New Zealand Southland: A Road Trip in Middle Earth (Part 2)

Want to see more of New Zealand? Take a road trip through the South Island. It’s larger and less populous, which only means one thing: there are more sites to see and more places to visit.

New Zealand’s South Island is full of marvels best enjoyed up close, and the best way to achieve that is by taking a road trip. There are two ways to get to South Island. If you’re in the North, you can take a ferry across Cook Strait. If you’re coming from other departure points, you can fly to Picton.

Picton. This is a good place to start your Southland road trip as it gives you easy access to two of the most attractive regions in the island: Nelson and Marlborough. From here, you can travel westwards to Nelson via State Highway 6.

Nelson. Nelson is the home of the island’s artists, budding and veteran alike. The place is teeming with workshops, galleries, and studios where you can go to soak up the local culture. On top of these, it also has its fair share of vineyards and orchards where you can taste the wine and pick apples. Before you leave, check out the Abel Tasman National Park; you may even choose to camp there for a night.

Blenheim. The largest wine-growing region in the South Island and home to the country’s best winemakers, Blenheim deserves a longer stop. Have a scenic lunch at the vineyard and join the wine tour. For a mere 20-minute ride from Picton, you’ll definitely be rewarded heavily for your effort.

From the northern part of the island, you can traverse inland towards the center. Some points of interest along the way include:

• Te Waikoropupu Springs. The Te Waikoropupu Springs, which is one of the 100 largest natural springs the world over, is a sacred Maori site and is best known for its crystal clear waters.
• Aorere Valley. In the late 1800s, the gold rush swept through New Zealand. The Aorere Valley was one of the first sites where it hit.
• Kaikoura. Go and watch the whales at Kaikoura, the center of the Southland’s whale watching industry.

Christchurch. Once you get to Christchurch, you’re midway through the South Island. The next leg of your journey should take you downward to Queenstown, the adventure capital in the island. This part of the trip will take you through 562 kilometers of patchwork plains dotted with alpine lakes. On average, the trip will take around 2 days and a half. Along the way, you will pass by:

• Geraldine. Before you move on to the natural attractions, first take a pit stop at Geraldine, a charming little town known for its great cuisine.
• Lake Tekapo. The major point of interest in this part of your road trip is Lake Tekapo. The turquoise blue lake is a popular haven for many outdoor activities, such as camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming.
• Aoraki Mount Cook. The center of the country’s mountaineering history is based here, so feel free to enjoy the sights that have beckoned to mountaineers from all over the world by taking a leisurely walk through the National Park.
• Arrowtown. This charming, old-fashioned town set against a mountainous backdrop provides many great photo ops.

Queenstown. Queenstown has a lot of adventures in store, but it is also loaded with all the conveniences you will need to rest from your long drive. If you still have time, go skiing, ride the Skyline Glondola, ride horses, and go skydiving – Queenstown has them all.

Country (where the road trip is): South Island, New Zealand
Starting Point/City: Picton
End Point/City: Queenstown