Top 10 Things To Do In New Zealand’s South Island

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It’s hard not to have your breath taken away in the South Island

The darling of New Zealand and the not-so-secret better of the two islands is the South Island.  It’s massive.  It’s dramatic.  It’s wild.  It’s adventure capital.  It’s epic.  While I still say the top things to do in the North Island rival the South, it’s almost unfair when you factor in the sweeping mountains, towering fjords, and carpets of glaciers.

With an opportunity to spend 3 weeks in New Zealand that combined both independent an road trip and group touring with Flying Kiwi, I marvelled at just how incredibly easy it was to fall in love with the country all over again despite it being my second time to New Zealand.  It’s a country that tempts you to get up close and your hands a little dirty as well.  Here are my top favourite places and activities that everyone should have on their bucket list when planning a trip to NZ.

Things to do in the New Zealand’s South Island

These are the top things to do in the New Zealand South Island that you can’t miss.  I’m still dreaming about the day that I get to go back.

#1 – Pancake Rocks

This was one of the big surprises for me coming to New Zealand and that may have been because being on Flying Kiwi’s Reverse Traverse allowed me to be a bit lazy when it came to planning.

The Pancake Rocks and Blowholes is an extremely unique geological formation that was created from the bashing and thunderous battering of the Tasman Sea but even then that barely explains the layers of limestone that form these thin layered columns as if a thick comb brushed through it at one point.

As the tide rises, so too does the intensity of the water that surges up the small openings found here, creating a huge wall of spray.

Beyond the pancakes themselves, you’ll also found a ton of other incredible rock bridge formations and chimney blowholes that also create a mist of fun that makes this 20-45 minutes walk a highlight for any trip to the South Island.

#2 – Shotover Jet

Their moniker is “the world’s most exciting jet boat ride” and having done this experience twice, they’ve certainly cemented themselves in that place.

It is honestly hard to describe as there’s really nothing really like it elsewhere in the world because not only is it an insanely fast boat, you’re also zigging and zagging through narrow canyon rock walls that look like they could immediately bash you in but the pilot so skillfully glides along the water like a choreographed dance.

What’ll surprise you is that it’s a decently lengthy ride that isn’t just a ride out to the canyon and back so there’s a ton of time to savour every inch of the adrenaline rush.

#3 – Franz Josef Glacier

You probably didn’t know this but New Zealand has not one but two of the most easily accessible glaciers in the world – Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are both along the western coast of the South Island and present one of the most memorable activities you can do in New Zealand.

It’s rare that in a day you can say that you took a helicopter, landed on top of a glacier, slipped on crampons, and got to hike through crevasses and climb up chiseled out staircases.  This is a guided experience that takes you deep into an ever-changing icescape.  It’s a marvel of sight to be up on this huge mound of slow moving ice.

The only other place I’ve been able to do something like this was part of a 8 day itinerary in Iceland but Franz Josef for me will always be etched as my first and one that is a must-do if you’re exploring this part of the country.

Franz Josef is where I had my glacier hiking experience but you’re probably wondering what the difference is with Fox Glacier.  Both are very similar in my opinion and located virtually in the same area since the two glaciers are in neighbouring valleys.  In terms of experience, both are world-class and the hiking will be of the same variety but of course, the landscape will be very different based on the conditions and movement of ice.  Technically, Franz Josef is steeper than Fox Glacier but Fox Glacier is larger and 2km longer.  I’ve read that the Franz Josef experience is a bit more hands-on and the route is pre-cut while Fox Glacier can sometimes offer smaller groups and more surprises as the routes are decided by the guides once up at the top.

Where I feel like Franz Josef has the advantage is that afterwards, you can wrap up your experience by dipping into the Franz Josef hot pools which are adjacent to the main office.  This is the perfect companion to the hike to relax those tense muscles and get ready for the next part of your journey.  The Franz Josef town is also more developed than at Fox Glacier.

#4 – Visit A Kiwi Bird Centre

You see kiwi birds as stuffed animals, on key chains, paper weights, postcards, and stickers but you’ll never see them in real life unless you do one of two things.  You can go on a night time safari out into one of the few habitats where they can still be naturally found such as near Okarito or you can go to one of many kiwi centres.

You’d think the national bird of New Zealand would be everywhere but they are in fact endangered in the wild because of introduced predators such as the stout and possum.  To start, there aren’t that many of them and on top of that they’re nocturnal creatures so you won’t see them wandering around during the day.  As a result, the only real guaranteed way to spot them are in places that recreate their habitat.

