12 Magical Spots in New Zealand That Feel Like Another Planet
29 MAY 2025
New Zealand is already pretty wild, we all know that but some places go beyond beautiful and straight into you wondering what planet you have landed on! From crazy rock formations to glowing caves and moody frozen landscapes, these 12 magical spots will have you questioning the reality of New Zealand (in the best way possible).
1. Omarama Clay Cliffs
Driving through the wide open spaces of Canterbury, you'd never guess these cliffs were hiding just off the highway. Once you turn off onto a dusty gravel road and head to the cliffs, you're face to face with something that feels completely out of place in New Zealand!
The Omarama Clay Cliffs are sharp, towering formations of layered silt and gravel which have eroded over millions of years. They look very otherworldly, like the kind of place you'd expect to see in a desert landscape, not the middle of the South Island. You can wander in amongst the clay cliffs and in winter sometimes the snow falls here and looks even more magical.
It doesn’t feel like New Zealand when you’re standing in the cliffs- there are no forests, no familiar mountain ranges, just dry earth and these wild, sculpted formations rising up around you. The whole place feels untouched, almost forgotten, like you’ve stumbled into somewhere you weren’t meant to find. It’s raw, dramatic and nothing like the landscapes around it and that’s exactly why it feels like another planet.
Read more about the Omarama Clay Cliffs
The Omarama Clay Cliffs are sharp, towering formations of layered silt and gravel which have eroded over millions of years. They look very otherworldly, like the kind of place you'd expect to see in a desert landscape, not the middle of the South Island. You can wander in amongst the clay cliffs and in winter sometimes the snow falls here and looks even more magical.
It doesn’t feel like New Zealand when you’re standing in the cliffs- there are no forests, no familiar mountain ranges, just dry earth and these wild, sculpted formations rising up around you. The whole place feels untouched, almost forgotten, like you’ve stumbled into somewhere you weren’t meant to find. It’s raw, dramatic and nothing like the landscapes around it and that’s exactly why it feels like another planet.
Read more about the Omarama Clay Cliffs
2. Tongariro Alpine Crossing
If there’s any hike in New Zealand that makes you stop mid-step and think, am I even on Earth anymore?, it’s the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. You’re walking through an active volcanic zone (yes, seriously!) past steaming vents, deep red craters, black volcanic rock and emerald lakes that look like someone cranked up the saturation on earth.
When we did the crossing, a heavy cloud rolled in right as we reached the saddle and we could see this line of people disappearing into the clouds and it honestly looked like they were heading toward a spaceship, not a summit. That moment sticks with us!
The weather plays a big role in how alien this place feels. It's exposed, windy, and constantly shifting. One moment it’s blue sky, the next it’s cloudy and cold (and possibly even snowing) - it's a track that keeps you on your toes!
By the time you descend back into earth aka familiar terrain, it’s wild to think you were just up there. It’s not just a day hike - it feels like you’ve stepped into a different world and somehow come back.
Read more about the Tongariro Crossing
When we did the crossing, a heavy cloud rolled in right as we reached the saddle and we could see this line of people disappearing into the clouds and it honestly looked like they were heading toward a spaceship, not a summit. That moment sticks with us!
The weather plays a big role in how alien this place feels. It's exposed, windy, and constantly shifting. One moment it’s blue sky, the next it’s cloudy and cold (and possibly even snowing) - it's a track that keeps you on your toes!
By the time you descend back into earth aka familiar terrain, it’s wild to think you were just up there. It’s not just a day hike - it feels like you’ve stepped into a different world and somehow come back.
Read more about the Tongariro Crossing
3. Twizel Hoar Frost
When the Mackenzie Basin gets a hoar frost, it doesn’t just look cold (and boy is it cold) - it looks completely otherworldly. Trees, fences, power lines, even spiderwebs get coated in thick white crystals - literally EVERYTHING turns white and transforms the whole landscape into a soft, silent, frozen world. It's super peaceful to walk around Lake Ruataniwha because there just seems to be no sound of life at all and you're walking through thick fog amongst white trees. You just need to pick a secluded spot as the highway can get quite busy with hordes of tourists coming to see the frost.
