South Island :

Regional Information

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Click the links below for more information on a specific region.

Nelson
Marlborough
West Coast
Canterbury
Chatham Islands
Christchurch
Mt Cook / Mackenzie Country
Queenstown / Wanaka
Otago
Dunedin
Fiordland
Southland
Stewart Island

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From Christchurch to:		Kilometres		Hours
Nelson		438		6:20
West Coast		255		4:10
Queenstown		479		7:15
Dunedin		361		4:30
Invercargill		555		8:10

For more comprehensive information on travelling distances, please click the link below.

New Zealand Distance Calculator

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Situated around Tasman and Golden Bays at the top of the South Island, the Nelson region is surrounded by mountain ranges, giving it a moderate climate.

Nelson, named after Admiral Lord Nelson of Battle of Trafalgar fame, is the main commercial centre for the region, whose main industries are forestry, horticulture, fishing and tourism.

Nelson is known for it's all year sunshine, golden beaches, boutique wineries, waterfront cafes and fresh local seafood.

Abel Tasman, New Zealand's smallest national park, is a coastal wonderland of sea, rocky outcrops and golden beaches. The Nelson Lakes National Park is set amidst the mountains and glaciated valleys of south Nelson, and features beech forests and lakes.

Highlights

• Fresh local seafood
• Wine trails, vineyard visits
• Suter Art Gallery, Nelson
• Ngarua Caves, Takaka Hill
• Waikoropupu Springs, Takaka
• Farewell Spit Safari, Golden Bay
• Nelson Lakes National Park
• Abel Tasman National Park
• Coastal Tracks
• Water sports, cruising

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Marlborough Region is situated on the north-eastern corner of the South Island, due west of Wellington.

Picton is your destination when travelling by Interisland Ferry. Marlborough is sheltered by hills and mountains. Sunny and dry, it is also known for it's vineyards, fresh local produce and scenic boat cruising.

Highlights

• Fresh local seafood
• Marlborough wine trail
• Vineyard visits
• Abel Tasman National Park
• Water sports, cruising
• Marlborough Sounds
• Waikoropupu Springs
• Queen Charlotte Walkway

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In New Zealand, the 'West Coast' refers to the narrow strip of land between the South Island's Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea.

The West Coast is a rugged, wild and sparsely populated region with some of the most dramatic scenery in New Zealand. It is an area of large mountain peaks, impressive glaciers, tranquil lakes, white water rivers, lush native rainforest and a magnificent coastline. Most of its natural environment is still intact and preserved in national parks under World Heritage Listing.

The Coast's reputation for hospitality is legendary - 'coasters' display a sincere friendliness and strength of character as unique as their surroundings.

Westport is the gateway to the West Coast and is full of historic goldrush relics from the 1860's. You can also try gold panning at Shantytown, near Greymouth. The region is also known for it's local craftspeople and you can find unique local greenstone (jade) items and craft galleries featuring local artists.

Highlights

• Cape Foulwind Seal colony
• Coal Town Museum
• Shantytown, Greymouth
• Paparoa National Park
• Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
• Greymouth, Shantytown
• Lake Brunner/Moana
• Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
• Historic Gold Fields
• Greenstone (jade)
• Lake Matheson
• White Heron Sanctuary, Whataroa

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The Canterbury Region includes a large central portion of the east coast of the South Island, centred around the city of Christchurch.

The Christchurch hinterland of highly productive farmlands extends from the beaches of the east coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps. Just over the hills from Christchurch, the regional port of Lyttelton has many fine examples of colonial Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

About 130km north of Christchurch is Hanmer Springs, the South Island's only thermal spa. On the coast to the north, Kaikoura is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to view sperm whales at close-range.

West of Christchurch lies the small country town of Methven. At the southern limits of the Canterbury Plains is Timaru, the main commercial centre and port for the southern part of the region. This is an area of fertile river valleys and gentle rolling hills, orchards and attractive country towns. Timaru has many elegant brick and stone Victorian and Edwardian buildings.

Highlights

• Hanmer Springs Hotpools
• Hanmer Forest
• Hurunui High Country
• Whale Watching, Kaikoura
• Tranz Alpine Rail Trip
• Arthur's Pass National Park
• Skiing, Snow boarding

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The Chatham Islands are part of the Canterbury region located on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island.

Come and explore these islands to discover the unique character of the home the locals love.

Chatham Islands Map

Enjoy the diverse landscapes, walks and tramps through native bush, and experience a taste of the rich Moriori history at Te Kopinga Marae. Participate in the fantastic fishing, exciting scuba diving, exhilarating ATV treks and peaceful bush walks.

