Divided by the backbone of mountain ranges aptly called the Southern Alps, the South Island is renowned for spectacular snow-topped peaks, fiords, large beech forests, golden sand beaches and fertile, broad plains. There are no active volcanoes – but hot pools abound.
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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.
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.
New Zealand's climate gets warmer the further north you go, so the North Island is generally much warmer than the South. Head north of Auckland to the subtropical Bay of Islands and you'll stays warm even in the winter months!
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.
Bora Bora. Out of all the incredible islands that comprise French Polynesia, Bora Bora is the crown jewel. Just northwest of Tahiti, the island feels utterly remote while being easily accessible for the honeymoon, anniversary, or celebratory trip of dreams.
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.
Divided by the backbone of mountain ranges aptly called the Southern Alps, the South Island is renowned for spectacular snow-topped peaks, fiords, large beech forests, golden sand beaches and fertile, broad plains. There are no active volcanoes – but hot pools abound.
Which is the most expensive island in the world? The most expensive island in the world is Lanai island in Hawaii which is worth $610 million. This tropical paradise is home to pristine beaches, coconut palm trees and stunning marine life that is waiting to be explored.
Fiji has been long-time favorite with honeymooners, Fiji is made up of 333 islands in the South Pacific. You will find in these islands which are known for their hospitality, some of the friendliest people in the entire world! Browse Fiji vacations here….
Kimitoön, Finland. Are you looking to find the most peaceful island in the world? Well, Kimitoön may just be the one. This island in the Archipelago Sea is a large coastal island with a rural landscape, typical of southern Finland - it's surrounded by the inner archipelago and outer archipelagos of minor islands.
It would be engineeringly impossible to build a bridge or tunnel between the North and South Islands of NZ using current engineering technology. Cook Strait is very deep and the several earthquake fault lines would preclude a tunnel.