10 Unmissable South Island Attractions, New Zealand
| February 2, 2023 | Filled under Destinations, Latest Posts |
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The South Island of New Zealand is made up of a stunningly diverse landscape, from the mountainous Southern Alps to the golden beaches and lush rainforests. It’s also home to some of the country’s most popular cities, including Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.
New Zealanders have been flocking to this part of the country for years, drawn by its stunning landscapes and relaxed pace of life. The South Island is well worth exploring for its many attractions, from beautiful national parks and glaciers to medieval castles and prehistoric sites. Whether you’re looking for something adventurous or relaxing, there’s something for everyone on this part of New Zealand’s magical south island.
10 Unmissable South Island Attractions, New Zealand
The South Island offers everything from the bustling city life of Christchurch to the peaceful isolation of Stewart Island, where you’ll find some of the best wilderness on Earth. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or just want to get away from it all, there’s something here for everyone. Here are 10 things you can’t miss when you visit South Island:
The Fox Glacier
This glacier is one of the most easily accessible in the area, and it is also one of the most popular destinations for tourists. It is located on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island and is fed by water from snowmelt as well as rainwater and glacial streams. There are many options for visitors to explore the glacier, including walking trails and scenic flights over its icy peaks. The glacier is also an active one, and visitors can see large chunks of ice breaking off from its face.
Franz Josef Glacier
If you want to see a glacier up close and personal, then Franz Josef Glacier should definitely be on your list. This glacier is located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, which covers an area of more than 2 million acres (8,000 km²). Visitors can hike along parts of this glacier or take boat tours that offer views from different perspectives—including underneath its surface! The Franz Josef Glacier Lodge offers accommodation for those who want to spend more time exploring this incredible natural wonder.
Dunedin’s Cadbury Chocolate Factory (Dunedin)
The Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Dunedin is one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attractions. The museum takes visitors through a series of exhibits that illustrate how chocolate is made and gives you the opportunity to sample some of the delicious chocolate products they make there. The tour ends with a free tasting session where you can sample any of their tasty treats! The Chocolate Factory is a great place to visit if you have children, as they will love seeing how their favorite sweet treats are made. It’s also a fun experience for adults who want to learn more about chocolate!
Te Anau Glowworm Caves (Te Anau)
The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are one of New Zealand’s greatest natural wonders. They’re home to thousands of glowworms that hang from the cave ceiling and light up when you shine your flashlight on them! You can take an easy walk through the caves or take a more challenging hike through them if you want to get closer to these fascinating creatures!
Milford Sound
This is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you’ll definitely want to see it during your visit. It’s located on Fjordland National Park and has an average rainfall over 2000 mm per year. If you’re going there during the winter months (June-August), we recommend staying indoors until late afternoon or evening because of the cold weather conditions outside.
Queenstown
This small town is known for its scenic beauty, hiking trails, and adventure activities such as skiing and paragliding. You can also visit nearby Alexandra Park if you want some peace and quiet away from all the activity in town! The town is situated at the end of Lake Wakatipu, which has many islands that you can visit. The most famous one is Moturau Island, which was used as a location for the filming of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit.” If you’re planning on visiting Queenstown during spring or summer months, we recommend wearing warm clothes because it gets pretty chilly overnight.
The Catlins Coastal Walk
If you want to take in some amazing sights without having to climb too high or descend too far underground, then this walk is for you. It starts at Owaka Quay and takes you through pristine coastal forest, past beaches and estuaries, and past giant sand dunes before ending at Owaka Harbour. You’ll need to be prepared for rain showers along the way; so bring good walking shoes, rain gear and lots of water!
Mount Cook National Park
Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak at 3754 meters above sea level (or 13,320 feet). It can be accessed by plane or helicopter from Queenstown or Christchurch; but if you’re looking for a more traditional route up the mountain then head east from Wanaka towards Twizel and Mount Cook Village on the Mt Cook Highway. The road isn’t open during winter, so it’s best to travel there from September to May. It will take you about 2 hours to drive from Wanaka to the village and another 45 minutes on foot or by bus up to the Base Camp. From here you can climb up one of three different mountain peaks: Mount Cook (3,754m), Mount Sefton (3,621m) or Tasman Peak (2,917m).
The Catlins Coastal Walk
If you want to take in some amazing sights without having to climb too high or descend too far underground, then this walk is for you. It starts at Owaka Quay and takes you through pristine coastal forest, past beaches and estuaries, and past giant sand dunes before ending at Owaka Harbour. You’ll need to be prepared for rain showers along the way; so bring good walking shoes, rain gear and lots of water!
Farewell Spit
Farewell Spit, the longest sand spit in the world, is a must-see attraction in New Zealand. Located at the tip of South Island, it’s a 45km-long beach that stretches into Cook Strait. The spit was formed by waves pushing sand into the ocean and leaving a sandy peninsula behind.
Farewell Spit is known as one of the best places to watch dolphins in New Zealand due to its sheltered waters and abundance of food sources. Dolphins can be seen from February through December each year. The most popular time to see them is from June through September when they’re feeding on krill and anchovies near the shoreline at low tide.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 10 Unmissable South Island Attractions, New Zealand. We know it can be hard to decide where to go on your trip, so we wanted to give you a few ideas about some of the most amazing places in this beautiful country.
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