Best Places to Visit: South Island, New Zealand
Planning a trip to New Zealand can seem a bit overwhelming since there is so much to see and do! The natural beauty of this country is breathtaking (in my humble opinion). I'll try to help you narrow it down, but remember it's not possible to do it all! I also find it helpful to remember that just seeing a place doesn't usually do it justice, make sure you give yourself enough time to really experience it without rushing through just to tick things off the list. You really can’t go wrong, anywhere you choose to go will be epic!
1. Queenstown
Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges. It’s a pretty small town of about 30,000 residents that caters to the world-wide adventure seekers that come to visit. Let Queenstown awaken your inner-explorer! Whether you're interested in hiking trails, indulging in food and wine, teeing off stunning fairways or seeking adrenaline thrills - there are adventures to be found here of all tastes and tempos. World-renowned for its adventure, Queenstown is home to a huge choice of adrenaline activities including jet boating, bungy jumping, white water rafting, skydiving and even indoor thrills – all guaranteed to get your blood pumping!
If you’re looking for a slightly slower pace there’s plenty of recreational activities including boat cruises, scenic flights, hiking and biking trails, the Skyline Gondola, the Kiwi Birdlife Park, or spa and wellness options to help you truly feel worlds away. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan you’ll recognize many filming locations here. You can book specific LOTR tours if that interests you!
Accommodations: Blue Peaks Apartments Queenstown
Activities in Queenstown:
Skyline Gondola and Buffet Lunch plus 5 Luge Rides. If you want to do the lunch, I recommend booking ahead, but if you just want to ride the gondola and the luge you can buy tickets when you show up. My kids were VERY excited about riding the steepest gondola in the southern hemisphere and then riding a luge down the mountain! I can understand their excitement because I was pretty pumped too.
When you get on the gondola, just sit back and relax and take in the stunning views as you ride the Skyline Queenstown Gondola - the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the must-do activities in Queenstown!
You’ll be carried 450 metres above Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the top of Bob's Peak, where you’ll enjoy the best views in the region unfolding before your eyes. You get to experience a spectacular 220 degree panorama with breath-taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Walter and Cecil Peak and, of course, Queenstown.
When you get to the top, take the driver’s seat with the gravity-fuelled Skyline Luge, the global thrill ride for all ages. Purpose built Luge carts put you in complete control as you take on over 800 metres of banked corners, tunnels and dippers. Once you’ve conquered the course, hop on the chairlift and do it all again, and again, and again. Gentle and leisurely or steep and adventurous, you’ll be hooked. Once is never enough. Riding the chairlift is also a big part of the fun!
Everyone has to pass a “drivers test” to make sure you know how to operate your luge. It is very simple, just a matter of pushing your arms forward to go and back to stop. My 8 year old took it slow the first time on her own, and after that we couldn’t keep up with her! The younger ones can ride tandem and just enjoy the fun!
The Skyline buffet was excellent with a good variety of options and a great dessert selection! The menu is inspired by iconic New Zealand cuisine and infused with international influences. Stratosfare offers something for everyone, fresh seafood, great vegetarian options and saving the best till last, delectable desserts.
We went early to do our luge rides and then have lunch. I think this was the right call because the later you wait in the day, the busier it gets. The lines for the luge were getting long by our last ride. Thankfully, once you have passed your “drivers test” you can bypass the long line and just hop in the next available luge.
2. Push your adventure limits. Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown is home to a range of adventures, from the world's first bungy jump - the Kawarau Bridge Bungy - to jet boat thrills through the Shotover River.
Go skydiving and take in the epic views of the Southern Alps, or explore the rocky gorges and creek crossings by quad bike.
3. Get amongst Queenstown's food and wine scene. Try one of the famous burgers at Fergburger, grab something sweet at one of the dessert shops such as Patagonia Chocolates or try out one of the many fine-dining restaurants. Explore the wine scene and book a wine tour and explore the renowned Gibbston wine region where you can taste award-winning Pinot Noir and visit New Zealand’s largest wine cave at Gibbston Valley Winery.
