Why is South Island New Zealand so popular?

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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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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14 Most Famous Landmarks in New Zealand
  • Sky Tower, Auckland, North Island. Sky Tower in Auckland, North Island. ...
  • Larnach Castle, Dunedin, South Island. ...
  • Pohutu Geyser, Rotorua, North Island. ...
  • Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, Fiordland National Park, South Island. ...
  • Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough, South Island. ...
  • Cape Kidnappers, Hastings.


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New Zealand is often described as one of the world's most beautiful countries. Its stunning scenery, friendly people and wide open spaces make it a popular destination and the ultimate place to escape. Here's why you should love it. When it comes to scenery, New Zealand packs quite a punch for a small country.

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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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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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The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March. Expect long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 61°F and 75°F.

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It turns out, New Zealand is the seventh most expensive place to find happiness. To be well and truly content in Aotearoa, you need an annual income of $193,727. (Or, US$114,597 according to Purdue's data).

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Ease of Doing Business Index, ranked 1st overall in 2019 out of 185 countries, 1st in the sub-categories of Starting a Business and Getting Credit.

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