There are a lot of extra things to do in New Zealand while studying there as a foreign student. A small island consisting of 4.5 million population – New Zealand is famous for many things. Start from its national rugby team to its local Maori culture to beautiful landscapes located in the Pacific Ocean. The hours and days spent in New Zealand, try making the most of academic experience.
The experience indeed will be an enriching one, trust me! Foreign students should always take the initiative to build networking by exposing them to a different language, food, people, and culture. Be it inside the campus or outside, New Zealand has a number of opportunities for each and every one.
Here are the top 7 things to do in New Zealand while planning to study in New Zealand. Also, one should be aware that we have also listed some of the top universities closest to these areas of fun, and you can see the full list of top colleges of New Zealand. Follow these ideas to make your study abroad experience wonderful and memorable, so that you will have tales to tell back at home country.
- Visit Auckland – “City of Sails”
Top universities in Auckland – University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, and Massey University.
Auckland may be not New Zealand’s Capital, but surely the most internationally diverse city. Famous for its lifestyle of both urban and natural life, a metropolitan city with beautiful beaches, mountain biking tracks, coastal walks, and native bushes. It is called the “City of Sails” because you’re never far from the water. It is built on a volcanic landscape and surrounded by the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours.Residents make the most use of the beaches and the number of watercraft in the city makes it perfect for calling the City of Sails.
It a great boating city, with lots of other fun activities to do for foreign students. It is also ranked as the best student cities for its quality of living, high employment rate, exploring the city, and many more. It also offers a great selection of international music concerts, art galleries, museums, retail therapy, and entertainment shows for cultural students. And for adventurous students, try bungee jumping from Auckland Sky tower, jet-skiing, diving, snowboarding, sailing, surfing – and whatnot on can think of.
- Visit Wellington – Capital city
Top universities in Wellington- Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University.
Kiwis are known for their innovative spirit, and so does their government do things in a different manner. The Beehive – a unique building where nations’ parliamentary operation took place are one of the most fascinated facts about this city. Visiting Wellington and not going to Te Papa will be an incomplete journey. The Museum -Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum in Wellington where more than 1.5 million people visit every year. Once finish with the museum, walk to Cuba Street for an eclectic array of shops and cafes. So make your days counted by going to the place.
The best way to check out the whole city in one go is the beautiful view from Mount Victoria, in the Southern Walkway trail. Take a ride of the historic Wellington cable car and have a panoramic view of the city and harbor. It is also one of the best spots in the city for taking in a sunrise or sunset. Wellington zoo’s close encounters with animals will make this journey into an unforgettable experience. Close Encounters are available with the giraffes, lemurs, capybaras, cheetahs, meerkats, or red pandas – you haven’t really lived until you’ve hand-fed grapes to a red panda walking across your lap.
- Visit Dunedin – Student city
Top universities in Dunedin- University of Otago
Dunedin, a small city known as the “student city”, for some obvious reasons. Firstly, it is the home to New Zealand’s first established university – the University of Otago ranked the second-highest of all universities in New Zealand in the QS World University Rankings. Secondly, it also has a good long academic history and continues to create the country’s number one city in terms of student life and experience. Thirdly, all students are entitled to “Scarfies” – a local nickname given to city’s students, they are well known for their pranks and ability to party.
It has a vibrant nightlife and also the safest in terms of student security. Other attractions in and around the city of – Dunedin is home to Victorian-era architecture that most remarkable- Lanarch Castle and Dunedin Railway Station; Otago Peninsula, home to sea lions, fur seals, rare penguins, and albatrosses; art in every corner of the streets and Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. True to the heritage, Dunedin’s whiskey production is renowned as one of the best in the world.
- Enjoy the match of Rugby –
Kiwis- inhabitants of New Zealand are very fond of Rugby. The very famous country’s national rugby teams named as “All Blacks” are very famous all around the world. There is an intense but healthy-friendly rivalry between different rugby regions throughout the country. Dress up in the local team’s colors and head down to catch the game of rugby in-stadium at almost every major town of New Zealand. Athletics and sports are fun.
Personally, my favorite activity to do at weekends. Participating in various clubs and playing matches in teams can really bring out a lot of thrills and will help you to know people. Various universities and colleges have their own sports clubs and groups. One should take active participation in playing in order to befriend with the country. You can also take time out to exercise at college gyms and build your network. You should definitely need to take advantage of the free gym services like almost everyone; there has an athletic built and not many overweight people.
- Explore Middle Earth
If you’re a fan of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit Trilogy”, then don’t miss these uniquely Middle Earth activities while you’re in New Zealand. The Lord of the Rings series is one of New Zealand’s best-known Hollywood legacies. It offers a great chance to experience the Middle Earth– though you may need to use your imagination for talking tress and orcs.
One can explore and organized solo trips or tours to flock to major landmarks, as over 150 locations were used in the films. If you’re more concerned with the actual making of the films, then head to the capital city of Wellington, where the majority of production and cast and crew took place.
- Wine and Dine
All over New Zealand for food and Marlborough for wine- are the two best places to feed your appetite. There are more sheep in New Zealand than people, and agriculture is the main export income of the country. You will see the number of cows and sheep grazing, dairy farms, and don’t be surprised by the amount of meat and ice cream you may consume during that time! Food with a drink is cherry on the cake; New Zealand has the finest collections of wine. The country succeeded in making its name in the viticulture industry. Take a weekend break from the studying – or perhaps save this as a reward for scoring goo in your exams – and head to Marlborough for a wine tour.
- Slopes, Beaches, or Lakes
Hit slopes, beaches, and lakes all in one day at Hamilton. Nearly all major cities in New Zealand are on the coast and those that aren’t are less than an hour’s drive inland. But there is only one city where you can experience different elements of water within the space of a single day. If you study in the city of Hamilton, then your weekend will be full of activities and action-packed. Top spots to check out include Raglan – New Zealand’s number one surfing spot, which boasts one of the world’s best left-hand breaks; Mount Maunganui, a popular east coast beach home to many sporting and music events; Taupo, a great place to bungee jump, jet boat and skydive; and the Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields, for skiing!
