New Zealand Highlights: What to see and do on the South Island

Are you planning a road trip around New Zealand and wondering what to see and do on the South Island? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We explored New Zealand in our campervan and share the highlights of the South Island.

Interested in replicating the itinerary? Head on over to check out your Ultimate South Island Road Trip Itinerary.

Marlborough

Many people leave Picton as soon as they get off the ferry. Still, a little gem awaits your visit just beyond the ferry terminal: the Edwin Fox – one of the world’s oldest surviving merchant sailing ships and the only one used to transport convicts to Australia and European settlers to New Zealand.

Unlike similar ships that still exist today, it was not fully restored but left in as much of its original state as possible. Exploring its hull, you can vividly imagine what life on board must have been like back then.

Only 30km south of Picton is one of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions: the Marlborough, home of the Sauvignon Blanc, best explored by bike as you slowly travel from one tasting to the next.

Abel Tasman National Park

Nelson has reasonably good weather all year round. It is also the gateway to three national parks: Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes, each less than an hour’s drive away.

If you are into multi-day hikes, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track is one of the easier-to-reach Great Walks of New Zealand. If you prefer shorter hikes, there are still plenty to choose from. And if you love being out on the water, why not explore the National Park on a kayak tour?

We recommend booking your Abel Tasman experiences through Bookme to save money on activities.

Golden Bay and Kahurangi National Park

The Abel Tasman National Park is sandwiched between two expansive bays: Tasman Bay to the East and Golden Bay to the West. There is only one road in/out of Golden Bay, but if you have the time (and the road is open), it is worth the effort:

• Golden Bay is home to Te Waikoropupu, New Zealand’s largest freshwater spring.
• Cape Farewell is not only the northernmost point of the South Island, but it also offers excellent hiking and mountain bike trails, sea arch vistas at nearby Wharariki Beach, and plenty of opportunities to observe native wildlife.
• Kahurangi National Park to the South of Golden Bay is home to another Great Walk: the Heaphy Track.

Nelson Lakes National Park

The last one of the trio of National Parks around Nelson, aptly named Nelson Lakes National Park, is no less short of superlatives. Easily accessible Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa make great day hikes (and it is fun to watch the eels from the Lake Rotoiti jetty), while remote Blue Lake is the world’s clearest body of freshwater. Thankfully, its remoteness has protected it from the tourist crowds, but the number of hikers visiting the lake has increased yearly.

West Coast

I visited Punakaiki first with my parents in January 2011. Even though Paul and I passed through at the end of summer, there were many more tourists this time. So, if you want to have the Pancake Rocks and Blowhole all to yourself, the best time to visit is at sunrise.

A great spot to watch the sunset lies some 80km further south: Hokitika Beach. A half-hour out of town is Hokitika Gorge with its glacial turquoise waters (but less pleasant sand flies – at least they didn’t bite).

We recommend booking your West Coast experiences through Bookme to save money on activities.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

When my parents and I first visited in 2011, we walked up to the Franz Josef Glacier’s terminal face. Nowadays, however, the terminal face is too dangerous to approach, and you can only get as far as a lookout point quite a distance away unless you book a tour that takes you onto the glacier (but those don’t come cheap).

Paul and I saw both glaciers on a ski plane tour. Seven years ago, and again this time, I was shocked to see how far the mighty glaciers of the South Island have retreated. While they are still majestic, it is sad to see how humans have destroyed our backyard.

If you’re passing through the area on a clear day, make sure you make the slight detour to Lake Matheson. There is a nice and easy 5km hike around the lake, and you can capture Aoraki/Mt Cook and its reflection in the lake.

Queenstown Lakes District

Queenstown is often called the Adventure Capital of the World, and for good reason. If adrenaline adventures are your thing, you’re spoiled for choice: whether bungee jumping from the very bridge where AJ Hackett invented this thrill, paragliding from the top above the gondola or racing on jet boats through the river gorges – there indeed is something for everyone.

But the area has way more to offer:

• Picturesque Arrowtown is only a short drive from Queenstown, as are the Goldfields Mining Centre in the Kawarau Gorge and the historic sluicing sites in Bannockburn. These places give a good glimpse into a time when Otago was filled with thrill seekers of a different kind.
• Another of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Routeburn Track, connects Glenorchy on the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu with the road to Milford. If you decide to travel to Glenorchy, make sure you travel slowly, as the road to Glenorchy is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand. And if multi-day hikes are not your thing, there are countless day hikes in the Queenstown and Wanaka areas.
• Wine aficionados will be in their element, with the Gibbston Valley and Central Otago wineries (famous for their Pinot Noirs) at Queenstown’s doorsteps.
• I had heard about the long queues at Fergburger, and since I passed it one day just before lunchtime, I popped in (and only waited 20 minutes from when I started queuing to pick up my burger). I’m not usually a burger fan, but I enjoyed it.
• If you happen to be here during winter and love skiing/snowboarding, you are spoiled for choice: The Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski fields are closest to Queenstown. Cardrona and Treble Cone are the ski fields closest to Wanaka.