Scenic tours and day trips to neighbouring Pitt Island by plane and boat are available.

Getting There

Air Chathams is our locally owned airline, and the sole operator to the Island. Flights operate from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

For schedule information and reservations see Air Chathams for flights.

Highlights

• Eco-tourism - unique and rare species, Island ecosystems
• Renowned fishing area - lobster, abalone (paua), cod, groper (hapuka), kingfish, etc
• Diverse landscapes, walks and tramps through native bush
• Scenic tours / day trips Pitt Island by plane and boat
• Indigenous flora and fauna

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Christchurch city is located midway down the east coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula.

The South Island's largest city and main international gateway is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, art galleries, great shopping and a host of activities. It has been judged one of the top 25 cities of the world by a leading travel magazine.

It has all the amenities of a modern city, but is still very much a regional centre serving the rich rural hinterland, with a laid-back style of life. Its Gothic Cathedral, grey-stone nineteenth century buildings, tree-lined avenues and extensive parks have preserved the grace and charm of an earlier era.

Sometimes referred to as the garden city, Christchurch's Botanic Gardens comprise 30ha of brilliant formal flowerbeds, interspersed with magnificent specimen trees tucked into a loop of the Avon River.

A Banks Peninsula town to visit is Akaroa. Originally a French settlement, its ambience still reflects its Gallic origins.

Highlights

• Historic Trams
• Punting on the Avon River
• Gothic Cathedrals
• Christchurch Casino
• Mt Cavendish gondola rides
• International Antarctic Centre
• Willowbank Wildlife Park
• Akaroa Village

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Mackenzie Country is a high inland basin beneath the Southern Alps and Mount Cook, south west of Christchurch.

At 3754m Mount Cook (its Maori name is Aoraki) is New Zealand's highest mountain. It towers above a massive snow-capped range that make up Mount Cook National Park. Aside Mt Cook is the mighty Tasman Glacier, a 30km giant and one of the longest outside the Himalayas.

The church of the Good Shepherd sits on the shores of Lake Tekapo and offers a spectacular view of the Southern Alps framed by its altar window.

In winter it is a vibrant ski resort for Mount Hutt, whose season usually runs from June to October.

Highlights

• Scenic glacier flights
• Mt Cook National Park
• Lake Tekapo
• Southern Alps
• Mounteering
• Skiing

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Wanaka is located on the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, in west Otago, north of Queenstown.

Hemmed in by the Southern Alps, Wanaka is Otago's second resort after Queenstown. The crystal-clear waters of New Zealand's fourth-largest lake reflect the snow-capped peaks of the Mt Aspiring National Park World Heritage Area. The internationally rated ski fields of Cardrona, Treble Cone and Waiorau Nordic Ski Area are nearby.

The highlight of the attractions at Wanaka is the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum at Skyshow Centre, with the largest collection of airworthy World War Two fighters in the Southern Hemisphere. These 'old warbirds' take to the skies every other Easter, attracting admirers from far and wide.

Called the Adventure Capital of the World - Queenstown is a major resort town that nestles beside the blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, at the foot of the Remarkables Range in west Otago.

It is known as New Zealand's 'all year-round alpine extreme adventure destination'. Action packed activites include, jet boating on the Kawarau or Shotover rivers, bungy jumping and features world-renowned ski fields within easy reach to ski and snowboard.

More relaxed activities include, cruising on the restired vintage TSS Earnslaw, golfing and sport fishing. The nearby historic Arrowtown features goldrush miners cottages and relics from this era.

Queenstown is the home of bungy jumping. In winter, pristine powder ski runs are just over the hills. There are four world-renowned ski fields within easy reach to ski and snowboard.

Highlights

• Skyline Gondola and luge
• Historic Arrowtown
• Spectacular Glenorchy
• Extreme adventure activities
• Internationally rated ski fields
• Skiing, hiking
• Jet Boating
• Bungy Jumping
• Lake Wakatipu
• Remarkables Ranges
• Spectacular alpine scenery
• Trout fishing
• Mt Aspiring National Park
• Lake Wanaka
• Puzzling World
• Scenic Flightseeing

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Located in the centre of the South Island, inland from Dunedin, this semi-arid region comprises a series of river basins and deep gorges.

Otago is often called the golden country due to its goldmining associations, vivid autumn colours and apricot orchards. The Central Otago region is the only one to experience a continental climate, having the hottest summers and coldest winters in New Zealand.

