South Island: Comprehensive Maps of Activities

The South Island of New Zealand is where most of the photogenic landscapes you’ve seen on blogs and socials are taken.

But for someone visiting New Zealand for the first time, it can be quite a lot to research for the largest island. Where are its cities and towns? What are the key attractions? How many days should I spend in the area?

Well, having spent two years living in Aotearoa over the pandemic while on the Working Holiday scheme, I have thus translated my blessings and learnings into a post specifically for those heading to Te Waipounamu for their explorations.

I’ve written many posts about my adventures in New Zealand. This article is just one of the many guides. My 2-weeks South Island itinerary is ideal for travellers short on time.

I was in New Zealand from 2020 – 2022. This post contains affiliate links that cost nothing to you but support my blog! It may also be updated periodically. Cheers!

Tasman Nelson

I spent, on and off, more than six months in Tasman Nelson. I spent the country’s first lockdown in Motueka, visited tourist sites devoid of the usual crowds, and found random spots for the best bargains and noms.

Some of the seasonal work I did in Tasman Nelson:

1. Mussel Opening (Summer, Feb 2020)
2. Pear Packing (Autumn, Mar 2020)
3. Apple Packing and Grading (Autumn – Winter, Mar – Jun 2020)
4. Hops Training (Spring, Oct-Dec 2020 and 2021)
5. Apple Trimming (Summer, Dec 2021)

Of all the activities one could do in Tasman Nelson, these are the top 5 I’d recommend for those passing by, based on my preferences. 😝

1. Trek the Abel Tasman Coastal Walk. This is one of the easiest Great Walks in New Zealand with spectacular coastal views.
2. Visit Rawhiti and Ngarua Caves. Takaka is a limestone-saturated area with excellent boulders and caves for the adventurous. Rawhiti Cave is a small cave free to visit. While Ngarua cave isn’t free as it is within private land, the experience is well worth the price.
3. Enjoy the meat platter at The Smoking Barrel. This family-owned eatery serves delicious pastries, cakes and coffee. Whenever I visit Motueka, I’d share one of their meat platters!
4. Grocery shopping at Richmond & Nelson. Time your visit to coincide with Saturday’s Farmer Market in Nelson. Grab some delectable burgers in Nelson for lunch. Shop for Asian goods nearby before rounding up the groceries for the week or two at Pak n Save or Raeward in Richmond.
5. Hike to Angelus Hut of Nelson Lakes. A beautiful track up the mountains with views over Nelson Lakes before plunging into a valley where Lake Angelus resides with its solitary red hut.

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Christchurch (including Akaroa & Arthur’s Pass)

Christchurch is the city where I found my first job, stayed in my first sharehouse, and made friends who directed me to Tasman Nelson.

While in Christchurch, I travelled with various groups of friends to the outskirts – hiking up mountains like the Avalanche Peak and enjoying a different landscape at Akaroa.

Non-seasonal work I did in Christchurch as a working holiday maker:

1. Plastic Packer (Jan – Feb 2020)
2. Flower Packer (Jan – Feb 2021)
3. Tomato Picker (Dec 2021)
4. Parcel Sorter (Dec – Jan 2021)

Here are the top 5 activities to do in Christchurch, gleaned from my long list:

1. Walk around the city. Spend a day visiting the botanic garden and museum.
2. Visit the Farmer’s Markets. Shop for fresh produce, enjoy live performances and picnic by the river with delicious bratwurst sandwiches!
3. Spot the dolphins at Akaroa. A quaint little French town on an ancient volcano overlooking the sea. Hop on a cruise and learn about the wildlife and geography of Akaroa.
4. Hike the Avalanche Peak. A must-do for any moderately fit person! The view atop was remarkable, and we interacted with a couple of Keas – alpine parrots. If not, drop by the Devil’s Punchbowl nearby.
5. Swing by Castle Hills. And climb the oddly shaped boulders.

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Marlborough & Kaikoura

Unless you are working in the vineyards, or enjoy sampling wine in New Zealand’s largest wine region, the only reason to find yourself here in this region is to catch the ferry to the North Island at Picton.

Kaikoura is a laid-back town for seafood – crayfish – and whale-watching. My ghastly accident near the coastal town, however, painted it in a different light. Drive safe!

1. Spot baby seals at Kaikoura. Their squeals are unbearable!
2. Catch sight of the whales from the air. Haven’t done this yet since I was not particularly interested. But I watched aerial-shot videos of the whales from a friend who visited twice.
3. Eat succulent mussels at Havelock. Watch out for the pesky gulls.
4. Enjoy the ride from Picton to Wellington. Rated as one of the most scenic cruises in New Zealand. We saw a pod of dolphins as we returned to the South Island.
5. Do the Queen Charlotte Track. I have not done this 73.5 km multi-day trek, but a friend of mine highly recommended it.

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In between – From Aoraki to Oamaru to Roxburgh

I have no idea how to classify these places that are too small to be a city but have enough activities to eat into a week or more.

The ‘in-betweens’ are on the tourist belt, and where the most beautiful parts of outdoor New Zealand are. You could ski or snowboard, hike snow mountains and visit strange coastal formations and unique towns.

