South Island New Zealand Holidays

What can you find on the South Island that you won't find elsewhere:

New Zealand's stunning South Island delivers awe-inspiring landscapes and dizzying adventure in absolute excess. Take your pick from rafting along fast-flowing rivers; hiking (or 'tramping' as the Kiwis call it) through lush forests, up magnificent mountains, along windswept beaches and through fabulous fjords; and, in the winter, shooting down frosty white slopes around Wanaka, Queenstown or Mt Hutt. From the breathtaking views from Queenstown and the fiords of Fiordland - and in particular the famous Milford Sound - in the south, all the way up to the rolling green wineries of Marlborough in the north of the island, you’re surrounded by beauty.

Who are South Island holidays best for?

The South Island is perfect for anybody with a love of nature, wildlife and action-packed adventure. An almost endless variety of activities invite you to immerse yourself well and truly in the great outdoors: gentle hikes and cycles along winding trails; skiing and snowboarding; sailing and rafting; and adrenaline-fuelled skydives and bungee jumps. Foodies will also be spoilt for choice here, with some of the world’s best wines grown in the Otago and Marlborough regions, and a farm-to-fork mentality that champions locally-sourced and seasonal produce.

The best ways to experience the South Island:

A road trip is undoubtedly the best way to see New Zealand South Island. Begin your South Island holidays by flying into Auckland and then wiggling your way down the country through the North Island and onto the South Island via the Wellington to Picton ferry. Driving allows you to see the hidden corners of the country, plus the flexibility to take the scenic route and stop off whenever you please...heaven.

Special things to do on the South Island:

Aboard the TranzAlpine train, travel 150 miles from Christchurch on the east coast, to the seaside town of Greymouth on the west coast. Taking around five hours, the journey crosses the agricultural Canterbury Plains; the Southern Alps; and along part of the Waimakariri River, before weaving through the lush greenery of Arthur’s Pass National Park and then on to the coast.

Marlborough Sounds

What better way to start your South Island trip than in Marlborough Sounds, one of the most famous regions of New Zealand for its incredible wine and seafood, but also the beautiful scenery; here you can see orcas, go for great walks (try the award-winning Queen Charlotte track), explore the sound by boat and hit the beaches.

Abel Tasman National Park

The Abel Tasman National Park shares the beautiful northern coastline of South Island with Marlborough, but is largely unvisited in comparison. Beautiful, empty beaches, almost guaranteed sunshine and the stunningly clear sea mean everything is focused on the water; boat taxis are readily available to deliver you to the next delectable lunch spot or secluded bay, while sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding are popular.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura, literally translated from Maori as 'eat crayfish', is a fantastic spot for seafood but is best known for its still-live sea life; whales, dolphins and seals a plenty, bringing in crowds of day trippers desperate to catch a shot of a Dusky in mid-air or a breaching Sperm whale. Visitors can immerse themselves in the deep blue for an intimate encounter with seals and dolphins, either snorkelling or scuba diving, or keep watch from a boat, light aircraft, helicopter or dry land.

Christchurch

After the 2011 earthquake, resilient Christchurch's exciting developments include the 'Cardboard Cathedral', Quake City and various Gap Filler projects. Not many cities are able to reinvent themselves from scratch, so Christchurch is worth a stop. A guided tour on a segway (or by bicycle for the more traditional visitor) is a great way to start, while the lush Botanical Gardens and Orana Wildlife Park are family-friendly and fun.

Southern Alps

In the centre of the South Island, the Southern Alps dominate. At the heart, Arthur's Pass National Park can be explored on foot along a multitude of DOC trails (the Department of Conservation maintains many fantastic routes across New Zealand, as well as managing campsites in some of the wildest, woolliest parts of the country). The Devil's Punch Bowl waterfalls and Castle Hill (a Lord of the Rings filming location) are great places to explore, while over the winter the Temple Basin ski field is popular. Mount Cook, the highest in New Zealand, towers over beautiful lakes, rivers and glaciers; try the Hooker Valley track for a relatively easy hike, or if that sounds like too much effort take in the scenery on a four wheel drive safari, fixed-wing plane or helicopter flight, or horse trek. The Franz Josef glacier descends to just 300m above sea level, making it very accessible for adventurous explorers - you can get onto the ice on a guided hike or by helicopter, and even try your hand at ice climbing.

Wanaka

On the edge of this dramatic mountain range lies a small town on a big lake. Wanaka, home of amazing food, soft adventure and actually quite a few expatriates. Visitors loved it so much they stayed. Here there is a range of walks for all abilities, fishing, boat activities, heli trips, glaciers, oh and mountain ranges. Not to mention there are some great lodges here.

Queenstown

Queenstown is the heart and soul of the active scene with a number of extreme sports available here, as well as great golf and fishing for those with a rather nervous disposition. It is also home to the Fergburger, which is so good even vegetarians may be converted. Although a popular back packer destination, there are some secluded luxury lodges, fine dining restaurants and buzzing cafes. It is a very picturesque destination surrounded by the Southern Alps, ideal to sit and view with a glass of wine, or alternatively visitors can jump out of a plane to take in the views.

Fjordland and Milford Sound

Fjordland and Milford Sound are also worth a peek whilst travelling the South Island, as they are by far the most beautiful and dramatic parts of New Zealand, with glaciers, shimmering lakes, ancient untouched rainforests and waterfalls cascading into fjords. It is also worth noting that Milford Sound is one of the eight wonders of the world - need we say more? Here visitors can explore by boat or take advantage of the many walks in this region, which is also home to the crested penguins.