New Zealand Honeymoon Ideas

No matter what you want from your honeymoon, you can find it in New Zealand. From pure luxury honeymoons to adventure honeymoons, these New Zealand honeymoon ideas will help you craft the perfect romantic getaway.

Choose from these exciting New Zealand honeymoon ideas:

• Ultimate luxury honeymoon
• Adventure honeymoon
• Beach paradise honeymoon
• Best of New Zealand honeymoon
• Ski honeymoon
• Wilderness retreat honeymoon
• Lord of the Rings honeymoon

Read on to discover which type of honeymoon suits you best.

The Top New Zealand Honeymoon Ideas

The Ultimate Luxury Honeymoon

Indulge in the best New Zealand has to offer with a pure luxury honeymoon. Stay at exquisite luxury lodges, sample decadent local cuisine, and indulge in experiences ranging from helicopter excursions to private luxury cruises.

Even if you are honeymooning on a budget, adding one or two of these premium lodges and excursions to your itinerary can elevate your honeymoon to a truly indulgent escape.

Where to stay:

Luxury lodges make the perfect honeymoon resorts. With private, idyllic settings, sumptuous suites, attentive service, and gourmet dinners and breakfasts included, luxury lodges are sure to be a highlight of your luxury honeymoon.

A few of the most romantic, exclusive luxury lodges in New Zealand include:

• Matakauri Lodge Queenstown
• Huka Lodge Taupo
• The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs Bay of Islands
• Blanket Bay Lodge Queenstown
• Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses Kaikoura
• Solitaire Lodge Rotorua
• The Farm at Cape Kidnappers
• The Sounds Retreat Marlborough
• Split Apple Retreat Abel Tasman

What to experience:

Choose from the very best luxury experiences in New Zealand. Some of the most rewarding include:

• Wine tours and heli wine tours in Central Otago, Marlborough, and Waiheke Island
• Exclusive helicopter flightseeing tours of Fiordland National Park and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
• Luxury Milford Sound overnight cruises aboard the Fiordland Jewel
• Private Lake Rotoiti cruises aboard the luxury yacht Tiua
• Helicopter picnics
• Rejuvenating spa treatments

The Adventure Honeymoon

New Zealand is a paradise for adventurous travelers, whether you enjoy thrilling adrenaline activities like skydiving or more relaxed pursuits such as hiking and kayaking.

If the idea of lazing around all day sounds dull, and you would rather fill your time with the most exciting activities New Zealand has to offer, an adventure honeymoon is for you.

Where to stay:

• Queenstown: The adventure capital of New Zealand and an outdoor lovers’ paradise, Queenstown has enough exciting activities on offer to keep you busy for weeks.
• Taupo: From thrilling adrenaline activities to adventure caving and hiking in the volcanic Tongariro National Park, Taupo is perfectly located to take in the best of the central North Island.
• Wanaka: Smaller and less hectic than Queenstown, Wanaka offers a thrilling range of outdoor adventures–as well as the country’s most popular skydiving company.
• Abel Tasman: The lush native bush and golden-sand beaches of Abel Tasman National Park are home to excellent kayaking, walking, and wildlife-viewing opportunities.
• Te Anau: Outdoor adventurers will relish the chance to hike, kayak, and jet-boat through the vast wilderness of Fiordland National Park.
• Rotorua: Jet-boating, mountain biking, and ziplining are just a few of the exciting options on offer in this geothermal hotspot.

What to experience:

Choose from a range of exciting activities as you plan your New Zealand adventure honeymoon.

• Hiking
• Jet-boating
• Kayaking
• Adventure caving (including blackwater rafting)
• Mountain biking
• Glacier heli hikes
• Whitewater rafting
• Skydiving
• Bungy jumping
• Ziplining
• Paragliding
• Canyoning
• Via ferrata waterfall climbs

The Beach Paradise Honeymoon

Though the water may not be as warm as some tropical beach destinations, New Zealand is home to countless stretches of idyllic coastline and secluded beaches.

Relax, unwind, and discover your own slice of oceanside paradise on a beach honeymoon.

