Jon Algie

There are lots of interesting rock formations in the South Island, from boulders lying on beaches to clay cliffs, organ pipes and a rock that looks like a split apple. For maximum ease most are named after what they look like. Check out our top 12 rock formations in the South Island, New Zealand! Cathedral … Read more

Most of the South Island’s charm lies outside of its towns and cities, but if you’re travelling around the island you’ll find plenty of interesting urban areas. Our top 12 cities and big towns in the South Island are all great places to spend a few nights and are close to heaps of incredible natural … Read more

You don’t have to stray far from the road if you want to see some of the best scenery in New Zealand — you don’t even need to leave your car! Our top 12 scenic drives in the South Island include mountain passes and winding coastal roads and covers every region of the island. Golden … Read more

Considering there’s a mountain range running up the spine of the island, it’s no surprise Te Wai Pounamu, the South Island, is full of rivers. From the crystal-clear streams of Fiordland to the braided Rakaia River – here are our top 12 rivers in the South Island, New Zealand! Avon River This is the only … Read more

Small towns in New Zealand tend to either be irrelevant for tourists (places to pass through) or incredibly scenic spots full of walks, viewpoints and, if you’re lucky, some interesting history. These small towns in the South Island all have populations below 3000 (as of 2022) and were mostly chosen because they are right in … Read more

There are hundreds of beautiful beaches in the South Island of New Zealand, so it was hard to carve this list down to 12 entries. We’ve been travelling around New Zealand for over six years now and have visited every region and (most) of the top-rated beaches — here are our top 12 beaches in … Read more