Week 2 \u2014 South Island South:<\/strong> Queenstown (bungee jumping, jet boat) \u2192 Milford Sound (day trip) \u2192 Te Anau \u2192 Wanaka<\/p>\n Week 3 \u2014 South Island Central & North:<\/strong> Mount Cook \/ Hooker Valley Track \u2192 Lake Pukaki \u2192 Lake Tekapo (Stargazing) \u2192 Christchurch \u2192 Kaikoura<\/p>\n A rental car is absolutely essential. Without one, you'll miss out on 901,130 of the highlights. I rented a compact SUV from Jucy Rentals for about NZD 65 per day \u2014 fair by New Zealand standards.<\/p>\n The Hooker Valley Track is probably the most beautiful, easy hiking trail I've ever hiked. Ten kilometers round trip, flat, well-maintained\u2014but the scenery is absolutely surreal. You walk through a wide glacial valley, cross three suspension bridges, and at the end, you're standing right in front of the glacier tongue of Mount Cook.<\/p>\n I started early in the morning, around 7 a.m., and had the track almost entirely to myself. It gets crowded from 10 a.m. onwards\u2014especially when the tour buses arrive from Queenstown. My tip: Stay overnight in Mount Cook Village (at the White Horse Hill Campground for NZD 15 or at the Hermitage Hotel from NZD 250) and start early.<\/p>\n The Tasman Glacier Viewpoint is another must-see. It's only a 15-minute climb, but the view over New Zealand's largest glacier with its icebergs in the glacial lake is breathtaking. As a content creator with a drone license, I was also able to film here\u2014however, you need a permit from the DOC (Department of Conservation) for Aoraki\/Mount Cook National Park.<\/p>\n Lake Pukaki, 30 minutes south of Mount Cook, has the most unreal turquoise color I've ever seen in a lake. The glacial flour in the water creates this color, which looks almost artificial in the sunlight. I sat on a rock there for an hour, just gazing at it\u2014sometimes the quiet moments are the best.<\/p>\n Queenstown lives up to its reputation. Within 24 hours, I went bungee jumping at Kawarau Bridge (134 meters, the original bungee jump \u2014 where it all began), raced through narrow gorges on the Shotover Jet, and spent the evening in one of New Zealand's best burger bars (Fergburger \u2014 yes, the hype is justified).<\/p>\n The bungee jump was one of the most intense moments of my life. You're standing on a platform 134 meters above the Nevis River, the wind is whistling, and your whole body is screaming, "DON'T JUMP." But then you jump\u2014and for three seconds, your mind is completely blank. No thinking, no planning, just free fall. As a content creator, moments like these are invaluable, not just for the camera, but for your own perspective.<\/p>\n Queenstown itself is a blend of adrenaline-pumping mecca and charming Alpine town. Its location on Lake Wakatipu, with the Remarkables mountains in the background, is picture-perfect\u2014no wonder Lord of the Rings was filmed here. There are fantastic picnic spots by the lake, and the gondola up Bob's Peak offers the best panoramic views.<\/p>\n Cost of Queenstown activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n Most travelers to New Zealand skip the North Island entirely, south of Auckland, and fly straight to Queenstown. Big mistake. The region around Mount Taranaki is among the most beautiful places I've seen in New Zealand\u2014and you'll have it all to yourself.<\/p>\n The highlight was the Forgotten World Adventures Rail Cart Experience. You travel on a historic railway line through tunnels, over bridges, and through farmland\u2014on a motorized railcar. As we approached the perfectly symmetrical Mount Taranaki at sunset, the moment was so surreal that I almost forgot my camera.<\/p>\n Mount Taranaki itself is an active volcano that looks like a replica of Japan's Mount Fuji. On a clear day, it can be seen from 100 kilometers away. The Pouakai Crossing (a 19 km day hike) offers the iconic view of the volcano's reflection\u2014one of New Zealand's most photographed sights.<\/p>\n New Zealand has some of the darkest skies in the world. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve \u2014 the largest Dark Sky Reserve on Earth \u2014 is located in the region around Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook, which I had already visited.<\/p>\n On a clear night at Lake Tekapo, I saw the Milky Way so clearly for the first time that I could discern its structure with the naked eye. Using my Sony A7 IV and a wide-angle lens at f\/2.8, 15-second exposure, and ISO 3200, I captured images I will never forget. The southern hemisphere reveals constellations you can never see from Europe\u2014the Southern Cross, the Magellanic Clouds.<\/p>\n Photo tips for the starry sky:<\/strong> Lake Tekapo Church of the Good Shepherd is THE spot, but it's overcrowded at night. Drive 5 km further to the Cowan's Hill Observatory Viewpoint instead\u2014same sky, no people. A tripod is essential; use a remote shutter release or a 2-second timer.<\/p>\n November to March (New Zealand spring\/summer). I was there in November \u2014 perfect weather, moderate tourist numbers, flowers everywhere. December to February is peak season with higher prices and full campsites.<\/p>\n There are no direct flights from Germany. The most common routes are via Singapore (Singapore Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), or Doha (Qatar Airways). Flight time: 24-28 hours with a stopover. I paid approximately \u20ac1,100 for a round trip \u2014 via Singapore Airlines with a stopover in Singapore.<\/p>\n German citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but they do need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) for NZD 23. Apply online; processing takes approximately 72 hours. An IVL (International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy) of NZD 35 is also payable.<\/p>\n![\"Mount](\"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nz-full-mt-cook-gletscher.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nMount Cook & Hooker Valley Track \u2014 The highlight of the South Island<\/h2>\n
Queenstown \u2014 Adrenaline Capital of the World<\/h2>\n
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Mount Taranaki & the Forgotten World \u2014 New Zealand's hidden side<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nStarry skies & Dark sky \u2014 New Zealand at night<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPractical tips \u2014 costs, travel & best time to travel to New Zealand<\/h2>\n
Best Travel Time<\/h3>\n
Arrival<\/h3>\n
visa<\/h3>\n
Cost overview for 3 weeks in New Zealand<\/h3>\n