Jon Algie 
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
Seeing a raft of little blue penguins approach shore and then flop out of the water and up the beach toward their nests is one of the best experiences a tourist (or a local) could have in Dunedin. We did the Blue Penguins Pukekura tour at Pilots Beach, Taiaroa Head recently and were blown away … 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
If you’re visiting Dunedin and want to hang out at a beautiful beach and eat and drink by the ocean then St Clair is your best bet. There are plenty of other things to do in St Clair too, including walks, a swimming pool and more. This post contains affiliate links. If you click one … 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
Just around the corner from St Clair Beach is the short track to Second Beach. It’s a fun little detour from the main St Clair Beach / Esplanade area, and the scenery is quite different. Keep reading for the information you’ll need! Second Beach Walk The walking trail to Second Beach is hidden away — … Read more
The most common way to reach Larnach Castle is to drive, but if you’re in Broad Bay and fancy a short walk with beautiful Otago Harbour views then I highly recommend the Camp Road Track. Keep reading for all the details and lots of photos! This post contains affiliate links. If you click one and … Read more
While planning a trip to Wānaka you’ve probably seen there’s another lake nearby with its own world-class beaches and hiking trails. Only a 15-minute drive from its famous neighbour, Lake Hāwea is far quieter place to spend your time. There are heaps of things to do in Lake Hāwea (it’s the name of the village … Read more