LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to New Zealand

Interesting Cities to Visit in New Zealand

AUCKLAND

The gateway to New Zealand for the vast majority of its visitors, Auckland is also the largest city in Polynesia, with an urban population of just over a million and a half people. Not surprisingly, Auckland also has the largest LGBTQ+ scene in the country, with much of it centered downtown on hip and arty Karangahape Road (just K Road to locals) and Ponsonby Road. Auckland Pride, held every February, is the country's largest. Auckland is sometimes called the "City of Sails" thanks to the large number of sailboats always on view in its gorgeous harbor—making good use of the country's warmest and sunniest urban climate.

WELLINGTON

Move over, Chicago—the world's true Windy City is Wellington, thanks to its position on the strait separating the North and South Islands. The capital of New Zealand, adorable Wellington is also its second largest city—and despite what Aucklanders may tell you, it's considered the country's cultural capital as well, with a remarkable array of museums, galleries and theatres for a city of its relatively small size (about 420,000 people). There's no gayborhood per se, but you'll find the most mixed venues along Courtenay Place and Cuba Street in the hip Te Aro district at the city center.

CHRISTCHURCH

Located on the east coast of the South Island, New Zealand's third largest city of Christchurch is known as the "Garden City" thanks to its numerous parks and green spaces. It's also regarded as the country's most English of cities, with many Gothic Revival and Edwardian buildings—though many of these, like the city's prized cathedral, were badly damaged in a 2011 earthquake. As rebuilding continues, the city is experiencing a dramatic and very creative rebirth. Its LGBTQ+ scene is small, but it’s the largest on South Island.

QUEENSTOWN

Set on the shores of the South Island's Lake Wakatipu and backdropped by the dramatic Southern Alps, beautiful Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital, as well as the jumping off point for exploring the region's highly regarded wineries and vineyards. Speaking of jumping off, just 20 minutes away is the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping, and still one of the most popular spots for it in the world. WinterPride Queenstown, the biggest LGBTQ+ alpine party in the Southern Hemisphere, happens every late August to early September.

Interesting Attractions to Visit in New Zealand

WAIHEKE ISLAND

Just a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, upscale Waiheke (pronounced why-heck-ee) is a paradisiacal enclave of vineyards, olive groves, beaches and funky art galleries, a remnant of the island's bohemian past. Some 30 wineries are based on Waiheke, giving it its "Island of Wine" nickname. For those not content to chill, zip lining and kayaking are popular Waiheke pursuits too.

BAY OF ISLANDS

Not only is the Bay of Islands one of New Zealand's most popular summertime destinations, it's also a place of tremendous historical significance in the country, as the site of both early Māori migrations and the first permanent British settlement. Located nearly at the top of the North Island, the waters off the bay's 144 islands offer boundless opportunities for sailing, yachting, scuba diving, fishing and kayaking. Land-based local must-sees include the last of the massive and ancient kauri trees at Waipoua Forest; and Waitangi, the site of the important 1840 treaty of the same name, and today a thriving educational center for Māori culture.

MATAMATA

Once just a quiet country town about two hours south of Auckland, Matamata was thrust onto the global stage with the 2001 release of the movie The Lord of the Rings, in which its quaint beauty served as the setting for Middle Earth. Today the town heartily embraces its big screen/small people connection, especially with its popular and elaborate Hobbiton Movie Set tour, complete with 44 hobbit holes.

MILFORD SOUND

Once called the "eighth wonder of the world" by Rudyard Kipling, Milford Sound is an explosion of natural beauty, a glacier-carved fiord framed by dramatic mountains with cascading waterfalls that are often kissed by rainbows through their mists. See the complete glory on a leisurely cruise, or by your own steam on a kayak tour—then head beneath the surface to the fascinating Milford Sound Underwater Observatory.

ROTORUA

The geothermal wonders at Rotorua have been sacred to the Māori for centuries, and today they're still a popular destination for travelers who come not just for the steaming geysers, thermal mud pools and soothing spas, but also for the Māori cultural experiences at sites like Whakarewarewa, Tamaki and Te Puia.

New Zealand Gastronomy

A mixture of Māori heritage, British infusion and Kiwi ingenuity, New Zealand's cuisine makes ample use of local ingredients, especially the bounty of seafood that comes from having 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) of natural coastline. Crayfish, Bluff oysters, mussels, scallops, monkfish, salmon and kina (a local sea urchin delicacy) are just a few popular New Zealand menu items from the sea. Hangi is another beloved Kiwi treat, using the traditional Māori method of slow cooking in an underground oven, and usually incorporating chicken, pork or mutton (or combinations thereof) and a variety of vegetables. Kiwi burgers are omnipresent in New Zealand, and while many variations exist, what unites them all is the inclusion of a fried egg and beetroot along with the burger patty and bun. For dessert, the resounding Kiwi favorites are hokey pokey ice cream (made with caramelized honeycomb) and pavlova, a meringue-based cake covered in fresh fruit.

Safety Considerations for LGBTQ+ Visitors to New Zealand

New Zealand is consistently ranked among the most welcoming countries in the world for LGBTQ+ travelers. New Zealand tied for 10th on the 2020 Spartacus Gay Travel Index, which monitors the safety of LGBTQ+ people in every country. When she was elected mayor of the town of Carteton in 1995, Georgina Beyer became the world's first transgender mayor, then a few years later in 1999 became the world's first transgender member of parliament. New Zealand has had marriage equality since 2013. LGBTQ+ travelers should face no overt discrimination in New Zealand's big cities, but it's always best to remember that prejudice can happen anywhere, and that attitudes in smaller towns and the countryside may be less progressive.

LGBTQ+ Travel Tips for New Zealand

Auckland and Wellington both have strong LGBTQ+ scenes, though understandably not as large as in bigger cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Auckland Pride in February is the country's largest, followed both in size and on the calendar by Wellington Pride in late February to early March. The smaller Christchurch Pride happens in March. The country's biggest wintertime LGBTQ+ event is WinterPride Queenstown, which bills itself as the most popular Winter Pride festival in the Southern Hemisphere. While New Zealand no longer has a dedicated annual showcase of LGBTQ+ movies, the New Zealand International Film Festival (which happens from late July to early August) always includes a very strong LGBTQ+ section.

Biography

Dan Allen is a longtime LGBTQ+ travel journalist and author, and longtime lover of all things New Zealand. Based in Los Angeles, he's a regular contributor to NBC Out, Passport, Edge Media Network and the Los Angeles Blade, as well as numerous mainstream travel outlets like TravelZoo and American Way.

Image credit: @thebackpackingblondie