South Island Discovery

On arrival you will be transferred to your Christchurch hotel for two nights so you can experience the city and acclimatise.

This is the largest city on the South Island and you’ll be able to stroll through the delightful Botanic Gardens, take a historic tram ride or a leisurely punt on the leafy river Avon.

Despite the challenges of earthquakes, it is a peaceful city with plenty of old world charm and picturesque architecture. Enjoy the familiar yet very different shopping, the intriguing galleries and the stylish restaurants that are a constant temptation.

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Distance: 362km (225miles)

Leaving Christchurch you’ll quickly discover there’s plenty to see as you head to Dunedin. There’s the aviation museum of Ashburton, along with its gorgeous parks and vintage railway. There’s Timar with its craft brewery, Botanic Gardens and Te Ana Rock Art Centre. And there’s Oamaru with perhaps the country’s best preserved 19^th century limestone architecture of the Opera House, Forrester Gallery and Victorian Precinct.

The mysterious Moeraki Boulders have sat on the beach for 56 million years and are one of the world’s natural wonders. Perfectly spherical, they are truly surreal as the ebbing tide reveals them.

Dunedin is known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, with a deep Scottish heritage (the name itself stems from the Gaelic for ‘Edinburgh’). Scottish influences abound and there’s even a Robbie Burns statue in the centre of town.

Visit Lanarch Castle or take the superb Taieri Gorge Railway from Dunedin’s iconic ‘gingerbread’ Victorian station (one of the world’s great rail journeys). This is an old university town, built on the riches of the gold mining heyday, and the Victorian and Edwardian architecture is striking.

Discover the Otago peninsula with its dramatic seascapes and scenic drives along to the albatross sanctuary on the headland, home also to penguin colonies and fur seals.

The drive itself is a magnificent experience with stunning views around every turn – try going out and coming back on different routes to take full advantage.

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Distance: 205km (127miles)

Today you head for the Catlins, an area of beautiful forests, bush walks and the small but pretty Matai and Horseshoe waterfalls. These little gems are well tucked away (though signposted) and you’ll need to walk a little way through the lush, temperate rain forest to reach them.

As you pass Lake Waihola it’s a good point to stop for a cuppa before you reach historic Milton. As you reach the wild south coast look out for seals, penguins and dolphins – always a spectacular sight.

If time permits take a ferry boat out to New Zealand’s third island, Rakiura or Stewart Island. It’s a remote spot and you are truly far away from the madding crowd, as well as being in a great place to catch sight of a kiwi in the wild.

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Distance: 160km (100miles)

Heading up from Invercargill to Te Anau, one route takes you past Riverton, one of the earliest settlements on the island. Another option is to arrive via Lake Manapouri, whose brooding waters lie on the edge of the Fjordland National Park.

In Te Anau be sure to visit the Glow Worm Caves, an underground world of waterfalls illuminated by countless glow worms.

The scenery all around is sensational. The drive alone to Milford is exceptional, with plenty of chances to stop for photos and admire the temperate rain forest, extraordinary valley views, tumbling waterfalls and the stunning Mirror Lakes.

Watch out for the cheeky Kea birds – feathered hooligans with a penchant for car window seals!

Going through the Homer Tunnel is extraordinary, considering it was begun with manual labour and pick axes. The Milford Sound cruise is always astonishing for its array of wildlife and towering scenery on all sides. It will inevitably be a highlight of your trip.

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Distance: 190km (119miles)

Skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu as you make your way to Queenstown, set against the dramatic Southern Alps. Spend some time exploring this beautiful town before heading to Arrowtown for a two night stay.

Located in the Otago region of the South Island, Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town and is well worth exploring. For those that seek a little more excitement, Queenstown is just a 20km drive away.

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Distance: 57km (36miles)

The best route to Wanaka is via the Crown Range. It’s craggy and twisting but worth it for the views and a coffee stop at the historic Cardrona hotel. This is New Zealand’s highest public road, after all. A more sedate route takes you along the Shotover River and Lake Dunstan.

Wanaka is relaxed and generally peaceful, a gentle spot on a shimmering lake surrounded by mountains. Stroll along the beach and look for the famous ‘Wanaka tree’ poking out of the water.

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Distance: 286km (178miles)

It’s a stunning road running north from Wanaka along Lake Hawea. The scenery is mesmerising with plenty of places to pull over and soak up the view.

Passing waterfalls and the gorgeous Blue Pools, you eventually reach the Haast Pass, a fifty mile stretch running through Mt Aspiring National Park. The terrain is rugged and dramatic, giving way to rain forest until finally you reach the surf of the Tasman Sea.

The glaciers at Fox and Franz Josef are majestic. Park up and then follow the walking trails up to the glaciers as far as possible (it will change daily according to the weather) and get a real sense of their incredible scale.

Nearby Lake Matheson is a popular detour, with trails through the surrounding rain forest and views across the lake to the Southern Alps: the so-called Reflection of Reflections.

An alternative option is to enjoy a soak in the Glacier Hot Pools, situated among the lush rain forest in the centre of Fox town.

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Distance: 173km (108miles)

Leaving the glaciers behind, continue up the west coast, perhaps pausing at Hokitika for provisions. Take the time to visit the Hokitika Gorge for memorable views from the swing bridge over the blue waters and to the ancient forest beyond.

Not far away lies West Coast Treetops Walk where you can explore the tree canopy on aerial boardwalks. And further north is Shantytown, near Greymouth, a replica gold rush town where you can wander the streets and buildings.

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Distance: 300km (188miles)

Further north still are the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki. Formed 30 million years ago, and resembling layers of pancakes stacked up on top of each other, the pounding surf still blasts away, sending plumes and jets high into the air.

After passing Westport, with its unmistakable feel of the gold rush era, you’ll head for the Buller Gorge, home to New Zealand’s longest swing bridge.

The landscape gradually becomes softer and gentler as you leave the rugged west coast and mountains behind. The rolling hills and forested slopes give way to orchards and fertile fields as you approach Nelson and the north coast.

Abel Tasman National Park enjoys New Zealand’s highest levels of sunshine and the beaches here can have a distinctly Mediterranean fell about them. Enjoy some superb walking trails or take a leisurely water taxi to see the coast from a different perspective.

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Distance: 54km (34miles)

Kaiteriteri, west of Nelson, is a great place for picking up kayaks and taking a paddle around the headland. Why not join a guided excursion to the incredible Split Apple Rock – it looks just like a split apple and has been there in the shallows for 120 million years.

With fine, white sand beaches, palm trees, jauntily painted houses Nelson appears almost subtropical. And with seaside promenades, a bustling marina with bobbing yachts and enticing eateries, you could imagine yourself on the Côte d’Azur.

There are friendly cafés, galleries and lots of arts and crafts, not to mention a selection of rather decent small breweries.

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Distance: 138km (86miles)

Located in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds, this picturesque port town boasts excellent cafés and restaurants. Nestled around a sheltered harbour, the small town features a charming seafront and a floating maritime museum and an aquarium. There are a range of activities, including fishing, dolphin watching, sea kayaking, and mountain biking.

A popular day trip is to walk or cycle a section of the 70km Queen Charlotte Track. Combined with a scenic cruise in the sound, enjoy fabulous coastal views and native bush for a uniquely Marlborough Sound experience.

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Distance: 155km (96miles)

At Kaikoura you’ll find a playground of aquatic mammals, feeding in the rich coastal waters. There are whales and dolphins passing close to the shore and often clearly visible from the coastal walkway. 

A popular option is to join a whale watching cruise where you have a better chance of getting up close.

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