South Island Destination Guide
The North
Christchurch: South Island’s main city is quintessentially English and was named after the Oxford College, but has a Cambridge connection with trips down the River Avon on an authentic Cambridge punt also available! This is a city of gardens, the biggest of which is Hagley Park, which is also home to the city’s Botanic Garden. The Christchurch tramway takes you on a one and a half mile loop allowing you to get on and off at any of the nine stops along the way.
Kaikoura: The quaint east coast town offers the opportunity to witness the sperm whales just a few miles off shore. Tours last around 21/2 hours and there is a good chance that you will see some of these magnificent mammals.
Nelson: Famed for its arts and crafts, this pretty little town is a great base for exploring the north coast.
Abel Tasman: 12 miles north of Nelson is the exquisite Abel Tasman National Park, where every turn produces another glorious view of still, turquoise bays fringed by deserted golden beaches against the burnt orange backdrop of the coastline. Take a boat along the coast, disembark in one of the bays and walk along the coastal track.
Marlborough Sounds: Famed for its fabulous wines, the Sounds are a region of secluded and peaceful bays, which also just happen to enjoy the most sunshine hours in the whole of the country.
Kaikoura: The quaint east coast town offers the opportunity to witness the sperm whales just a few miles off shore. Tours last around 21/2 hours and there is a good chance that you will see some of these magnificent mammals.
Nelson: Famed for its arts and crafts, this pretty little town is a great base for exploring the north coast.
Abel Tasman: 12 miles north of Nelson is the exquisite Abel Tasman National Park, where every turn produces another glorious view of still, turquoise bays fringed by deserted golden beaches against the burnt orange backdrop of the coastline. Take a boat along the coast, disembark in one of the bays and walk along the coastal track.
Marlborough Sounds: Famed for its fabulous wines, the Sounds are a region of secluded and peaceful bays, which also just happen to enjoy the most sunshine hours in the whole of the country.
The South
Queenstown: New Zealand’s adrenalin city sits peacefully in the gentle setting of Lake Wakatipu. This region is a tourist magnet and the lakes, mountains and forests make an extraordinary setting for all manner of adventure activities from jet boating on the Shotover River, whitewater rafting or bungy jumping from the A.J Hackett bridge.
Wanaka: Far less commercialised than its southern neighbour, Queenstown,Wanaka sits peacefully on its own lake with Mount Aspiring and its National Park as its stunning backdrop.
Dunedin: As the name implies, the university town was founded by the Scots and boast the steepest street in the world – Baldwin Street. Blessed with glorious Victorian and Edwardian architecture, the town is situated on a pretty harbour on the edge of the Otago Peninsula. A drive along its winding roads takes you past abundant wildlife – from rare royal albatrosses to the fur seal colony at Pilot Beach and the yellow-eyed penguins at Penguin Palace.
Invercargill: The town’s Scottish heritage is evident from the street names to the elegant buildings and neat gardens. The biggest attraction is the Southland Museum and Art Gallery with its outstanding displays of the Sub-Antartic region.
Stewart Island: The third island’s Maori name is Rakiura, which means glowing skies. 85% of the island is national park and as well as being a haven for birdwatchers, there are 152 miles of walking trails.
Fjordland: The Fjordland National Park is New Zealand’s largest and Milford Sound undoubtedly its most famous sight. The 75 mile road leading from the pretty town of Te Anau to the Sound is one of the most scenic drives you will ever experience and the boat trip out onto the Sound itself with dramatic cliffs and gushing waterfalls is a must.
Queenstown: New Zealand’s adrenalin city sits peacefully in the gentle setting of Lake Wakatipu. This region is a tourist magnet and the lakes, mountains and forests make an extraordinary setting for all manner of adventure activities from jet boating on the Shotover River, whitewater rafting or bungy jumping from the A.J Hackett bridge.
Wanaka: Far less commercialised than its southern neighbour, Queenstown,Wanaka sits peacefully on its own lake with Mount Aspiring and its National Park as its stunning backdrop.
Dunedin: As the name implies, the university town was founded by the Scots and boast the steepest street in the world – Baldwin Street. Blessed with glorious Victorian and Edwardian architecture, the town is situated on a pretty harbour on the edge of the Otago Peninsula. A drive along its winding roads takes you past abundant wildlife – from rare royal albatrosses to the fur seal colony at Pilot Beach and the yellow-eyed penguins at Penguin Palace.
Invercargill: The town’s Scottish heritage is evident from the street names to the elegant buildings and neat gardens. The biggest attraction is the Southland Museum and Art Gallery with its outstanding displays of the Sub-Antartic region.
Stewart Island: The third island’s Maori name is Rakiura, which means glowing skies. 85% of the island is national park and as well as being a haven for birdwatchers, there are 152 miles of walking trails.
Fjordland: The Fjordland National Park is New Zealand’s largest and Milford Sound undoubtedly its most famous sight. The 75 mile road leading from the pretty town of Te Anau to the Sound is one of the most scenic drives you will ever experience and the boat trip out onto the Sound itself with dramatic cliffs and gushing waterfalls is a must.
West Coast
Fox/Franz Josef glaciers: The two famous glaciers are located approx 16 miles apart in Westland National Park. Heli-hikes offer the chance to fly up and land on the glacier taking a guided hike from there.
Arthur’s Pass: At 3,232 ft high, the pass is the headquarters of the National Park and offers various walking tracks, mountain climbing and ski-ing possibilities. The TranzAlpine train stops here twice a day.
Punakaiki: The amazing sight of what appears to be a pile of pancakes made of rock with huge plumes of water spewing up from the blowholes, as the tide comes in, is one not to be missed.
Buller Gorge: The scenic gorge links the west coast to Nelson. You can walk across the gorge on New Zealand’s longest swingbridge and if you’re feeling brave, fly back across the river on the high speed Comet line.
Arthur’s Pass: At 3,232 ft high, the pass is the headquarters of the National Park and offers various walking tracks, mountain climbing and ski-ing possibilities. The TranzAlpine train stops here twice a day.
Punakaiki: The amazing sight of what appears to be a pile of pancakes made of rock with huge plumes of water spewing up from the blowholes, as the tide comes in, is one not to be missed.
Buller Gorge: The scenic gorge links the west coast to Nelson. You can walk across the gorge on New Zealand’s longest swingbridge and if you’re feeling brave, fly back across the river on the high speed Comet line.
The facts
Geography: Around 400 miles long and 150 miles at its widest point, South Island boasts snow-capped peaks, dramatic rocky coastlines, dense rainforests, gushing waterfalls and still fjords. Mount Cook, at over 12,000 feet, is Australasia’s highest mountain.
Travelling time: Approximately 26 hours flying time from London.
Local time: GMT +12 hours
Climate: South Island is cooler than North Island, but enjoys warm, pleasant summers. Winters, especially in the mountains, can be severe and it does snow. The west coast is more prone to rainfall
and the Kiwis call it the Wet Coast.
Airport information: Shuttle services operate to Christchurch and take 20-30 minutes. Queenstown also has its own airport from which shuttle services operate to the city.
Departure tax: A fee of NZ$25 per adult is payable locally for all international departures.
Travelling time: Approximately 26 hours flying time from London.
Local time: GMT +12 hours
Climate: South Island is cooler than North Island, but enjoys warm, pleasant summers. Winters, especially in the mountains, can be severe and it does snow. The west coast is more prone to rainfall
and the Kiwis call it the Wet Coast.
Airport information: Shuttle services operate to Christchurch and take 20-30 minutes. Queenstown also has its own airport from which shuttle services operate to the city.
Departure tax: A fee of NZ$25 per adult is payable locally for all international departures.
