The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are one of New Zealand's most mesmerizing natural wonders, boasting a labyrinth of grottoes, tunnels, dramatic rock formations, and underground waterfalls. Adventure abounds—visitors can cruise across Lake Te Anau, scramble through the caves, and marvel at a glittering canopy of tiny glowworms.
Built in the late-19th century by William Larnach, Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle—although it’s actually a mock castle, as it was a home rather than a fortified battlement. It’s been beautifully refurbished, and the grounds are carefully tended. The views across the hills and water of the Otago Peninsula are some of the best in the area. A trip to Larnach Castle is a great way to spend a day if visiting Dunedin.
Christchurch, coined the Garden City, is an Anglophile settlement of well-tended gardens and tree-lined streets. Its crowning jewel is the 52-acre (21-hectare) Christchurch Botanic Gardens, attractively set within Hagley Park alongside the winding Avon River. The gardens are planted with thousands of exotic and indigenous plants and trees including seasonal blooms such as magnolias, azaleas, and 250 varieties of roses.
A series of sunken river valleys at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the Marlborough Sounds offer a range of sights and adventures—hiking, biking, camping, and wildlife watching, to name but a few. Many travelers pass through Queen Charlotte Sound and the town of Picton on the ferry between the North and South islands.
In the rugged wilderness outside of the towns of Wanaka, Glenorchy, Makarora, and Haast, Mt. Aspiring National Park is New Zealand’s third largest park. You’ll see glaciers hanging suspended on mountainsides that are crossed by backcountry trails. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage area, this South Island landscape is truly magnificent.
Coronet Peak is New Zealand’s oldest ski field and remains a popular choice for people heading to the slopes during the southern hemisphere’s ski season. Snow bunnies can take to one of the ski field’s many trails, while sightseers can enjoy the stunning views of the Wakatipu Basin and the Southern Alps from the summit of the peak.
With New Zealand’s Southern Alps in the backdrop, pretty Geraldine is a rural Canterbury hub with a creative flair. Galleries and studios dot its town center while surrounding farms supply bustling cafés with fresh ingredients. It’s also a jumping-off place for exploring the outdoors, from the rushing Rangitata River to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu).
The South Island city of Dunedin was designed in the 19th century using a grid system that took little account of the area’s hilly topography. This resulted in some very precipitous roads, including the famous Baldwin Street; not only is it Dunedin’s most sloping route, it is officially the steepest street in the world.
Not far from Queenstown, Kawarau River offers a variety of thrill-seeking possibilities including jet boating, whitewater rafting, and riverboarding. Alternatively, visitors can go off-road into the surrounding hills during an all-terrain quad bike tour or try bungee jumping from the Kawarau Suspension Bridge. There’s something for history buffs too, who come to check out the gold-miners’ huts and relics from the river’s gold-rush days.
Lake Wanaka is one of New Zealand’s largest lakes, surrounded by the mountains of Mt. Aspiring National Park. On the lake's southern shore, the town of Wanaka is a relaxed spot that offers easy access to lake-based activities: in summer, paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, and swimming are popular; in winter, skiing is available nearby.
In the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Arthur’s Pass National Park is a sprawling landscape marked by soaring mountains, lush valleys, and powerful rivers. It offers adventurous visitors of all levels varied hiking tracks, open ski fields, and remarkable natural wonders such as forests, caves, waterfalls, glaciers, and more.
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view from more than 1,640 feet (500 meters) above sea level on the Christchurch Gondola. Take in 360-degree views of the Christchurch cityscape set against a scenic backdrop of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, and Banks Peninsula. It’s a not-to-be-missed experience for visitors of all ages.
Twenty-two of New Zealand’s highest mountains stand proud in the Southern Alps. Magnificent Mt. Cook (Aoraki) rises 12,217 feet (3,724 meters) tall, making it the country’s highest peak and one of the South Island's most prominent natural features. The Maori name Aoraki is aptly translated as “cloud piercer.”
Right in the center of Dunedin city is the Octagon, an 8-sided plaza lined with cafés, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs—and bustling with locals and visitors alike at all times of day. Enjoy a meal or a beer in the sunshine before taking in an exhibition at the Dunedin Art Gallery or heading to the Regent Theatre for a show.
Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park stretches from Westland to Fiordland on New Zealand's South Island, comprising a 434-square-mile (700-square-kilometer) UNESCO World Heritage Area. Star attractions include Tasman Glacier and the Hooker Valley wilderness—a mecca for climbers, hikers, skiers, and lovers of natural beauty.
