I grew up in New Zealand… specifically on a Sheep Farm outside of Gore down in Southland. I left home at 16 and traveled (a lot of) the world. I met my wife and we eventually settled down in the States (sort of). In 2012 I moved my family, including three kids, back to New Zealand to help with the Christchurch earthquake reconstruction. This is a list we complied after living and traveling the rugged and scenic South Island for 10 years. This was a very challenging list to prepare, as there are many places that we love … so read this list as just a few of our highlights. See our specific blog articles for more details on some of these areas. Note, these are not listed as an itinerary – but rather as things to include on your trip … whether you’re making a quick zip around the place, or a longer and more engaging visit.

Milford Sound – the 8th wonder of the world
One of my favourite visits to Milford was in October, springtime, when I took my wife and daughter. We enjoyed the drive almost at much at Milford itself. October is lambing season and there were more lambs than we could count. Although you can drive from Queenstown in 4+ hours, it’s a more convenient to start your drive from Te Anau (2 hour drive to Milford). Our family crib (holiday house) was in Te Anau, and it was a great home base for visiting fiordland, the glow worm caves, hiking (Kepler Track, Milford Track, Routeburn Track, etc), and also Milford Sound. You can also take a flight from Queenstown to Milford if you want to save time and want awesome, up close Mountain views. Click here to read our blog post about Milford.

Mount Cook – the razor sharp edges of Aoraki
While you can see Mt. Cook/Aoraki as you drive around the South end of Lake Pukaki, the mountain can be a little bashful and hide behind the clouds … partly because the mountain is a lot further away than you think. We’ve made the ~1 hr drive to Mount Cook village on several occasions, and have never regretted taking the trip. Most times we would stay at least one night, but it’s also a nice day-trip from Lake Tekapo, Twizel, or other nearby town. If the clouds cooperate, there are numerous vantage points to take memorable photographs along the way. Once at Mt. Cook village be sure to do the Hooker Valley Walk (after they repair the first suspension bridge), and enjoy the amazing views … or stay at/ have lunch at the Hermitage, and hope for a glimpse of this beautiful mountain. Check here to read our blog post about Mt. Cook.

Queenstown – the adventure Mecca of the world
Where do you start – there are so many things to see and do. I’ve visited Queenstown approximately 150 times, and stayed at The Heritage Hotel for 50 of those visits – it is definitely my favourite hotel on account of the amazing lake and mountain views of the Remarkables (and more). If you want to get your adrenaline pumping, there are so many activities to choose from – jet boating through narrow canyons, bungy jump from the bridge that started it all, the world’s largest swing (300m / 980ft), skiing, downhill mountain biking, paragliding, whitewater rafting, and much, much more. However, there are also some amazing activities that are much less physically demanding as well – the Earnslaw cruise to Walter Peak Station, walking around one of the lake shores, or drive up Deer Park (one of my wife’s favourite places in New Zealand). We’ll make a blog post or two about Queenstown sometime soon.

Lake Tekapo – an International Dark Sky Reserve with spectacular lake and mountain views
This was the largest international dark sky reserve when it was formally designated in 2012, and is a must-see for anyone who want to see what the stars really look like – without all the light pollution from towns and cities. During the day, enjoy the turquoise lake with snow capped mountains in the background, with the most special views from the Church of the Good Shepherd. Lake Tekapo is within the McKenzie Basin, and a statue to McKenzie and his dog are a short walk along the lake shore from the church. The hot pools are well worth a visit, day or night, and are especially enjoyable if you spent a day hiking anywhere in the area. Lake Tekapo is a particularly special place to visit in November & December when the Lupins are blooming (but stargazers need to remember that it will get dark much later in the evening than during the winter months). We’ve stayed at numerous places in Lake Tekapo, but our favourite is the Parkhead Motel – right on the lake front.

Mt. Sunday – aka Edoras, the capital of Rohan, from Lord of the Rings (LOTR)
There are a lot of touristy LOTR places to see in New Zealand, but this one is well off the beaten track, and is our absolute favourite. It’s a great day-trip from Christchurch, and an amazing place to have a picnic lunch – on top of a small ‘mountain’ surrounded by big mountains. We’ve written two different blog articles here and here, but written a few years apart. The LOTR set has long since been removed, but you still get a real sense of the place as you hike up the ridgeline.

