Holidays in South Island

The South Island is truly a incredible place, rugged mountain ranges, vast open landscapes and spectacular beaches are just a taste of what's on offer. The South Island is an untouched land where you can enjoy the full range of natural wonders.

When to take your South Island holidays

The South Island has a generally mild climate and four distinct seasons. To catch the summer months, the best time to travel is from December to February. During winter (from June to August) is an excellent time to visit the glaciers, mountains and ski resorts. The best way to reach the South Island is via the Christchurch International airport. From there it is highly recommended that you continue your journey by car to make the most of the scenic beauty of the South Island. The time zone is GMT+12.

What to do on your South Island holidays

After checking out the trendy city of Christchurch, Canterbury would be a great place to continue your South Island holidays. Head to the nearby mountains and coastline where you can take a boat cruise, go hiking or try some extreme sports such as whitewater rafting or bungee jumping. Whale watching is also popular in this area. For wine lovers, a must-see destination is Malbourough, the country's largest wine growing region. Take a pre-arranged tour by bicycle or car to visit the many prestigious wineries and restaurants in the area.

Heading further south is Queenstown where you will find even more dramatic landscapes. Take a scenic flight over Lake Wakatipu to see the full beauty of this incredible region that will take you back to the 'Lord of the Rings' movies. Southland is world renowned for it's Bluff oysters and if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of the native Kiwi in it's natural habitat.