The biggest reason why it’s worth it to see a kiwi in person is because you really know what they look like and how they move until you’ve seen them with your own eyes.  I can only describe them as these basketball sized birds that have stubby legs with a straw for a beak.  The one particular one we saw here was recently introduced to the space and so was running wildly from one pane of glass to another and drawing semi-circles with his/her beak as a way to mark their territory.  It was quite fascinating to watch.  Their basketball torso is also incredibly cute.

While I wish I could’ve taken a photo, no cameras are actually allowed in the kiwi sanctuary and even if I could, the photos would turn out terribly because it’s in near darkness inside.  It makes sense that cameras aren’t allowed because they know people will accidentally trigger their flash.

Centre such as the National Kiwi Centre in Hokitika are incredibly family friendly and can be explored at your own pace.  Other animals you’ll find here are the giant longfin eels and the native reptile called tuatara that were considered extinct until rediscovered in 2005.

#5 – Skydiving above the Abel Tasman

If there’s one place to go skydiving in New Zealand, I’d say it would have to be at the north part of the South Island where you can catch glimpses of the North Island, can see how the coast wraps up towards Nelson and Picton, the mountains, river outlets, and famous Abel Tasman National Park.  You can see it all from 16,500, 13,000, or 9,000 feet.

I share my full experiences from our 13,000 feet skydive with Skydive Abel Tasman and after you read it, you’ll understand why it was such an incredible experience and even as someone that’s afraid of heights, why I’d totally do it all over again.

#6 – Milford Sound

Another reason why the South Island of New Zealand is so intriguing is because you have such a dynamic range of landscapes.  This being the final frontier of the island, windy roads through Fjordland National Park carved thousands of years ago by ice now opens up to the world-famous Milford Sound.

The best way to see the whole fjord is to get on a cruise which takes you out from the cruise terminal to where the passageway opens out into the Tasman Sea.  Along the way, you’ll see thunderous waterfalls, the iconic Mitre Peak, towering mountains on both sides, and wildlife as well.  To complete the experience, the Southern Discoveries cruise & kayak is one I recommend because you then get to combine an experience at the Discovery Centre to see black coral up-close in their underwater observatory and then hit the water via kayak which gives you further appreciation of the scale of what’s around you.

This is top activity in Queenstown that you can add to your itinerary.

#7 – Wineries of Marlborough

There are 6 distinct wine regions in New Zealand but perhaps one of the most well known is Marlborough.  Not going to this region if you’re a wine-lover is like going to California and not visiting Napa.

Hemmed between the mountain and the sea, the northeast part of the South Island is geologically perfect for the sauvignon blanc but you’ll also find excellent pinot noir, riesling, and chardonnay.

There are of course quite a number of wineries in the region but if you’re looking for somewhere that has excellent wine and offers affordable tastings and snacks, I’d recommend Saint Clair which I personally visited as part of the Flying Kiwi Reverse Traverse.  They also have an excellent lunch and dinner menu to pair with their wines.

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#8 – Abel Tasman National Park

This is a loaded one because the National Park is massive and there are so many ways to explore the whole park.  What makes Abel Tasman unique is that it’s the only place in New Zealand with a coastline that consists of what’s called separation granite which is a big part of the park’s popular golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs and coastal track.

To take advantage of a little bit of everything, I recommend doing Marahau Sea Kayak’s Ocean & Earth which is a 2 day experience that starts with a boat cruise up to Onetatehui where you get geared up with your tandem kayaks and spend the day heading down to Anchorage.  You’ll stay the night camping at Anchorage and the next day you’ll do the most popular part of the Abel Tasman coastal track.

To me, what will stick out as memorable about the Abel Tasman is the unique experience we had both on the water and on land.  On the water, you have the freedom of kayaking to explore the granite walls, the seal colony that’s part of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve, and the bays that would reveal itself as you kayaked deeper in.  On land, the track snakes through the coastline that features a thick forest that’s filled with birdlife, open views of the water, side trails, and secret beaches.

If you don’t have two days to spare, there are a number of day trips that offer kayaking, cruising, and hiking in the Abel Tasman like this one.

#9 – Arthur’s Pass

Arthur’s Pass is a bit of a confusing name because it can mean a lot of things.  There’s the Arthur’s Pass village which then sits inside the Arthur’s Pass National Park but for most Arthur’s Pass is often referred to as the drive that cuts through the park on Highway 73.  To me, it’s the drive and what you can see along the way that makes up the whole experience.

