| Hi,welcome to Part 2 of my article series on New | | | | which tower over 2,000 metres high. The Skyline |
| Zealand self drive tours. | | | | Gondola takes visitors to Bob's Peak for the most |
| In this article, I'll tell you about the best spots to see on | | | | amazing views you will ever see. Queenstown has an |
| the South Island. | | | | enormous range of accommodation, restaurants and |
| The South Island arrival point for the Interisland ferry is | | | | cafes. It's also a departure point for tours to Milford |
| Picton, a picturesque town located on the breathtaking | | | | Sound, although it's a big day, as the return coach trip |
| Marlborough Sounds. Picton is also the gateway to the | | | | and cruise take around 12 hours. |
| famous Marlborough wine growing area, home to | | | | Milford Sound is the number one, "must do" in New |
| many of New Zealand's award winning wines. If you | | | | Zealand. Words cannot describe the majesty or |
| are a wine buff, it's a great place to spend a few | | | | beauty, and in fact it was described by English author |
| days, and a guided wine tour is recommended as a | | | | Rudyard Kipling as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". |
| safe way to visit a range of wineries. | | | | That description is well deserved. Do yourself a favour, |
| Around 90 minutes west of Picton is the seaside city | | | | and visit milford Sound. |
| of Nelson, located on the banks of Tasman Bay, and | | | | As an alternative to travelling from Queenstown, you |
| home to the Abel Tasman National Park, which is | | | | can stop overnight at Te Anau, which is about 2 hours |
| popular with hikers and kayakers. Crystal clear waters, | | | | drive from Milford Sound. Te Anau has a good range |
| deserted beaches, and well maintained walking tracks | | | | of accommodation and eateries. And like so many |
| are a feature of this lovely part of New Zealand. The | | | | New Zealand towns, it sits on the shores of a stunning |
| Nelson region is also known as New Zealand's | | | | lake. |
| "sunniest region". | | | | Dunedin, on the south east coast, is a city of Scottish |
| As you make your way down the east coast from | | | | Heritage, and is a very interesting place to see. Home |
| Picton, you will pass through Kaikoura. Wow! The | | | | to Larnach Castle, and a large university, it's also home |
| snow capped mountains plunge to the sea, and the | | | | to one of New Zealand's major rugby venues. |
| ocean conditions here are perfect for a large range of | | | | Across the Crown Range (great views on the Crown |
| marine life. Various species of whales and dolphins | | | | Range road) from Queenstown is the beautiful town |
| frequent the area, together with seals and many | | | | of Wanaka (once again on the shores of a stunning |
| varieties of birds. The whale watch tours are great fun | | | | lake). Much like Queenstown, although a little "calmer', |
| and a wonderful way to get up close to these | | | | Wanaka is home to Treble Cone and Cardrona ski |
| enormous mammals. | | | | fields, and is a good place to spend a day or two on |
| Inland from Kaikoura is the popular alpine resort of | | | | the way to the West Coast. Make sure you visit the |
| Hanmer Springs. Well known for its thermal pool | | | | historic Cardrona hotel for a meal, and for a fun place |
| complex, Hanmer has a great feel to it, and is | | | | for all ages, visit Puzzling World. |
| recommended for an overnight stay. | | | | The Wild West Coast is home to the twin glaciers, |
| Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, and is a | | | | Franz Josef and Fox. Give yourself two nights here |
| rambling, green city with beautiful parks and gardens, | | | | particularly if you plan a heli flight (expensive but very |
| and a very "English" feel. It even has its own Avon | | | | highly recommended) onto the glaciers or a guided |
| River, running through the centre of the city. Take a | | | | hike, as the weather changes quickly and can become |
| punt ride on the Avon, a tram ride around the city, or a | | | | unsuitable for tours. Franz Josef village probably has |
| gondola trip for panoramic views. The nearby coastal | | | | more variety in accommodation and places to eat, so I |
| village of Akaroa has a very French feel to it, and is a | | | | prefer to stay there rather than Fox, but both are |
| great place for an overnight stop. Christchurch is also | | | | good. |
| the gateway to the Southern Alps, and the Mt Hutt ski | | | | The drive along the West Coast is wonderful, with |
| fields. | | | | awesome scenery, and lots of places to stop and |
| Heading south through the centre of the South Island, | | | | take photos. |
| you will pass through Lake Tekapo. The lake has the | | | | There are several townships along the West Coast. |
| most amazing blue colour, thanks to the sediment rich | | | | Hokitika is famous for its Jade factories and stores, |
| water. Lake Tekapo is also home to the much | | | | and is not to far from the larger town of Greymouth, |
| photographed Church of the Good Shepherd. The | | | | the hop on/hop off point for the world class |
| village is a good half way point for an overnight stop | | | | Tranzalpine train journey between Greymouth and |
| between Christchurch and Queenstown or Dunedin. | | | | Christchurch. If you have had enough driving by |
| Queenstown is known as New Zealand's Adventure | | | | Greymouth, drop off your rental car and take the train |
| Capital, and has a never ending variety of things to do. | | | | back to Christchurch. Highly recommended and a good |
| You can quite easily spend a week in Queenstown, | | | | way to see the alps, raging rivers, gorges, tunnels, and |
| and in winter, it's the service centre for the nearby | | | | the Canterbury Plains as you enter Christchurch. Or, |
| Remarkables and Coronet Peak ski fields. If you like | | | | you can driv eyourself through the spectacular Arthur's |
| adventure, try bungy jumping, jet boating, ski diving or | | | | Pass. |
| white water rafting. There are also lots of relaxing | | | | I hope that this article has given you a brief overview |
| activities in Queenstown. The historic steamship, the | | | | of the best places to see on your New Zealand self |
| TSS Earnslaw cruises Lake Wakatipu, for stunning | | | | drive tours. |
| vistas of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains, | | | | |