Explorers Guide to New Zealand

Welcome to my Explorers Guide to New Zealand! This is the ultimate holiday and road trip planning resource and the most comprehensive guide to New Zealand you'll find online with over 600 unique places worth exploring.

My guide has an emphasis on the natural beauty of New Zealand with amazing hikes, waterfalls, mountains, caves and beaches as well as photographic landmarks like lighthouses, gardens, and flower fields. The few tours, restaurants or accommodations have been included due to some unique point of interest or because I believe they are the best New Zealand has to offer.

This guide is the culmination of years worth exploring New Zealand and I am so proud of it. I know my guide will help you make the most of your precious time travelling in New Zealand, whether you're a local like me or you're visiting our shores for a once in a lifetime holiday.

Guide by Ashley Elliott
Made in English

Interactive Map

Get an Interactive, playful and visually appealing map that helps you navigate the noise

612 things to do

Get a curated list of all the best things to do with exact location, detailed info and inspiring content
Photospot
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple
Waterfall
Waiau Falls
Sightseeing
Vibrant lupins at Lake Tekapo
Sightseeing
Deer Park Heights Queenstown
Sightseeing
Unique historic bridge over gorge
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3 itineraries

Get expertly curated itineraries that help you organise all the 'things to do' in an ideal time order
Itinerary Builder
Create your own itinerary
Day 3
Milford Sound - A Self Driven Road Trip from Queenstown
Day 1
Glenorchy Scenic Day Trip from Queenstown
Day 7
Best of the Central South Island - 6 nights, 7 days Queenstown to Lake Tekapo via Mount Cook
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2 travel tips

Get actionable travel tips to help save money, time and stress
Visiting Milford Sound - By Car, Bus or Plane?
What to Pack for a Trip to the South Island of New Zealand During Spring
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Booking Page

Get a curated list of reliable options when booking tours, hotels, and car rentals
Tours
Tasman Glacier
Stay
Stoneridge Estate Queenstown
Stay
Edgewater Hotel - Lake Wanaka
Stay
Nugget Point Queenstown Hotel
Stay
Cordis Hotel
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Premium services

If you have special preferences you can always get personal advice from Ashley Elliott tailored to your needs
Flexible days
Itinerary Review
$40
60 minutes
Video call
$125
5.0(4 reviews)

Maria Clapp

January 2024

Such an informative and helpful guide for exploring New Zealand! Super easy to use and find great ideas of things to see and do when visiting places! Highly recommend this map to anyone travelling around NZ!

Ben Phillips

January 2024

Ashley helped me plan my upcoming trip to the South Island for my wedding and has been amazing. I haven’t been to NZ before do the whole honeymoon planning was quite hard not knowing the area. Ashley talked me through everything and built an itinerary for us and we couldn’t be happier. Highly recommend!!

Marika Jackson

January 2024

A beautiful guide with so much information, perfect for creating itineraries and adding spots to your trips in NZ!

Logan Rebele

December 2023

A fantastic guide with phenomenal suggestions on incredible destinations! I’ve been utilizing this guide to plan my first trip to New Zealand. It’s been an absolute lifesaver since I had no previous knowledge of the area and am planning an extensive trip on a last minute basis.

Highly recommend this guide!

Guide by Ashley Elliott
Joined in September 2023

Kia Ora Ko Ashley tōku ingoa, Nau Mai Haere Mai Ki Aotearoa. Hello, my name is Ashley. Welcome to New Zealand! I am a Kiwi born and raised in New Zealand and have been travelling our country extensively with my husband and daughter. I'm so pleased to have a space to share everything I love about New Zealand - I am a serial over planner and I know that everything I share here will help you plan and experience the best that New Zealand has to offer.

Your questions,
answered

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