4. Explore one of the many walking trails. Explore the Queenstown Gardens or Sunshine Bay Track or for longer walks that feature Queenstown’s natural beauty, try out the Queenstown Hill Walking Track or the Tiki Trail, giving you spectacular 360-degree alpine views. The Queenstown Hill feels more like a mountain, with quite a bit of elevation, it' gets the heart rate up but my 5 & 8 year old did it and even they loved the views from the top! (FYI Kids usually don’t really care about scenery)
5. Experience Lake Wakatipu. Take a picturesque cruise across Lake Wakatipu on board the TSS Earnslaw, a century-old coal-fired steamship. For a faster-paced experience on the lake, go jet boating or try the Hydro Attack Queenstown and get a feel of what it’s like to be a shark, speeding up to 80km per hour.
6. Cycle along the Queenstown Trail. Ride along one of the Queenstown Trail’s 130km of cycle trails, which take you past the spectacular scenery to Arrowtown, the iconic Kawarau bridge bungy jump and several cafes and wineries. Queenstown is also a well-loved destination for avid mountain bikers – with three lift-assisted mountain bike parks. You can also take an easy bike ride along the lake over to Frankton (there is a nice looking Campervan Holiday Park over there for anyone interested) where you can get lunch or coffee by the lake.
7. Tee off at one of New Zealand's impressive golf courses. New Zealand is a popular destination amongst the golfing greats, and for good reason. Home to three of the country’s championship courses, Jack’s Point, Millbrook Resort and The Hills.
8. Wind down and indulge at Onsen Hot Pools, a boutique retreat and day spa that offers ultimate relaxation. Looking over the Shotover River, the spa has 14 world-renowned cedar-lined hot pools that are open during both the afternoons and evenings.
9. See Queenstown from above. Scenic flights are an excellent way to enjoy the natural splendor of Queenstown!
10. You also have the option to visit the Kiwi Birdlife Park, Time Tripper - Queenstown's Underwater Cinematic Experience, the Queenstown Ice Arena for some ice-skating fun, or simply enjoy a lakefront stroll.
11. The Bathhouse Café on the waterfront is a great stop for a drink or a bite to eat, with a playground for the kids right outside! The playground is really great and right on the lake. When it’s warm the kids can swim in the lake and the creek. A great way to spend the afternoon!
2. Milford Sound
Milford Sound, NZ
No visit to the South Island is complete without marveling at the Fiordland National Park. Here, the Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound provide scenic cruises that showcase majestic fjords, waterfalls, and wildlife, including fur seals and penguins. For those seeking a challenge, the Milford Track and Routeburn Track promise unforgettable hikes through pristine wilderness.
Milford Sound was an absolute must-do on our itinerary so we put it in early, in case we needed to make a weather adjustment. We booked with RealNZ and did the Milford Sound Nature Cruise departing from Queenstown by Coach.
The tour leaves early in the morning (6:50AM) because it’s a long drive!
Enjoy a scenic coach journey through heartland New Zealand to reach Milford Sound. The Milford Road (between Te Anau and Milford) is one of the finest alpine drives in the world. The scenery is exceptional, ranging from broad grassy flats, dense rainforest, and towering mountains through to glacial lakes and alpine herb fields. No other road in Fiordland offers such a diverse glimpse into New Zealand’s alpine zone.
According to the website, the seats are tiered and angled towards the windows to maximize your views, and the expansive glass roof provides breathtaking sights of the snow-capped peaks….but our bus just seemed like a regular bus with forward facing seats. The schedule includes plenty of time for short nature walks and photo opportunities along the way. Be warned the drive involved a lot of turns, so it’s not the kind of bus ride where the kids can read a book or watch a show. Everyone had to be looking out the window to keep their tummy from getting upset. One of my kids still ended up using the barf bag! This ended up being a blessing in disguise because it motivated us to look into the scenic flight back to Queenstown. Read on!
