South Island

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. From larger producers, such as Cloudy Bay, to smaller, family-run wineries, there’s an enticing array of vineyards to suit all tastes, many of them featuring fabulous restaurants too. As the gateway to the Interislander ferry connecting the North and South Islands, Picton also serves as the departure point for cruising into the incredibly scenic Marlborough Sounds, a network of hidden bays and tranquil coves, with playful dolphins and wonderful hikes, most notably the Queen Charlotte Track.

A 2-hour drive west brings you to Abel Tasman National Park, a coastal paradise boasting the most sunshine hours in New Zealand. The park’s crown jewel is the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, winding past golden beaches, turquoise lagoons and lush native forest. Kayak alongside seals, take a water taxi to remote bays, or simply soak up the serenity of Anchorage Bay. This beautiful region is best explored at a slow pace, on foot or on the water, so you can pause and take in the stunning views, hear the native birdsong and feel connected to nature at its finest.

Highlights

• Leave the driving to your tour guide and enjoy the tasting rooms and restaurants at some of the wonderful wineries across the Marlborough region. Or hop on a bike and explore on two wheels and blow the cobwebs away between tastings.
• Lace up your hiking boots and head out along the scenic Queen Charlotte Track to experience the diverse coastal scenery along its 70km length.
• Board the historic Pelorus Mail Boat and discover the beautiful Pelorus Sound near Picton. Learn about the mail run's rich history, view wildlife and meet locals along the way as you deliver mail to remote locations.
• Head out in a kayak or on a guided cruise and explore Abel Tasman’s hidden beaches and glorious native forests.
• With an abundance of brown trout, fly fishing in the Nelson Tasman region is exceptional. Spend a few nights in a fishing lodge for a truly immersive experience.

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. With a deep shelf close to shore, it’s an all-year-round feeding ground for whales and other marine life, with whale-watching and dolphin swimming absolute highlights. Fur seal colonies can be found close to town, and the town’s famous crustacean, the crayfish, is served in abundance. So strong is this small town’s connection to crayfish, the name literally translates from Māori as ‘to eat crayfish’ (kai means food and koura means crayfish).

Head south to Christchurch, a city reinventing itself with Kiwi flair, creativity and resilience after experiencing devastating earthquakes. Wander through the Botanic Gardens, ride the heritage tram, go punting on the River Avon, and explore the ever-changing street art scene and innovative galleries.

Just an hour from Christchurch lies the Banks Peninsula, formed by ancient volcanoes and rolling hills, and home to the charming French-influenced town of Akaroa. Kayak with Hector’s dolphins, explore scenic bays, or hike the Banks Track for stunning coastal views.

Highlights

• Take to the skies over Kaikoura in a light aircraft on a whale-watching flight, or board a purpose-built boat to see these magnificent marine creatures up close.
• Gin lovers rejoice! Hop in a heli and enjoy a scenic flight over Kaikoura and the majestic mountains, before embarking on a gin distillery tour with a tasting session.
• Feeling adventurous? Try zip-lining with breathtaking views over Kaikoura Peninsula.  Feeling peckish? Cook up a storm using local ingredients at fabulous Hapuku Kitchen.
• Explore Christchurch in a unique dining tram where you’ll combine delicious seasonal cuisine, fine wine and the changing cityscape outside your window.
• Visit Akaroa, the oldest town in the Canterbury region, with a wonderful blend of French heritage, attractive harbour and playful dolphins.

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. Tantalising mountainous landscapes and deep glacial lakes stretch as far as the eye can see, and the night sky feels close enough to touch owing to the lack of light pollution. This is alpine country at its finest… dramatic, vast and utterly mesmerising.

Less than three hours from Christchurch, Lake Tekapo is blessed with water so blue it looks digitally enhanced. Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd, perched quietly on the lake’s edge, and as night draws in, soak up the incredible stargazing this region is famous for. Neighbouring Lake Pukaki is equally as striking, with the eye-catching backdrop of Aoraki Mount Cook on the horizon.

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. For a true alpine thrill, take a scenic flight or try heli-hiking on the Tasman Glacier. Whether you're here to walk, fly or simply marvel, the Mackenzie Region delivers a heady mix of serenity and grandeur that lingers long after you leave.

Highlights

• Join a guided Dark Sky Project night tour at Mount John Observatory in Lake Tekapo to see galaxies swirl above the Southern Alps.
• Fly high in a light aircraft on the Grand Traverse scenic flight and view this spectacular mountain scenery from above.
• Hike the Hooker Valley Track, a relatively easy walk with swinging bridges, milky-blue glacial rivers and awe-inspiring views of Aoraki.
• Keep your feet on terra firma and embrace the scenery, history and geology of Mackenzie Region on a 4WD backcountry tour.
• For an exclusive and unique experience, head up to New Zealand’s highest altitude whisky hut by helicopter and enjoy 360° views, fresh mountain air and the finest whisky.

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.

Perched on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with the jagged Remarkables mountain range as its backdrop, compact Queenstown pulses with energy. Leap from Kawarau Bridge on a bungy cord, rocket through the Shotover River canyons in a jet boat, or feel the thrill of the rapids in a white-water raft. Less exhilarating but just as iconic, Skyline Gondola transports you high above this bite-size town, where panoramic views are revealed in every direction. In the evening, the lakeside lights up with vibrant bars, gourmet eateries and fireside wine lounges.

