SOUTH ISLAND REGIONS

Simply click on a region on the map below to get more information.

Nelson

Location
Situated around Tasman and Golden Bays at the top of the South Island, the Nelson region is surrounded by sheltering mountain ranges, giving it a mediterranean-type climate.

General
Nelson is known for its year-round sun, golden beaches, three national parks, 350 working artists, boutique wineries and the city for its historical streetscapes, waterfront cafes, fresh seafood, and a thoroughly relaxed lifestyle.

Nelson with a population of about 52,000, was named after Admiral Lord Nelson of Battle of Trafalgar fame, is the main commercial centre for the region, whose main industries are forestry, horticulture, fishing and tourism.

Main Attractions/Activities
Nelson's artists include carvers, glassblowers, painters, potters and weavers, whose work can be seen by following any of the 13 craft trails that also take in Nelson's most attractive rural settlements.

Within the sheltering confines of Tasman Bay, Nelson's beaches are safe, with silvery sand. Tahunanui Beach, within the city boundaries has the largest and best-equipped holiday park in the country.

Only the West Coast has as many national parks as Nelson. Abel Tasman, New Zealand's smallest, is a coastal wonderland of sea, sky, rocky headlands and bright golden beaches. The Nelson Lakes National Park is set amidst the mountains and glaciated valleys of south Nelson, and features beech forests and the beautiful jewel-like lakes, Rotoiti and Rotoroa. Kahurangi, the country's second-largest national park comprises 450,000 hectares of mostly upland wilderness, with magnificent three to four-day hiking trails.

A range of adventure experiences is available including sea kayaking, whitewater rafting on the Buller River, tandem skydiving, four-wheel drive motorbiking through native forest and hiking on some of the country's best-known tracks. There's also a 35km, four-wheel drive trip along Farewell Spit, caving under Marble Mountain, and skiing or snowboarding the Rainbow ski area.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Nelson - this regional city is renowned for its arts and crafts and fine food.
Motueka - town nearest to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks.

Marlborough

Location
Marlborough Region is situated on the north-eastern corner of the South Island, due west of Wellington.

General
Visitors may fly direct to Blenheim, Marlborough's main town, or take the ferries from Wellington to Picton, the local port in Queen Charlotte Sound. Sunny and dry, Marlborough is sheltered by nearby hills and mountains, and is renowned for its vineyards, delicious food, scenic boat cruising and forest walks.

Blenheim with its population of 26,000, is an attractive and peaceful town of parks and gardens. Although it has the low-key ambience of rural New Zealand, it has sophisticated cafes, restaurants and accommodation usually found in larger centres.

Main Attractions/Activities
With the country's largest area of vineyards, Marlborough's major attraction is vineyard visits, wine tasting and cafes. To the north, the sheltered, drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds are a boating and fishing paradise.

The quaint waterfront village of Picton is the starting point for an idyllic marine playground, indented with many secluded coves, pristine beaches and sheltered waterways. With 1,500 kilometres of shoreline, Marlborough offers unlimited opportunities for cruising, sailing, diving and fishing.

One of Marlborough's most scenic hikes is the 67 kilometre Queen Charlotte walk, a combination of both forest and coastal scenery. Closer to Blenheim, the Wither Hills Farm Park has a network of trails affording expansive views. On the northern side of the Wairau Valley, Mt Richmond Forest Park is also popular for hiking.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Blenheim - the main town of Marlborough and base for vineyard visits.
Picton - Marlborough's port and main centre for sounds trips.

West Coast

Location
In New Zealand, the "West Coast" generally refers to the narrow strip of land between the South Island's Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea.

General
The West Coast is a wild and sparsely populated region with some of the most dramatic scenery in New Zealand. It is an area of soaring mountain peaks, impressive glaciers, tranquil lakes and raging rivers, lush rainforest and a magnificent coastline that stretches for 600 kilometres. Most of its natural environment is still intact and preserved in national parks designated as World Heritage Areas.

The Coast's reputation for hospitality is legendary - "coasters" display a sincere friendliness and strength of character as unique as their surroundings.

Main Attractions/Activities
The West Coast region offers a variety of short scenic walks and hiking opportunities, as well as exciting adventure activities for all ages and levels of competence. Anglers will find they are in paradise anywhere on the coast.

Try rafting a subterranean stream through a weird world of stalactites, stalagmites and glow-worms. Between Westport and Greymouth is a wild, ruggedly beautiful coastline that features the unique Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki. Near Whataroa, on the shores of the Okarito Lagoon, is New Zealand's only nesting colony of the white heron (kotuku). Boat trips on this primeval swamp reveal these elegant birds in their natural glory.

