South Island Holiday Itinerary

Plan Your Holidays in New Zealand !

While I always suggest spending a few days at least in the North Island... allow extra time for your South Island holiday itinerary.There is so much to see...with magical scenery and a wonderful range of adventure activities and attractions.

If you have limited time for your holidays in New Zealand and have to choose just one island I would definitely recommend the South Island. To really do justice to the South Island, you need 3-5 weeks. This allows you to take time to enjoy the many activities. You could spend a lot more time, if you are intending to do some of the long hikes such as the Milford Track, Heaphy Track, or go to some of the remoter areas. But usually choices will have to be made in planning your South Island holiday itinerary....most people just don't have that much time.

Must see destinations to include if at all possible -

• Christchurch
• Queenstown
• West Coast
• Milford Sound
• Dunedin-Otago Peninsula
• Mt Cook
• Nelson

A Route to See the Best of the South Island

The best route for your South Island holiday itinerary gives you good coverage of the best of the island. I start from Christchurch, the only international airport.....although some of you may cross Cook Strait by ferry to arrive at Picton. You can adapt the route from there. This semi circular route can of course be driven in the opposite direction.

STARTING FROM CHRISTCHURCH

Christchurch - You will want to include 2-3 days in and around Christchurch at one end of your holiday.

• Tour the central city by Hop-on-Hop-off historic tram
• Arts Centre
• Botanic Gardens
• Art Gallery
• Hagley Park - punting on the Avon River
• Orana Wildlife Park
• Day Trip to Akaroa

• Drive north to Kaikoura, for whale watching, swimming with dolphins and great crayfish!
• Hanmer Springs will make a nice break for a swim in the thermal hot pools.
• Carry on to Nelson. Take 2-3 days here to enjoy the beaches – don’t miss beautiful golden Kaiteriteri beach, check out some wineries, arts and crafts, and walk or kayak in Abel Tasman National Park.
• Blenheim, Marlborough, is the wine center – where our famous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grows best.
• Nelson Lakes – are very scenic, with plenty of day walks in the area.
• Drive through Murchison to the West Coast.
• Karamea – at the northen most tip is worth the drive if you have time – you will be doubling back.You could walk the first bit of the Heaphy Track.
• Greymouth – Shanty town will give the children a thrill with its replica goldmining town.
• Punakaiki Pancake Rocks - are a unique sight. The layered rocks, with pounding seas and blowholes are spectacular. The nikau forest is an unusual sight too, giving a tropical feel to the area.
• Hokitika – has glass blowing, greenstone carving, arts and crafts, and is right on the beach.
• Whataroa Sanctuary for the kotuku – New Zealand white heron - is a good trip in the season, to view New Zealand’s only white herons.
• Gillespie’s Beach, 25 kilometers north of Fox Glacier is a good beach walk to see the seals. There are about 1500 so it is quite a sight – and smell! But worth it! You need to allow several hours.
• Fox Glacier
• Franz Joseph Glacier – You will want to spend at least a couple of days in this glacier area to really have a good experience. You can do guided walks on the ice, fly over the glaciers, and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
• Haast Pass
through to Lake Wanaka which is a beautiful stop.
• Maybe some walks in Fiordland if time allows
• From Wanaka you would go over the Crown Range... a challenging but very scenic drive, or round Lake Dunstan, past Queenstown to Te Anau where you will have to stay
• From Te Anau you can visit Milford Sound - alternatively do a day trip from Queenstown (9 hours return...I suggest the bus tour)
• Doubtful and/or Dusky Sounds – this is an excellent wilderness boat trip...the Manapouri Power Station is fascinating.
• Queenstown Back to Queenstown for 2 days minimum!If you have only a very limited time for your hoiday in New Zealand then Queenstown is the place to go. Voted one of the world’s top 10 destinations for 2008 and again 2010, you need to allow plenty of time to do day trips which might include– Lord of the Rings tours, Arrowtown, try some of the extreme adventure travel activities - bungee jumping, Shotover jet boat, 4WD to old goldmining towns, Skippers Canyon, jet boating, heli skiing, take the historic “Earnslaw” boat to Walter Peak sheep station across Lake Wakatipu.. The choices are prolific. Adventure activities are a major industry, the scenery stunning. There is something for everyone in this fabulous part of the country.

• Queenstown to Twizel – once a town built for the workers building the power station, it has become a popular center for those wanting to do the many outdoor mountain activities in the area.
• Twizel to Mt Cook - New Zealand's tallest mountain
• Back to Christchurch