A little further afield lies remote Glenorchy, a beautiful 45-minute drive along the lake shores. The views are spectacular, and there’s a range of activities, including walks, scenic jetboating, horse-riding, fun-yaks and 4WD tours to film locations from Lord of the Rings.

Just over the breathtaking, switchback Crown Range Road leading away from Queenstown, Wanaka’s mesmeric lake mirrors the Southern Alps, inviting kayaking, sailing, or lazy afternoons on the pebbled shores. Marvel at the renowned Wanaka Tree, standing resilient in the lake’s shallows, then take on the legendary Roy’s Peak Track, where sweeping views make the climb unforgettable.

Highlights

• If adrenaline is your thing, Queenstown is your place. From bungy-jumping, skydiving and jet boating to white-water rafting, skiing and hang gliding, this town has it all!
• For a more sedate activity, cruise across Queenstown’s picturesque Lake Wakatipu on the ancient, coal-fired TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
• Wineries and wine tasting tours are prolific in this wine-growing region, and the local Pinot Noir is world famous.
• A short drive from Queenstown, remnants of the gold-rush era live on in quaint Arrowtown, a must-see town with cafes, boutiques and brilliant autumn leaves in April and May.
• For a unique tour, head to a lake on an island, on a lake on an island – a half day guided tour across Lake Wanaka to idyllic Mou Waho is fascinating and fun in equal measure.

Cradled by rugged hills and a sweeping harbour, Dunedin is a blend of New Zealand charm, Scottish heritage and wild nature. From the majestic Railway Station, often dubbed the world’s most photographed, to the grandeur of Larnach Castle, the country’s only castle, Dunedin blends old and new with a vibrant student scene at Otago University. Venture up Baldwin Street, the steepest residential street in the world, or lose yourself in the cafes, galleries and vintage shops.

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. At Nugget Point, an iconic lighthouse clings to the edge of the world, overlooking a rolling ocean with a colony of fur seals on the rocks below.

In the less visited deep south of New Zealand, Southland feels like a step back in time, into a wilder, slower world where landscapes are vast and untamed. A patchwork of emerald green farmland, rugged coastlines and windswept plains lead to Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city. Here, Victorian-era architecture stands stoically against the sea breeze, while Bluff, at the tip of the South Island, is famed for its legendary oysters. 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. Tranquil and teeming with birdlife, it’s an oasis for nature-seekers and one of the few places where you can hear the call of the native kiwi.

Highlights

• Embark on a breathtaking train journey and a fabulous immersion into Otago’s rich history onboard the Taieri Gorge Railway from Dunedin. Travel over tumbling rapids, across viaducts and through historic tunnels.
• Explore Larnach Castle and enjoy panoramic views across the Otago Peninsula from the tower before boarding a cruise to get up close to the world’s only mainland breeding colony of Royal Albatross.
• Head out at dusk from Oban on Stewart Island and enjoy a guided walk through coastal forest to a hidden sandy beach where the elusive kiwi can sometimes be seen foraging at night.
• Travel from Stewart Island to Ulva Island and discover a wildlife sanctuary where many rare and endangered native species of birdlife and plants flourish in a predator-free environment.
• Classic car and motorbike fans will be amazed by the incredible collections at Invercargill’s Transport World and Classic Motorcycle Mecca, including a display dedicated to famous kiwi record-breaker, Burt Munro.

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. Wind-swept beaches strewn with driftwood gaze across the Tasman Sea, and snow-capped peaks hide amongst the clouds. At Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, deep ice spills down from alpine summits into lush rainforest, a wonderful collision of ecosystems, and at Punakaiki’s pancake rocks, the ocean roars up through the stacked limestone with the incoming tide. Small coastal towns, such as Hokitika and Westport, offer a glimpse into New Zealand’s gold rush history and proud local culture. The West Coast is also home to rare wildlife, including the elusive great spotted kiwi and Hector’s dolphins.

Further south lies Fiordland, part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area, famed for its deep fjords, towering peaks and cascading waterfalls. Rain falls often here, adding to the magic as waterfalls multiply and native forests glisten. Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are the most visited fiords, offering breathtaking views and abundant marine life. Milford Sound is accessible by road, boat and air, and home to iconic Mitre Peak, whilst Doubtful Sound is expansive and offers a deeper sense of remoteness and tranquillity. Fiordland is a haven for hikers, particularly those tackling the renowned Milford, Routeburn and Kepler Tracks.

Highlights

• Spend a night onboard a boat in Milford or Doubtful Sounds and enjoy the serenity of these incredible fiords after the crowds have left for the day, and wake to sensational views.
• Be mesmerised by the brilliant blue glacial water contrasting with the white granite rock face on the beautiful 2km Hokitika Gorge Walk, weaving over bridges and through rainforest.
• Explore beyond the magnificent Punakaiki Rocks with a walk along the splendid Truman Track. Meander through subtropical forest before emerging onto a spectacularly wild West Coast beach.
• Delve deep into the wilderness from Haast on a river safari jet boat and soak up the views of this remote and awe-inspiring river valley.
• Take to the skies in a helicopter and land on a glacier for an incredible hike on untouched ice. On a clear day, the views out to the Tasman Seas are sublime.