We recommend booking your Queenstown experiences through Bookme to save money on activities.

Explore Queenstown Lakes District and beyond by rental car

If you plan to drive around the South Island, and Queenstown is your starting point, pick up your vehicle upon arrival. Although the public transport system in Queenstown is getting better year by year, you’ll get to see more places with a rental car.

Fiordland

While you can join a day tour to Milford Sound from Queenstown, we opted to drive there slowly and are glad we did. The road to Milford is very cool, with many otherworldly vistas and lovely little hikes worth stopping for. Staying there overnight, we could see a magnificent sunset and sunrise and join a cruise early in the day before the tour buses with the day-tripper crowd arrived.

You can also join a cruise to Doubtful Sound (from Manapouri or Te Anau), a very different experience from Milford Sound, as we have heard from those who have done both. Still, with NZD230 per person for the cheapest tour, we left this experience for another time.

Fiordland is the largest of New Zealand’s National Parks and is home to three Great Walks: the Routeburn (mentioned above), the circular Kepler Track, and the Milford Track.

Stewart Island / Rakiura

For many visitors to Aotearoa, Te Anau is as far south as they go. If you have the time, travel further. The Southern Scenic Route from Queenstown via Te Anau to Invercargill, Bluff and on through the Catlins to Dunedin is called scenic for a reason. It is also one of the few places in New Zealand where you can still get away from the tourist crowds.

If you are making it to Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city, visit Stewart Island / Rakiura, which is only an hour by ferry off the coast. On the island, you can:

• Hike the circular Rakiura Track, another of New Zealand’s Great Walks.
• Explore the 27 or so kilometres of the navigable road by mountain bike (or even better, electric mountain bike – they are great fun and cost pretty much the same to hire).
• Taste some yummy seafood (including melt-in-your-mouth Bluff Oysters) at Kai Kart (pick a day when there is no cruise ship anchored as there will be way more choice) or grab some freshly caught blue cod from the Four Square supermarket and cook up your feast.
• Spend half a day on Ulva Island, a paradise for native wildlife and those who love to observe them up close. You might even see a Kiwi – the local variety is active during the day (though we weren’t lucky).

Catlins

In some ways similar to the East Cape of the North Island, the Catlins is a bit off the beaten tourist track:

• If you have been to Cape Farewell, you might want to visit Slope Point, the southernmost spot on the South Island. You can even see Stewart Island in the distance from its clifftop position.
• Another cool place to check out is the Cathedral Caves. These sea caves are only accessible during low tide. Check the website to see when they are open, as you’ll only be able to visit from 1 1/2 hours before to one hour after low tide. We drove there in the dark, just to be there, when they opened the gate at 07:45. One advantage to heading there early is walking further along the beach before the water returns. Most people go to the first two (interconnected) caves, but more are further along the shore. The internet access in the Catlins is patchy to non-existent (especially in the vicinity of the caves), so check their website before you disconnect.
• Rather than heading straight from the Catlins to Balclutha and Dunedin, check out Kaka Point (a pretty seaside settlement) and Nugget Point. The walk up to the Lighthouse has gorgeous views over the bay, and you can observe fur seals and (if you’re there during the right time of day) penguins along the way.

Dunedin and Northern Otago

I was looking forward to Dunedin as I had heard lots of good things about it, and the city of Scottish heritage (Dùn Èideann is the Gaelic name for Edinburgh) did not disappoint:

Unlike Wellington, it is located around a beautiful harbour, has several (free) museums and galleries, and a Town Belt with abundant hiking and mountain bike trails.
The stunningly beautiful Otago Peninsula is right at its doorstep, and within less than an hour, you can observe the Royal Albatross in the only breeding colony on New Zealand’s mainland and rare yellow-eyed and blue penguins coming to shore after a day of fishing at sea.
A tremendous half-day outing is a ride on the Taieri Gorge Railway: Sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning scenery as you pass across fertile plains and travel through 10 tunnels and countless viaducts.
Dunedin is also home to some fantastic street art and Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest residential street.
About an hour’s drive north of Dunedin, you will pass a sign for the Moeraki Boulders. It is worth stopping for these giant stones dotted along the beach, even though it is a popular tourist spot. Some of the boulders are still stuck in the coastal cliffs. Others have already been ‘freed’ by the forces of nature. And others yet have broken into pieces, enabling you to marvel at their crystalline interior.

Half an hour’s drive further north is Oamaru. Not only does this cool town boast many gorgeous Victorian-style buildings, but it also has its very own colony of Blue Penguins. Every year, on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, the city buzzes with people dressed up for the annual Steampunk Festival. You can still pop by Steampunk HQ at all other times of the year.

We recommend booking your Otago experiences through Bookme to save money on activities.

