South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is a place of striking extremes. From majestic fiords to picture-postcard alpine areas, picturesque lakes to ancient glaciers, sub-tropical forests to undulating farmlands, it truly has it all.
To visit the Nelson region is to discover incredibly clear blue skies and wide open spaces, immaculate beaches and glassy lakes, spectacular national parks and unique landforms, vineyards and gourmet cafés, artists and galleries, entrepreneurs and boutique shopping experiences. The Nelson region is a pocket of paradise in the top northwest corner of the South Island.
Marlborough, in the northeast corner of the South Island, basks in year-round sunshine, providing perfect conditions for walking, mountain biking, sea kayaking and vineyard explorations. Focus your itinerary on outdoor adventures, vineyards and wineries, arts and crafts, history and gardens or marine pursuits. Better still, mix them up and experience a little of everything this beautiful region has to offer.
Christchurch - Canterbury is an amazing arena for adventure and indulgence. From the silvery beaches of the east coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury landscape is impossible to ignore. The highest point of the region is the highest point of New Zealand. The spectacular Aoraki Mount Cook stands at 3754m (Aoraki is Maori for Cloud Piercer). At the other end of the scale, the submarine trenches off the coast of Kaikoura are thousands of metres deep, providing an ideal environment for the whales, dolphins and seals that live there permanently. Between the mountains and the sea, the vast plains are patchworked with the patterns of rural life. Hundreds of years ago, Maori moa hunters worked these plains leaving a rock art record of their successes. Christchurch is famous for natural beauty and a wealth of things to do. Christchurch has a lively entertainment scene, strong cultural heritage, gorgeous parks and excellent shopping. Christchurch's reputation as the Garden City is truly reflected in the Botanic Gardens with spectacular displays all year round. Among other 'must sees' are the weekend Arts Centre market, Christchurch Cathedral, and International Antarctic Centre.
Queenstown - the Adventure Capital of the World - if the scenery doesn't take your breath away, the action will! Stunning landscape, vast mountain ranges, tranquil lakes and wild rivers provide perfect venues for all kinds of adventure sports. Queenstown is home to unquestionably some of the most awesome ski fields and mountain ranges on the planet so for the skiing holiday of a lifetime look no further. During the ski season regular bus services operate from Queenstown accommodation to Coronet Peak, Cardrona, Treble Cone and the Remarkables. Fantastic slopes are available for skiing, snowboarding or for something a little more intense... try Heli-skiing!
The West Coast of New Zealand has the power to touch your soul with its landscape of brooding mountains, icy glaciers and surreal coastal formations. To this amazing natural landscape you can add fantastic accommodation, fine foods, festivals and first class local guides. You can raft an underground cave, hike over a glacier, kayak a stunning lake, pan for gold and taste the traditional West Coast delicacy, whitebait. Main centres include Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and Haast.
When you travel to Fiordland, on the southern west coast you will be visiting one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand. You can feel the power of nature here - the remoteness, the wildness and the peace. Real Journeys offer a wide variety of experiences in the Fiordland, including day and overnight cruises in both the Milford and Doubtful Sounds, excursions to the Te Anau Glow worm caves and Milford Track Guided day walks. Doubtful Sound is the second largest of the 14 fiords in Fiordland National Park and it is three times longer and 10 times larger than Milford Sound.
Southland's largest urban centre is Invercargill, a city of 49,000 people. Visitors come to admire the elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, gardens and landscaped parks. A half hour drive south from Invercargill is the fishing port of Bluff - home to the famous Bluff oyster and a lively annual seafood festival.
From Bluff, visitors can catch a ferry to Stewart Island - a haven for native bird life and the only place in New Zealand where you can readily see kiwi in their natural habitat.
The South Island of New Zealand is a premier holiday destination with accommodation from luxurious resorts, to that perfect campervan park to keep the whole family entertained, affordable backpacker/hostel accommodation, self-contained units to 5 star hotel accommodation!
From an abundant natural surrounding at Marlborough to the beautiful sunshine and breathtaking landscapes of Nelson, you're sure to have a relaxed authentic New Zealand holiday when you visit the South Island.