Upon reaching Milford Sound, we embarked on a 2-hour Milford Sound Nature Cruise. With specialist nature guides on board, RealNZ Nature Cruises offer a close-up experience of Milford Sound’s rainforest, soaring rock walls, towering snowcapped mountains, cascading waterfalls, hanging valleys and wildlife... words just don’t do it justice, you have to see it for yourself! Throughout the cruise, the guides share stories of the fiord’s history and are happy to answer your questions. We were so fortunate to have a pod of dolphins accompany our boat for quite a while, and we also saw so many seals lounging on the rocks. I recommend getting a seat inside, and then walking to the front of the boat for the best views. I felt badly for the people who rushed to the top level outside in the uncomfortable seating. It was chilly and they didn’t want to get up and walk around to see other view points for fear of losing their spot.
After your cruise, relax while your coach delivers you back to Queenstown….OR if you are like us, make a last minute impulsive decision to FLY back when the kids can’t endure another 6 hrs on twisty roads. BEST DECISION EVER. The scenic flight from Milford Sound to Queenstown is hands down the most scenic 30 minutes of my life. I would HIGHLY recommend considering this upgrade when you book your tour. It’s worth it.
If I were to plan this again, I would actually plan to stay a night or two in Te Anau and book the coach from there rather from Queenstown. There are some awesome glow worm caves to explore in Te Anau and it would shorten the driving portion of the day to Milford Sound.
3. Arrowtown
You’ll be enchanted by historic Arrowtown, a New Zealand treasure located 20 minutes from Queenstown. Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River.
The heart of its history is Buckingham Street, a procession of heritage buildings that stretches into a tree-lined avenue of tiny miner’s cottages. The buildings in this lovely precinct house shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants – many classy and not one from an international chain.
Arrowtown’s gold-mining history is alive and vibrant; visit the Lakes District Museum first and they provide so much great information that is engaging for all ages. they also rent equipment to try your hand at gold panning in the river for $5NZD per set. The kids (and adults) had a lot of fun doing this! There are lots of lovely restaurant options and a nice easy track to walk along the river.
4. Glenorchy
Take a day trip to Glenorchy. At the Head of Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy is nestled between the Richardson (east) and Humboldt (west) Mountain Ranges and overlooked by the mighty snow-capped Mount Earnslaw in the north. From Glenorchy you can travel on to a number of fantastic valleys, including Rees Valley, Paradise Valley, Dart Valley, and Routeburn Valley. These valleys border both Mt Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, and they are ringed by some of the most dramatic mountains in New Zealand.
The two main industries in Glenorchy are farming and tourism, which have enabled the town to thrive while still maintaining its unique qualities and southern kiwi culture. Home to approximately 200 people, Glenorchy is a welcoming and vibrant town offering a range of cafes, restaurants, bars, shopping, hiking, fishing, and much more. Glenorchy's surrounding landscape has become a prime location for film scouts, and was chosen to depict many scenes in the award-winning Lord of the Rings movies. More recently, the area has featured in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, Hercules, and countless adverts.
The drive to Glenorchy from Queenstown was voted one of the most scenic drives in the world! It was very scenic, but I think my expectations were too high because of hearing that it was one of the most scenic in the world. Happiness = Expectations- Reality
There is a lovely lagoon walk to do, some great restaurants, and a very popular horseback riding tour.
5. Wānaka
Driving time Queenstown to Wānaka 69 km / 43 miles, 1.5 hours
When you make your way to the small town of Wanaka, with a population of about 10,000 residents, you have the pleasure of driving over the beautiful Crown Range, one of New Zealand’s highest alpine roads, and admire the fantastic views along the way. If you are afraid of driving at heights, there is a less scenic route option.
Be sure to stop at the historic Cardrona Hotel or the Cardrona Distillery before your arrival into Wānaka, an alpine town boasting panoramic views, a relaxing atmosphere and myriad walking tracks. You will notice it by the fence convered with Bras!!!
Wānaka has a reputation for great food and wine, with a wide variety of lakefront bars, cafés and restaurants serving exceptional local cuisine, plus a wealth of artisans producing award-winning wine, beer, spirits, bread, and ice cream.
The crystal-clear water of the lakes and rivers are ideal for kayaking, fishing, lake cruises, and jet-boating, or to get an aerial perspective of the region and take a scenic helicopter flight. Paragliding is also an option and looks to be a pretty epic adventure!
Stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries and stylish shops, visit 'That Wanaka Tree' for the perfect photo, or enjoy one of the many famous walking tracks such as Mt Iron or Mt Roy.
