How to Visit South Island in 2 week - New Zealand

The South Island region of New Zealand is known for its unique natural beauty and biodiversity. Therefore when you visit New Zealand, you should definitely include the South Island region in your itinerary. The unique beauty of South Island region can create a deep impact in your heart and certainly make you come back for more. Here is a look at some of the most important tourist points in New Zealand’s South Island region.

Christchurch

Christchurch is one of the most beautiful cities in New Zealand and it is often referred to as the Garden City. When you are here, you can check out the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Cathedral Square and Cardboard Cathedral and do some sightseeing with the natural beauty of Christchurch landscape.

Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook

Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook are located at the Mackenzie Basin, which is one of the most idyllic and picture perfect areas of New Zealand. The region lie centered within South Island between mountains of Southern Alps and the extensive plains of Canterbury. You can drive to Lake Pukaki and the Aoraki Mt Cook Village to enjoy the pristine scenic beauty of the area. The Mackenzie Basin also offers great scope for some incredible and deep star gazing.

Fiordland

Fiordland is truly one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. So when you are here, do not forget to include Milford Sound and Te Anau Glow Worm Caves in your itinerary. Fiordland is considered to be among world’s most important wilderness regions that offer stunning natural features displaying earth’s evolutionary history.

Queenstown

Queenstown is a major hub of activity for those who are adventurous by heart. There are plenty of activities to enjoy here in Queenstown apart from enjoying the natural beauty of the location, such as bungy jumping, jet boating, the canyon swing, canyoning, white water rafting, sky diving and paragliding. You can also visit Glenorchy, which was one of the major filming locations for The Lord of the Rings. If you are into wines, you can go for wine tasting at Central Otago.

Wanaka

Wanaka is a picturesque town in South Island region near the Lake Wanaka. It offers great scope to spend some laidback time. When you are here, you can visit the Mt Aspiring National Park and Roy’s Peak. You can also do some skiing and snowboarding at the Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone.

Franz Josef

After Wanaka, you can come down to Franz Josef, a region that stands out for its watery marvels. On your drive to Franz Josef, you can make plenty of stops to enjoy the many waterfalls, pools and lakes of the region. Check out the amazing glaciers of the Glacier Country, most notably Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier. The Lake Matheson and the Glacier Hot Pools are the other major attractions of the Franz Josef region.
Nelson/Abel Tasman
When you are at Nelson, you can visit the Abel Tasman National Park which is home to some of the best golden sand beaches in New Zealand. You can also drive to Punakaiki for enjoying the views.

Kaikoura

The Kaikoura coast region is flanked by rolling green hills and towering snowcapped mountains. It is also home to numerous marine life species. You can visit Ohau stream to see the seal pups playing all by themselves under the waterfalls. You can also take cruise lines to view the dusky dolphins and sperm whales living in the bay region. The Point Kean Seal Colony offers great views of seals casually lazing on rocks. The Peninsula presents with great views of the mountains and bay regions.