The South Island



The South Island is best known for the beauty of its landscape and its excellent skifields, but the longer you stay, the more you’ll find out about this land of contrasts. Home of the legendary pioneer sheep stations, mighty Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, Milford and Heaphy Tracks and stunning Fiordland, the South Island will take your breath away! South Island highlights include:
  • Christchurch – the largest city. Nightlife, historical buildings, the New Brighton Pier and beaches, the city is surrounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and the volcanic Port Hills, on the other the Canterbury Plains, fringed by the Southern Alps
  • Fiordland – magnificent Fiords, carved into the mountainous landscape by glaciers aeons ago. Fox, Tasman and Franz Josef, the three remaining glaciers
  • Westland – rainforest, birdlife, history and magnificent coastal scenery
  • Central Otago – high and remote, this beautiful inland mountain area can be explored by bike on the Central Otago Rail Trail
  • Abel Tasman National Park ,Nelson - beautiful beaches, outstanding native bush and the opportunity to take Kayak treks through the park
  • Mt Cook/Aoraki National Park - in the heart of the Southern Alps, high, remote, snow-clad mountains world-renowned for their beauty and fantastic outdoor adventure activities.

The South Island has the most remote and majestic landscapes in the country, as well as stunning coastline and beaches. For more information about the special features of each region, go to our regional listings.

Click on the a region in the map to the right, or click on one of the links below for more information about our regions.

Nelson region information Timaru region information Queenstown region information
Marlborough region information Waitaki region information Fiordland region information
Christchurch/Canterbury region information Dunedin/Clutha region information Southland region information
West Coast region information Central Otago region information Stewart Island region information
Mt Cook Mackenzie region information Wanaka region information
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