What makes it even stranger is the inversion layer that comes with it. There’s no sunshine or wind and thick blanket of fog that just hangs in the air. You also don’t get a rainbow of colours with a hoar frost - just shades of white and grey and blue from the lake which makes it eerie but beautiful.
One of our favourite things to do is find the frozen over lakes and throw rocks across the surface as the sound they make is unreal and very alien like! Definitely try it if you are in Twizel during a hoar frost (Kellands Pond is great for this) as it's a lot of fun listening to all the sounds.
What makes it even stranger is the inversion layer that comes with it. There’s no sunshine or wind and thick blanket of fog that just hangs in the air. You also don’t get a rainbow of colours with a hoar frost - just shades of white and grey and blue from the lake which makes it eerie but beautiful.
One of our favourite things to do is find the frozen over lakes and throw rocks across the surface as the sound they make is unreal and very alien like! Definitely try it if you are in Twizel during a hoar frost (Kellands Pond is great for this) as it's a lot of fun listening to all the sounds.
4. Castle Hill
Castle Hill is a magical place in Arthurs Pass in the South Island. Here the limestone formations rise out of the earth in every direction and they are huge and oddly shaped and completely unexpected in the middle of Canterbury’s rolling farmland.
\What makes this place feel so otherworldly is the contrast against the landscape - it's just grass, sky and stone and the boulders look like ruins from another time! The scale of some of the formations is insane as they are MASSIVE and you end up looking miniature against them.
We love walking through the hills, seeing different formations from different angles and if it's a cloudy day then it really makes it feel even more otherworldly. I always say it would be an absolutely epic place to play hide and seek - I think it would take half a day just to find one person!
Read more about Castle Hill
\What makes this place feel so otherworldly is the contrast against the landscape - it's just grass, sky and stone and the boulders look like ruins from another time! The scale of some of the formations is insane as they are MASSIVE and you end up looking miniature against them.
We love walking through the hills, seeing different formations from different angles and if it's a cloudy day then it really makes it feel even more otherworldly. I always say it would be an absolutely epic place to play hide and seek - I think it would take half a day just to find one person!
Read more about Castle Hill
5. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
This geothermal hotspot in Rotorua is most definitely up there with feeling like it's another planet. Wai-o-tapu looks like someone cranked the saturation levels way too high and forgot to tone it back down.
You’re walking through a landscape shaped entirely by the raw power of the earth beneath your feet, where mud boils in thick, gloopy pits and steam rises from vents all around. The Champagne Pool is my favourite, it's a hot spring (as in burn your skin off hot) rimmed in bright orange with and it has that delicious sulphur smell hanging in the air - ok, ok it smells like rotten eggs! There is even one big neon green pool that is so unexpected as it feels like it really can't naturally be that colour!
Rotorua draws a lot of visitors to it for all of the incredible sights like this and we always visit when we get the chance because it really is such an amazing to see.
You’re walking through a landscape shaped entirely by the raw power of the earth beneath your feet, where mud boils in thick, gloopy pits and steam rises from vents all around. The Champagne Pool is my favourite, it's a hot spring (as in burn your skin off hot) rimmed in bright orange with and it has that delicious sulphur smell hanging in the air - ok, ok it smells like rotten eggs! There is even one big neon green pool that is so unexpected as it feels like it really can't naturally be that colour!
Rotorua draws a lot of visitors to it for all of the incredible sights like this and we always visit when we get the chance because it really is such an amazing to see.
6. Goblin Forest
On the way up to Dawson Falls on Mt Taranaki, you walk through an incredible Goblin Forest which makes you feel like you are walking through an enchanted fairytale book.
The trees here don’t grow straight - the branches reach out in all directions, curled and twisted and dripping with thick, green moss. Every surface — trunks, rocks, even the ground — is carpeted in layers of moss and lichen which makes it so enchanting and when the fog rolls in (which it often does), the forest gets even more magical.
The goblin forest is subtle and hauntingly beautiful and it really can feel otherworldly. We have hiked all over New Zealand and this is one of the most beautiful tracks for me!
The trees here don’t grow straight - the branches reach out in all directions, curled and twisted and dripping with thick, green moss. Every surface — trunks, rocks, even the ground — is carpeted in layers of moss and lichen which makes it so enchanting and when the fog rolls in (which it often does), the forest gets even more magical.
