The South Island’s untamed west coast stretches like a dramatic frontier, a place where rainforests meet glaciers and mountains plunge straight into the ocean. Further south lies Fiordland, part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area, famed for its deep fjords, towering peaks and cascading waterfalls.

Cradled by rugged hills and a sweeping harbour, Dunedin is a blend of New Zealand charm, Scottish heritage and wild nature. Further south, the Catlins sits across Otago and Southland, dramatic and sparsely populated, with sea cliffs, blowholes, hidden waterfalls, and remote beaches where rare yellow-eyed penguins and sea lions frolic. A short flight from Invercargill or a ferry ride from Bluff across the Foveaux Strait lies Stewart Island - or Rakiura. A forest-cloaked sanctuary where over 85% of the land is protected national park.

Nestled among the soaring peaks and glacial lakes of New Zealand’s South Island, Queenstown and Wanaka are the siblings of the south; one wild and daring, the other calm and reflective. Both equally breathtaking.

Blessed with a striking location on the South Island’s north-east coast, where snow-capped mountains meet the ocean, Kaikoura is a marine wildlife hotspot. Head south to Christchurch, a city reinventing itself with Kiwi flair, creativity and resilience after experiencing devastating earthquakes.

At the top of New Zealand’s South Island, Marlborough and Abel Tasman National Park offer a double dose of natural beauty and adventure. Marlborough is world-renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc, and a wine tour through its sun-drenched vineyards is a must for anyone with an interest in wine. A 2-hour drive west brings you to Abel Tasman National Park, a coastal paradise boasting the most sunshine hours in New Zealand

At the southern tip of the North Island, New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, has been referred to as the ‘Coolest Capital in the World’ for good reason. An hour’s drive away, Martinborough is a charming town in the Wairarapa wine region renowned for its boutique wineries, relaxed atmosphere and picturesque countryside

Hugging the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Hawkes Bay is the country’s oldest and second largest wine region (after Marlborough in the South Island) known for world-class reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Beyond the vines, the main towns of Napier and Hastings offer a unique charm of their own.

The geothermal heart of New Zealand, Rotorua is, quite literally, a hotspot of activity.  From bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers, steaming craters and redwood forests to ziplining, luging, zorbing and mountain-biking, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant, sulphur-scented town.

This rainforest-clad peninsula, just two hours from Auckland, is blessed with over 400km of glorious coastline, golden beaches and rugged landscapes. Once a hotspot for the kauri timber and gold mining industries, the Coromandel now attracts New Zealanders and visitors alike who embrace the laid-back lifestyle, a slower pace of life and glorious scenery.

In the heart of the South Island, along the backbone of the mighty Southern Alps, the Mackenzie Region is home to Aoraki Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. Less than three hours from Christchurch, Lake Tekapo is blessed with water so blue it looks digitally enhanced. Venture deeper into the mountains to reach Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, where glaciers carve through rugged rocky terrain and the air is clear and crisp.

Known as the ‘City of Sails’ owing to the number of boats and yachts dotted across the picturesque harbour, Auckland is the main international gateway to New Zealand, and a great city to begin your road trip. A scenic 30-minute ferry ride from the city’s waterfront, Waiheke Island is a stunningly serene escape from city life, a place where olive groves and vineyards flourish under the temperate climate and hidden beaches and bays allow for relaxed island discovery

The South Island compels you to succumb to the contagious Kiwi lust for life and you’ll find yourself jumping out of a plane or jet boating at breakneck speed in the striking adrenalin-capital, Queenstown.