That Wanaka Tree, March 2024
Test out your fishing skills at "Hook", Wānaka's very unique interactive Lake to Plate dining experience. Catch a Chinook salmon from the scenic spring-fed fishing lakes and then relax as the team prepares it for you. No experience is necessary and fishing equipment can be hired on the day.
Watersports are a popular choice, with jet ski and kayak hire available; as well as lake cruises - some including walks on local islands.
Alternatively, you may want to visit Puzzling World, Wānaka’s illusional attraction, or the National Toy and Transport Museum. We visited puzzling world a few times, once for the maze and illusion rooms, and a few more times just for the lovely café with all the puzzles we enjoyed!
Wānaka has an astonishing 750km worth of biking trails in and around it with people travelling from all across the country (and abroad) to experience them. For single track visit Sticky Forest, or get on the Hikuwai Loop and Deans Bank tracks for some enjoyable local experiences. Longer trails along the lake edge take you to Glendhu Bay.
Bike Glendhu Mountain Bike Park is located at beautiful Glendhu Bay, just ten minutes’ drive from Wānaka and offers a mountain bike park with over 30km of trails (open from October through to May).
Make sure to take advantage of some of Wānaka’s excellent walking tracks, such as the Millennium Track, Waterfall Creek Track, the Outlet Track or Glendhu Bay Track. For the more adventurous you might like to conquer Mount Iron, Rocky Mountain or the famous Roy’s Peak for amazing views of Wānaka and the lake. We hiked all of these during our stay (the kids didn’t do Roy’s Peak) and our absolute favorite hike of our entire trip to New Zealand was the trail up Rocky Mountain (past Diamond Lake).
In the evening you have the chance to catch a film at Cinema Paradiso, Wānaka’s quirky local theatre (hint: the homemade cookies and ice cream at half time are delicious). Unfortunately there weren’t any kids movies showing, so we didn’t get to go ourselves, but we talked to many people who raved about it!
Pack a picnic and have a day lakeside. There are lots of playgrounds to explore around the area. The Dinosaur Park and Purple Sculpture playgrounds are young favourites.
Visit REALM, New Zealand’s largest and most advanced Virtual Reality experience. Enjoy one of the various cutting-edge experiences on an Infinity Platform. At REALM, you're not just watching, - you're immersed! It’s always good to have wet weather activity options!
If you'd prefer something more relaxed, a visit to the Lavender Farm never goes amiss. Wander through 10 acres of beautiful lavender fields, meet their friendly farm animals, play garden games and enjoy a hot or cold drink at the café; Wānaka Lavender farm is a great place to unwind!
5. Mount Cook National Park
For those captivated by starry skies, Lake Tekapo offers the best seat in the house. Nestled in the heart of the Southern Alps, it's not just the lake that's breathtaking but also the surrounding mountains. The area is part of the UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it a prime spot for stargazing. Nearby, the Mount Cook National Park invites adventurers to explore its trails, such as the Hooker Valley Track, offering views of New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook, amidst snow-capped peaks.
Driving time Wānaka to Mount Cook Village 209 km / 130 miles, 3 hours (each way)
Take a trip to Mount Cook, nestled at the base of the Southern Alps, with stunning views of Mount Cook and the surrounding mountains. At 3,724 metres, New Zealand's highest mountain (Aoraki / Mount Cook) is dazzling, yet there are 27 other mountains in this alpine backbone which peak at over 3,050 metres, and hundreds of others not far short of that, all making up the famous Southern Alps.
Far from city lights, the stargazing here is magnificent and stargazing tours can be booked - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park forms the majority of New Zealand's only International Dark Sky Reserve and there are only eight in the world. Mountain walks lead to alpine tarns, herb fields, spectacular glacier views and encounters with cheeky kea (mountain parrots).
You have the option to visit The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, located at The Hermitage Hotel. A tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary—humanitarian, ambassador, and one of the world's greatest explorers—the centre showcases the Aoraki Mount Cook region, its people, and its place in the universe.
You could also visit the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre. It’s like a state-of-the-art museum with two levels of informative displays about the flora, fauna, Maori heritage and walking tracks in the area.