Where to stay:

• Abel Tasman: Golden-sand beaches, tranquil bays, and lush native forest characterise this charming beach paradise.
• Bay of Islands: Remote and tranquil outside the buzzing resort town of Paihia, the Bay of Islands offers private beaches in abundance, along with opportunities for viewing and swimming with dolphins.
• Waiheke Island: Close to the bustling urban hub of Auckland yet a world apart, Waiheke Island is home to vineyards, olive orchards, and idyllic beaches.
• Coromandel Peninsula: Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are favorite destinations for visitors to the Coromandel Peninsula, yet this stunning region is home to many other breathtaking white-sand beaches, most tranquil and uncrowded.

What to experience:

Spend your honeymoon relaxing on the beach, or sample a few of the excursions on offer in New Zealand’s beach destinations. These include:

• Cruises
• Kayaking
• Snorkeling
• Scenic walks
• Wildlife watching
• Swimming with dolphins

The Best of New Zealand Honeymoon

If this is your first visit to New Zealand, and you wish to make the most of your honeymoon by ticking off the must-see experiences, plan your stay around the most memorable destinations and activities in New Zealand.

Where to stay:

Choose from these top New Zealand destinations for your Best of New Zealand honeymoon.

• Queenstown
• Rotorua
• Wanaka
• Nelson & Abel Tasman
• Wellington
• Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo
• Coromandel Peninsula

What to experience:

These are some of the most iconic New Zealand experiences that most visitors try to include in their itinerary. For a special honeymoon treat, upgrade your experiences where possible.

• Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound cruise
• Wine tour
• Glacier helicopter flight with a snow landing
• Geothermal reserve visit
• Maori cultural experience
• Glowworm cave tour
• Hobbiton Movie Set tour

The New Zealand Ski Honeymoon

Many couples choose a New Zealand ski honeymoon as a way to combine excitement with romance. Since the top ski resort towns in New Zealand offer far more than just skiing, a ski honeymoon can include any number of unforgettable off-slope experiences and indulgences.

Where to stay:

• Queenstown (ski at The Remarkables and Coronet Peak)
• Wanaka (ski at Treble Cone and Cardrona)

What to experience:

• Heli-skiing: Both Queenstown and Wanaka offer unforgettable heli-ski opportunities that will make your ski honeymoon even more special.
• Onsen Hot Pools: Book a romantic evening soak lit by lanterns to unwind after a long day on the slopes.
• Other top activities: The adventure and sightseeing activities in Queenstown and Wanaka are still available in winter, so you can fill your free days with anything from Milford Sound cruises to helicopter flights and wine tours.

The Wilderness Retreat Honeymoon

Escape the bustle of everyday life and spend cherished time together with your loved one on a wilderness retreat honeymoon. Luxury wilderness lodges offer superb access to New Zealand’s backcountry, with breathtaking views, an abundance of outdoor activities, and peaceful seclusion.

Where to stay:

• Minaret Station, Wanaka
• The Lindis, Mackenzie Country
• Bay of Many Coves Resort, Marlborough Sounds
• Stonefly Lodge, Abel Tasman
• Blanket Bay Lodge, Queenstown

What to experience:

Choose from the array of outdoor activities on offer at your wilderness retreat. Depending on your destination, these may include:

• Hiking and heli-hiking
• Helicopter tours
• Biking
• Kayaking
• Cruises
• Stargazing
• Hunting and fishing

The Lord of the Rings Honeymoon

For Lord of the Rings fans, a Middle Earth honeymoon is the experience of a lifetime. Visit filming locations, tour Weta Workshop, and relive the magic.

Where to stay:

• Rotorua: Tour the Hobbiton Movie Set.
• Queenstown: Visit filming locations for Isengard, Lothlorien, the Misty Mountains, the Refugees of Rohan, the River Anduin, and more.
• Wellington: Discover the special effects, miniatures, and props used to bring Middle Earth to life at Weta Workshop, and tour filming locations such as Rivendell, the Gardens of Isengard, and the Outer Shire.
• Christchurch: Visit the spectacular mountain landscape transformed into Edoras.
• Tongariro National Park: Explore the volcanic terrain used for filming Mt Doom.

What to experience:

• Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
• Queenstown Lord of the Rings Tour
• Glenorchy Lord of the Rings Tour
• Weta Workshop Tour
• Wellington Lord of the Rings Tour
• Edoras Tour

Craft the perfect New Zealand honeymoon

Using these New Zealand honeymoon ideas, you can now begin planning the honeymoon of your dreams. Choose the experiences and destinations that most appeal to you, add a dash of luxury and indulgence, and include a few once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for a honeymoon to remember.

Next, read about planning a New Zealand adventure honeymoon.