Seasonal work I did while on working holiday:

1. Calf Rearing (Hinds, Spring, Aug – Sep 2020)
2. Cherry Picking (Clyde, Summer, Dec – Jan 2020/21)

Here are the top 5 activities I’d recommend as gleaned from my 2-week itinerary:

1. Star-gazing at Church of the Good Shepherd. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve has one of the darkest and unpolluted night skies in the world. Join a guided tour and watch the celestial magic unfold.
2. Trek to Mueller Hut. I did this overnight tramp in winter and it was stunning! The red hut contrasted beautifully against the white snow.
3. Catch the blue penguins at Oamaru. These cheeky penguins, the smallest in the world, like to hang out around Friendly Bay after dusk.
4. Go on an eating spree. Sample some cheese at Whitestone Cheese, enjoy delicious pies at Fairlie Bakehouse, indulge in salmon sashimi at High Country Salmon, and devour some real-fruit ice cream in Cromwell.
5. Marvel at the rock formations of Clay Cliffs and Moeraki Boulders. The Clay Cliffs were used as a scene in the Disney Mulan adaptation. Moeraki Boulders are strange round balls resting on the East Coast.

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West Coast

The West Coast of New Zealand is a strange place. Separated from the rest of South Island by the Southern Alps, this long region is perpetually rainy whenever I visit.

But on rare occasions of fair weather, the West Coast makes for some memorable treks and activities.

Oh, and beware of the voracious sandflies!

Here are the top 5 activities I’d highlight for West Coast:

1. Trek the beautiful Copland Track. A relatively easy overnight return trek to a natural hot spring.
2. Heli-hike the glaciers. We visited Fox Glacier, but you could visit Franz Josef Glacier too.
3. Mountain bike the Heaphy Great Walk. Not for the faint-hearted or noobs like me. You could spend 5 days walking or rent a mountain bike for 3 days.
4. Relish at the sight of milky blue waters at Hokitika Gorge. Dreamy landscape nestled within the forest. It makes for a great half-day trip from Hokitika.
5. Hike to the Brewster Glacier. I did not do this overnight trek, but a friend did, and his photos were stunning.

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Queenstown + Wanaka

Queenstown was where I landed in New Zealand and spent the next three weeks trying to find a job before moving on to Christchurch. The Adventure Capital of the World has so many adrenaline-inducing activities that the wallet is your limit!

People like to compare Wanaka to its sister Queenstown. But Wanaka is quieter and more liveable than busy Queenstown.

I stayed in several hostels at Queenstown and have written a review here.

1. Trek Ben Lomond. The views atop more than make the effort. Plus, the trek is accessible from the city centre. Expect the residential endemic alpine parrots, keas, at the top.
2. Horse riding at Glenorchy. We trod into rivers and forests and the scenes of LOTR.
3. Visit postcard-perfect Arrowtown. You get shades of orange in autumn or bursts of colour in spring.
4. Bungy jump. Kawarau Bridge is the birthplace of the bungy jump. Remember to leap out for the best footage.
5. Snowsports at Cardrona. Book a class and have some fun in the snow!

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Dunedin + Clutha

Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island. The coastal city rests on hilly terrain and is home to the University of Otago. Students make up a sizable chunk of their population thus giving the city a youthful vibe. It has the steepest street in the world, New Zealand’s only castle, and an Albatross colony.

Beyond Dunedin lies a series of waterfalls, forests and caves suitable for an activity-packed weekend.

1. Feel the gale and enjoy the rocky coastline at Tunnel Beach. Don’t get blown away!
2. Snap a few quirky photos on the steepest street. Many inspirations are available online to spark your creativity.
3. Catch some yellow-eyed penguins at The Nugget Point Lighthouse. If not, the view of the stone nuggets from the lighthouse makes up for it.
4. Walk into a large chamber at The Cathedral Caves. Check the tides!
5. Pose with the Southernmost Point of NZ sign. The road to the sign can be muddy!

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Southland

The Southland, the coldest part of New Zealand, is home to some of the most beautiful treks. Four Great Walks are nestled within the region, as with the famous Milford Sound and lesser-known but equally gorgeous Doubtful Sound.

1. Trek all four Great Walks! Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, and the ‘finest walk in the world’ Milford Track. And the walk on Stewart Island, Rakiura Track.
2. Cruise the Sounds. We took a one-day Milford Cruise from Wanaka by flight and an overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound.
3. Visit the island near Bluff. Stewart Island has several multi-day tracks. The probability of spotting a kiwi bird in real life is higher there.
4. Eat some oysters at Bluff. They have an annual oyster festival in May.
5. Buy stuff from the world’s southernmost shops. We had coffee from the world’s southernmost Starbucks.

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Conclusion/ Rambles

I hope I have been thorough! The South Island can be divided into 7 regions – Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland – but I relate more to my classification.

Anyhoo, find all my New Zealand posts, including town/ city-specific guides, multi-day treks and activities I’ve done, captured under this page.

A similar page relating to the North Island is found here.

Enjoy your travels on the South Island!