SOUTH ISLAND OVERVIEW
 
South Island, New Zealand The South Island is the largest of the two main islands of New Zealand, and as its name indicates, is the southern-most of the two islands. It has an area of 151,215 square kilometres (58,093 square miles), making it the 12th largest island in the world. The west coast is lined by the Southern Alps mountain ranges with Aoraki/Mount Cook being the highest point at 3,754 metres (12,316 feet) above sea level.  The island was named 'Te Waka a Maui' by the Maori as according to legend, the South Island is 'Maui's Canoe' that he used to fish the North Island out of the sea from. It is also known by the Maori as 'Te Wai Pounamu' meaning 'The Waters of Greenstone'.

The largest city in the South Island is Christchurch, known as the 'Garden City' because of its many stunningly beautiful gardens, and its tree-lined streets. Queenstown is also found in the South Island of New Zealand, world famous as a premier four-season retreat.  As of the 2006 census, the South Island held a resident population of approximately 967,900.

MAIN REGIONS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND

Nelson
 
Nelson, New ZealandSituated in the north-west corner of the South Island, the Nelson region is surrounded by sheltering mountain ranges giving it a mediterranean-type climate.  The Nelson region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, national parks, boutique wineries, micro breweries and a large creative community of working artists. Add to this locally grown produce, freshly caught seafood, historical streetscapes and waterfront restaurants and you'll see that it offers a thoroughly pleasurable way of life.  The city of Nelson was named after Admiral Lord Nelson of Battle of Trafalgar fame. It's home to a community that combines a relaxed approach to life with a get-up-and-go attitude. This is where you can organise yourself an adventure, or begin an arty shopping spree.

Main Regions in the Nelson Region:
Nelson - arts and crafts, fine food, amazing lifestyle
Motueka - the closest town to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks
Takaka - the main centre for the Golden Bay area

Marlborough
 
Marlborough, New ZealandThe Marlborough region is situated on the north-eastern corner of the South Island, due west of Wellington. Marlborough is blessed with a year-round sunny climate and regularly records the highest sunshine hours in New Zealand. Marlborough is New Zealand's largest grape growing and wine making region with 65 wineries, 290 grape growers and 4,054 hectares in grape production. Nearly all of the wineries welcome visitors for tasting sessions and many have a cafe or restaurant on site. Sauvignon Blanc is the region's specialty, but wines made with Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are also highly acclaimed. Wine trail maps make it easy to find your way around the vineyards. Boutique Bed and Breakfast accommodation can be found throughout the wine growing area.

Main Centres in Marlborough:
 
Blenheim - the main town of Marlborough and a central base for vineyard visits
Picton - Marlborough's main commercial port and access to Queen Charlotte Sound
Havelock - the gateway to the Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds
Renwick - just minutes from Blenheim, another good base to explore the wine region
Wairau Valley - a place to stop en route to the Nelson Lakes National Park
Seddon - traditionally a farming area, now known for its craftspeople and gardens
Kekerengu - nestled on the East Coast on the way to Kaikoura with its own blend of attractions

West Coast
 
West Coast, New ZealandIn New Zealand, the 'West Coast' generally refers to the narrow strip of land between the South Island's Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. It is the longest region in New Zealand.  With a population of only 31,000 people, the West Coast retains the feeling of a pioneer frontier. It's a wild place known for rivers and rainforests; glaciers and geological treasures. Legends and stories from the past cling to every feature of the landscape. Maori were first to discover the West Coast, seeking sacred pounamu (nephrite jade or greenstone). Gold fever in the 1860s brought Europeans, many of whom stayed on to start farming, forestry and businesses. The locals are known as 'coasters', a term synonymous with friendliness and hospitality. Isolated from the rest of New Zealand by the Southern Alps, coasters have developed a distinctive culture of their own. Their pioneering values of self-reliance and loyalty are as strong today as they were 100 years ago.

Main Centres in the West Coast
 
Westport - the main town in Northern West Coast with nearby fur seal colony at Cape Foulwind
Greymouth - the major town on the West Coast and the terminus for the TranzAlpine rail journey from Christchurch
Hokitika - the other main centre in this area, the hub of the early gold rush
Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier - base camp for trips onto the glaciers
Haast - offers a range of local sights to break the journey when travelling from Queenstown or Wanaka
Christchurch Overview
Christchurch city is located midway down the East Coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula.

