The places you should visit in the South Island

By Chris Sutton, Director, The New Zealand Touring Co. Chris has been selling New Zealand to international travellers for years.

Last Updated: July 2026

If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand’s South Island, the biggest challenge isn’t finding things to do. It’s narrowing it down. From golden beaches and glacier-carved fiords to alpine peaks, star-filled skies, and rugged coastlines, the South Island packs an incredible variety of experiences into one relatively compact place.

Most travellers start from either Christchurch or Queenstown, since they’re the two main international gateways on the South Island. Both make a great starting point for a loop around the South Island, but it really depends on what you want to see, how much time you have, and what time of year you’re travelling.

To give you a feel for what’s out there, here are our favourite highlights, working our way from the top of the South Island down, with a few must-see stops along the way!

Top of the South Island

Abel Tasman National Park

Sitting at the very top of the South Island, Abel Tasman is absolutely stunning. Think golden beaches, clear skies, and that turquoise-aqua ocean you usually only see on postcards. It feels like a proper holiday spot the moment you arrive.

The main attraction here is the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It takes about three to five days to complete end-to-end, and you’ll need to book huts or campsites in advance. But you don’t have to commit to the whole thing to enjoy it. Day walks along the track are just as beautiful, and there are lovely day trips where you can be dropped at one end and walk (or kayak) back to another.

Sea kayaking tours here are one of the highlights of the whole South Island. You can spot fur seals, and if you’re lucky, dolphins. It’s a place you’ll want to slow down and really soak up the sunshine.

The East Coast, from Kaikōura Down

Kaikōura

Heading down the east coast, Kaikōura is a coastal town that has become one of the most incredible wildlife destinations in the country.

The big drawcard here is the whale watching. You can take a boat tour out to see sperm whales up close, and this is one experience I can truly say is unforgettable. Seeing a whale breach that close to the boat is one of those “you suddenly feel very small” moments. Absolutely unreal.

There’s also a seal colony right on the coast (the pups are ridiculously cute), and if you’re up for a hike, Mount Fyffe offers day walks with sweeping views over the coastline and the Kaikōura Ranges. It is an advanced hiking route, make sure you are prepared and experienced before taking on this route. There are some beautiful coastal walks too, perfect for a shorter, gentler outing.

Hanmer Springs

On your way inland toward Canterbury, Hanmer Springs is a fantastic stopover. This alpine village is best known for its thermal hot pools, a mix of hot mineral pools, freshwater pools, and spa treatments, all set against a mountain backdrop.

There are also forest walks in the surrounding area. It’s a really relaxing base if you fancy a night away from the road.

Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and honestly has so much to offer. Mountains on one side, ocean on the other, and a vibrant, creative city in the middle. It can be hard to know where to start.

For a city day, some of our favourites are:

Christchurch Art Gallery. Free entry and always worth a wander.
The Arts Centre. A beautiful heritage building that housed the city’s first university. It feels a bit like walking around Hogwarts!
The historic Christchurch tram. A lovely way to loop the city while learning about the city of Christchurch.
The Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. Stunning at any time, but especially in spring when everything’s in bloom.
If you’ve got a car, head out to New Brighton Beach and treat yourself to the He Puna Taimoana hot pools, outdoor hot pools with coastal views, plus a sauna and steam room. There’s so much more to see in and around the city.

You can find our full guide to Christchurch here Top Things to Do in Christchurch.

Through the Southern Alps

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Head inland from Christchurch and you’ll find yourself in one of the most spectacular alpine environments in the country. Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain and some of its most photographed scenery.

There are walks for every fitness level here. Our top picks are:

The Hooker Valley Track. About three hours return, and worth every step. The track takes you across swing bridges to Hooker Lake, where you can see icebergs floating in the water.
Kea Point Track and Red Tarns Track. Both shorter options with beautiful views.
Glacier boat tour on Tasman Lake, if you want to get up close to the ice without hiking.

Whatever your fitness level, there’s a way to enjoy this park. We recommend everyone stop here.

