Tag: South Island

Turquoise blue-green water in the reservoir between Clyde Dam and the city of Cromwell, New Zealand, contrasts with dry, rocky hillsides beyond. The view looking back toward Clyde reveals a narrow dirt road below the main highway that snakes along the shoreline near scant trees and desert shrubs.

New Zealand Tours – New Zealand Holiday

This 3 Day Itinerary starts in Dunedin and ends in Queenstown, with an easy 4-hour drive between them, not including great stops like the Moeraki Boulders and activities in Central Otago.

New Zealand Road Trip - New Zealand Beaches: Makarora to Fox Glacier. An MSR tent sits in a grassy field, with a rustic fence and wild grasses beyond. New Zealand's West Coast mountain range is visible in the distance, and a helicopter flies overhead under blue skies and bright clouds.

Kiwi New Zealand: Things to do in New Zealand South Island

This 5 Day South Island Itinerary has you flying in to Queenstown and then out of either Picton or Wellington, depending on domestic and international connections, rental car arrangements, and your time frame and schedule. It’s a fair amount of driving, but you’ll get a good combination of urban and rural, with landscapes ranging from sub-tropical and coastal to inland and mountainous.

The number nine engraved on the center of a metal-spoked wheel, a relic from the coal mining site of Brunner, New Zealand.

The Best New Zealand South Island Itinerary 7 Days

This 7 Day South Island Itinerary has you flying in to Queenstown and then out of either Picton or Wellington, depending on domestic and international connections, rental car arrangements, and your time frame and schedule. If you only have 5 days, check out our 5 Day Itinerary from Wellington to Dunedin, flying out of Queenstown.

A view of the mountains and river near Haast, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Best New Zealand Itinerary 2 Weeks

We’ve planned the best 14 Day New Zealand Itinerary so you don’t have to! Check out each of the days below to put together your own holiday around the South Island and Wellington, or customize a trip if you’ve only got a few days or a week. (Check out our “Itineraries” in the main menu for other, shorter itineraries from New Zealand and other countries, as well).

A view of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown's waterfront park. Bayonet Peaks and Walter Peak are both visible over the lake. Blue-green, turquoise water sits beneath a vibrant blue sky, as fluffy white clouds float by.

New Zealand Travel Blog and Facts: Top 10 New Zealand Activities

Check out our New Zealand Top 10 list, including all our favorite road trip stops throughout the South Island and Wellington. We’ve hand-picked our favorite spots, activities, and must-see locations to help you plan your own kiwi adventure itinerary.

A view of downtown Queenstown, New Zealand from the edge of Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown's waterfront park. Blue-green, turquoise water washes ashore on the rocky beach near the tourist centre of central South Island.

Things to do in Queenstown: Eat, Play, Run

For our post on what to do in Queenstown, we picked a few of our favorite spots for our last few days in country, including the Cow Restaurant, the esplanade, walking downtown Queenstown, and the Ben Lomond Scenic Reserve just outside of town.

Queenstown Restaurants: A view of the entrance to the Cow Pizza and Spaghetti House in downtown Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand.

Queenstown Restaurants: The Cow

Our favorite of all Queenstown restaurants is the Cow, a small, dimly lit “pizza and spaghetti house” tucked away in one of the alleys of central Queenstown. Fresh baked bread, delicious dishes, and a warm and inviting location make this one of Queenstown’s best out-of-the-way restaurants.

A young girl crouches inside a massive Moeraki Boulder sitting on the sandy Pacific Coast of New Zealand. The top of the boulder has eroded, leaving a large, concave opening in which the girl sits. The Pacific Ocean is visible off New Zealand's South Island on the East Coast near the village of Moeraki.

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are a must-see stop on the coastal route between Dunedin and Christchurch or a drive from Dunedin to Queenstown. If you’re staying close by, it’s worth visiting the Moeraki Boulders and the town of Moeraki as a destination all its own, and there’s plenty to do along this stretch of the South Island’s East Coast.

Two young sisters pose near a wall of Oamaru white stone outside the University of Otago's library in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Things to do in Dunedin, New Zealand

Any South Island road trip should include a stop in Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. You’ll find a variety of activities that rivals Christchurch and Wellington. The peninsula juts out into the Pacific, home to yellow-eyed penguin colonies and albatross, enormous sea-going birds that fly to the tip of South America and back to nest.

The historic Wharf Offices and Harbour Board on Wellington, New Zealand's waterfront at Lambton Harbour. Early morning golden light illuminates the building.

What’s on Wellington: Things to do in Wellington

Wellington has something for everyone. The city boasts numerous green spaces like the sprawling botanical gardens at the top of the famous cable car route and the hiking paths near Matairangi and the Mount Victoria Lookout. Miles of shoreline include sandy beaches, piers, and self-guided tours near downtown. Trendy restaurants serve up fresh takes on classic dishes. Public art fills the streets and the broad, walled canvases of downtown buildings.

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