Best Places to Elope in New Zealand

I’m SO happy you’re here and dreaming of eloping in New Zealand. It’s literally the best decision you can make in my personal opinion. New Zealand is my top location in the world for any adventurous couple to elope to. The country is so diverse and full of beauty. Plus the people are incredible there. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan you’ll feel like you died and went to heaven (seriously though). Here are the best places to elope in New Zealand.

The Two Islands of New Zealand

If you didn’t know New Zealand is split between the North Island and the South Island. They are very different from one another and you’ll have a way different experience depending on where you want to go.

Best Places to Elope in New Zealand : The North Island of New Zealand

The North Island of New Zealand is a diverse mixture of volcanic mountains, ancient mossy forests, lush waterfalls, beautiful beaches, desert sand dunes in the far north, and rolling green hills full of agriculture. Theres really only two places to see mountains here and that’s Tongariro National Park and Mount Taranaki. It’s also home to the famous Hobbiton for my fellow LOTR fans, which I highly recommend exploring.

Here are my favorite places for you to explore on the North Island:

1. Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park will leave you speechless. The volcanic mountain landscapes here are breathtaking and there’s so many hiking trails to explore. From stunning waterfalls to epic mountain hikes you’ll be impressed. There’s tons of places to either camp at or get a hotel within the park. I highly recommend doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Here’s a few landscape photos I took during my trip to New Zealand from Tongariro National Park:

2. Cathedral Cove

If you love beaches than Cathedral Cove is the place for you. This place is straight out of a fairytale (quite literally). The Chronicles of Narnia helped make this place famous. It’s beauty is unmatched and a must see when visiting the North Island. The best part is it’s a fairly close drive to Auckland, the main city of the North Island.

Wait til you see the photos below why you must visit this beach!

3. Mt. Taranaki/Egmont National Park

Mount Taranaki looks identical to Mt. Fuiji is Japan. Although you can view this beautiful volcanic mountain from multiple locations, I highly recommend hiking up to the Poukai Tarns. This is definitely for the more adventurous couples. There’s a mountain hut to sleep overnight up at this location so you can stay for sunset and sunrise (it’s so worth it). I met some wonderful people doing this exact thing and had an incredible experience.

4. Piha Beach

A very popular beach for people to day trip, camp at, and surf. This stunning black sand beach has an incredible rock formation that is very prominent know as Lion Rock. It’s a volcanic monolith with war memorials and Maori carvings. There’s also amazing tropical forests and waterfalls in the area to explore.

5. Three Sisters and The Elephant Rock

My final recommendation for epic locations on the North Island is this beautiful black sand beach with incredible sea stack rock formations. The sea is slowly claiming them as Elephant Rock lost its trunk back in 2016 and there use to be Four Sisters at one point. During low tide you can walk right up to these rock formations and even explore sea caves.

Best Places to Elope in New Zealand: The South Island of New Zealand

1. Aoraki Mt. Cook National Park

Hands down one of my favorite places in all of New Zealand. The mountains are absolutely epic here. The glacial lakes are the bluest you will ever see in your life. Icebergs can be found in Tasman Lake and Hooker Lake. Endless hiking to unbelievable locations start here and during the spring and early summer months, lupines are blooming all around the area. It’s a place you won’t want to miss.

There’s lodging within the park that’s minimal otherwise you’ll have to stay in the small town of Twizel about an hour outside of the park. Lake Pukaki is a beautiful stop at the base of the park as you drive in.

2. Milford Sound/Fiordland National Park

Milford Sound has been deemed the 8th Wonder of the World for a good reason. This place is straight out of a fantasy world. With grand mountain ranges, dense forests, and alpine lakes, Fiordland National Park is home to some of the most beautiful untouched places in the world. Whether you want to hike to explore, take a boat cruise and explore by ocean, or a helicopter flight to easily access untouched places, you’ll have an epic adventure here. Make sure to book lodging in advance if you plan to stay within the park. It’s very remote and there’s limited options.

Unfortunately I had a 3 night stay planned here on my trip but the road was washed out from flooding so I never made it. It’s a dream of mine to go back and see this otherworldly location.

3. Queenstown

Queenstown is the perfect hub to adventure from if you’re looking for a place with tons of amenities and activities. With towering mountains and lakeside locations there’s so many places to explore. You can also have for luxury hotel and dining options here along with wild activities like skydiving, go carting down a mountain, jet boat cruises, bungee jumping, and tons more. If you want a mix of adventure and the luxury of the city then this is the perfect spot for you.

4. Wanaka

Wanaka is perhaps most famous for a tree that sits in the bay. But it’s also a bustling town full of adventure. With Mount Aspiring National Park close by and tons of hikes, it’s the perfect hub for adventure. Wanaka compares directly to Queenstown but with a smaller town feel. You won’t regret your time here. They also offer tons of activities like skydiving, hiking, canyoning, mountaineering, jet boating, fishing, and more.

5. Lake Tekapo

Are you looking for tons of lupines surrounding those glacial blue waters with mountains in the background? Then you need to explore the shores of Lake Tekapo. You will feel like you’re in a romantic fairytale dancing around in fields of purple. It’s also part of the dark sky reserve and offers some of the best stargazing you will see. I highly recommend checking out the Church of the Good Shepherd while here. It’s a unique and historic church with a stunning backdrop.

6. Mt. Sunday Lookout

Perhaps one of my favorite locations I visited. This valley is far away from the crowds and completely surrounded by epic mountain views. Mt. Sunday is where the town of Rohan was filmed for the Lord of the Rings lovers. It’s the perfect place to explore some beautiful lakes hidden from the crowds and also enjoy the mountains with only the sounds of nature around you.

Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Elope in New Zealand

There’s so many incredible locations to explore in New Zealand as you can see from above. You really need to know what you want to prioritize for your experience and the landscape that surrounds you. I highly recommend a two day elopement experience to adventure to multiple epic locations. I’d also plan at least 2 weeks for your trip to just explore one of the islands so you really can take it all in.

I have tons of other locations I haven’t mentioned that aren’t as well known but equally as stunning. I don’t mention them out of pure respect to help keep the landscapes preserved ( I spent multiple days and even weeks researching to find these hidden gems before my trip).

Meet Your New Zealand Elopement Photographer

New Zealand is with a doubt my favorite place in the world! I can honestly say it changed my life exploring this country that so highly encourages active lifestyles and being so deeply connected to nature. Everywhere you look you’re surrounded by beauty. Every day I spent here felt like the best day of my life. I feel so deeply connected to New Zealand and would love nothing more than to help create an experience so unforgettable for you, that you will feel the same.

The best part is you can elope here and stay for another 2 weeks (minimum in my opinion) to a month exploring every part of the country. If you’re ready to start planning a truly one of a kind elopement experience fill out the contact form below or get in touch with me here.

New Zealand Elopement Packages

My New Zealand elopement packages start with full day coverage and go to multi day coverage so we can really explore the best places to elope in New Zealand and get those epic adventure photos. I work with you to create a custom experience tailored to you starting with location recommendations, customized timeline, permit assistance if needed, activity ideas, recommendations for places to stay, and an adventure buddy.

Packages begin at $8,000 for photo only and for photo+video options it begins at $11,000. To learn more about me and what I offer you can visit my website here.