Lake Tekapo

Next stop: Lake Tekapo, home to what has to be the bluest lake you’ll ever see. In summer, the surrounding hills come alive with lupins, you’ve probably seen on Instagram!

The tiny Church of the Good Shepherd on the lake edge is iconic, but the real magic here happens after dark. Lake Tekapo sits inside an International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the few in the world, and the Mount John Observatory runs stargazing tours.

Wānaka

Keep heading south and you’ll reach Wānaka, a beautiful lakeside town surrounded by mountains. It’s often described as a quieter, more laid-back version of Queenstown, and that’s a big part of the charm.

There’s plenty to do here:

Hikes along the lake edge, or up Roy’s Peak for one of the most iconic views in the country. Bring your camera. This one earns its reputation.
Mount Iron. A shorter (about 4–5 km) alternative if Roy’s Peak feels like a stretch or if you are short on time.
Wildwire Wānaka. A via ferrata experience that takes you up alongside a waterfall.
Nature cruises on Lake Wānaka, including trips out to Mou Waho Island, a scenic reserve with wildlife and a lake-within-an-island.
Winter sports. If you’re visiting in winter, you’ve got Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields right on the doorstep.

We’ve put together a full Wānaka guide here.

Queenstown

Just over the Crown Range from Wānaka is Queenstown, famously known as the Adventure Capital of the World, and honestly, it earns the title.

You can pretty much dream up any outdoor activity to get your adrenaline pumping and do it here:

Bungy jumping (this is where the bungy was born)
Jet boating on the Shotover or Kawarau rivers
Skydiving
White-water rafting
Mountain biking, from beginner trails to serious downhill

But Queenstown isn’t only about adrenaline. There’s a whole other side to it:

Wine tours through Gibbston Valley, one of the world’s southernmost wine regions and famous for its Pinot Noir.
Hikes and trails, from short scenic walks to the well-known Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill climbs.
The TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamship that cruises across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Farm.
Gondola rides up Bob’s Peak for views over the town and Remarkables.

Our advice? Give yourself more than one day here. There’s too much to try to squeeze into 24 hours.

Milford Sound and Fiordland

While you’re in the region, we strongly recommend a trip to Fiordland National Park, and specifically to Milford Sound. This is one of those places that lives up to the hype and then some. Sheer cliffs, thundering waterfalls, mist, mountains dropping straight into the sea. The scenery on the drive there alone is worth the trip.

You can also visit the quieter Doubtful Sound, which is bigger, more remote, and less busy. It really comes down to what kind of experience you’re after.

We’ve written a guide comparing the two here: Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound, Which Should You Choose?

There are a few different ways to get to Milford. You can drive from Queenstown or Te Anau, fly by scenic plane, or take a coach-and-cruise combo. We’ve broken down the options in this guide: Best Ways to Get to Milford Sound.

Down south and back up the West Coast

The Catlins

If you have time, the Catlins on the southeast corner of the South Island is well worth the detour. It’s rugged, wild, and gloriously off the beaten path. You’ll find waterfalls, petrified forests, wild beaches, and if you’re lucky, sightings of the rare yellow-eyed penguins and Hector’s dolphins.

The West Coast Glaciers: Fox and Franz Josef

Loop back up the West Coast and you’ll reach one of New Zealand’s most unique landscapes, glaciers that flow down through native rainforest, almost to the sea. Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier are the two main draws.

You can do short walks to viewpoints, but the real bucket-list experience here is a heli-hike or ice climbing. A helicopter drops you onto the glacier itself, and you spend

So how do you fit it all in?

Honestly? You probably can’t fit everything in on one trip, and that’s okay. The South Island rewards travellers who slow down, choose what interests them most, and enjoy the journey between destinations as much as the destinations themselves.

If you’re a first-time visitor and want to see the icons, we usually suggest at least 10 to 14 days on the South Island to do it justice. Longer if you want to include the West Coast glaciers or head down to the Catlins.

The starting point (Christchurch or Queenstown) mostly comes down to which flights work best for you, and whether you want a full loop or a one-way route.