Each individual place in New Zealand may not be the most beautiful place you've ever seen. But the fact that you can go from the tallest mountain in the country, to a surf beach, to world-famous fjords—all within a few hours of Queenstown—and then drive six hours to a coastline that looks like Hawaii, is precisely what makes New Zealand so special. You can't really do that anywhere else in the world.
I recommend using Queenstown as your base for South Island adventures. It's a beautiful town with great restaurants, plenty of lodging options, and easy access to many of New Zealand's most iconic experiences.
Less populated, bigger mountains, more rugged. Fjords, glaciers, alpine lakes.
Rolling hills, great beaches, more populated. Quaint towns and coastal vibes.
Use the interactive maps below to orient yourself, then click into whichever regions match your trip length and style.
Six regions, each with their own guide. Match the pins on the map to find what fits your trip.
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Tap each pin — the photo tells you what you're in for.
The North Island was fun and has its own beautiful spots, but I fell in love with the South Island and did most of my exploring there. So this guide is shorter and has what I think are worth going out of the way for.
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