The goblin forest is subtle and hauntingly beautiful and it really can feel otherworldly. We have hiked all over New Zealand and this is one of the most beautiful tracks for me!
7. Milford Sound
You can see a hundred photos of Milford Sound and still not be ready for what it’s like to actually be there. It really does feel like you've stepped into a prehistoric world that time forgot. If you are lucky enough to have lots of rain on the day you visit, then it is even better (yes, the one time on holiday you actually WANT it to rain)!
The scale of Milford Sound is wild. Massive cliffs rise straight out of the dark water, waterfalls drop from impossible heights and mist and clouds that hang around just adds to the atmosphere and makes it look more dramatic.
We’ve cruised through Milford Sound and it honestly felt like being in a scene from a fantasy film. Mitre Peak looms above, dolphins can follow the boats (unfortunately we didn't see any when we visited) and the boat takes you right beneath an extremely powerful waterfall.
Milford Sound absolutely should be on your NZ bucket list as it’s one of those rare places that reminds you how wild and untouched parts of New Zealand still are. Standing out there, wrapped in mist and rain, it’s easy to forget the rest of the world exists at all (you just have to ignore the masses of tourists first!).
The scale of Milford Sound is wild. Massive cliffs rise straight out of the dark water, waterfalls drop from impossible heights and mist and clouds that hang around just adds to the atmosphere and makes it look more dramatic.
We’ve cruised through Milford Sound and it honestly felt like being in a scene from a fantasy film. Mitre Peak looms above, dolphins can follow the boats (unfortunately we didn't see any when we visited) and the boat takes you right beneath an extremely powerful waterfall.
Milford Sound absolutely should be on your NZ bucket list as it’s one of those rare places that reminds you how wild and untouched parts of New Zealand still are. Standing out there, wrapped in mist and rain, it’s easy to forget the rest of the world exists at all (you just have to ignore the masses of tourists first!).
8. Under the Aurora
Watching the Southern Lights dance across the sky in pinks, greens, and purples is pure magic! In 2024 most of the world got to witness a huge geomagnetic storm and we were lucky enough to find a darkish spot in Nelson where we could watch it unfold and then again a few months later on the West Coast.
The aurora doesn’t put on a perfect show every time. Sometimes it’s a faint colour (like we saw in Westport) and other nights it flares up so strong it lights up the whole sky. Either way it’s pretty surreal to watch! You find yourself staring up at the sky (or through your camera), seeing all this colour that you've never seen in the sky before which make it feel otherworldly.
The aurora doesn’t put on a perfect show every time. Sometimes it’s a faint colour (like we saw in Westport) and other nights it flares up so strong it lights up the whole sky. Either way it’s pretty surreal to watch! You find yourself staring up at the sky (or through your camera), seeing all this colour that you've never seen in the sky before which make it feel otherworldly.
9. Craters of the Moon
The name kind of gives it away - Craters of the Moon in Taupo looks exactly how it sounds — like a scorched, steamy, crater-filled landscape that makes you feel like you've landed on the moon (maybe just a bit greener than we all imagine). There’s a boardwalk loop that takes you past steaming vents, bubbling mud patches and craters that constantly have steam rising out of them. Some of them are small, others are massive and the steam just hangs in the air around them.
One of the vents we came across on a hill was blasting out steam with so much pressure it sounded like a jet engine - it was loud and powerful! You don’t just see the geothermal activity here, you hear it and feel it too. The ground’s hot in places, and the whole area smells like sulphur (aka rotten eggs).
Who needs a rocket to take you to the moon when you have this place?
One of the vents we came across on a hill was blasting out steam with so much pressure it sounded like a jet engine - it was loud and powerful! You don’t just see the geothermal activity here, you hear it and feel it too. The ground’s hot in places, and the whole area smells like sulphur (aka rotten eggs).
Who needs a rocket to take you to the moon when you have this place?
10. Oparara Basin
The Oparara Basin is one of those places that feels completely different to the rest of New Zealand. There are no alpine backdrops and no coastal views - just dense, mossy rainforest, giant limestone arches and tannin stained rivers that look like rooibos tea.
