There are some iconic sights that sum up an entire experience, sights that capture the very essence of your travels. Far more than just pretty views – these are the sights you’ll picture in your mind’s eye as you remember your once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand.

If you only see one thing in New Zealand, it should be Milford Sound. This is the iconic New Zealand landscape above all others – wild, rugged, remote and hauntingly beautiful. The sight of the towering fiords looming up out of the waters in the morning fog as you glide past on your small boat will render you speechless and be indelibly impressed on your memory forever.

Many travellers come to New Zealand to discover a South Pacific island paradise, and the sight of the clear turquoise waters, white sand beaches and lush rainforests of the Abel Tasman National Park let you know you have found just that.

Come face to face with one of nature’s most intelligent and entrancing creatures as you slip into the water and join a pod of dolphins at play. Seeing a dolphin swim right past you as you bob in the open water is a moving experience for many people and a memory to treasure forever. Feel the boat rock and heart the crash of the water as you see giant sperm whales in the wild off the Kaikoura coast, and catch your breath as you encounter a colony of tiny blue penguins on the Otago coastline.

From dramatic landscapes and wildlife to a more human drama – feel the intensity, the surrounding atmosphere almost electric, as you watch a powerful Maori kapa haka performance up close. You can experience this spellbinding display of theatre, song and dance in many places around the country, and it is something not to be missed.

During your time in New Zealand you’ll see so many sights that make you stop and feel fortunate to be here. Whether it’s a group of small children playing barefoot in the long grass, a majestic mountain towering out of a lush green landscape, or simply a flock of sheep grazing happily on the horizon, no matter what details are in the scene that presses itself in your memory, you will be forever reminded of your time spent in the youngest country on earth, this amazing place where life is as it should be.