Why visit New Zealand’s South Island?
Australians are incredibly lucky to live so close to the wonders of New Zealand – a country packed with dramatic coastlines and picturesque offshore islands. On the South Island in particular, the natural beauty really must be seen to be believed – and the wide variety of experiences on offer make it a popular travel destination.
For those who prefer sightseeing to bungee jumping, there are so many natural things to do in the South Island that you may need to return for another holiday. To help you curate the perfect South Island road trip, we’ve compiled our top places to visit right here.
8 South Island, New Zealand things to do
The South Island really is a world apart from the rest of the country, offering up a more rugged landscape, a wide diversity of natural environments, and some of the most awe-inspiring wildlife on the planet. So, if you’re ready to experience New Zealand’s nature up close and visit a variety of New Zealand national parks, here are 8 essentials to add to your NZ South Island itinerary.
1. Tonga Island, Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is one of New Zealand’s busiest spots, with Tonga Island located about a kilometre from Onetahuti Beach. One of the most popular New Zealand national parks, hikers blaze up the Abel Tasman Track while kayakers paddle from Marahau to Totaranui. If snorkelling or scuba diving is more your thing, there’s easy access via water taxi or private boat. This beautiful part of the world is also great for spotting adorable penguins and cavorting with dolphins. Baby seals just love to roll over and play, mimicking your underwater antics with impressive agility and grace.
2. Hikurangi, Kaikoura Canyon
When it comes to things to do in the South Island of New Zealand, few places possess the magic of Kaikoura, the marine-mammal capital of the country. Nutriment-filled waters draw in giant sperm whales as well as southern right, blue, humpback and killer whales. Watch out for acrobatic dusky, common and bottlenose dolphins, and even the rare Hector's dolphin – the world’s smallest dolphin at just 1.4 metres long. Fur seals also inhabit the coastal waters, interacting with humans and showing off their athletic skills. After your adventures, head into Kaikoura Township for fresh seafood, especially lobster. It’s a diver’s paradise among the luxuriant stands of bull kelp and seaweed on the coastal reef systems.
3. Punakaiki (Dolomite Point), West Coast
Punakaiki, halfway between Greymouth and Westport, is the gateway to the dramatic limestone country of Paparoa National Park – the perfect addition to your South Island road trip. Marvel at the Pancake Rocks, which were formed 30 million years ago, before taking in a slice of West Coast life with wild rocky shores leading down to rolling, windswept seas. Keep an eye out for blue penguins and Hector’s dolphins, which are common in these parts, as well as bird-spotting for albatrosses, petrels, terns and gannets as they soar on the winds and thermals.
4. Akaroa Harbour, Banks Peninsula
This quiet corner of Akaroa Harbour under Gateway Point offers up a spectacular coastline of volcanic cliffs, wild sea caves and unusual rock stacks. New Zealand nature is in full swing here, starting at the sea floor which is between 18–30 metres deep and teeming with blue cod, butterfish, moki, leatherjackets and white pointer sharks. Above them, seals haul out along the rocks edging the reserve. The Akaroa Marine Reserve is home to the tiny Hector’s dolphin, which is playful and loves to approach human visitors. Many whale species also visit the area, including humpback, southern right and blue whales, along with common and dusky dolphins.
5. Ulva Island, Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island
For a scenic stop on your New Zealand South Island itinerary, Paterson Inlet is one of the most enthralling. An ancient, drowned river valley tucked in behind Oban in Half Moon Bay, you’ll find Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve at its entrance. The mixing of warm subtropical and cold sub-Antarctic waters around Stewart Island produces a great diversity of marine life, so see if you can spot the rare filter-feeding shellfish – brachiopods that were abundant 300 million years ago and still live happily among 260 varieties of seaweed.
6. Aoraki (Mount Cook) National Park
The proud home of New Zealand’s highest peaks and longest glaciers, Aoraki should be on everyone’s list of South Island NZ things to do. Yes, there’s a wealth of stunning walks and hikes to embark on, but it’s also the perfect place to kayak – depending on the time of year you travel – or settle in for a long night of stargazing. Visitors can even book a scenic flight to see Aoraki from above. It’s about a three to four hour drive from either Queenstown or Christchurch, but it truly makes for a memorable experience of New Zealand nature in all its glory.
7. Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Milford Sound could easily be one of the natural wonders of the world, such is its untouched beauty and huge popularity among South Island road trippers. Get up close and personal with this dramatic landscape on a guided walk, or sit back and soak up the majesty on one of the various cruises that operate here. If you want to take things up a notch, you can also strap into a scenic flight or helicopter ride and experience Milford Sound’s glacier-carved valleys, waterfalls and fiords just as nature intended – from above!
8. Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island
If bird watching is top of your agenda no matter which New Zealand national park you visit, make sure you spend at least a day – preferably more – on Stewart Island. Rakiura National Park is regarded by many as offering the finest bird-watching experience on the South Island. This is not only due to the breadth of species you’ll find, but also the gentle terrain that allows for effortless exploration. Some of the rarest species of birds can be found on Rakiura and nowhere else – so keep your eyes peeled for Stewart Island robins, saddlebacks, bellbirds, tui, weka, kereru, oystercatchers and more.
Advice to make your South Island road trip a memorable one
There are multiple flights from Australia to New Zealand every day, and both countries have a similar approach to COVID-19 safety and restrictions. Make sure you follow the advice of local authorities while there. Be aware that New Zealand is at risk of both earthquakes and tsunamis (particularly along the coastline), and weather conditions can change quickly. So, if you are hiking in an isolated area of a New Zealand national park, always carry your phone and a portable charger with you, or preferably a personal distress/locator beacon.
While you prepare for your South Island adventure, consider travel insurance to help protect your trip against the unexpected. Learn more about Medibank’s COVID benefits.
