9 Prettiest Downtown Strips In New Zealand

Whether you are travelling abroad or within your own region, one thing is for certain about travelling: not every fantastic trip requires spending it in a big-name city or capital. New Zealand is one such place that embraces that theme, as each town fits into the scenery in as natural a way as possible. This makes even small towns visually appealing while offering a great array of goods and services in their downtown areas.

Best of all, these strips and the towns as a whole are very walkable, making it easy to stop and chat with the locals and take your time while visiting. So, what are you waiting for? Get packed, find a spot to park in these pretty downtown strips, walk through them, and enjoy them to the fullest.

Russell

Also known as The Strand, Russell's main street is a mixture of coastal vibes and deep colonial heritage. You can get a sense for that by checking out the Russell Museum, which shares stories from the times when Maori and Europeans first came into contact. You can also get a feel for the Bay Area by taking a tour with the Bay of Islands Tall Ship Sundowner Sailing tour.

For dryer land, visiting the Paroa Bay Winery or some of Russell's beaches is perfect for strolling around. The scenery at the Paroa Bay Winery is gorgeous, with a nice blend of land and sea emerging and mingling together. As for the beaches, Oneroa Bay or the Bay of Islands Coastal Walkway are perfect for walking through. There's even one beach directly off The Strand you can check out too.

Cromwell

Established first by gold miners, this town has shifted from its Gold Rush Era and offers a new kind of treasure: stone fruit. Steeped in heritage, you can capture those old town vibes by visiting the Old Cromwell Town, one of the biggest draws to Cromwell. However, what can keep you sticking around is the fruit. Cromwell is known as the "Fruit Bowl of the South," after all.

Take your pick from over 30 cellar doors and wineries, such as Cloudy Bay or Nanny Goat Vineyard, or get a sampling of more by joining a Kiwi Journeys tour. Another fruitful experience is checking out the fruit stalls of the town. The summertime is their growing period, and the fruit is hard to resist during that time. You can also check out Jackson Orchards, which has fruit stalls and offers orchard tours.

For those who love nature, you can always check out beautiful Lake Dunstan, which is an ideal starting point for a scenic walk or biking adventure.

Oamaru

A blend of eccentricity and elegance, Oamaru is one of the few places that can pull off this unique combination and provide a great experience. It's famous for its Victorian architecture and two penguin colonies, which it maintains while simultaneously housing the country's oldest public gardens.

To capture most of the experience this quirky town offers, visiting the Steampunk HQ is a good place to start. Take your pick of mechanical oddities, fire-breathing machines, and eerie backdrops that are perfect for taking selfies or artsy photographs. Afterwards, swing by the Blue Penguin Colony, where penguins arrive at those shores every night.

It's also not a bad idea to taste the local cuisine. Foodies will enjoy their options too, as Scotts Brewery, award-winning restaurants like Riverstone Kitchen, and locally crafted foodstuffs like the cheese factory Whitestone Cheese Co. are scattered throughout town.

Arrowtown

A living historic town, Arrowtown is another great spot for history buffs and people wanting some outdoor fun. For starters, checking out the Chinese settlement at the edge of the river will treat you to restored cottages and old gold mining sites. For more history, checking out the Lakes District Museum is recommended, especially since it's described as one of the best small museums in New Zealand. You could even consider travelling to Macetown, a ghost town accessible only through wagon tracks!

Overall, Arrowtown's primary focus is on hosting visitors, and you can see that in the stores along Buckingham Street, which offer various options. For example, Francis Patterson is an excellent place for homewares, children's goods, and clothing. The Black Teal Bay is another unique option, offering a blend of herbs and flowers and a bookshop section. And for some more variety, the Remarkable Sweet Shop is a blast of nostalgia and is often dubbed a 'must visit' for many who visit.

Coromandel Town

Resting on the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island, this coastal town is rich in history as well as artists of all kinds. The town is home to several studios and galleries scattered throughout, which include Blind Creek Studio, Star Gallery, and The Oaks Gallery, where you can visit and see plenty of local talent. Another area that captures the artistic talent is The Waterworks, a park 10 minutes outside of Coromandel Town, which features contraptions and quirky inventions powered by water.

