I’m lucky enough to have been to New Zealand twice and so I thought it was only fair I shared some of my favourite spots of the South Island!
Arthur’s Pass
Arthur’s Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps. It is an incredible area of mountains, snowy peaks, rainforests and rock-filled valley’s. It is truly beautiful and I am so glad that I have been able to go back and see the pass again.
To make sure we explored it properly, we stayed in the National Park and took our time on the drive through and back, stopping at the lookout points and landmarks such as the famous Arthur’s Pass National Park sign.
Whilst exploring the National Park, there are many hikes and walks to do too. You can find more information in Arthur’s Pass village where there is a visitors centre or on their website. Arthur’s Pass is also another hotspot for Kea’s so if you haven’t got to Milford Sound yet, or you haven’t seen a Kea, then keep your eyes peeled here. There’s a good chance you’ll see one, as there’s often sightings in the village.
Christchurch
Christchurch was probably my favourite city on the South Island. There is so much character to the city as well as there being loads to do and see. Last time I was in Christchurch was March 2020, when we knew we were going into lockdown for the first time and we didn’t have a chance to see much of the city other than a quick trip to find some souvenirs and essentials. However this time, I got to explore and I loved it! A particular favourite of our was riding the original tram on a tour of the city. It’s a really unique way to see the the sights and learn about the history.
We made sure to get a few souvenirs, there were many shops for this as well as loads of high street shops, restaurants, food markets, outdoor markets and more. I particularly liked the botanical gardens and we enjoyed a stroll round the greenhouses.
The city still shows effects of the 2011 earthquakes that destroyed so much. Many buildings have never been rebuilt, the rubble was just removed and often those that aren’t rebuilt become car parks which is why so much city centre parking is available. A few buildings have had issues and delays with repairs even still, including the famous cathedral that has been in ruins for a number of years. However, we found out whilst we were there in January 2023 that the redevelopment of this historical landmark had begun and project aims to be completed by 2027.
Aoraki Mount Cook & Walking Tracks
Aoraki or Mount Cook was possibly the most phenomenal sight of our New Zealand trip. At over 12,200ft this astounding mountain is the highest in New Zealand. It has 23 peaks, is the home of many kea’s and also has 27km long glacier, called the Tasman Glacier.
I knew Aoraki would be impressive, but photos I had seen did not do it justice. The whole area is just spectacular, including Highway 80 which gives some of the best views of this huge giant and all it’s surroundings.
There are around 10 walks that begin in Aoraki Mount Cook Village, located at the end of Highway 80 and they include the Hooker Valley Track and Kea Point, both of which we did. The return is under 3 hours each and both are of reasonable terrain. Hooker Valley Track was my favourite of the two as it involves walking across 3 swing bridges right in the valley and at end you come to a glacier lake that has icebergs (!!) floating.
The whole National Park is just remarkable. I cannot describe in words how beautiful it actually is. There is also so much to do besides the two walking tracks I mentioned, including star-gazing, helicopter rides, glacier tours or dining in restaurants in the village with views of the mountain. If you haven’t got Aoraki Mount Cook on you itinerary, add it now!
Murchison Motorhome Park
This campsite was such a wholesome place for me. I visited in 2020 with my gal pal when we were exploring NZ and loved it then, it just had the most relaxing atmosphere. Situated in a really rural area, next to the Buller River, the campsite is really picturesque.
It has great kitchen facilities, a ginger tom cat and swimming holes to relax in. We didn’t get the chance to swim before but this time, the weather was much warmer and perfect for river swimming. The holes are tucked away from the main river stream making them safer and easy to access. We spent a couple of hours swimming before heading back for a proper camping dinner on our grassy pitch.
Kaikoura Whale Watching
We booked this tour with Whale Watch Kaikõura as they were the highest reviewed on Trip Advisor and I had also seen them mentioned on a few different blogs. They are a Maõri owned company who value the conservation of whales and the surrounding environment, whilst educating tourists. Each tour the goes out collects and records any information of the whales seen contributing to the scientific research that is carried out by Whale Watch.
Each member of staff was so knowledgeable and answered all the questions they could. The whole experience was so professional and educational, and we had the added bonus of actually seeing 3 Sperm Whales! To find the whales, the boats used a hearing piece that the captain listened to by lowering one end into the water. No invasive technologies are used to locate and they are monitored at all times when spotted, so that no distress is caused when observation on a tour happens.
One note I will say, it can be rough if you experience seasickness. We went on a day that was moderate seasickness and it was quite choppy. If you’ve got better sea legs, you’ll be fine but if not, stock up on travel sickness tablets and sit near a window to watch the horizon. If you do suffer, don’t let it put you off going. Seeing a whale completely trumped any feeling of icky-ness I had – I forgot all about it as soon as we saw one and the staff were excellent at dealing with it too!
Wanaka
The famous tree of Wanaka is a photo that has been seen many times, even if you didn’t know where it was, the photo has done it’s rounds. We wanted to go Wanaka to tick seeing the tree off our list, but what I didn’t expect was how cute Wanaka was; lake view restaurants and bars, families relaxing on the lake shores, swimming in the refreshing lake and a whole area purely for watersports.
We only scheduled an afternoon of exploring but on reflection, we wished we’d had a whole day to look around, try food from the local eateries and soak up the sun around the lake, before ending the day watching the sun set over the mountains.
Nicknamed the gateway to the Southern Alps, Wanaka offers everything from snowsports in the winter to watersports in the summer. When we return to New Zealand, a trip back to Wanaka is absolutely on that list.
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