South Island attractions

Established in 1898, Toitῡ Otago Settlers Museum is New Zealand’s oldest history museum. Originally focusing on Otago’s 19th-century European settlers, the museum has since broadened its focus. The region now called Otago was settled by the Kāi Tahu people, and the stories told at the Toitῡ Otago Settlers Museum begin with them and follow the people of Otago over centuries.

New Regent Street, a short street in central Christchurch, is often called New Zealand’s most beautiful street. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, most visitors would agree that the pastel-colored shop fronts on New Regent Street are definitely attractive. They were built in the 1930s in the Spanish Mission style, which is unusual in New Zealand, making New Regent Street a worthwhile detour while touring Christchurch.

Stretching across the Avon River, the Bridge of Remembrance was unveiled in 1924 to honor the servicemen and women who bravely fought in World War I. Hundreds of soldiers have since marched on its stones. Today, the bridge and monument arch are viewed by many as the center of downtown Christchurch.

The Avon River (Otakaro) flows from its source in the western suburbs of Christchurch and through the central city, making it a focal point for recreation. Leaving the central city, the Avon flows west and out to the Avon Heathcote Estuary. A popular destination with locals and tourists alike, you can walk along the Avon’s banks, relax in Hagley Park or the Botanic Gardens with a view of the river, or go on an English-style punt boat.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a family-friendly reserve on the outskirts of Christchurch. Meet both native animals and creatures from all over the world while supporting and contributing to Willowbank’s conservation efforts. Get close to all kinds of critters, from kiwi to kunekune pigs and everything in between.

The Royal Albatross Centre, within Dunedin city limits on the Otago Peninsula, is an ideal spot for nature viewing. The center is home to the only mainland breeding colony of these large birds in the world. Add a tour of the center to a day trip out to the peninsula—a must-do activity while in Dunedin.

On the New Zealand’s South Island, a short drive from Dunedin, The OPERA (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance), formerly Penguin Place, is a conservation reserve for the endangered Yellow-Eyed Penguin. It’s entirely funded through guided tours, so your visit will directly contribute to the birds’ preservation. In addition to bird sightings, the reserve offers beautiful views of Otago Harbour.

Hang on tight! Skyline Queenstown affords the city’s best views, but the gondola ride isn’t for the faint of heart. Zipping up 1,475 feet (450 meters) to the top of Bob’s Peak takes about 10 minutes aboard the steepest gondola in the southern hemisphere. En route, enjoy 220-degree vistas of Queenstown, the Remarkables, Coronet Peak, and Lake Wakatipu. At the top, dine at the mountaintop Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar amid panoramic views while the Skyline Luge track—with two steepness options, one easy enough for kids—sends adventurous riders screaming on their return trip to the mountain’s base.

Olveston Historic Home, an unmissable Dunedin attraction, was constructed in the early 1900s and is still decorated as when it was built. The original owner collected unique items worldwide, making this not just a house but a museum. Visitors can view the interior and the large, beautiful gardens.

The Transitional Cathedral opened in 2013, after the city’s iconic ChristChurch Cathedral was severely damaged in the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. In contrast to the 19th-century stone church it replaces, the cathedral has a very modern, A-frame design supported by dozens of cardboard tubes, lending it the nickname the Cardboard Cathedral.

Walking and cycling trails crisscross the green, rumpled Port Hills landscape. To get to know this outdoor playground, skip the tunnel linking Christchurch and the harbor community of Lyttleton to the southeast. Instead, take the long way around and over the hills. The extra travel time pays off in scenery and gorgeous views.

Towering high above the Canterbury Plains, Mt. Hutt Ski Area is an award-winning, internationally recognized ski resort suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. But it’s not only a hot destination during ski season—there’s plenty to do during the summer, including hiking, hot-air ballooning, and jet boating in the Rakaia Gorge.

Soaring peaks dive into lush forests on the 4-day Milford Track, New Zealand’s most famous hiking trail. Often called the “finest walk in the world,” the Milford Track travels through the UNESCO-listed Fiordlands, a dramatic setting crisscrossed by a network of suspension bridges, winding waterways, narrow trails, and open valleys.

The Waipara Valley is a well-regarded wine region north of Christchurch, and Torlesse Wines is one of the oldest wineries there. They produce a variety of wines, which visitors can taste at their cellar door every day of the week. At an hour’s drive from Christchurch, Torlesse Wines is a convenient place to visit on a day trip to the Waipara Valley.

Beneath towering Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre is a tribute to the legendary New Zealand mountaineer and philanthropist. Discover peaks and valleys of Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the state-of-the-art cinema and study mementos from Hillary’s long life as an explorer.