Christchurch

Christchurch is the South Island's largest city. It's a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping and award-winning attractions. The city was named after Christ Church, a college at the University of Oxford and was originally known as Christ Church. The name was abbreviated through common usage by the 1880s. With much of the city being flat and only a few metres above sea level, spectacular views can be obtained from almost any high building. At these low elevations the city appears more like a forest with only a few buildings visible, rather than a major city. Christchurch has a population of just under 360,000. Known as the 'Garden City', Christchurch has many beautiful parks and gardens throughout the city.

Main Centres in Christchurch:
Christchurch - the South Island's largest city and provincial city for Canterbury
Lyttelton - main Banks Peninsula town and port of Christchurch

Canterbury
 
Canterbury, New ZealandThe Canterbury Region includes a large central portion of the East Coast of the South Island, centred around the city of Christchurch. From the silvery beaches of the East Coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury landscape is impossible to ignore. Big scenery is the order of the day—huge panoramas of ocean or mountains, great sweeps of pastureland, massive amounts of sky. It's easy to be awestruck—but if you want to be totally flabbergasted, take a hot air balloon ride. The experience of floating across the Canterbury Plains with the majesty of the Southern Alps behind you will ingrain itself on your memory forever. The highest point of the region is the highest point of New Zealand. The spectacular Aoraki/Mount Cook stands at 3,754 metres (Aoraki is Maori for Cloud Piercer). At the other end of the scale, the submarine trenches off the coast of Kaikoura are thousands of metres deep, providing an ideal environment for the whales, dolphins and seals that live there permanently.

Main Centres:
 
Christchurch - the largest city in the South Island
Kaikoura - translated from Maori means 'a place for eating crayfish'
Hanmer Springs - a peaceful alpine village
Timaru - features significant Maori rock art collections
Lake Tekapo - beautiful lakeside town
Methven - gateway to Mount Hutt
Akaroa - attractive village with a French history
Darfield - gateway to the scenic attractions of the Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers
Springfield - gateway to the Southern Alps and the diverse journey through the Great Alpine Highway 73

Aoraki/Mt Cook
 
Aoraki/Mt Cook, New ZealandThe Aoraki/Mt Cook region is sometimes called the Mackenzie Country—it's the high inland basin beneath the Southern Alps and Aoraki/Mt Cook, south west of Christchurch. At 3,753 metres Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain. It towers above a splendid cast of massive snow-clad peaks that make up the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. Nudging one side of Aoraki/Mt Cook is the mighty Tasman Glacier, a 30 kilometre giant and one of the longest outside the Himalayas.

Main Centres in Aoraki/Mt Cook
 
Fairlie - gateway to the Mackenzie Country and Aoraki/Mt Cook
Lake Tekapo Village - scenic lakeside town on the shores of stunning turquoise-coloured Lake Tekapo
Mt Cook Village - Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Headquarters
Twizel - southern Mackenzie country town, home to excellent sporting and fishing

Wanaka
 
Wanaka, New ZealandWanaka is located on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, in west Otago. Embraced by the Southern Alps, Wanaka is Otago's second resort town after Queenstown. The crystal-clear waters of Lake Wanaka, New Zealand's fourth largest lake, reflect the snow-capped peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. Here you can absorb the unstoppable beauty of pristine wilderness, and know that it will be easy to find a great restaurant for dinner. You don't have to be a mountaineer to enjoy the delights of the park (although any one of a dozen world-class local guides can accompany you to the top). The township of Wanaka is a magnet for visitors who want to find the perfect combination of outdoor adventure and indoor luxury. There are comfortable places to stay, great shops and eateries—and all the time there's the call of the wild. The lake, mountains and around-the-year events calendar will keep you looking forward to tomorrow. The seasons are particularly noticeable in Wanaka. Spring (October - December) brings an abundance of blossom. Summer brings cloudless, hot, sunny days (January - March). Autumn brings splendid colours of gold and red (April - June), Winter brings crisp days, and snow lovers can enjoy huge freedom the mountain slopes (July - September). In the heart of the Southern Lakes you'll find the time and space to revitalise your soul.

Queenstown

Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere's premiere four season alpine and lake resort. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and overlooked by the majestic Remarkables Range, Queenstown is the perfect destination all year round. Queenstown, New ZealandSummer burns hot under blue skies before cool autumn morning's change the leaves to vivid reds and gentle golds. With crisp, clear days and acres of snow covered mountains, winter is a time for snow enthusiasts, before nature bursts into colourful life during spring. The town follows the shores of Lake Wakatipu—a deep blue pool of pure mountain water. Framing the picture is The Remarkables range with its purple-brown peaks topped with snow. Swathes of green decorate the area between town and mountain top. Queenstown was named because '...it was fit for Queen Victoria.' Certainly it's lived up to that expectation. Today it's an exhilarating alpine resort, perfect for both adventurers and leisure seekers.

