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Discover a world beyond ordinary

At TravelEssence, we specialise in crafting custom-made holidays that take you off the beaten path and create memories to last a lifetime. We believe in connecting with the heart and soul of a place, introducing you to the locals who call it home. Engage in conversations with fascinating individuals who will share their stories, traditions, and way of life, leaving an indelible mark on your journey.

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Nz mount cook swing bridge discoverpage detail national parks

Nature at its best

National Parks in New Zealand

New Zealand is a paradise for varied nature, with 13 national parks in the North and South Island. This means there are more than 30,000 square kilometres of diverse wildlife, flora, and fauna to be discovered. The locals are proud of the unique nature found in their country and are always happy to show you around. You can explore these stunning parts of New Zealand on foot, by helicopter, car, or boat!

Iconic silver fern | New Zealand nature — Find unique native plants in the Fiordland National Park

Overnight cruise into the Doubtful Sound | New Zealand holiday — Enjoy an overnight cruise into the breathtaking Doubtful Sound

Discover our 5 favourite National Parks

Fiordland National Park

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Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Kayak in Doubtful Sound to connect with nature and wilderness, or spend the day hiking the world-famous Milford Track.

Kayak or hike in New Zealand's smallest national park

Sailing in Abel Tasman National Park | New Zealand active holiday

Two people paddling in a kayak on turquoise water towards a forested rock formation

Abel Tasman, New Zealand

A coastal paradise and sea kayaking mecca.

A woman dressed in black looking over a turquoise blue crater lake

Nz north Lake Rotoaira Ruapehu Destination Lake Taupo

Nz north Blue Lakes Tongariro National Park Ruapehu Destination Lake Taupo

Central Plateau & Tongariro, New Zealand

Visit the oldest national park in New Zealand.

Jetboat in an amazing scenery | New Zealand active holiday

A red and black helicopter landing on a mountain

Mount Aspiring National Park, New Zealand

Soak up the towering views of rugged mountains and glaciers.

Brown vegetation, white snow fulled mountains and blue glaciers/Mount Cook National Park

Amazing Mount Cook | New Zealand holiday

Mount Cook/Aoraki National park has an abundance of hiking trails

Mount Cook, New Zealand

Explore mountains, glaciers, crystal-clear lakes and enjoy star-studded skies.

There are of course a few other national parks that we recommend you visit. They are listed below.

Arthur's Pass National Park

Climbing 924 metres through the heart of Arthur's Pass National Park is one of the highest settlements in New Zealand. A stretch of mountainous road connecting Christchurch with the wild West Coast is one of the most spectacular scenic drives in the South Island.

The landscape varies immensely from east to west. The drier east consists of mountainous beech forests and wide riverbeds. While the west has high rainfall, consisting of deeper rivers and rainforests. Arthur’s Pass Village is the starting point for many walks through the national park, including Bealey Spur Track, Avalanche Peak and the Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall.

Bird-watching enthusiasts are in for a treat! A cheeky olive-green New Zealand parrot – the Kea can often be spotted. It is the only alpine parrot in the world and is well-known for its intelligence.

Stunning views on Arthur's Pass | New Zealand nature — Be amazed at every turn on the Arthur's Pass

Whanganui National Park

Venture into a true outdoor Kiwi experience at Whanganui National Park. In the central North Island, this national park is brimming with hiking trails, rivers, valleys, mountains, native forest and birds. Learn about the rich history of the region, and take a walk to The Bridge to Nowhere, built-in 1935. Following the footsteps of pioneers who settled here after WWI.

Whanganui River runs the length of the national park and is New Zealand’s third-longest river. A popular river for canoeing, kayaking and jet boating. The Whanganui River is sacred to local Maori and after 150 years of negotiations, the river was granted the same legal rights as humans in 2017.

Hiking in New Zealand

New Zealand has 10 official “Great Walks”. These spectacular trails showcase the diverse landscapes of New Zealand. Glistening lakes, golden beaches, snow-capped mountains, native forests, deep gorges, sweeping valleys and flowing rivers. Lake Waikaremoana, Tongariro Northern Circuit, Whanganui Journey, Abel Tasman Coast Track, Heaphy Track, Paparoa Track, Routeburn Track, Kepler Track, Milford Track and Rakiura Track are the official 10 Great Walks. But, you don’t need to stick to these 10 to benefit from picturesque views. Walking trails are abundant with a range of difficulty levels and distances.