At 27 kilometres in length, the mighty Tasman Glacier is a powerful place to visit. While it slowly carves the valley sides, it provides a landing place for helicopters making it one of the best places in the country for a scenic flight or glacier heli-hike. You can also take a short drive to the Tasman Valley (just to the right of Mt Cook Village), where you can do a short 10-minute walk up to a viewing point over Tasman Glacier, New Zealand’s largest glacier.
You can also explore Tasman Glacial Lake in a small boat and experience the enormity of NZ's largest glacier as you weave in and out of floating icebergs. It’s a surreal and mesmerising experience in a totally unique environment.
Franz Josef
Heading to the coast, the West Coast is home to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, offering unique opportunities to walk amidst ancient ice. Nearby, the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki amaze visitors with their layered rock formations.
Driving time Wānaka to Franz Josef 286 km / 177 miles, 4.5 hours
Enjoy the journey up the West Coast to reach Franz Josef. There are many short walks and viewing points to take in along the Haast Pass Highway, which will help break up the journey—a scenic walk to the Blue Pools is highly recommended. Other points of interest along the way are Ship Cove and Bruce Bay. Continuing along the West Coast, you may like to visit Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier, where you can take a 20-minute walk (one-way) to the jetty, to admire the reflected views of the Southern Alps on the surface of the lake. Make sure to have bug spray for this portion- the sand flies can be overwhelming here!
Franz Josef is a beautiful town perched alongside the heavy flowing Waiho River, which emerges from the foothills of the New Zealand’s ‘spine’ The Southern Alps. From scenic helicopter flights, glacier heli-hikes, walking trails and the West Coast Wildlife Centre, Franz Josef is a wilderness destination waiting to be explored.
Glacier Country is stunning from the ground but mind blowing from the air. One minute you can be in town surrounded by sub-tropical rainforest and only a few minutes later enjoying a birds eye view of New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki/Mount Cook and Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.
Franz Josef Glacier walk is an easy 1.5 hour round trip hike to the base of Franz Josef Glacier. The walk to the viewing area winds gently through the rainforest, with glimpses of the mountain tops, waterfalls and the upper glacier.
Accommodations: Aspen Court Franz Josef
Activity: Franz Josef Glacier Helicopter Flight with Snow Landing
Take a 20-minute scenic helicopter flight sweeping above Westland National Park as you explore Franz Josef Glacier before landing in the snow to enjoy exceptional views of the majestic Southern Alps. There’s nothing like having your feet on the ground at this elevation and really feeling like you’re part of the beautiful landscape. A very popular option to look at the spectacular glacier landscapes. I recommend booking this on your FIRST day in Franz Josef. Cancellations happen frequently due to weather, so you want to be able to reschedule if possible. If you book it early you’ll have the best chance of being able to fly. They are very accommodating and will provide a full refund if your flight is cancelled due to weather.
Following your flight, if you’re up for some exercise, Callery Gorge is a popular hike in Franz Josef. This 90-minute return hike meanders past spectacular waterfalls, ancient trees drooping with moss, and lichens where native birds hop from branch to branch. After a steady descent through mystical rainforests, you find yourself at Callery Gorge Bridge sitting precariously over a raging volume of water, mostly from ice melt.
Later, you might like to visit the Tatare Tunnel Glow Worms (this trail starts from the same point as the Callery Gorge hike). It is only a 45 minute walk from the centre of town brings you along the fox-glove covered banks of the Tatare River to the entrance of an old gold mining tunnel known as the ‘Tatare Tunnels’. These were hand built by a group of 15-20 men in extremely freezing, harsh conditions some 120 years ago. Today, Tatare Tunnels are consumed by a trickling of icy cold water and glow worms! It might be scary for a bit to turn off your flash light, but once you do, glow worms cover the ceiling of the old gold mining tunnel, and it’s like you are watching the milky galaxy above...it’s amazing! We hiked this trail in our sandals expecting to get out feet wet in the tunnels….but we all wished we had worn our trail shoes. Lots of rocks and a bit of elevation to get to the tunnels! The far end of the tunnel was blocked when we visited as they are doing repairs on the far end of the path, and you do have to go almost to the far end to see the glow worms….but it is 100% worth the adventure. The tunnel is tall enough to stand in comfortably.