After you’ve cruised on the surface of Milford Sound and looked up at its lofty peaks, take a journey underwater at the Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory, commonly called the Milford Sound Observatory. The large underwater viewing room is 32 feet (10 meters beneath the water, and you’ll see coral, fish, birds, and other wildlife.

Meandering from the majestic Southern Alps through the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean, the Waimakariri River is known for its scenic beauty. It is also the hub for a number of popular water sports and outdoor activities, from beech forest–lined canyon hikes to jet boat rides that take you spinning around rugged Waimakariri Gorge.

Former rubbish tip turned family-owned wildlife sanctuary—the Kiwi Park Queenstown is a force for good in downtown Queensland that helps conserve over 20 native species of birds and reptiles. Visitors come here for guided tours, conservation shows, and to see New Zealand’s iconic kiwi birds up close in the Nocturnal House.

The Waipara Valley, just north of Christchurch, is one of the most active wine-growing regions in the country. The Waipara Springs Winery is a family-run winery that’s one of the oldest in the region, having been established in 1981. Visitors can sample fine wines and enjoy a meal at the restaurant, all in a beautiful rural setting.

Just south of the town of Hokitika, the West Coast Treetop Walk & Café offers a fun natural experience for adults and kids. A steel platform allows visitors to walk through the canopy of native rimu and kamahi trees, 65 feet (20 meters) above the ground. A 131-foot-high (40-meter-high) lookout tower offers views of the forest and the surrounding areas.

The Mackenzie Basin (also called Mackenzie Country) is an intermontane basin bounded on all sides by mountains. It’s a magnificent area of high peaks, colorful lakes, glaciers, grasslands, and some of the darkest night skies in the world. The Mackenzie Basin should be a fixture on any central South Island road trip.

The Pegasus Bay Winery is one of the most highly respected wineries in New Zealand. Located in the Waipara Valley region north of Christchurch, this family-run winery has been producing wine for several decades. It’s an easy place to visit from Christchurch for some wine tasting and a delicious meal.

Skippers Canyon, a short distance north of Queenstown, is nothing short of dramatic. The Shotover River winds through the canyon’s steep rock walls, topped with coarse alpine scrub, for nearly 14 miles (23 kilometers). Not the best place to go driving, it’s perfect for hiking, jet boating, white-water rafting, and other adventure activities.

The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is known for its role in the Gold Rush, when people flocked there seeking their fortunes in the 1860s. Immerse yourself in this historical event at the interactive Shantytown Heritage Park. More than just a museum, the park offers a range of family-friendly indoor and outdoor attractions.

Take a break from the cars and crowds of Christchurch without leaving the city. Covering 407 acres (165 hectares) of central Christchurch, Hagley Park is a tranquil park full of green, open spaces. Take a paddleboat down the Avon River, play a match of soccer or rugby, or explore the flower beds and glasshouses of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

The Christchurch Tram combines leisurely transportation with narrated city sightseeing aboard a restored vintage tram. Visitors learn about historical landmarks in central Christchurch as well as the Garden City’s revival efforts following the earthquake damage of 2011. With 17 hop-on hop-off stops, it’s an easy and fun way to get oriented to New Zealand's third-largest city.

Set in the heart of Glacier Country and backed by the Southern Alps, the Fox Glacier is not only one of New Zealand’s most impressive glaciers, it’s also one of the most accessible in the world—you can even catch a glimpse of the glacier from the roadside. Fed by high alpine snowfall, the Fox Glacier is also unique for its fast-moving ice flows, which means you’ll never hike the same glacier twice.

The Hollyford Track might not have the profile of Fiordland’s Great Walks, but it’s no less impressive. This low-altitude walk runs through the Hollyford Valley, part of the Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Area, and alongside the roaring Hollyford River, past towering mountains and crystal-clear lakes all the way to Martins Bay.

Ulva Island (Te Wharawhara) is a small island within Paterson Inlet on Stewart Island (Rakiura)—New Zealand’s third-largest island that sits off the south coast of the South Island. It’s a pest-free island sanctuary that’s home to several bird species that struggle on the mainland (including kiwi), as well as important native plants and marine animals.

Christchurch is bursting with independent artists, artisans, and storytellers producing vibrant and cutting-edge work, and many of them call the Christchurch Arts Centre (Te Matatiki Toi Ora) home. Redeveloping and reopening in stages following the damaging 2011 earthquake, the center is an exciting, creative hub full of studios, stores, galleries, and museums.