South Island Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch,… / cc0

South Island Essentials

The South Island features the Southern Alps, home to the Hooker Valley Track and The Remarkables ski area. Coastal highlights include the spherical Moeraki Boulders, the steep Baldwin Street in Dunedin, and the Archway Islands at Wharariki Beach. Fiordland National Park contains Milford Sound, known for its sheer rock faces and waterfalls, and the Te Ana-au glow-worm caves. Queenstown serves as a hub for the Kawarau Bridge Bungy, Shotover Jet, and the historic coal-fired TSS Earnslaw steamship on Lake Wakatipu.

15 places

U3204500 / cc-by-sa-4.0

Editor's Choice

New Zealand's South Island offers a blend of dramatic geology and unique engineering. This selection features the UNESCO-listed Milford Sound, known for its sheer rock faces and waterfalls, alongside the innovative Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch, constructed from cardboard tubes. Adventure destinations include the alpine terrain of The Remarkables and Coronet Peak, plus high-speed maneuvers through the Shotover River canyons. Historical and cultural icons include the 1912 coal-fired TSS Earnslaw steamship, the solitary Wānaka Tree, and the world-renowned Fergburger, representing the region's diverse recreational and culinary landscape.

10 places

Andy king50 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Hidden Gems

Explore the South Island's unique geological and cultural sites, ranging from the spherical Moeraki Boulders to the limestone Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki. This collection features the hand-carved passage at Tunnel Beach, the turquoise glacial waters of Hokitika Gorge, and the southernmost point of the island at Slope Point. Discover historic landmarks like the mosaic gardens of The Giant’s House in Akaroa, the cinematic landscapes of Mount Sunday, and the world’s steepest residential street in Dunedin.

15 places

mujtaba / CC BY 2.0

Alpine Landscapes

New Zealand’s South Island is defined by the Southern Alps, a mountain range featuring Aoraki / Mount Cook, the country's highest peak at 3,724 metres. This selection highlights diverse glacial formations like the 12-kilometre Franz Josef Glacier and the hanging Rob Roy Glacier. It includes geological landmarks such as the limestone boulders of Castle Hill and the iconic Mitre Peak in Milford Sound. The list also features Mount Sunday, the filming site for Edoras in The Lord of the Rings, and the alpine Omanui / McKinnon Pass.

7 places

Paul Carmona / CC BY-SA 3.0

Waterfalls & Lakes

The South Island’s hydrology spans from the turquoise glacial waters of Lake Tekapo and Pukaki in the Mackenzie Basin to the 580-meter drop of Sutherland Falls near Milford Sound. This collection features alpine lakes shaped by glacial movement, such as the mirror-reflective Lake Matheson, alongside tiered cascades like Purakaunui Falls in the Catlins. These sites highlight diverse geological formations, including the sheer fjord walls of Piopiotahi and the ancient beech forests surrounding the Nelson Lakes.

15 places

Grutness / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cultural Heritage Sites

This collection highlights the diverse cultural landscape of New Zealand’s South Island. In Dunedin, the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum documents regional heritage, while Olveston Historic Home showcases early 20th-century domestic life. Christchurch features the International Antarctic Centre's polar research exhibits and the heritage buildings of Riccarton House and Bush. On the Banks Peninsula, the Okains Bay Museum preserves extensive Māori and colonial collections, while The Lost Gypsy in the Catlins offers a unique display of interactive mechanical art.

6 places

Kiwi Discovery Queenstown / cc-by-2.0

Adventure Hubs

The South Island's adventure hubs center on the Southern Alps and Queenstown's river systems. The Remarkables and Coronet Peak offer extensive ski terrain, including night skiing and big-mountain bowls. Nearby, the Shotover Jet navigates narrow rock canyons at high speeds. Further north, Mount Hutt provides the highest altitude and one of the longest ski seasons in New Zealand. For aerial perspectives, G-Force Tandem Paragliding operates from Bob’s Peak, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountain ranges.

5 places

South Island — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Great

18°–24° · varies by region
12° at night
10–16 rainy days · varies by region
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in February

Great

18°–24° · varies by region
12° at night
8–14 rainy days · varies by region
12 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in March

Good

17°–21° · varies by region
11° at night
9–15 rainy days · varies by region
12 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Good

14°–18° · varies by region
8° at night
11–16 rainy days · varies by region
11 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
14°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

12°–15° · varies by region
6° at night
11–18 rainy days · varies by region
8 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in June

Poor

10°–12° · varies by region
4° at night
12–17 rainy days · varies by region
6 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in July

Poor

9°–11° · varies by region
3° at night
11–17 rainy days · varies by region
8 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
11°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in August

Poor

10°–12° · varies by region
4° at night
13–17 rainy days · varies by region
10 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
11°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in September

Fair

12°–14° · varies by region
5° at night
12–18 rainy days · varies by region
11 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
11°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

13°–16° · varies by region
7° at night
14–20 rainy days · varies by region
11 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Good

15°–19° · varies by region
8° at night
12–18 rainy days · varies by region
11 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in December

Good

17°–21° · varies by region
11° at night
13–18 rainy days · varies by region
10 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
14°C · too cold to swim
UV index 8 · very high

This destination spans several climate zones, so these figures are a range across the region rather than exact values. Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2); NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5; NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land; NASA POWER (MERRA-2); NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5; NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5; NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025