Graded glacier trips at both Fox and Franz Josef accommodate every level of fitness and experience, and there are scenic flights and helicopter excursions for those who wish to view the glaciers from the air. The coast is also strewn with relics of the heady goldrush days of the 1860s, and tracks and walks explore many of the old workings. You can try your hand at gold panning at Shantytown, a replica goldfield town of last century, near Greymouth.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Westport - the main town in the north with nearby fur seal colony and the Oparara Caves.
Greymouth - the largest town on the Coast for jade crafts and Shantytown.
Hokitika - main town in the south with museums, craft galleries and historic buildings.

Christchurch

Location
Christchurch city is located midway down the east coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula.

General
The South Island's largest city with a population of just over 337,000 and main international gateway, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping, award-winning attractions and offers a host of other activities too.

It has all the amenities of a modern city, but is still very much a regional centre, serving the rich rural hinterland, with a laid-back pace to life. Its Gothic revival cathedral, grey-stone nineteenth century buildings, tree-lined avenues and extensive leafy parks have preserved the grace and charm of an earlier era.

Christchurch is a convenient base from which to explore the surrounding rural countryside and the natural attractions and activities of the region. After spending a day in the countryside visitors are able to enjoy international nightlife back in the city.

Main Attractions/Activities
Alive with colour, atmosphere and world-class attractions, Christchurch is a graceful city that values its culture and heritage, but offers a year round range of fresh and exciting adventures and activities.

The city is full of delights, from the beautiful neo-gothic Arts Centre, to the historic tram which loops the city centre, to the Christchurch Gondola and unique attractions like the International Antarctic Centre. The shopping is superb and the restaurants are a celebration of fresh, natural New Zealand foods and fine wines.

Known internationally for its award winning gardens, Christchurch is also a place for events and festivals. Whatever the season, you'll find a non-stop programme of entertainment with events like the Festival of Romance, the International Buskers Festival, winter carnival, and Showtime Canterbury in November.

Christchurch also has New Zealand's finest purpose-built Convention Centre, which caters for as little as 10 and up to 2500 people. There is also Christchurch Town Hall, the main venue for the performing arts and the Westpac Trust centre, a multi-purposed indoor venue for major sporting and entertainment events.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Christchurch - the South Island's largest city and provincial city for Canterbury.
Lyttelton - main Banks Peninsula town and port of Christchurch.

Canterbury

Location
The Canterbury Region includes a large central portion of the east coast of the South Island, centred around the city of Christchurch.

General
The Christchurch hinterland of highly productive farmlands extends from the silvery beaches of the east coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps on the western horizon. It offers many opportunities for fresh and exciting activities and attractions.

Main Attractions/Activities
Step back into Maori, whaling, French and British history in Akaroa - Canterbury's oldest village. You can take a cruise on Lyttleton Harbour and enjoy the dramatic volcanic landscape. In summer you might even get the chance to swim with the world's rarest dolphin, the Hector Dolphin.

Two hours north of Christchurch is Kaikoura, where the mountains meet the sea - one of the few places where you can see the giant sperm whale. To the northwest lies Hanmer Springs, a scenic alpine and thermal village. You can enjoy nature or adventure activities, or laze in the pools. Nearby, in the Hurunui District, you can enjoy the wineries of Waipara.

Inland from Christchurch lie the magnificent Southern Alps which are  only an hour from the city. The village of Arthurs Pass makes an ideal base for all kinds of activities, and you can also experience the TranzAlpine rail trip - one of the world's most spectacular train journeys that takes you from Christchurch to Greymouth.

South of Christchurch lies the Ashburton and Timaru districts. Ashburton District is home to all kinds of exciting activities like skiing, hot air ballooning and salmon fishing. Timaru district features many attractive towns, rolling green hills, lush pasture and braided rivers.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Lyttelton - main port for Canterbury.
Ashburton, Kaiapoi, Rangiora - country service towns.
Timaru - Canterbury's second-largest town and port for South Canterbury.

Mount Cook/Mackenzie Country

Location
Mackenzie Country is a high inland basin beneath the Southern Alps and Mount Cook, south west of Christchurch.

General
At 3,754 metres high, Mount Cook (or Aoraki, its Maori name) is New Zealand's highest mountain. It towers above a splendid cast of massive snow-clad peaks that make up Mount Cook National Park. Nudging one side of Mount Cook is the mighty Tasman Glacier, a 30 kilometre giant and one of the longest outside the Himalayas.