Visiting Umu Cafe will give you great coffee, a sunny courtyard, and a varied menu for a more relaxed capturing of the landscape. In addition, the town also has several reuse and thrift stores, including Tried and True Kitchen Things, a bit more, The Goldmine, and The Bizarre.

Taihape

Rural charm, community spirit, and picturesque landscapes are apt descriptions for Taihape in the Rangitikei District. A mixture of small towns and beautiful rural landscapes, the "Gumboot Capital of New Zealand" has much to offer regarding quirkiness and charm. A prime example is Taihape Sports, a store that offers outdoor and sporting goods. It's directly attached to Brown Sugar Cafe, a local cafe. In addition, there is Treasure Trove, a thrift store that was once a local newspaper, based on the faded print of where that sign used to be.

You'll see a lot of that theme scattered throughout, as the Taihape Museum replaced the original Methodist church. The Taihape Museum is a great place to gain a much deeper understanding of the local history and culture.

But for those who want to really experience those landscapes, visiting the Flat Hills Cafe and Tourist Park is one way to do so. They offer friendly farm animals, mazes, children's play areas, and a family-run café and campground. Overall, the town is ideal for those wanting a new experience.

Akaroa

Free from all the chaos and with a slice of French Heritage, Akaroa is another solid town to visit. Its main street is adorned with colonial architecture, heritage sites, and cultural attractions. One particular place is the Giants House, a historic house filled with vibrant artwork, terraced gardens, and sculptures. You could also take a scenic boat tour to potentially see Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest and rarest dolphin.

Visiting Daly's Wharf and Drummonds Jetty are good options to get more of that coastal air and scenery. They're excellent alternatives as the main wharf, Akaroa Wharf, is being reconstructed and is expected to be complete by 2027. Moreover, the Pot Pourri has fantastic options for souvenirs, books, toys, and, more importantly, fudge. Another must-visit in the town is the store Fire and Ice, which offers a one-of-a-kind experience of colour, light, and fragrance from the earth.

Hokitika

Hokitika is perfect for those looking to glimpse a laid-back West Coast lifestyle. Quirky art galleries, gorgeous landscapes, unique activities, and excellent cafés and restaurants are what Hokitika's main street and town have to offer. To start, visiting the Hokitika Gorge is a must, as getting there requires walking through a lush rainforest. Hokitika Beach is another ideal nature spot, allowing you to walk along the beach and get access to Sunset Point, which is perfect for watching sunsets and sunrises and experiencing the starry sky.

While in town, visiting the Westland Greenstone Ltd. gives you a chance to look at craftsmen working on crafting work out of pure New Zealand jade. You can even purchase some of their work in their store. The Hokitika Craft Gallery also showcases greenstone, harakeke and fine wool weavings, jewellery, pottery, paintings, sculptures, and so much more.

Wanaka

One of the largest small towns on this list, Wanaka, is not far from Queenstown and is a pretty cool place to visit. For starters, it has the Roy's Peak Track, which went viral on Instagram due to the viewpoints it offers. In the town itself, cute boutique shops, delicious restaurants, and colourful cafés dot the streets.

For dinner, visit Francesca's for an Italian experience unlike other Italian restaurants. For a more budget-friendly option, the Food Truck Park on Brownston Street has great food selections too. Visiting the Rhyme x Reason Tasting Paddle is a local mainstay, offering great beer, fantastic live events, and seasonal and special one-off brews for beer enthusiasts. However, to get a good blend of both good food and beautiful landscapes, My Secret Picnic creates an unforgettable memory for all in style. If you've got a chance to make some lasting memories, this is one of the best choices by far.

From quirky towns like Taihape to coastal towns like Russell, New Zealand has much to offer in its small towns and their respective pretty downtown areas. If you've ever had a need to escape and want something truly relaxing, checking out these areas is bound to create lasting memories, even without needing a luxury picnic. You won't regret checking these places out any day of the year, guaranteed!