Old trails that provided access for thousands of miners in the gold rush of the 1860s can still be seen winding over the hills, along with cottages, engineered water channels, mines and machinery of the gold rush days.

Highlights

• Historic goldrush area
• Historic townships
• Alexandra
• Natural wildlife
• Gabrials Gully (1860's goldrush location)
• Clutha River

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The Otago Coast stretches from the Waitaki River to the Clutha River, on the South Island's eastern coast. In the middle is Dunedin, built around Otago Harbour.

Dunedin, is the South Island's second-largest city and the commercial centre for the Otago region. Its name is the old Gaelic one for Edinburgh - appropriate since the city was established by Scottish Presbyterians. It is a gracious city whose numerous grand nineteenth century and its Edwardian buildings are unrivalled anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dunedin's architectural heritage has provided the city with some notable buildings, including the train station, town hall, university and many churches. There are also special former private residences worth noting including Olveston, a Jacobean-style family home. Neo-Gothic Larnach Castle represents the finest of nineteenth century architicure.

Nature and wildlife tour companies run daily excursions to view fur seals, endangered yellow-eyed penguin, cormorants and albatross.

Further north on the Otago coast is Oamaru, known for the grand white stone buildings of its old harbourside precinct. On Moeraki Beach, about halfway between Oamaru and Dunedin are the unique, perfectly round Moeraki Boulders, which weigh up to four tons each.

Highlights

• Taieri Gorge Railway
• Larnoch Castle
• Olveston Historic Home
• Historic architecture
• Settlers Museum
• Otago Peninsula
• Natural wildlife
• Royal Albatross Colony
• Yellow-eyed Penguin Conservation Reserve
• Lively Dunedin pub scene
• Moeraki Boulders

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Fiordland comprises of the rugged, glaciated country and fiords in the south-west corner of the South Island.

Te Anau is the gateway to the world-famous Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area covering almost 1.2 million hectares. Fiordland represents nature on a grand scale, where waterfalls tumble thousands of metres into pristine, forested valleys, and glacier-carved fiords indent its coastal boundaries.

The road to Milford Sound, is said to be one of the finest alpine drives in the world. Arriving at Milford, visitors are confronted by the well known Mitre Peak. As roads provide access to only a small area of Fiordland, so flightseeing is one of the best ways to really see this vast wilderness. Taking the road one way and flying the other is recommended by most visitors.

Fiordland National Park also contains five of the country's best-known hiking trails, ranging from 1½-day nature walks to three-day walks on well-established tracks.

Milford Sound is the most famous of the fiords, but Doubtful Sound - the deepest - is also easily accessible.

Visitors to this vast, remote area, practically untouched, are often overwhelmed by the solitude.

Highlights

• Te Ana-au Caves and walks
• Milford Sound cruises
• Underwater Observatory
• Fiords, Mitre Peak
• World famous walking tracks
• Lake Manapouri cruises
• Doubtful Sound cruises
• Hiking one of the renowned walks

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Southland is New Zealand's southern-most region.

Southland's lush, green pastures are among the richest in the country, a contrast to dry Central Otago to the north. The region's largest urban centre is Invercargill, with many elegant Victorian and Edwardian buildings, gardens and landscaped parks. Like Dunedin to the north, Scots also settled Invercargill.

Highlights

• Catlins Coastline
• Port Craig Hike
• Invercargill Museum
• Fishing
• Bird watching
• Eco-tourism

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Unspoilt in its isolation, Stewart Island across Foveaux Strait is the third largest island making up New Zealand.

Stewart Island Map

For anyone seeking peace and tranquillity, Stewart Island is the ultimate spot. There are superb bush walks and great launch cruises around some of New Zealand's most beautiful coastline.

Although the Island is busiest in summer, it is never over-crowded, as the visitor numbers are limited by the accommodation and transport available.

87% of Stewart Island has recently become a national park - an acknowledgement of the beauty and value of its natural attributes. It is also home to the native brown kiwi.

The sea is the centre and focus of island life, with Halfmoon Bay having its base as a fishing village. The water is clear and unpolluted with abundant fish and seabirds.

The Island's permanent population is 350, most of whom live in Halfmoon Bay. There are only 20 kms of road, so even the most remote residents are within walking distance of the village. Most of the houses are nestled into the bush and fit discretely into their surroundings.

Getting There

Stewart Island Flights flys from Invercargill and the Stewart Island Experience Ferry leaves from Bluff.

Highlights

• Stewart Island cruises
• Water taxi to Ulva Island
• World famous walking tracks
• Fishing
• Bird watching
• Eco-tourism

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