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If you’re looking for an adventurous escape, the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand is a fabulous place to find it. From hair-raising jetboat rides to spine-tingling heli-hikes; from thrilling wildlife encounters to incomparable star-gazing, we’ve found the South Island’s most incredible adventurous experiences for you to enjoy on your South Island road trip:
1. Ōtautahi Christchurch
Your adventure begins in this beautiful, revitalised city: a diverse playground of wide open spaces, modern architecture and heritage buildings. A historic city tram tour or a punt ride on the Avon River is a fantastic way to see the sights while conserving your energy for an action-packed afternoon: sign up for a surfing lesson at Sumner Beach, go mountain biking at Christchurch Adventure Park or savour the spectacular views from the Christchurch gondola.
2. Aoraki Mt Cook
Overlooked by New Zealand’s highest peak, the Mt Cook region is the ideal base for a variety of outdoor adventures including hiking and rock climbing. Paddle among towering icebergs on a kayak tour of the glacial lakes at the foot of the Tasman Glacier, experience the thrill of mountaineering with the support of an alpine guide, or challenge your powder skills on a backcountry ski tour.
3. Ōmarama
This tiny town in the MacKenzie Basin is renowned as one of the best places in the world to experience the thrill of a scenic glider flight, with ideal conditions and incredible views over the Southern Alps. Back on solid ground, the towering pinnacles and eroded ridges of Ōmarama’s Clay Cliffs, are the ideal spot for a short hike to catch your breath – especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun’s low angle and golden light transforms them into a photographer’s dream.
4. Wānaka
In Wānaka, you’ll find plenty of fun adventures that are sure to get your heart racing, including sky diving, canyoning and horse trekking. You could challenge the laws of gravity on a spine-tingling Via Ferrata climb, carve a few turns at Treble Cone or Cardrona Ski Fields, or experience the excitement of landing your first wild King Salmon. If you’re looking for a more relaxed style of adventure, take a scenic tour of Lake Wānaka and Mou Waho Island, or take a tour of the region’s finest award-winning wineries and distilleries.
1. Nelson
Located in the northwest corner of New Zealand’s South Island, the Nelson region is a dazzling combination of stunning coastal scenery and picturesque valleys. Join a canoeing trip on the peaceful Pelorus River, explore the limestone cave systems of Takaka Hill or climb the immense sand dunes of Farewell Spit. Three of New Zealand’s National Parks are located within the Nelson region, offering an impressive diversity of landscapes. You could explore the Heaphy Track on a multi-day mountain bike adventure, go kayaking with seals in Abel Tasman National Park or fish for rainbow trout in the tranquil setting of Nelson Lakes National Park.
2. Takapō Tekapo
Surrounded by the Southern Alps, Tekapo offers plenty of opportunities for adventurous pursuits, from mountain biking and hiking to kayaking and skiing, while enjoying breathtaking panoramic views that are out of this world. The town is located in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which means the stargazing here is truly spectacular. You can join a guided tour of the night sky at Mount John University Observatory, or revel in a unique astronomy experience: lazing on a floating hammock at the Tekapo Hot Springs.
3. Te Anau
Set on the shoreline of the beautiful lake that shares its name, the town of Te Anau is the gateway to the scenic wilderness of Fiordland National Park. Take a boat tour to visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, where countless tiny, luminous glowworms create a magical underground setting, try your luck at fishing for trout in the clear waters of the lake or explore the Lake2Lake Trail, which follows the Waiau River as far as remote Lake Manapouri.
4. Piopiotahi Milford Sound
The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s famed Great Hikes: a 53.5-kilometre adventure through the valleys and mountains of Fiordland that concludes at spectacular Milford Sound. You don’t have to commit to a four-day hike to experience the breathtaking beauty of this unique part of the South Island though – the 118-kilometre road journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound via the Homer Tunnel is also quite the adventure. The region’s high rainfall ensures a mystical setting of mist-draped mountains and towering waterfalls at any time of year, best appreciated from a scenic flight or fjord cruise.
1. Queenstown
The South Island’s original adventure capital has plenty to offer in the way of thrills, from zip lining and luging to para gliding and sky diving. Queenstown is the birthplace of bungy jumping, and there are three separate locations to choose from. At 134 metres in height, the Nevis is the highest in New Zealand, delivering around 8.5 seconds of scream-inducing freefall. When you’re ready to take things down a notch, we recommend a leisurely cruise aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station, complete with gourmet lunch and old-fashioned, high-country hospitality.
2. Franz Josef
The West Coast of the South Island is a nature-lover’s paradise, where ancient native forest meets a Tasman Sea that is frequently wild and always spectacular. Take a scenic cruise on the pristine waters of Lake Mapourika, search for fossils and giant, carnivorous snails in the remote streams and forests of the Oparara Basin, or experience the otherworldly beauty of glacial caves, crevasses and ice fields during a guided heli-hike on Fox or Franz Josef Glacier.
3. Greymouth
From witnessing the spectacle of the Punakaiki Blowholes at high tide, to panning for gold in a remote, snow-fed river, there are plenty of adventurous activities to enjoy in and around Greymouth. The renowned TranzAlpine rail adventure between Greymouth and Christchurch is considered one of the world’s great train journeys. Spectacular at any time of year, you’ll travel through a breathtaking variety of landscapes including lush rainforests, rugged mountains and serene river valley on a coast-to-coast journey through the heart of the Southern Alps.
1. Hanmer Springs
You’ll find adventurous pursuits to suit every level of adrenaline in and around the stunning alpine resort town of Hanmer Springs, ranging from mountain biking to quad biking. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, you can opt for hiking, skiing or fly fishing, or you can take to the water with a white-water rafting or jet boating adventure. Even at the town’s most relaxation-focused attraction – the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa – there are thrills to be found on the park’s Super Bowl, Violet Vertex and Conical Thrill slides.
2. Kaikōura
Don’t let the laid-back, seaside atmosphere fool you – Kaikōura knows how to turn on the thrills. It’s one of the few places on Earth where you can see sperm whales year-round, and you may be lucky enough to also spot humpback whales, blue whales, dolphins and orcas during a memorable half-day whale watching tour. You can also experience a high-speed zip-lining adventure over native forest and farmland during a visit to a high-country station.
3. Marlborough
The Marlborough Sounds offer excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities, one of the highlights of which is the Mikhail Lermontov: a sunken cruise liner that is one of the world’s largest wrecks accessible for diving. The clear waters of the Sounds are home to an abundance of marine life, so there’s a pretty good chance that your early morning paddle-boarding session could be escorted by a pod of inquisitive dolphins. The Marlborough region is also one of New Zealand’s finest wine-making regions, making it the ideal location for a sunrise hot-air balloon adventure.
With its diverse landscapes, unique wildlife and adventure-ready locations, the South Island is a fantastic choice for an adventurous holiday. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed escape or a few fun activities to spice up your Kiwi getaway, talk to your personal travel manager about planning your ideal escape in Aotearoa New Zealand.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