Mount Cook village is an easy five-hour drive from Christchurch. We recommend visitors take the route from Christchurch to Fairlie, gateway to the Mackenzie Country. From here the road passes through a land of lakes, vast open spaces and golden, tussock-covered hills rolling towards the towering Southern Alps.

On the way you will pass turquoise glacial lakes such as Lake Tekapo, on whose shores is the stone Church of the Good Shepherd, which has a spectacular view of the Southern Alps framed by its altar window.

Main Attractions/Activities
Scenic flights from Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook afford breathtaking views over the Southern Alps and countryside, with ski-plane landings on the Tasman Glacier providing an unforgettable experience. All ski options are available, including heli-skiing and ski touring, and guides are available for climbing.

Glorious mountain walks to suit every degree of fitness show off the park's rich flora, including the Mount Cook "lily", the largest buttercup in the world.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Fairlie - gateway to the Mackenzie Country and Mount Cook.
Mount Cook Village - Mount Cook National Park Headquarters.

Wanaka

Location
Wanaka is located on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, in west Otago, north of Queenstown.

General
Hemmed in by the Southern Alps, Wanaka is Otago's second resort after Queenstown. The crystal-clear waters of New Zealand's fourth-largest lake reflect the snow-capped peaks of the Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area, whose dominant feature is Mt Aspiring, towering above a magnificent glacier-sculpted wilderness.

Main Attractions/Activities

The highlight of the attractions at Wanaka is the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum at Skyshow Centre, with the largest collection of airworthy World War Two fighters in the Southern Hemisphere. These 'old warbirds' take to the skies every other Easter, attracting admirers from far and wide.

Mt Aspiring National Park is renowned for fishing, climbing and hiking, including possibly the best collection of half-day walks in the country. In the nearby mountains are internationally rated skifields Cardrona, Treble Cone, the Waiorau Nordic Ski Area, and Harris Mountains Heliskiing - one of the largest operations of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Don't Miss

Queenstown

Location
The major resort town of Queenstown nestles beside the deep blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, at the foot of the Remarkables Range in west Otago.

General
Queenstown is New Zealand's year-round alpine destination, where you can be as active as you like or just leisurely soak up the magnificent scenery. It has been judged as one of the top 25 cities in the world by a leading travel magazine. A recent count found that Queenstown and Arrowtown had a choice of over 100 restaurants and cafes, catering for all tastes and budgets.

Main Attractions/Activities
Shopping is Queenstown's speciality, and souvenir shops here are as good as any you will find elsewhere. There are year-round action-packed thrills such as jetboating on the Kawarau or Shotover rivers, where these amazing New Zealand-invented craft execute seemingly impossible manoeuvres. Queenstown is also the world capital and home of bungy jumping.

In winter, pristine powder runs are just over the hills. There are four world-renowned ski fields within easy reach, with tons of snow to ski, snowboard and play in. On nearby Lake Wakatipu, the vintage TSS Earnslaw has been beautifully restored to its original condition and takes visitors on daily trips.

The area has great rainbow trout, brown trout and quinnat salmon fishing, with the lake open year-round. Keen golfers shouldn't miss out on an opportunity to play some of the most scenic courses in the world, at award-winning Milbrook Resort, Kelvin Heights, Arrowtown and Frankton.

Close to Queenstown are the Gibbston Valley and Chard Farm vineyards. Don't miss historic Arrowtown with its quaint, tree-lined streets, miners cottages and the High Street preserved as they were during the 19th century gold rush era, just a 20 minute drive away.

Don't Miss

Central Otago

Location
Located in the centre of the South Island, inland from Dunedin, this semi-arid region comprises a series of river basins and deep river gorges.

General
Otago is often called the golden country due to its goldmining associations, vivid autumn colours and apricot orchards. The Central Otago region is the only one to experience a continental climate, having the hottest summers and coldest winters in New Zealand.

Old trails that provided access for thousands of miners in the gold rush of the 1860s can still be seen winding over the hills, along with stone cottages, cleverly-engineered water channels, mines and machinery associated with the gold rush.

Alexandra, the main town on the Clutha River is the centre for stone fruit, particularly golden apricots. The towns of Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell are ideal bases from which to explore the surrounding historic countryside.

Main Attractions/Activities
Exploring the heritage trails, quaint mining towns and historic sites is the most rewarding activity in this region. Most activities are associated with this, such as four-wheel drive safari excursions and gold panning.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Alexandra - main town of the region.
Roxburgh, Cromwell, Ranfurly - other towns.

Dunedin/Coastal Otago

Location
The Otago Coast stretches from the Waitaki River to the mighty Clutha River, on the South Island's eastern coast. About halfway between is Dunedin, built around Otago Harbour, which indents Otago Peninsula.