You might like to enjoy kayaking on Lake Mapourika. The glacier has forged plenty of spectacular formations in its wake, including Lake Mapourika. The dark reflective waters make the perfect reflection of the Southern Alps on a clear day. Kayak tours depart daily onto the lake with lots of photo opportunities, wildlife spotting, and amazing scenery.
For something indoors, meet and discover New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, the Rowi, at the West Coast Wildlife Centre in Franz Josef. As an indoor, all-weather attraction, the West Coast Wildlife Centre is a unique and interactive experience that brings together nature, conservation, and wildlife all under one roof!
Hokitika
Driving time Franz Josef to Hokitika 134 km / 83 miles, 2 hours
Enjoy more West Coast beauty today! Just prior to Hokitika you may wish to visit Hokitika Gorge, where an impressive turquoise river flows through a narrow canyon. Also close by you will find a great attraction in the West Coast Treetop Walk. The walkway is 450 metres in total and reaches heights of 20 metres giving you fantastic panoramic views.
Discover the West Coast's beauty in Hokitika, famous for its wild beach and arts and crafts scene. Hokitika is known as the 'Cool Little Town'. There are some lovely old buildings on the town’s historic walk. You’ll also notice galleries specialising in pounamu jewellery and artworks. Watch a masterpiece being crafted from gold, molten glass, paua or bone, or carve your own creation from wood or jade (“pounamu”). Take in Hokitika’s natural beauty, enjoy its expansive beach, or venture down one of the many walking and mountain biking tracks.
Accommodations: Beachfront Hotel Hokitika
Abel Tasman
Starting with the Abel Tasman National Park, this gem is perfect for families looking to immerse themselves in nature. With its golden beaches and clear, blue waters, it's an ideal spot for kayaking or taking a water taxi to find secluded spots along the coast. Hiking the Abel Tasman Coast Track is a great way to experience the park's beauty up close.
Driving time Hokitika to Takaka, Abel Tasman 366 km / 227 miles, 5.5 hours
On your way to Abel Tasman, you have the option to take the scenic route via Punakaiki's Pancake Rocks. These curious limestone formations are especially spectacular at high tide in a westerly sea. They were formed 30 million years ago from minute fragments of dead marine creatures and plants landing on the seabed about 2 km below the surface. Immense water pressure caused the fragments to solidify in hard and soft layers, and gradual seismic action lifted the limestone above the seabed. Mildly acidic rain, wind and seawater sculpted the bizarre shapes.
Discover the Abel Tasman, an area renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, unmodified estuaries, long sunshine hours and the world-famous Abel Tasman National Park and Coastal Walking Track.
The Abel Tasman National Park is a coastal paradise, where calm waters and quiet beaches allow you to truly enjoy the peace and serenity. Here, golden sandy beaches fill the spaces between trees and the tide line. Crystal clear streams tumble down mossy valleys to join the ocean. Granite and marble formations fringe the headlands, which are cloaked in regenerating native forest.
Native wildlife is an essential part of the scenery. Tui and bellbird song fills the forest; shags (cormorants), gannets and little blue penguins dive for their dinner; fur seals lounge on the rocks around the edge of Tonga Island.
Today make the most of Golden Bay, boasting golden beaches, alpine valleys and tranquil fishing rivers that share a close proximity with the sea. Soak up the breathtaking scenery, arts and crafts, and walking tracks.
As the road leads west you will find fabulous views of Golden Bay, the perfect spot for taking some photographs. The huge, sandy bay is famous for its scallops. Collingwood is the final settlement of any size before Farewell Spit, a lengthy sandspit at 34km long, that wraps itself around the upper reaches of the bay. The sandspit is a bird sanctuary and wetland of international importance and is very highly protected. The only way to explore the spit is with Farewell Spit Eco Tours, who can take you on an unforgettable journey to the historic lighthouse, gannet colony and to the northernmost point of the South Island, Cape Farewell.
