Regions-South Is


South Island

Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland and last, but not least, Stewart Island.


Marlborough
Marlborough is known as the sunniest region in New Zealand. The gateway to the South Island, Picton is here and the traveller, after sailing through Cook Strait, is offered beautiful views of the Queen Charlotte Sounds before reaching Picton to disembark. The city of Nelson offers plenty for the discerning traveller. International award winning wineries aplenty abound around the Nelson area. On the east coast is the town of Kaikoura where the hobby of whale watching is able to be done. Marlborough as a whole has everything to offer anybody who visits this region.

The beautiful Queen Charlotte Sounds
Picton - the gateway to the South Island
A beach in Abel Tasman National Park

West Coast
This region is a narrow stretch of land bordered by a rugged coastline and the Southern Alps. It is sparsely populated, but the West Coasters are known as extremely friendly people. The climate is regarded as wet. One of the main tourist attractions in this region are the Pancake Rocks. The Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers are also located in this region. Like the Coromandel region in the North Island it is rich in gold mining history. The main towns are Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika. In Hokitika you are able to see the cutting and carving of greenstone (New Zealand jade).

Franz Josef Glacier
Pancake Rocks
The rugged coastline

Canterbury
The Canterbury region is mainly known for its plains. The city of Christchurch is in this region - the largest city in the South island. Christchurch's landscape is flat, its architecture is mainly English and through it runs the Avon River which on its banks a beautiful park has been made. It is also the only town or city in New Zealand that still has trams running for transport.

Canterbury Plains with the Southern
Alps in the background
Christchurch Cathedral
Punting on the Avon

Otago
A very hilly, dry and barren region. Lots and lots of sheep farms in this region. The town of note in this region is Queenstown, one of the major tourist attractions in New Zealand. Not only for the scenery but for skiing at Coronet Peak, whitewater rafting and the new craze of bungy jumping. Not far from Queenstown is the historic town of Arrowtown, a wonderful place to visit for a relaxing stroll down a street of "days gone by". The major city in Otago is Dunedin, which has a very Scottish flavour and its own castle, Larnach Castle.

Queenstown
Larnach Castle
Lake Wanaka

Southland
Southland is the home of the Fiordland National Park. Perhaps the most beautiful area in New Zealand and world famous for its fiords and mountains. Most famous here is Mitre Peak, one of the world's largest mountains rising out of the sea. Also in Fiordland is the world's oldest and most famous hiking track - the Milford Track. It is 33 miles long and puts any tramper to the test. Invercargill is the city of Southland at the bottom of the South Island and is the major commercial centre for this part of the island. Bluff is on the southern most coast and is the departure port for crossing Foveaux Strait to visit Stewart Island.

Milford Sound with Mitre Peak to the left
Sailing through a fiord in Fiordland
Beech forest in Fiordland

Stewart Island
The third of New Zealand's largest islands. The twice daily ferries dock in the only town of Oban. It is an island of forest and hills and another dream place for the fisherman.

Yes a beach again		>
One of the isolated bays
Stewart Island from the air


       
       
   




         



With any questions or comments


site designed and maintained by