What are the fun attractions in New Zealand’s South Island?

If you have traveled all over the world, would you also compare New Zealand to a more beautiful place on earth than heaven? This country seems to be favored by God and receives the best gifts of nature all the time. The eyes are full of green and the water is as clear as a mirror.

The South Island of New Zealand has the purest natural landscape you have ever experienced. Your eyes swim in the magnificent and wild scenery like a palette, but what your body breathes is full of freshness and clarity. If you are a person who loves to embrace nature, New Zealand's South Island will definitely make your trip worthwhile. What are the interesting attractions in the South Island of New Zealand? Let me take you to see them.

The fantasy town of Lord of the Rings

Glenorchy is located at the northernmost end of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 minutes’ drive from Queenstown. It is the gateway to numerous hiking trails and the magical world of Middle-earth.

The spectacular scenery of Glenorchy has made it the preferred filming location for blockbusters. The "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Chronicles of Narnia" were extensively filmed here.

With around 500 residents, Glenorchy is a friendly and vibrant place known for its Southern hospitality. There is a range of accommodation, cafes, restaurants and bars available.

On the doorstep of Glenorchy are some of the most beautiful walks in the world. The Routeburn Trail, one of New Zealand's "famous trails", is nearby. During the 3-4 day trip, you can enjoy the majestic peaks and gem-like lakes along the way. There are also 4-5 day itineraries on the Leith and Dart Trail and the Greenstone/Capos Trail.

Glenorchy is also the source of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, so it is also called the Head of the lake.

The clear and beautiful emerald lake of Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is shaped like lightning and is the third largest lake in New Zealand. The Dart River is located at the northern end of the lake, where the lake flows in; the Kawarau River originates in Queenstown, where the lake flows out.

Due to the violent glacial movement, the current Lake Wakatipu was formed and is surrounded by mountains. Among them, Ernslow Mountain is the highest, with an altitude of 2819 meters. Queenstown is located on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by majestic mountains.

In addition to Queenstown, the towns surrounding the Lake District include the villages of Kingston, Glenorchy and Kinloch. Due to the unique shape of Lake Wakatipu, the lake surface forms a unique "tide" phenomenon, with the water surface rising and falling by about 10 centimeters every 25 minutes.

The T.S.S. Earnslaw antique steamship provides several ferries a day to the other end of the lake, Walter Peak. Visitors can enjoy the pleasure of taking the T.S.S. Earnslaw Enjoy visiting the lake scenery. This ancient steamship has become a symbol of New Zealand. The best way to enjoy the stunning alpine scenery is cruising on Lake Wakatipu on a restored historic steamboat.

Visitors can fish in Lake Wakatipu all year round. Especially the mouths of the Greenstone River and the Lochy River, where there are huge numbers of salmon, making your trip worthwhile. In the summer, it is a holy place for swimming to escape the heat and is very popular among tourists.

A paradise surrounded by the peaks of Lake Wanaka

In the lake area of ??the South Island, Wanaka is like a shy girl, hiding her beauty in Wanaka Between the lake and Lake Hawea (Lake Hawea) and the Southern Alps, she is waiting to be discovered by curious tourists.

Winter is the busiest season in Wanaka. Ski enthusiasts from all over the world flock here to enjoy the extraordinary descents at Cardrona and Treble Cone. Downhill skiing, Nordic skiing at Snow Farm, and of course the most exciting, heli-skiing on Mt Harris.

Of course, Wanaka is much more than just a winter playground.

Fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, skydiving and other projects here are open all year round. From here, you can easily travel to Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra for shopping, winery tours or just to kill time in a rustic café. The real world is left behind.

Although Wanaka is a quiet town, its warm and simple folk customs have given rise to high-quality accommodation experiences, ranging from backpacker inns to high-end B&Bs (bed and breakfast) and boutique hotels. No.

Glaciers on the West Coast pass through cliff-lined glacial valleys

While many glaciers around the world are retreating, Fox glacier and Franz Josef glacier glacier) was not affected due to its proximity to sea level.

The local altitude is low and the climate is warm and humid, providing a convenient environment for tourism, making it the most popular glacier landscape in the world.