General
Dunedin, with a population of 112,000, is the South Island's second-largest city and the commercial centre for the Otago region. Its name is the old Gaelic one for Edinburgh - appropriate since the city was established by Scottish Presbyterians. It is a gracious city whose numerous grand nineteenth-century and Edwardian buildings are unrivalled anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.

Main Attractions/Activities

Dunedin's architectural heritage has provided the city with some notable buildings, including the train station, town hall, university and many churches. There are also special former private residences worth noting including Olveston, a Jacobean-style family home and Glenfalloch, surrounded by 12 hectares of woodland garden. Neo-Gothic Larnach Castle represents the finest of nineteenth century craftsmanship.

A natural attraction on the Otago Peninsula is the abundant wildlife, only a 15 to 20 minute drive from the central business district. Nature and wildlife tour companies run daily excursions to view fur seals, endangered yellow-eyed penguin, cormorants and albatross. Nowhere else in the world does the largest of the world's sea birds live within such easy human access.

Further north on the Otago coast is Oamaru, known for the grand white stone buildings of its old harbourside precinct. On Moeraki Beach, about halfway between Oamaru and Dunedin are the unique, perfectly round Moeraki Boulders, which weigh up to four tons each.

Don't Miss

Main Centres
Dunedin - main centre for Otago and second-largest South Island city.
Oamaru - for white-stone Victorian architecture and blue penguins.

Fiordland

Location
Fiordland comprises the rugged, glaciated country and fjords in the south-west corner of the South Island.

General
Te Anau is the gateway to the world-famous Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area covering nearly 1.2 million hectares. Fiordland represents nature on a grand scale, where waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine, forested valleys, and glacier-carved fjords indent its coastal boundaries.

Main Attractions/Activities
The road to Milford Sound, which traverses Fiordland National Park below massive peaks and bluffs, is considered one of the finest alpine drives in the world. Arriving at Milford, visitors are confronted by the most famous of New Zealand icons - the majestic Mitre Peak.

As roads provide access to only a relatively small part of Fiordland, flightseeing provides one of the best ways to really appreciate this vast wilderness. Flights are available from either Te Anau or Milford. Taking the road one way and flying the other adds variety.

Fiordland National Park also contains five of the country's best-known hiking trails, ranging from 1½-day nature walks to three-day walks on well-established tracks. Other activities in the Te Anau area include sea kayaking, diving, cycling, golf, fishing, sailing, swimming, hunting and visits to spectacular glow-worm caves.

If you have time to cruise the sounds, you will be surrounded by mountain peaks and towering sheer granite cliffs from which spectacular waterfalls plunge to the sea below. This is the realm of playful bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and gulls. Milford Sound is the most famous, but Doubtful Sound - the deepest - is also easily accessible.

Visitors to this vast, remote area, practically untouched by humans, are often overwhelmed by the incredible solitude and serenity of Fiordland.

Don't Miss

Main Centre
Te Anau - for restaurants and accommodation.

Southland

Location
Southland is New Zealand's southern-most region, and includes New Zealand's third island, Stewart Island.

General
Southland's lush, green pastoral lands are among the richest in the country, a strong contrast to dry Central Otago further north. There are many farmstay options available in this region for those looking for a real Kiwi experience.

The region's largest urban centre is Invercargill, a city of 49,000 or so people, with many elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, gardens and landscaped parks. Like Dunedin to the north, Scots also settled Invercargill.

Unspoilt in its isolation, Stewart Island across Foveaux Strait is the third largest island making up New Zealand.

Main Attractions/Activities
On the coast, the Catlins Forest Park is a place of hidden waterfalls and river valleys, where native forest meets the water's edge. Rocky bays, inlets and estuaries make up some of the region's most magnificent coastal scenery.

Invercargill has an excellent art gallery and museum with high-tech audio/visual displays based on the flora and fauna of New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands. It also has a unique live display of the tuatara, a lizard-like reptile related to the dinosaur, that is native to New Zealand. Gore, on the Mataura River, has gained a good reputation for its trout.

For anyone seeking peace and tranquillity, Stewart Island is the ultimate spot. With skies a stunning palette of glowing hues, the vivid dawn and twilight colours which gave rise to the most loved Maori name of this isle, Rakiura or "Land of the Glowing Skies." There are superb bush walks and great launch cruises around some of New Zealand's most beautiful coastline. Stewart Island offers the visitor a holiday which will provide experiences for the adventurous or restore the soul of those wishing to unwind from stressful lifestyles.

Don't Miss