Wanaka – It used to be where the ‘locals’ went instead of Queenstown
Tourists have flocked to Queenstown for a very long time, but most people from nearby areas would prefer to holiday in Wanaka. Even although it’s become super popular now, it still feels a lot less crowded and commercial than Queenstown. The mountain views are spectacular, and lake is beautiful. This is a great location in winter due to it’s proximity to Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields (Queenstown is closest to Coronet Peak and Remarkables ski fields) – but I think Cardrona is becoming ever more popular. Mountain biking is very popular in the area, and there are a lot of hiking options for a range of fitness levels up to true mountaineering … with Mt. Aspiring nearby. Puzzling World is much less physically demanding, as is a coffee/lunch visit at the historic Cardrona Hotel, both of which are worth visiting. Check out this previous blog post about Wanaka.

Queen Charlotte and Able Tasman – Sunny beaches at the top of the South (Island)
The equator is to the North, so these areas are generally the sunniest and warmest places on the South Island. They are two different areas, separated by a 2.5-3 hour drive. However, both of these areas feature beautiful tropical-like beaches that are very different from the rest of the South Island. The stunning beaches are simply awesome places to kayak, walk, or soak up the sun. It would difficult to pick one over the other, and each could be their own item on this list. We enjoyed them both and hope to go back one day! The beaches in Able Tasman are the most beautiful, whereas the views in Queen Charlotte are the best.

Glenorchy – and Paradise Valley!
This could be combined with Queenstown as a day trip option, but I think Paradise Valley is the most beautiful place in all of New Zealand … especially once you cross the Jordan River. The little settlement of Glenorchy is a lovely place to visit, after the magnificent views driving up the East side of Lake Wakatipu (it’s 60+minutes of curves and beautiful scenery). Growing up on a sheep farm, I love the remote mountain and farm views – as do most visitors to this place. I believe that the Routeburn Track is one of the best 2-4 day tramps (hikes) in the world, and is accessible from Glenorchy. It comes out on the road to Milford Sound (you can walk this track either way) … but limit your hiking to the Nov. – April summer season (my wife and I hiked it in late April 1988, and got rained on most of the time).

Christchurch Surrounds
Christchurch was our home base while we lived back in New Zealand for 10 years. It is called ‘The Garden City’, and certainly has a large and beautiful Botanic Garden in Hagley Park in the central city. The picturesque Avon River meanders through the city out to the Pacific Ocean, with Sumner Beach the most popular. From Sumner, take the zig-zag road up and over to Taylors Mistake for a more secluded beach experience, surfing, and the start of a fantastic hike out to the old WWII Battery which once guarded the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour. The Antarctic Centre is worth visiting, out by the airport, and it provides a glimpse of what it’s like down on ‘The Ice’. Downtown Christchurch has mostly be rebuilt after the earthquakes of 2010-11 with lots of new buildings, although the old Cathedral has not been repaired. We also loved to visit Victoria Park and then hike up to “The Sign of the Kiwi” – for the best data scones in all of New Zealand. The French settlement of Akaroa is a great day trip, as is a visit to Castle Hill.

The West Coast (South Island)
It’s a rugged, rough, and remote part of New Zealand, but it’s also worth visiting. While there is farming on the Coast, large portions feel natural and unspoiled – as if you’re in another world. The towns along the way are all relatively small, and the locals are also rugged and rough – just like the landscape. Some of the best highlights include the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, the Hokitika Gorge, the TranzAlpine train (goes over Arthur’s Pass to/from Christchurch), Lake Matheson (near Fox), Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph Glacier (both of which are in retreat). It does rain a lot on the West Coast, and you need to have a raincoat nearby every day … the standard weather forecast is “If you can see the hills, it’s going to rain … If you can’t see the hills, it already is”!

Dad’s Recommendation:
Hopefully you can visit sometime, it’s totally worth the flight. Remember, in the Southern Hemisphere: winter is from June to August, and summer is from December to February (and school holidays are in January). Want help planing your itinerary – contact us! Having lived there we are a great source for planing that bespoke trip!