Visitors can easily walk to the foot of the glacier, pass through the valley lined with cliffs on both sides, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the glacier formed after thousands of years of melting and freezing. When you get close to the foot of the glacier, you will be stunned by its majestic beauty.

The Fox Glacier is 13 kilometers long and slopes down from a height of 2,600 meters in the Southern Alps. Four alpine glaciers accumulate about 30 meters of snow every year and feed it into Fox Glacier.

Professional tour guides will take you deep into the world of ice and snow, and helicopters or snow planes can take you to the source of the glacier. Although the price is a little expensive, it is indeed a must-have experience in this life.

Climb to the romantic peak of Mount Cook and stargaze in the sky

The village of Mount Cook is located at the foot of New Zealand's highest peak. This is an ideal base for alpine walks that will take your breath away.

Mount Cook Village is a haven of comfort in one of New Zealand's most unforgettable regions. No matter which direction you go, you can see the towering Southern Alps. The weather can change quickly, even in the summer.

The village of Mount Cook is only 44 kilometers away from the coast. Storms can suddenly arrive from the Tasman Sea, bringing sudden danger to climbers. However, you don’t have to climb a mountain to enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are many alpine trails near the mountain village, and the round trip takes about three hours.

Tasman Glacier (Tasman Glacier) flight tour or helicopter ride to the top of the mountain for skiing (winter) is another good way to spend time.

Mount Cook is far away from the city lights, so it has New Zealand's unparalleled black night sky, which is undoubtedly the perfect place for stargazing at night.

The legendary Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is located in the Mackenzie Basin, a three-hour drive southwest from Christchurch. Reachable. To the north of the town is a green lake, and on the other side of the lake is the majestic Southern Alps. Rock powder flows into the lake along the glaciers on the mountains and is suspended in the lake, giving Lake Tekapo its rich turquoise color.

The Maori were the first people to live in the Mackenzie Basin. They used stones as tools, fished for eels, hunted birds, and established many summer camps along river and lake shores.

European settlers did not discover this lake until a Scottish shepherd named Jock Mackenzie was caught here for stealing sheep in the mid-19th century. At that time, Mackenzie hid the stolen sheep in this small town in order to avoid legal punishment.

On the lakeside you can see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, with stunning views of Mount Cook from the altar window . There is a "Sheepdog Monument" near the church - a bronze statue expressing the locals' gratitude to the sheepdogs, with the inscription: "Without the sheepdogs, the town would not be what it is today."

There are many walking paths along the lake shore.

You can hike to Mount John Observatory or Cowans Hill, which is 1,031 meters above sea level, to enjoy the magnificent views of the Mackenzie Basin.

A recommended activity in Lake Tekapo is a stargazing tour. Through the travel agency in the town, you can book a stargazing tour to Mt. John run by the University of Canterbury to enjoy one of the most beautiful starry skies in the world. You will feel the many stars falling down on you in the beautiful New Zealand sky.

Encounter wild ecological wonders on the Otago Peninsula

A self-driving trip to the Otago Peninsula is definitely not to be missed. The scenery here is endless, with beautiful and rocky beaches. The Royal Albatross Center located on Taiaroa Head is the only place in the world where you can see the natural habitat of the Northern Royal Albatross inland. of.

The Otago Peninsula is located on the side of Dunedin Harbor. The side facing the sea and land is high and uneven, while the side facing the harbor is warm and sheltered from the wind.

Dunedin is one of the cities in the southern region of New Zealand and has inherited many Scottish traditions. Surrounded by mountains and with a long, picturesque harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved cities in the Southern Hemisphere for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

Go all the way north to the ancient town of Oamaru. Moeraki Beach, 40 kilometers south of Oamaru, is dotted with round boulders. There are also some large boulders scattered around the sandstone cliffs. Each boulder weighs several tons and is two meters high.

The mysterious Moeraki Boulders attract countless tourists here. You can use Oamaru as a starting point and head south to explore the historic Scottish city of Dunedin. Oamaru is located 88 kilometers northeast of Dunedin.

Fiordland is the world's largest national park

Fiordland is one of the most charming and beautiful tourist destinations in New Zealand. Whether it is a water cruise, aerial sightseeing, or hiking, every scenery here will make you breathtaking and amazing.

