I have been fortunate enough to travel to New Zealand this past summer, and I can tell you it is one of my favorite places that I have been to so far. I have only had the opportunity to trek around the North Island, but the South Island is next on my list!

The flight down to New Zealand is quite arduous. If at all possible, try and book your flight down to the island in the evening. New Zealand is 20 hours ahead Eastern Time, so when traveling there, you "lose" a day; however, if you leave the U.S. in the evening, you arrive in New Zealand in the morning (a day in the future) and you can sleep on the twelve hour flight, almost like you are sleeping through the night regularly.

When traveling, staying in quaint bed and breakfasts is comfortable and convenient, especially if you are traveling around a lot. Luckily there is an abundance of bed and breakfasts all over the country. I have compiled a list below of must see places in the countryside and the city when visiting the north island of New Zealand, that are easy to get to and will make your trip the best it can be!

1. The caves of Waitomo.

New Zealand is most famous for the filming of TheLord of the Rings and TheHobbit films, or the large number of sheep that roam the country; but, the underrated beauty of the North Island is the glow worm caves of Waitomo.

The caving excursion was truly spectacular. My excursion was through The Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. and the guides were incredibly nice, accommodating, and well knowledgeable about their job. My particular adventure consisted of abseiling down into the cave, zip lining to an underground river, and rafting along the river.

The water was chilling, especially because it was winter in New Zealand, not summer, but the wet suits kept me exceedingly warm and I was never in prolonged discomfort. However, no cold could take away from the stunning views of the glow worms. Once in the river, our lights were switched off and the guide steered the group through the water in pitch darkness, except for the speckles of light on the ceiling. It mirrored the twinkling of the night sky perfectly and it took my breath away. Glow worms themselves are rather unattractive, but in darkness their bioluminescence is dazzling.

2. Matamata

I am, like so many others, a fan of the fantasy series J. R. R. Tolkien created so many years ago, and I could not resist seeing a glimpse into that world for myself. Most sets for the films have been disassembled, however, the set for the Shire still stands.

Matamata, New Zealand is stunning with acres and acres of rolling green farms with many sheep (yes I know, sheep). Hobbiton, as they have named the shire set, is located on a particularly stunning 1200 acre farm.

If you are a fan like I am, or even if you don't know anything about the series, this is a must see. The set is so real that you feel as though you are actually walking into the movie. I half expected to see a Hobbit walking around. The tour is charming, and at the end, everyone gets a free drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) in the Hobbit pub, The Green Dragon! This takes less than two hours, but I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary when traveling.

3. Lake Taupo

Another wonderful attraction is at the heart of the north island: Lake Taupo. This lake is exquisite and the town surrounding it is full of adorable boutiques and delicious eateries. When on the lake, I am not typically a fisher, but this lake is full of trout and It seemed the fish were jumping onto our boat! It was the most eventful fishing experience I have ever had.

There is a multitude of private fisherman that take tourists out for a reasonable price and fishing with an adept fisherman increases the chances of actually catching. The Great Lake Taupo website is where you can find everything there is to do at Lake Taupo, including fishing trips with adept fisherman.

Even if fishing is not appealing the lake is such a peaceful place to simply float on. The early morning fog hovering over the town is so picturesque, with the still water below, it is the perfect setting for a serene morning away from all responsibility.

4. Waiheke Island

Speaking of boating, taking the ferry to Waiheke Island is a necessity when in Auckland. The ferry combined with the, well needed, bus tour combo is inexpensive and full of activities. Waiheke has a unique climate compared to the rest of New Zealand, and it creates the perfect environment for vineyards. There are a variety of delicious wineries on Waiheke and the bus tour takes you to all of them.

They have family-friendly wineries and more intimate ones depending on the atmosphere you are looking for. Each one has their own signature and quirky merchandise for you to purchase and endless views of the beach.

My favorite was Wild on Waiheke. The open spaces at this particular winery are filled with games of all sorts, from a giant chess board to a sports field. The food they served was delectable and was accompanied by great music and great service. Even though there were families with younger children, I was never irritated with misbehavior because there were plenty of activities to occupy their attention, leaving me in peace with my family.

5. Rotorua

New Zealand has so much to offer, and if you are interested in learning about their original culture, then I suggest taking the time to visit Rotorua. Though it is notoriously known for its smell of sulfur, Te Puia is a great tourist attraction where you can take a geothermal walk along bubbling mud pools and exploding geysers.

During the geothermal rocks, the guide and many instructive tablets tell the story of the original Maori people and how they came to New Zealand. I have significant roots from New Zealand, so learning the history of them was fascinating.

It is incredible to learn how the natives survived, and how they were so far from the rest of civilization for centuries. The walk was interactive and entertaining, watching a native dance ritual and how the Maori people used boiling thermal pools to cook their food was a highlight of my trip. So if you enjoy history, this is the place to go!

6. Bethels Beach

Seeing as New Zealand is an Island, there are many popular beaches within a thirty minutes drive of almost anywhere in Auckland. However, there was one in particular that stood out to me: Bethels Beach.

Bethels Beach is, uniquely, a black sand beach lined with black boulders. I went in the winter, so the wind was biting my ears, but I was all alone. There was not another soul on the beach besides my family and I. It felt slightly eerie. I don't think there is a single beach in the United States that is completely empty, even during the winter. The sun was reflected off the water soaked sand and created the most spectacular image.

This is by no means a tourist attraction, though it is certainly an escape. I cannot say whether it remains as vacant during the summer, but I spent two hours walking along the water, exploring the assortment of caves nearby and watching the tide come in and then retreat back out again, and I felt unconditionally happy and calm. It was the perfect end to the perfect trip.

My trip to New Zealand exceeded all expectations and crowded my camera roll with a ridiculous number of picturesque landscapes. I cannot wait for my next visit, where I plan to explore the South Island ans see what treasure that half of the country has to offer!