The Top 10 New Zealand South Island Must Do Experiences

New Zealand’s South Island is filled with natural wonders, from glaciers to fiords. Add to that adventure activities, boutique wineries, and world-class hiking, and you have a fun-filled vacation. These are our picks for the best New Zealand South Island must do experiences.

• Visit a glacier
• Experience the wilderness
• Taste world-class wines
• Explore the coastline
• See our famous native birds
• Get your adrenaline on in Queenstown
• Take a drive
• Get out on the water
• Fall in love with Kiwi hospitality
• Take a walk

Read on for more details about the top New Zealand South Island must do experiences.

The Top 10 Experiences on the South Island of New Zealand

1. Visit a glacier

Home to over 3,000 glaciers, the South Island is one of the world’s best places to see a glacier. And you don’t have to go to great lengths to see them, either – two of our most famous glaciers (Fox and Franz Josef) are just minutes off the West Coast road, while others are easily visible from the highway.

For a more intimate experience, try a glacier helicopter landing, or explore the crevasses and caves on a heli-hike.

2. Experience the wilderness

From the pristine beaches of Abel Tasman National Park in the north to the untouched majesty of Fiordland in the south, the South Island is dominated by its wilderness. Step off the tourist route with a hike into one of the island’s world-renowned national parks, or soak in the grandeur of Doubtful Sound, also known as Patea, the ‘Place of Silence.’

3. Taste world-class wines

The South Island has recently vaulted into the world wine scene with Marlborough, a region famous for its Sauvignon blanc, at the forefront.

For a taste of Marlborough’s famous wines, there is no better destination than Renwick, where you will find 20 wineries within a five-kilometer radius. Join a tour or rent a bike to sample the vineyards, and soak in the scenery with a relaxing vineyard lunch.

Farther south, Central Otago is home to a less conventional wine region. Growers were originally told the area was not conducive to grape-growing, but dozens of first-class wineries scattered throughout the hills surrounding Wanaka, Queenstown, Cromwell, and the Kawarau Gorge have proved the experts wrong.

4. Explore the coastline

With its narrow profile, the South Island of New Zealand packs a lot of coastline into a very small landmass. From idyllic golden-sand beaches to thundering west-coast surf, vertical fiords to lush rainforest-enshrouded coastline, every stretch of the South Island’s coast is dramatically different from the rest of the island.

There are a number of unusual treasures along the coastline, too, including the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, the Moeraki Boulders north of Dunedin, and the petrified forest and Cathedral Caves in the Catlins.

5. See our famous native birds

Penguins, kiwis, keas, wekas, kakas, bellbirds, fantails…these are only some of the incredible native birds you can see on the South Island.

Stewart Island is the best destination for seeing the shy, nocturnal kiwi in the wild, while remote coastlines such as those in Fiordland and the Catlins are great penguin-spotting locales.

And you’re sure to find a mischievous kea if you make the drive through Arthur’s Pass! These large green mountain parrots are very intelligent – and notorious for stealing and picking apart any valuables they find unattended.

6. Get your adrenaline on in Queenstown

After a day or two in the adventure capital of New Zealand, the adrenaline-pumping vibe is sure to wear off on you. From kid-friendly adventures like jet-boating and helicopter flights to once-in-a-lifetime experiences like skydiving and canyoning, you will find something to test your limits – no matter your age or adrenaline tendencies.

7. Take a drive

Some of the most unforgettable scenic highlights in New Zealand are not the destinations, but rather the drives. Some of the top drives include:

• The Milford Road. Most people assume the drive between Te Anau and Milford Sound is just a means to an end (seeing our most iconic fiord), when in reality the drive itself is often the highlight. Sheer mountains line the road, waterfalls cascade from rock faces, and a lush carpet of jungle hugs the slopes.
• Arthur’s Pass. Made famous by the TranzAlpine Train Journey that has often been listed among the world’s top train rides, Arthur’s Pass is the classic route from Christchurch to the West Coast. But you don’t need to take the train to experience the grandeur of Arthur’s Pass. A few unexpected highlights along the way include Castle Hill, Cave Stream, and the aforementioned keas at Arthur’s Pass Village.
• The Mackenzie Basin. Home to two of New Zealand’s most photogenic turquoise lakes, the Mackenzie Basin runs alongside the Southern Alps, with breathtaking views of the highest peaks in the country. Snow-capped peaks, golden tussocklands, turquoise water so brilliant you won’t believe it’s real, and rugged high-country stations define this unmissable drive.

8. Get out on the water

It’s hard to see the South Island without setting foot on a boat. With the world’s highest fresh water per capita, New Zealand is water sport paradise. Cruise the fiords, ride the historic steamship across Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, kayak the turquoise rivers, float beneath a galaxy of glowworms, or hurtle past incredible scenery on a jet-boat as you explore the South Island.

9. Fall in love with Kiwi hospitality

New Zealand is famous for its laid-back, welcoming people. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the small towns on the South Island. Strike up a conversation with a local shopkeeper, fisher, or tour guide, or even spend the night at a B&B or farmstay for a first-hand experience of our famous Kiwi hospitality.

10. Take a walk in the woods

Since the landscape is dominated by its natural wonders, it’s no surprise that the South Island offers countless opportunities to get immersed in nature. And nothing beats taking a walk beneath the majestic native trees. From short nature strolls to the Blue Pools and the Hokitika Gorge to multi-day hikes crossing dramatic ridges, New Zealand offers something for everyone.

Look for a guided hike if you want to try something a bit more strenuous but lack the experience. Alternatively, strike out on your own to discover the vast wilderness of the South Island.