Visa

No visa required for US citizens for up to 3 months. Valid passport and NZeTA online application are required.

COVID

Fully open. No testing, no quarantine, no vaccination, no NZTD declaration required.

Fall in love with New Zealand by visiting its highlights on a fast-paced trip.

New Zealand Highlights

Explore all must-sees and venture off the beaten path on a spectacular road trip.

New Zealand Adventure

New Zealand

Enjoy the waterfalls at their fullest, the flowers blooming (those lupin fields on Lake Tekapo), and fewer crowds are also tempting. The hiking season for most Great Walks starts mid-October.

Spring

Summer is the most popular season and for a good reason. You can enjoy the widest spectrum of activities with pleasant hikes and warm beaches.

Summer

Fall is our favorite season, especially on the South Island. It is slightly colder, but you can still hike the Great Walks with fewer crowds while enjoying spectacular fall foliage scenery with the snowy peaks.

Fall

Winter months bring more rain to most of the North Island and colder temperatures across the country. Snow-peaked mountains are beautiful, but we don't recommend exploring in winter.

Winter

Land of the Long White Cloud

New Zealand – Land of the Long White Cloud

The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is the largest dark sky reserve in the world. It covers an area of 1,660 square miles and is home to some of the clearest and darkest skies in the world, making it an ideal location for stargazing and astrophotography.

The reserve is located near Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, which provides a stunning backdrop for nighttime sky viewing. With little light pollution in the area, the Milky Way and other galaxies are easily visible to the naked eye.

In addition, the reserve is home to a number of astronomical observatories, including the Mount John Observatory, which provides guided stargazing tours and educational programs. We also recommend stargazing tours operated by the Hermitage Hotel. You can find both experiences in the links section above.

Stargazing tour

Aoraki Dark Skies Reserve

New Zealand's highest peak dominates the skyline of a national park filled with glaciers, alpine lakes, and sky-scraping peaks, a dream for mountaineers and hikers alike.