The South Island of New Zealand is the larger of the two main islands of New Zealand, and some say it’s the more majestic although I doubt those from the North Island would agree.

One thing is indisputable, the South Island is spectacular.

With snow capped mountains and deep fiords, with pristine golden beaches (sand) and large beech forests (trees), with broad, flat plains and the Southern Alps running along it’s backbone the South Island is indeed somewhere every traveler should visit.

New Zealand’s South Island
Image credit: MilfordSound

Here you’ll get a sense of space and freedom which these days can be hard to find.

The climate here is generally cooler than the North Island although temperatures can go above 30°c in the summer and rarely drop below freezing in the winter except, of course, on the mountains.

The island is called ‘Te Waka a Maui’ by the Maori and legend has it that the South Island is ‘Maui’s Canoe’ that he used when he fished the North Island out of the sea.

It is also known by the Maori as ‘Te Wai Pounamu’ meaning ‘The Waters of Greenstone’.

Christchurch, the “garden city”, the largest city in the South Island, is blessed with stunningly beautiful gardens and tree lined streets and is also the site of many of New Zealands famously destructive earthquakes having experienced 10 in the last year (2013).

There is a wide range of activities to do and sundry places to stay, to suit your budget.

The South Island has accommodation ranging from cottages, backpacker hostels, bed and breakfasts, holiday parks, luxury lodges, and hotels to home-hosted stays on farms.

Because there are so many choices, you don’t have to worry about your budget to experience life-changing adventure.

Another option for accommodation on The South Island is to rent or buy timeshares here.

Once you’ve visited, you’ll want to spend future holidays in New Zealand and a timeshare is a fabulous way to secure a South Island home away from home!

Ther are four main regions in the South Island:

Tasman-Marlborough which includes the Nelson region and Marlborough offers the tourist golden sandy beaches, lots of NZ culture, wonderful New Zealand wine and, of course, the magical Marlborough Sounds.

The West Coast is characterised by towering glaciers and wet, untamed wilderness.

In Canterbury which includes Christchurch, you can experience the majesty of the Southern Alps sweeping down to the Canterbury plains.

The South where you’ll find Otago, Southland and the Queenstown Lakes district Here beautiful mountain lakes, snow-capped mountains plunging into fiords and the university town of Dunedin.

National Parks.

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Image credit: Korza

The South Island boasts ten wonderful national parks, Mount Aspiring, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Arthur’s Pass, Kahurangi, Paparoa, Westland, Mount Cook, Fiordland, and Rakiura.

These spectacular wilderness areas protect World Heritage Sites, fiords and glaciers, lakes, ski areas, rugged coastline, native forest, and world-class hiking tracks.

Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill and Nelson are the main settlements and although the main attractions are not in the cities they are, never the less, well worth a visit.

All four cities are very different.

Christchurch is the largest and has a certain old English feel to it though it is definitely a very modern city.

Dunedin was settled by Scottish Presbyterians and is very proud of those roots. Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region.

Nelson, the second founded city in New Zealand, is still very young by European standards but has a very South Pacific feel with palm trees and the long, gently shelving and sheltered white sand beach of Tahunanui.

Invercargill is the gateway to some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery and destinations including the Southland heartland, Stewart Island, Fiordland and the Catlins.

As I said above, the South Island of New Zealand is spectacular, visit it soon, you’ll…………..enjoy.