The fjord is New Zealand's most representative natural landscape and has been listed as a World Heritage area.

New Zealand’s fjords are a wonder formed by the flow of glaciers over 100,000 years. Waterfalls that “fly down three thousand feet” plunge into the bottomless fjords, and dense virgin rainforests tightly “ Nestled against the majestic mountains, the gleaming lakes and granite peaks still maintain their "appearance" a thousand years ago.

The sacred and soul-purifying beauty of Lake Te Anau

Lake Te Anau is the largest southern glacial lake, covering an area of ??344 square kilometers. The main lake runs north-south. There are three large fjords on the west side of the lake, called North Fiord, Middle Fiord and South Fiord.

The east side of the lake is dominated by rolling hilly areas; the west side is a magnificent wilderness of forests and mountains. The Kepler and Murchison Ranges have an altitude of approximately 1700 meters.

Most of Lake Te Anau is within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.

There are two small towns on the shore, the township of Te Anau is the largest.

On the west coast of Te Anau, there is also a charming glowworm cave. After your sightseeing cruise on Lake Te Anau, take a boat trip to the bottom of the cave to explore the mysteries of the cave world. Watch the rapid water etching the rocks, admire the ancient stone pillars in various shapes, and then enter the dark and quiet glowworm cave, where thousands of fireflies will light up a wonderful picture for you.

A nature trip with pure charm in the Southern Region

The center of the Southern Region is Invercargill, and the local highlight is the 80-hectare Queens Park. There are tree-lined walks and specialty gardens including a rose garden, bird garden, and Japanese garden.

The fishing port of Bluff is half an hour's drive from Invercargill. This is the origin of "the most delicious oysters in the world", Bluff oysters. The annual "Bluff Oyster and Food Festival" is a pilgrimage place for avid oyster and seafood lovers. Tens of thousands of large, plump and juicy oysters are consumed at the food festival every year.

Stewart Island is the smallest of the three main islands that make up New Zealand. This is a bird watching paradise for bird lovers around the world. Only on this small island can you have the opportunity to see the national bird, the kiwi, in its natural habitat.

The magic weapon that attracts tourists to the Catlins Coast (Catlins) is its wildlife, secluded beaches, and waterfalls hidden in the forest. You will see the world-famous geographical wonder, the fossil forest, in Curio Bay. This fossil forest is rooted in the coastal rock bed and has trees that are more than 180 million years old.

Sterling Point's signpost to the world

There are many beautiful places to take photos in Bluff, including Sterling Point and Bluff Mountain.

National Highway 1 runs through the north and south of New Zealand, and Stirling Point is located at the southernmost end of this national highway. The most famous landmark here is the road sign that stands here, which shows the distance to major cities in the world. If you come here, be sure to take a photo of this interesting road sign as a souvenir.

Enter the Foveaux Walkway from Stirling Point. The trail consists of two separate trails that meet at the Bluff Hill peninsula. Both walks take you through a variety of lush vegetation, including native bushland, coastal shrubs and privately owned farmland, all with stunning views.

Along the way, you can not only enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island, but also the smooth rocks carved by the waves and the vast beaches. The trail almost circles the entire peninsula, and after a stroll you can climb to the top of Bluff Mountain for a panoramic view.

Nugget Point Lighthouse’s unique coastal scenery

Nugget Point (Nugget Point) is one of the most unique landforms on the Otago coast. It's a steep promontory, home to a lighthouse and dotted with rocky islets that sparkle like nuggets of gold.

It takes only 5 minutes to walk from Nugget Point to the lighthouse and enjoy the charming scenery at both ends of the coastline. Looking down from the lighthouse, you can see many seals lying lazily on the rocks, or swimming and playing among the rocks, enjoying a lazy and comfortable time. It is best to bring a telescope with you so that you can get a closer look at the seals living here.

Nugget Point is also home to sea lions, gray gulls, herons, yellow-eyed penguins, spoonbills and gannets. Walruses and leopard seals occasionally visit the area. If you look into the water for a while, you might even see Hector's dolphins.

Take an easy walk along the trail from Nugget Point to Roaring Bay, where you can secretly "hide" and wait for the yellow-eyed penguins to appear and have a romantic encounter with them. Early morning and sunset are the best viewing times.