Discover New Zealand’s South Island

Home to the holiday resort of Queenstown, the marine life encounters of Kaikoura and the rugged walking tracks intertwined between towering mountain ranges, New Zealand’s South Island has a lifetime of adventure.

The alpine lake region in the centre of the island is cool, calm and clear with crystal lakes surrounded by mountain ranges. You could stare out at the glassy surfaces for hours looking for the slightest movement, or take advantage of the activities on offer like kayaking, fishing and horse riding. Spectacular all year round, watch the colours of the region change from sunrise to sunset and even nightfall as all the stars come out to play.

Even the more urban locations can’t escape the natural beauty of the South Island. The northeastern city of Nelson is New Zealand’s culture hub, with hundreds of artists inspired by the landscape of golden beaches, freshwater springs and vineyards. While increasingly cosmopolitan, Queenstown also sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, and is the country’s mecca for adrenaline with skiing, bunjy jumping, sky diving and jet boating all available.

Thanks to the spectacular coastline, marine life encounters are common. Whales, fur seals and dolphins live in the waters permanently off of Kaikoura, some of which you can even swim with. Dunedin should really be renamed Penguinland for its black and white waddling residents. The world’s smallest penguin, the korora, and the rare yellow-eyed hoiho penguin, can both be found on the outskirts of the city, with wildlife tours offering unique sightings of these adorable flightless birds.

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