, you’ll likely struggle. But if you are there for a bit longer, and fancy discovering some less travelled New Zealand destinations, here are my top 5 picks. For some underrated gems of Aotearoa, put these places on your New Zealand itinerary!

5 underrated New Zealand destinations:

Taranaki, North Island

Taranaki is the western peninsula of the North Island / Te Ika a Māui – about 1/2 of the way up the island. Punctuated by the distinctive cones of Mount Taranaki, it is a haven for outdoor sports, art and beautiful coastlines.

Highlights include the cool city of New Plymouth, hikes in the Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (Egmont) National Park, the White Cliffs at Pukearuhe near Waiiti, and the Taranaki Pioneer Village in Stratford.

New Plymouth has a wonderful art gallery, Govett Brewster, and some amazing art by kinaesthetic artist, Len Lye. I always think that when a place fosters art and artists, it enriches the city as a whole, and that certainly is the case for New Plymouth. My favourite spots in New Plymouth include Pukekura Park (the light show at Christmas is awesome), Paris Plage Cafe at Strandon, and the black sand beach at Bell Block.

The ever-changing light and cloud patterns over Mount Taranaki are captivating. The outdoor pursuits are endless, from the great surfing beaches to hot air ballooning and kayaking. Taranaki gets my vote for outdoor activities and underrated coastal landscapes.

I may be a little biased, my mum’s side of the family are in New Plymouth, and I have great childhood memories from there.

Accommodation options in Taranaki

New Plymouth – Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park (budget), The Dawson Motel (mid-range), King and Queen Hotel Suites (upper).

Countryside – Ngati Ruanui Stratford Mountain House or Platinum Lodge.

Wairarapa + Castlepoint, North Island

The Wairarapa is a hot day-trip destination from Wellington, being only an hour drive / 1.5 hour train ride away. It is also a wine-lovers haven (you’ll notice a theme here) – with wineries stretching from Martinborough to Masterton! You do have to drive over the Remutaka hills to get there, but it’s worth it.

Martinborough has a concentration of wineries so impressive it even has its own wine and food festival, called Toast Martinborough. You don’t need a festival to visit the wineries though – most have tasting rooms and welcome guests. My favourites include Ata Rangi (walk-in cellar door), and Dry Creek Winery (book ahead cellar).

The Wairarapa is punctuated by cute towns like Greytown, with second-hand book stores and cafes serving great coffee and cake.

East of Masterton, a winding hour-long drive will get you to the coastal paradise of Castlepoint. A favourite for summer camping trips with the family, the sweeping beach and lighthouse hold many great memories. For the little ones, there is an inlet protected from the waves by a reef and natural rock wall.

Unlike the towns of the Wairarapa, there isn’t much in Castlepoint by way of amenities – a pub, a takeaway and dairy (corner store), a golf course, and a lot of holiday homes. But what it does provide is the archetypal Kiwi beach holiday – and for that alone, it is worth a visit. Stay overnight for the full experience.

Accommodation in the wairarapa

For a warm bed after a boozy time in Martinborough, stay at the Martinborough Hotel. Right on the main square, and with a bar and restaurant, it is a central gem.

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand, consult my 1-month road trip itinerary for both the North and South Islands!

Don’t miss my guide to NZ food too!

Renwick, South Island

Most wine-lovers will have heard about the wonderful Marlborough wine region at the top of the South Island / Te Waipounamu. But few have heard of Renwick – the little town in the centre of it all. Much like Martinborough, Renwick is a wine town, where wineries are so close together they have a cycle trail around to visit them. But be warned, cycling while intoxicated is frowned upon!

Don’t miss a stop at Spy Valley, for an exceptional Pinot Gris and a robust Pinot Noir. Their tasting rooms are just gorgeous, and the terrace is something special on a sunny day. It was raining cats and dogs on my latest visit sadly, but at least the delicious wines cheered me up! My other recommendation is Te Whare Ra. But stay a night or two and visit as many wineries as you can!

Accommodation options in Renwick

Accommodation options include the cute Anglesea House B&B, Olde Mill House B&B (with Bike2Wine cycle hire), or the Marlborough Wine Barrel Cabins (amongst the vines).

Akaroa, South Island

Akaroa is tucked away on the Banks Peninsula, a mere 1.5 hours from Christchurch. And whilst it’s an absolute favourite for Kiwi holiday-makers, it’s a little bit remote to attract the mainstream travellers. I like to stay in Akaroa and day trip to Christchurch, not the other way round!

In the early days of white settlement, many French families had settled here in Akaroa – serving as a whaling station and place to restock. There were moves to attempt to make this new colony French, before Britain beat them to it with the Treaty of Waitangi. And while I have lots to say on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and how we must uphold the sovereignty of the Māori, that’s for another post! This French history does make Akaroa an interesting melange of influences. Visit the Akaroa Museum to learn more.

In the town, there are cute beachside bars, a museum, old colonial buildings and gift shops. Take the Summit Road along the ridge of the hills above Akaroa to get the best views of the harbour. Take a dolphin watching cruise (please don’t do a swim with dolphins tour – it’s disruptive and bad to interact with wildlife like this), or rent a kayak to explore the bays.

The people in Akaroa are so friendly, and it is definitely one of my favourite spots in the whole of Aotearoa.

Accommodation options in Akaroa

There are lots of accommodation options in Akaroa, from B&Bs like French Bay House Bed and Breakfast to holiday apartments like the Historic Shipping Office – Akaroa. You could also try the Akaroa Waterfront Motels for a central and scenic spot.

Dunedin + Otago Peninsula, South Island

While Dunedin isn’t exactly off the beaten path (none of these places are really), it isn’t always on every itinerary. If you can make time to visit, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula, you won’t be sorry.

The city layout is loosely based on the layout of Edinburgh. Although having lived in Edinburgh, I can confirm it is a loose interpretation of the street layout! But I appreciate how enthusiastic the locals are about it, from an historic and far-flung exotic lands perspective. We met so many locals who heard my husband was Scottish and proceeded to get very animated about their own Scottish history here. It is clearly a point of pride.

It’s a university city, so the student vibe is strong. We enjoyed that about it, and loved all the great cheap food options that a uni city naturally has. Noodle bars and lunch specials galore!

On the peninsula, you’ll find Larnach Castle, a mock castle built by entrepreneur William Larnach. Built in 1871, it is a glimpse into Victorian folly of the time, and is now open as a tourist attraction as ‘New Zealand’s only castle.’ The views of the peninsula and gardens are just lovely.

The other must-see on the Otago Peninsula (aside from a scenic drive to the various scenic spots and beaches) is the Royal Albatross Centre. Visit the only mainland albatross colony IN THE WORLD! With a range of guided tours and viewing areas, seeing these huge and magnificent birds in person is so special. If you’re anything like me, you’ll get addicted to watching the live Albatross cam too.

Accommodation options in Dunedin

We stayed at the Dunedin Motel and Villas, which was a spacious and well-appointed motel, walking distance from downtown. For a stunning period property in the city, luxury with a little Scottish flair, try Fable Dunedin.

If you want to stay out on the peninsula, Larnach Castle offers a lodge stay or camping options.

If you want to visit New Zealand, see more of my Southern Hemisphere content.
And here’s some more road trip inspiration for you!

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.