This has to be one of the best drives in the South Island if not the whole country and it’s one that takes you from Kamara Junction or Greymouth on the west to Christchurch on the east.  In the middle of that is the Arthur’s Pass National Park and the mountainous terrain presents a lot to look and reasons to stop as you’re passing by giant waterfalls, deeply gorged rivers, creative viaducts, bridges, and rock sheltres to get through the Southern Alps, and dense rainforest.

At every turn, there’s something to look at on this drive which makes it the best drives in New Zealand.  Make sure to stop at the Otira Gorge that you see above, Devil’s Punchbowl Falls, and Arthur’s Pass village which is the country’s highest settlement.  Also pay attention to the birds that you might see here.  It will most likely be the inquisitive alpine parrot, the kea.

#10 – Horseback Riding in Glenorchy and Paradise

The hidden jewel of the South Island I think is in a pocket not too far from Queenstown known as Glenorchy and a place aptly named Paradise.  If you do your research and read the Location Guidebook for Lord of the Rings, you’ll know that Peter Jackson used this area quite a number of times for both the LOTR and The Hobbit trilogies.  It’s a place that features the mountains, wide shingle-filled riverbeds, and lush green ent-like forests.

The best way to see all of it is by horseback and that’s where activities such as Dart River Adventures’ River Wild is an excellent choice to do something a little bit more unexpected in New Zealand.  If that doesn’t suit your fancy, there is an awesome 4WD Lord of the Rings Tour that guides you into all of spots used in the films.  Whatever you decide to do, it’s not hard to imagine location scouts coming up here and imaging how this place could be the perfect setting for Isengard, Beorn, or Boromir’s last stand.

Make sure you bring your Mavic Pro drone here because the views from up above are just stunning.

A Quick NZ Travel Guide

Money – You’ll never feel like cash is a necessity in New Zealand.  Credit cards can carry you through pretty much through the whole South Island and the rest of the country.  The only time we really needed cash was when we needed coins for the coin wash, and super local spots.

Tip :  When exchanging avoid doing it at the airport as the rates are always worse than what you can get with an ATM withdrawal or at an exchange shop in the city.

When is the best time? – High season is during their summer which is December to February.  As with other destinations, shoulder seasons are always the best so consider Spring (March – May) or Fall (September – November).

Getting here – Auckland (AKL) is the international hub if you’re looking to fly in direct.  Following this in size are Christchurch (CHC), Wellington (WLG), and Queenstown (ZQN), and Dunedin (DUD).  To put alerts on the flights and find the best deals, I recommend using Skyscanner.

 How do I get around the South Island? – To get around the North Island, you’re either going to want to rent a car or travel with a company like Flying Kiwi.  Car rental will give you ultimate flexibility but you’ll have to plan everything from top to bottom and gas can get quite expensive despite super cheap rental rates.  Flying Kiwi is a great option for solo travellers or those wanting to just book something and show up.   Make sure you head to the NZ travel guide for the discount code for car rental company Hitch.

 Where should I stay? – The most comprehensive platform for bookings based on personal experience was Booking.com.  They had everything from hotels, hostels, and guesthouses and we always managed to find an awesome place for a great place.  As an alternative, there’s also Agoda and Airbnb.  Remember if you sign up with a new account, you can get $36 USD credit.

Curious where my top 4 stays in the South Island were?

Booking.com

Do I need a visa? – If you’re on this list of countries, you don’t need a visa to enter New Zealand.  If you do require a visa, reach out to your regional New Zealand embassy to apply for a visa.

Tip :  New Zealand doesn’t mess around when it comes to their bio security.  Answer their questions truthfully even when it comes to where your hiking boots have been and snacks you’re bringing in.  You don’t want to be slapped with a heavy fee when their sniff dogs or high-tech bio-sensitive x-rays catch you.

Do I need travel insurance? – As always, travel insurance is highly recommended.  My philosophy is that you want to make sure you’re covered in case the unknown happens.  With the amount of travel that I do, I always get basic travel insurance that’s good for multiple trips and lasts the full year.  If you’re wanting for adventure sports coverage as a Canadian, travelcuts has a really good custom plan that you won’t find anywhere else.  If you’re from the US, Allianz is my preferred insurer.  If you’re in Canada, I always check Kanetix to make sure I get the best rates.  Elsewhere in the world? World Nomads is what I’d recommend you check out.

How about you?  What are your top favourites from your travels in New Zealand’s South Island?  Do you have a question planning your upcoming trip?  Drop a comment down below.