On the Tasman Sea side of Cape Farewell is Wharariki Beach - a wild, beautiful place where wind and waves have created massive rock and sand dune formations. The currents are dangerous so swimming is not recommended, so the ultimate Wharariki experience is undoubtedly a horse trek, although many also choose to take a short 20-minute stroll down to the beach to capture the extraordinary rock formations on camera.
You can also hike from Wainui Bay to Whariwharangi Bay to enjoy some of the Abel Tasman Coastal track. The kids loved this hike especially since the turnaround point is a beach where we only saw 1 or 2 other people and got to enjoy a picnic lunch and a beautiful beach all to ourselves! We had dinner at Molly B’s on the way home. The kids loved the trampoline! It’s across the street from Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park.
Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupu Springs) are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and the largest cold-water springs in the southern hemisphere, with a clarity rating of 75m, meaning they also contain some of the clearest water ever measured. The springs are located on the other side of the hill, near the town of Takaka, and are a 'wahi tapu' - sacred place - to the local Maori tribe.
You can also make a quick activity of the Labyrinth Rocks nearby.
Accommodations: Mohua Motels Takaka
Activity: Vista Cruise and Walk Open Day Pass
Driving time Takaka to Kaiteriteri 53 km / 33 miles, 1 hour (each way) on a VERY twisty alpine road.
A boat cruise into Abel Tasman National Park, where you can relax on the hot golden sand, enjoy a day walk, or simply remain aboard for the return cruise. Soak in the natural beauty and enjoy! This trip allows you to explore sections of the Abel Tasman Coast Track; the boat will stop at scenic points along the way where you can get off and walk a section of the track. The boat will then collect you later in the day. You could also just pack a picnic lunch and beach towels and laze on the beach for the day.
We chose to do a point to point hike where the boat dropped us off on one beach, and then we hiked 12km to get picked up on another beach 5 hrs later. We made a short detour to have a look at cleopatra’s pools, and since we were there at low tide we enjoyed walking across the tidal plains. This is a busy track with many walkers, but the deadline of not wanting to miss the boat and the beautiful coastal scenery made it such a fun activity.
Enjoy your day exploring the beautiful beaches, impressive rock formations and cheeky wildlife. You can choose to explore the park from land, on the water, or in the air. You may like to walk a portion of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, or if you prefer paddle power, take a kayak tour.
If you are looking to enjoy another day walk in Abel Tasman National Park. Take the drive through to Marahau and walk to Apple Tree Bay, perfect for swimming and a picnic. The return walk is 7km. Afterwards there are two nice cafés in Marahau where you can enjoy a bite to eat and a refreshing beverage.
Split Apple Rock is well worth the visit (and you will also get to see this on the Vista Cruise) Nestled in-between Kaiteriteri and Marahau, the gateway towns to the Abel Tasman National Park, Split Apple Rock (Toka Ngawhā) has become one of the region’s most popular natural attractions. Shaped like a split apple or giant pacman, scientists believe that the rock was split through a natural phenomenon known as ‘ice wedging’ during an ice age over 120 million years ago. As the temperature dropped, any water that had entered the cracks of the rock would have frozen, causing it to expand and split. Traditional Māori legend claims the boulder was split in half when two feuding gods were fighting to possess it. To resolve the issue, they used their strength to split the rock in half, hence the Māori name for the rock Toka Ngawhā which means “burst open rock”.
In the Marlborough Sounds, located at the top of the South Island, families can enjoy serene boat rides or explore the Queen Charlotte Track. This area is also famous for its wine, making it a great spot for parents to enjoy some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world.
Lastly, the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch offers the quaint, small town of Akaroa, where visitors can take scenic cruises to see dolphins and little blue penguins, or simply enjoy the charm of this French-inspired town.
For wildlife enthusiasts, Stewart Island is the perfect place for spotting the rare yellow-eyed penguins in their natural habitat. A short ferry ride from the mainland, it's a peaceful retreat with untouched forests and beaches.
The South Island of New Zealand is a playground for nature lovers, offering an incredible variety of landscapes and activities. From the golden sands of Abel Tasman to the towering peaks of Aoraki.
I hope this helps inspire your New Zealand trip planning.
In health and good travels,
Jen
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