Is New Zealand North or South Island better?

Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.



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New Zealand's South Island hosts the purest natural landscapes you'll ever experience. From wildlife to wineries, glacial valleys to star-filled skies, the South Island offers adventure in all its forms. Choose to explore just one region, or road trip from Picton all the way down to Bluff.

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The South Island is very different from the North Island. For starters it's larger than the North Island and generally considered more beautiful. It also has gorgeous coastline, though it's best known for the many mountains and fjords that define its inland.

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A Scot has set a new world record for the fastest swim across the Cook Strait - the waters between New Zealand's North and South Islands. Andy Donaldson, 31, swam through the night to complete the 23km route in four hours and 33 minutes. It was the third leg of seven comprising the Oceans Seven challenge.

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December to February - Summer Season Firstly, the weather is just perfect for roaming around and the cities are bustling with crowds. The overall atmosphere is lively and delightful. The month of February has the best weather in NZ. Also, you are more likely to get better accommodation at cheaper rates during February.

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5-10 days will mean you can take a tour with more time to explore and more 2 nights stops on one island 10-14 days will allow you to visit both the North and South Island starting on one and finishing on the other.

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While you're in New Zealand, seek out a few of the following quintessential Kiwi foods and drinks.
  • Crayfish and seafood. ...
  • New Zealand lamb. ...
  • Hangi - food cooked under the ground. ...
  • Fish and chips. ...
  • New Zealand wine, beer and other drinks. ...
  • Kiwi summer BBQ. ...
  • New Zealand pavlova and fruit salad.


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New Zealand's most famous and beautiful ferry route is between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island. The journey between the two islands is commonly referred to as 'crossing the Cook Strait'. The sailing time is around 3.5 hours (weather dependent).

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For a 10-day trip, we recommend visiting up to four or five different destinations. Our 10-day itinerary locations are some of the most popular: Auckland the City of Sails, Wellington the cultural, art and food capital, and Queenstown the home of world-class adrenaline activities.

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