The main feature is the Oparara Arch, a massive 200 metre long arch that has moss and ferns hanging off every surface and a river running right through it. Then there’s Moria Gate Arch which is smaller but my favourite out of all the places in the basin. There is sand inside the cave (yes, we made a sandcastle!) and it feels like a whole other world inside with a river running through it and a great view out to the rainforest.
There’s a real “lost world” feeling in the whole basin as it's quiet, damp, and covered in green and is purely raw and natural.
If you want to see something truly different - ancient rainforest, stunning arches and a place that feels completely untouched,then Oparara is the place to go!
The main feature is the Oparara Arch, a massive 200 metre long arch that has moss and ferns hanging off every surface and a river running right through it. Then there’s Moria Gate Arch which is smaller but my favourite out of all the places in the basin. There is sand inside the cave (yes, we made a sandcastle!) and it feels like a whole other world inside with a river running through it and a great view out to the rainforest.
There’s a real “lost world” feeling in the whole basin as it's quiet, damp, and covered in green and is purely raw and natural.
If you want to see something truly different - ancient rainforest, stunning arches and a place that feels completely untouched,then Oparara is the place to go!
11. Waipu Caves
Waipu Caves aren’t commercial, which is exactly what makes them feel wild and otherworldly - there’s no guided tour, no lights, no platforms - just a dark cave system that you’re free to explore at your own pace, as far as you want to go in.
Inside the cave there are stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor and the walls curve and stretch into the darkness.
Walking through the caves feels like you’ve gone underground into a secret world because at night time, or at the back of the cave during the day, the ceiling is covered in thousands of glowworms, lighting up like a blue galaxy. It's soooo beautiful and you feel like you're in space because of how dark is apart from the blue little 'stars'.
Inside the cave there are stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites rising from the floor and the walls curve and stretch into the darkness.
Walking through the caves feels like you’ve gone underground into a secret world because at night time, or at the back of the cave during the day, the ceiling is covered in thousands of glowworms, lighting up like a blue galaxy. It's soooo beautiful and you feel like you're in space because of how dark is apart from the blue little 'stars'.
12. Elephant Rocks
Elephant Rocks is a wide grassy field dotted with massive, smooth limestone boulders that look so out of place. The boulders aren't dramatic or jagged like a lot of the landscape in NZ, they're just odd, weird shapes plopped down in a field! It feels like you’ve stumbled across the leftovers of some ancient world that’s long forgotten - or a movie set!
The boulders are all different sizes, scattered across the field like giant blobs. Some are cracked, some are hollowed out in weird shapes and you can see so many more on the hills that will slowly be exposed from the weather over time. You can walk between them or climb on them where you'll get a nice view across the farmland.
The boulders are all different sizes, scattered across the field like giant blobs. Some are cracked, some are hollowed out in weird shapes and you can see so many more on the hills that will slowly be exposed from the weather over time. You can walk between them or climb on them where you'll get a nice view across the farmland.
These 12 spots are proof that New Zealand isn’t just beautiful, it’s weird, wild and full of surprises. Some places feel ancient, some feel magical, and others are just so strange you don’t quite know how to explain them. One minute you’re driving through the country, the next you’re staring at glowing cave ceilings or walking through steaming craters. It’s that constant shift in landscapes that makes Aotearoa feel like a bunch of different worlds packed into one country.
We’ll keep adding to this list as we explore more but if you’re looking for something that makes you go “wait… are we still in New Zealand?” then start here!
We’ll keep adding to this list as we explore more but if you’re looking for something that makes you go “wait… are we still in New Zealand?” then start here!
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We’ve got you covered with everything you need for an unforgettable adventure. From fully customized itineraries tailored to your interests and group, to expert consultations, detailed maps and insider travel guides — our services take the stress out of planning so you can focus on enjoying your journey. Because we have such an in depth knowledge of travelling New Zealand (full time since 2022!) we're able to offer so much insight into what makes New Zealand so special and where go, beyond the guide books.
Whether you’re exploring solo, traveling with family, or adventuring with friends, we provide personalized support and local knowledge every step of the way. Discover hidden gems, plan your perfect routes, and unlock the best experiences New Zealand has to offer, all in one place.
Ready to start planning your perfect New Zealand adventure?
Click here to explore our services and get started!
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