Mackenzie Region: Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/Mt Cook

Even though I had been to the South Island numerous times before, I had never made it to the famous lakes of the Mackenzie Region, let alone seen New Zealand’s highest mountain – majestic Aoraki/Mt Cook. Thanks to the gorgeous clear weather this time, we saw the mountain from as far away as Hokitika and Geraldine.

The first thought that comes to mind when you see Lake Pukaki and the canals connecting it with the surrounding lakes (including Lake Tekapo to form a giant hydroelectric scheme) is how, on earth, such a colour is possible. Even on a slightly overcast day, the Mackenzie Lakes are mesmerizingly turquoise. I’ve never seen anything like it.

While you will share the spot with other tourists, it is refreshing that there is no settlement on Lake Pukaki, only a tourist information centre and shop on the lake’s southern end. We have heard this might change, but we cross our fingers that it won’t.

From the southern tip of the lake, it’s about a 45-minute drive to Mt Cook village. The town is the vantage point for Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, a paradise for hikers and mountain lovers. With the weather on our side, Paul and I decided to fly over Mt Cook and the glaciers in a ski plane. While at times stomach-churningly turbulent, seeing Aoraki, the Southern Alps, and the glaciers (including the Tasman, New Zealand’s largest glacier) up close was a fantastic experience.

Mackenzie Region: Lake Tekapo

The Mackenzie Region, and Lake Tekapo in particular, is well known to photography enthusiasts, who are flocking to the only Dark Sky Reserve of the Southern Hemisphere to capture the stunning night sky (and the occasional Aurora Australis). We watched the sunset at the famous Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo, sharing the space with what felt like gazillions of tripods. You can also stargaze from the observatory on Mt John, but we found the price of the tours a bit too high.

Apart from the Church and the stunning turquoise lake, there are many hiking trails and two ski fields (at Roundhill and Mt Dobson). And after a day of hiking or skiing, you can soak your tired legs in the Tekapo Hot Springs. They are open until 21:00, so you can even stargaze from your hot pool on a winter’s day.

Christchurch and surrounds

As you travel north from the Mackenzie Region to Christchurch, you are likely to pass through Geraldine, a quaint little town worthy (at least) of a stopover to stretch your legs, pop into one of its quirky shops and meet the friendly locals. Take the scenic route (State Highway 72) from Geraldine to Christchurch. If you are an avid skier/snowboarder and travel through in winter, stop in Methven for a day skiing at Mt Hutt or one of the many private ski fields north of Mt Hutt.

I had last visited Christchurch with my parents a month before the devastating earthquake in February 2011. So I was keen to see what the city was like now. A lot has been rebuilt since, but seeing the damage brought upon by the earthquakes of 2010/2011 so many years later was still heart-wrenchingly sad. On the other hand, having visited Napier and Hastings, I am confident that Christchurch will rise from the ashes as these two cities have.

Very fittingly, the first place we visited this time was Quake City. This unique exhibition of the Canterbury Museum tells the story of the earthquakes and explains their geological impact on the area. Parts of Christchurch are now Red Zones, uninhabitable parklands that once housed thousands of people. The extended shaking of the ground caused liquefaction, and the silt and high groundwater that sit under large parts of Christchurch caused houses and roads to sink into the ground.

At Cathedral Square, the ruins of the 19th-century Anglican Cathedral stand, reminding everyone of the destruction Mother Earth can unleash at any moment. While the reconstruction of the old cathedral started, a temporary cathedral was established only a few blocks away. The cathedral, which is (partially) made of cardboard and a beautiful structure in its own right, symbolises the ingenuity and resilience of the people of Christchurch.

Suppose you have a few days left at the end of your road trip around New Zealand. In that case, we recommend exploring Christchurch’s coastal communities: pretty Sumner, laid-back Taylor’s Mistake, Godley Head, and the Banks Peninsula, all waiting to be explored. If you’re lucky, you might even see the rare Hector dolphins on a cruise to Akaroa Harbour.

We recommend booking your Christchurch experiences through Bookme to save money on activities.

Explore Christchurch’s neighbourhoods and beyond by rental car

If you plan to drive around the South Island, and Christchurch is your starting point, pick up your vehicle upon arrival. Although the public transport system in Christchurch, you’ll see more places with a rental car.

Kaikoura

Dolphins will also likely greet you during a whale-watching trip further up the coast. Kaikoura is the whale-watching capital of New Zealand. Why? For starters, sperm whales feed in the nutrient-rich waters off the Kaikoura coast all year round. If that’s not enough, many migrating whales (including humpback, pilot, blue and southern right whales) and orca stop off Kaikoura’s coast for feed as they travel between the Antarctic and the South Pacific.

Before you go, if you liked our article and found it helpful, we would appreciate it if you could share it with your friends and family via the Share buttons below. Even better: Leave a short review on Trustpilot or Google, which would help us further build our online reputation as a (trustworthy and helpful) travel and lifestyle blog.