Central Otago
 
Otago, New ZealandLocated in the centre of the South Island, inland from Dunedin, Central Otago comprises a series of river basins and deep river gorges. Central Otago is the only region in New Zealand to experience a near continental climate, having the hottest summers and coldest winters in New Zealand. Old trails that provided access for thousands of miners in the gold rush of the 1860s can still be seen winding over the hills, along with stone cottages, cleverly engineered water channels, mines and machinery associated with the gold rush. The towns of Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Roxburgh and Ranfurly are ideal bases for explorations of the surrounding historical countryside. Alexandra, the main town on the Clutha River, is the centre for stone fruit, particularly golden apricots. Hydro electric dams along the Clutha River have formed Lake Roxburgh and Lake Dunstan. These now offer a range of recreational opportunities, from power boating and fishing to windsurfing and sailing.

Main Centres in Central Otago:
Alexandra - known for its fruit orchards
Cromwell - by the shores of Lake Dunstan
Ranfurly - in the heart of the Maniototo a village with a rich art deco architecture
Roxburgh - service town for the fruit growing region of the Teviot Valley

Dunedin

Dunedin, New ZealandThe Otago coast stretches from the Waitaki River to the mighty Clutha River, on the South Island's eastern coast. About halfway between is the city of Dunedin, the South Island's second largest city. Dunedin was founded on the picks, harpoons and hard toil of goldminers, whalers and early Scottish settlers over 150 years ago. Much of Dunedin's early wealth and enterprise has left a tangible mark on the city today. Dunedin's name is the old Gaelic one for Edinburgh—appropriate since the city was established by Scottish Presbyterians.

Main Centres in Dunedin and Coastal Otago:
Dunedin - the main city in the Otago region
Oamaru - famous for its historical white stone architecture

Fiordland
 
Fiordland, New ZealandFiordland is located on the south-west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. As one of the most dramatic and beautiful parts of New Zealand, Fiordland has achieved World Heritage status and is often called the Sightseeing and Walking Capital of the world. The best base for exploring the Fiordland region is the attractive resort town of Te Anau. From here it is an easy two hours drive to Milford Sound and twenty minutes drive to Lake Manapouri and the start of a Doubtful Sound excursion. The road to Milford Sound is considered to be one of the world's finest alpine drives.

Main Centre in Fiordland:
Te Anau - the main centre for discovering Fiordland National Park

Southland
 
Southland, New ZealandSouthland is New Zealand's southernmost region and includes New Zealand's third island, Stewart Island. The lush, green pastoral lands of Southland are a strong contrast to the dryness of Central Otago further north. Throughout the Southland region are a number of accessible, tranquil waterways that attract fly-fishing enthusiasts in search of brown trout. Southland's largest urban centre is Invercargill, a city of 49,000 people. Visitors come to admire the elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, gardens and landscaped parks. As in Dunedin to the north, Invercargill was originally settled by people from Scotland. Invercargill is built around beautiful Queens Park—80 hectares of gardens, wildlife and sporting fun. As well as an 18-hole golf course, the park has animal enclosures, a bird aviary, play areas and the Southland Museum.

Main Centres in Southland:
Invercargill - Southland's main city
Gore - Southland's brown trout fishing centre
Bluff - fishing port at the end of the Island
Stewart Island - the largest Island in New Zealand aside from the North and South Islands

Stewart Island

Stewart Island, New Zealand Insulated from the world by its remoteness, Stewart Island is a haven for people looking for tranquillity and adventure. The island is about 75 kilometres long and up to 45 kilometres wide. About 85% of the island is a national park and it has only one town—Halfmoon Bay, also known as Oban. Many residents are direct descendants of the whalers and early Rakiura Maori, with family histories reaching back almost 200 years. Most of Stewart Island is protected by the boundaries of Rakiura National Park, New Zealand's newest national park. Rakiura is the Maori name for Stewart Island. It translates as 'the Land of Glowing Skies', probably referring to the night-time displays of Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights.  The western coast of the island is characterised by sea-pounded cliffs and sandy beaches; on the eastern side of the island there are three sheltered inlets—Paterson Inlet, with a 160 kilometre shoreline, is the largest. Vegetation ranges from podocarp and hardwood forest in the north to low forest and coastal vegetation in the south.  The approximate population of Stewart Island is 450 people.