New Zealand’s South Island is jam-packed with things to do. The hardest part of planning your holiday is deciding what to do first!
I have a kiwi mate from a mountain hamlet a stone’s throw from Christchurch who tells people she hails from New Zealand’s “mainland’’.
‘Sure’, she says tongue firmly planted in cheek, ‘the North Island might be home to the country’s capital city and its biggest metropolis but it’s only a support act to my beautiful South Island home which offers the best of New Zealand in the 750km or so between Queen Charlotte Sound and Invercargill.’
Tourism New Zealand is currently in market promoting their five spectacular South Island Journeys for travel in autumn. Head over to Tourism New Zealand’s website to find information on suggested itineraries, top activities and enter their quiz to go in the draw to win a $250 Gift Card!
Read on to discover two South Island Journeys; Alpine Lakes and TranzAlpine Journey that will have you exploring magnificent landscapes and coastlines. Only a three-hour flight from Australia, our friendly locals are closer than you think.
Fox Glacier, West Coast. Credit: Miles Holden
Here in the South Island, towering alps meet peaceful sounds and rugged coastlines merge with sweeping plains. Famous for road-trips that offer travellers the opportunity to escape the tourist trail and see flawless vistas, meet welcoming locals occupying picture-perfect villages, and indulge in an assortment of adrenaline-pumping adventures if that’s your kind of thing.
Alpine Lakes Journey
Tekapo, Canterbury. Credit: Julian Apse
If your customers are looking to experience adventure, the Alpine Lakes Journey is the perfect itinerary to discover adventure like no other. Walk beneath New Zealand’s highest mountain, climb to towering waterfalls and take a thrilling jet boat ride.
Travel through the middle of the South Island, visiting idyllic destinations such as Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka and Queenstown. Some of the highlights from this journey include stargazing at a Dark Sky Reserve at Lake Tekapo, and travelling through the outdoor utopia that is Wanaka and Queenstown. Wanaka, found at the foot of the Mount Aspiring Park, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and there is no shortage of activities.
TranzAlpine Journey
Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast. Credit: Fraser Clements
On the other hand, if you’re customers want to explore glacier country, ancient forests and the dramatic landscapes of the West Coast the TranzAlpine Journey is the perfect itinerary to spark their interest in the South Island. Catch the world-famous TranzAlpine scenic train from Christchurch, crossing the vast Canterbury Plains and soaring Southern Alps to the untouched West Coast.
The West Coast boasts one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 coastal drives, the Great Coast Road. Boasting ancient rock formations built over 30 million years ago, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, and Oparara Arches. And we can’t forget the end of this epic coastal drive, which takes you in to the heart of glacier country most famously known for the Franz-Joseph and Fox Glacier with guided walks, heli-hikes and tours readily available.
Both the Alpine Lakes Journey and TranzAlpine Journey finish in Queenstown, in autumn the deciduous trees turn brilliant hues of yellow, gold and hot orange, and it’s all set against a sky that seems far too blue to be true!
Do you think you have mastered the South Island Journeys?
Woah woah woah – not so fast! You’ve explored two amazing journeys, but we still have three journeys in the South Island that are just waiting to be discovered.
Visit Tourism New Zealand’s website, learn about our other journeys, and test your knowledge in a short quiz to be in to win one of five $250 Gift Cards.
Do you think you’ve mastered the Alpine Lakes and TranzAlpine journeys?
- READ: KIA ORA AGENTS! Win BIG when you become a 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist
- READ: FREE WHEELIN’: a road trip on New Zealand’s South Island is the wild ride you need right now!
- READ: Discover creativity around every corner in New Zealand: Top reasons to visit Wellington & Marlborough!
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