All New Zealand

The Atlas Obscura Guide To New Zealand

161 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New Zealand

Updated August 7, 2026
Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Auckland
  2. Cape Reinga
  3. Christchurch
  4. Dunedin
  5. Hamilton
  6. Invercargill
  7. Lake Tekapo
  8. Mount Creighton
  9. Napier
  10. Nelson
  11. Puponga
  12. Waimangu
  13. Wanaka
  14. Wellington
  15. Whanganui

Unusual Attractions in New Zealand

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

See All 161 Things To Do in New Zealand

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New Zealand

Discover your next hidden gem with the Gastro Obscura
Newsletter—your guide to extraordinary food and drink.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

See all 10 Places to Eat in New Zealand
In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore New Zealand

Nature 20
Natural Wonders 18
Geology 16
Animals 15
Art 12
Water 12
Maori 9
Plants 9

New Zealand Leaderboard

Recent New Zealand Activity

Stories About New Zealand

Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”

What Makes a Pest a Pest?

Cats and rats both hunt endangered species. So why do we love one and hate the other?
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
Kava is regarded as the national beverage of Fiji, where it is often served to welcome visitors.

Why Kava Laws Choose Tradition Over Commercialization

New Zealand regulations prevent the sacred beverage of the Pacific Islands from being watered down.
by Andrew Coletti, Atlas Obscura
Relampago del Catatumbo is considered the “most electric” spot on Earth.

5 of Our Favorite Podcast Episodes Celebrating Earth's Natural Wonders

From everlasting lightning storms to magnificent bioluminescence, these classic episodes will delight and intrigue you.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
Which nation can claim the pavlova?

This Christmas Dessert Caused a Decades-Long Rivalry Between Two Countries

Two historians are trying to track down pavlova's origins once and for all.
by Leah Hudson, Atlas Obscura
There are at least 20 Māori names for the New Zealand fantail, a beloved native bird often seen as a messenger between worlds.

Does the New Zealand Fantail Connect the Human and Spirit Realms?

The bird is sometimes considered an omen of death, but in Māori tradition, that's just one part of its story.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
The pekapeka-tou-poto, found only in New Zealand, is also known as the lesser short-tailed bat.

The Race to Save the Pekapeka-Tou-Poto, New Zealand's Unique Bat

For scientists, monitoring the feisty, endangered burrowing bat includes moments of "actual madness."
by Monica Evans, Atlas Obscura
The mysterious metal cylinder on the shore of Western Australia.

A Massive, Mysterious Object Washed Up on an Australian Beach

Experts say it’s likely space junk—and there’s plenty more where that came from.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
The Tamil Bell, the broken crown of a ship’s bell embossed with Tamil script, has fascinated and perplexed scholars for more than a century.

The Mystery of New Zealand's Tamil Bell, an Archaeological 'UFO'

The strange bronze artifact perplexed scholars for more than a century, including how it traveled so far from home.
by Petrina Darrah, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring New Zealand

Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India's Giant Technicolor Squirrels

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member