Looming over nearby Queenstown, the Remarkables are a formidable mountain range and one of New Zealand’s most popular ski fields. The Remarkables Ski Area has a wide range of exciting slopes and runs for skiers and snowboarders people of all ages and skill levels. Warm weather sees adventure here too, with hiking and biking trails galore.
The TranzAlpine Train is New Zealand’s most spectacular train journey, one which winds its way through the dramatic gorges and alpine forests of the Southern Alps, over staggering viaducts and dizzying mountain passes. From Christchurch on the East Coast to Greymouth on the West Coast, this almost 5-hour trip serves up endless photo opportunities as it runs through the heart of the South Island.
Across the road from New Zealand’s Christchurch International Airport lies the next best thing to visiting Antarctica itself: the International Antarctic Centre. Here the whole family can experience a simulation of the harsh Antarctic climate, learn all about the icy continent, and meet the center’s cutest residents—little blue penguins.
Made of bluestone with marble floors and stained glass windows, the Dunedin Railway Station is one of Dunedin’s most impressive buildings and purportedly the most photographed in New Zealand. Far more than a railway station, here you can also grab something to eat, visit a sports museum, or photograph the attractive building.
Built in 1935 as a memorial to the pioneers of Mackenzie County, the Church of the Good Shepherd is set on the scenic shores of Lake Tekapo, framed by snow-capped mountain peaks. In addition to being a popular tourist attraction, this heritage building continues to serve as a place of worship.
The short walk to the Chasm, in the South Island’s Fiordland National Park, is an ideal family excursion as it’s not challenging, and kids will love the sight of the powerful waterfalls. The high volumes of rain in this part of the country have carved interesting shapes into the rocks here over thousands of years.
Signal Hill is a 1,289-foot (393-meter) hill in North Dunedin with a lookout providing sweeping views over the city and Otago Harbour. As well as being a popular place to drive or walk up, Signal Hill is one of Dunedin’s premier destinations for mountain biking, with trails available for a range of experience levels.
The beach suburb of Sumner might be hidden from Christchurch by the Port Hills, but this vibrant summer hot spot is only a short drive east from the CBD. Visitors can enjoy a dip at Sumner Beach, relax on the beach’s golden sands, or enjoy a coffee or ice cream on the waterfront at one of the suburb’s promenade cafés.
The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, just outside Blenheim, tells the story of New Zealand’s involvement in World War I and II through vintage aircraft. Two permanent exhibits—Knights of the Sky and Dangerous Skies—present aircraft alongside rare memorabilia, recreate battle scenes, and tell the story of the pilots who flew these impressive aircraft in each of the early-20th century wars.
The Banks Peninsula is the bulbous thumb of land that juts out into the Pacific Ocean south-east of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island. The town of Akaroa has an interesting French heritage, which is rather unusual in a country colonized by the British, and the rest of the peninsula is a nature-lover’s paradise, offering outdoor and nature-oriented activities.
Queenstown Hill is one of the many hills that surround Queenstown. At 2,975 feet (907 meters) high, it’s more of a mountain, but it’s all relative to the mighty Southern Alps. Rising northeast of central Queenstown, Queenstown Hill is a popular place to hike, although it's quite a steep and demanding climb to the top.
The Routeburn Track, with its hidden lakes, dramatic waterfalls, and rugged alpine scenery, has been heralded as one of the world's best hikes in one of the world's best settings. The 20-mile (33-kilometer) trail is fittingly listed as a New Zealand Great Walk; it is truly something special.
Covering three floors of a stunning neo-Gothic building in heart of Christchurch, the Canterbury Museum tells the stories of the region and the world around us. Walk down a re-created 19th-century Christchurch street, see the skeletons of dinosaurs and extinct native birds, and marvel at the vehicles Antarctic explorers once used to get to the South Pole.
An elegant Victorian homestead presides over 9.9 acres (4 hectares) of gardens and landscaped lawns in this Christchurch park. With blooming flowers, walking paths, and manicured garden beds, Mona Vale is primarily used for weddings and events. The gardens, however, are open to all, with an on-site restaurant serving light meals.
Spa-lovers may find it hard to leave Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. The standout attractions are the nine open-air geothermal pools, ranging in temperatures from 91°F to 107°F (33°C to 42°C). There are also three sulphur pools, six private indoor thermal pools, and a sauna. Anyone who wants to relax will search for reasons to linger.
