New Zealand! Who wouldn’t want to go there and be captivated by the stunning nature? Our travel reporter Anna-Lena was an au pair in New Zealand and, in addition to her work, took a road trip with friends across the fascinating South Island of New Zealand. The trip took us through lush forests, past roaring rivers and waterfalls, bizarre rock formations, endless sandy beaches, deep gorges, icy glaciers, and beautiful mountain lakes. Today, Anna-Lena shares her top highlights and sights on the South Island of New Zealand. Enjoy browsing! But beware: If you read this travel report, you’ll definitely want to book a ticket to New Zealand right away.

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• The South Island of New Zealand
• The Maori and their culture
• Start in Christchurch
• Continue to the west coast
• Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
• Lake Wanka & Lake Wakatipu
• The Milford Sound Fjord
• Horseback riding on Dunedin beach
• Canoe tour on Lake Pukaki
• Mount Cook National Park
• Blue penguins & Giant dinosaur eggs
• Abel Tasman National Park
• Marlborough Sounds
• Whale watching in Kaikoura
• Swimming with dolphins in Akaroa
• Useful information for New Zealand

The South Island of New Zealand

Welcome to the impressive South Island of New Zealand! New Zealand is a country of unique nature, diverse landscapes, and exciting culture. In this travelogue, I’ll take you on a road trip across the South Island, traveling by car and tent – adventure is guaranteed.

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The Maori and their culture

But before we set off, I want to give you a brief insight into the culture. I found the indigenous people of New Zealand, the Maori, to be a very fun, cheerful, and open people who love to express their culture and beliefs through dance and live in harmony with nature. Overall, everyone here is very open and relaxed. I often struck up conversations with salespeople, both about traveling and life in New Zealand and Germany.

They were always very interested and enthusiastic. The everyday life I spent in Auckland as an au pair with a host family was far from stressful. Punctuality isn’t nearly as important as it is in Germany, so people are less concerned about the clock and focus more often on the essentials in life, like being together or spending time in nature.

Starting in Christchurch

That’s exactly what three friends and I experienced on the South Island in the summer of 2019/2020. We started in Christchurch, a city in the midst of redevelopment, as it was severely damaged by an earthquake in 2011. What it has become in just a few years is all the more impressive. Today, you’ll find a colorful mix of older houses and modern, chic glass buildings (click here for the city tour*).

Those looking for unique souvenirs should head to Littleton, a Christchurch district, where one unique shop follows the next. However, those seeking some peace and quiet in the city should head to the Botanical Garden. A wonderful, green oasis in the middle of the city, with a small river meandering through it, where you can also enjoy a leisurely canoe ride.

Continuing on to the West Coast

The next day, we headed from Christchurch towards Arthur’s Pass. We stopped at Castle Rock, a hill with thousands of large and interesting rock formations that you can climb and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains. Our journey then took us right through the mountains to the West Coast.

A popular destination here are the Pancake Rocks, ancient limestone formations that protrude from the sea and look like stacked pancakes. The Hokitika George, a milky turquoise river with an aesthetic suspension bridge, is also worth seeing. A short walk along the river offers breathtaking views of New Zealand’s vast, green landscape.

Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

We stopped at the two famous glaciers, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. If you have enough money, you can book adventurous helicopter flights* or ice hikes* across the glaciers. Also worth seeing are the small waterfalls at the foot of the glaciers and a hike to Lake Matheson, a mirror lake. In good weather, the mountains are reflected there, creating a fascinating sight. Don’t forget your camera!

Lake Wanka & Lake Wakatipu

Our exciting journey then took us to Lake Wanka, where we first undertook a challenging but worthwhile hike up Isthmus Peak. Once at the top, it was very foggy, but it cleared from time to time, offering breathtaking views of Lake Wanka and Lake Hāwea.

In the small village of Wanka, located on the edge of the lake, you have a beautiful view of the many boats moored on the lake. Another beautiful lake in the area is Lake Wakatipu, where the city of Queenstown is located. Here, you can walk for hours along the lake’s shore and enjoy magnificent views of the mountains. Book a cool custom bike tour to the lakes here*.

Milford Sound Fjord

The next day, we headed toward Milford Sound, where we spent the night at a particularly beautiful campsite, just a few kilometers from Milford Sound itself, the coldest and wettest region in New Zealand. This campsite was nestled in the mountains, surrounded by a mountain stream, with purple and pink lupins blooming along its banks. Even though this night was probably the coldest of my life, it was absolutely worth it, because in the morning we were rewarded with a fabulous sunrise. The mountain peaks were pure pink, and the atmosphere was simply magical.

• Milford Sound: Boat Tour in Nature*
• Boat Trip, Underwater Observatory & Food – Milford Sound*
• Milford Sound: Boat Trip and Kayak Tour*
• From Te Anau: Milford Sound by Bus, Ship & on Foot*

This magic accompanied us through Milford Sound, a fjord surrounded by mountains. What’s special here are the many waterfalls that cascade down the mountain slopes, creating a unique backdrop. It’s usually very foggy there, which also contributes to this gigantic, magical atmosphere. But even in sunlight, it’s an unforgettable experience, because everything seems magical in a completely different way.

On the way back, we went on a hike to Lake Marianne. It’s more like climbing up all the roots than hiking, but it was all the more fun. Lake Marianne itself is a small but very beautiful mountain lake that exudes complete tranquility. Perfect for processing all the experiences and impressions.

Horseback Riding on Dunedin Beach

The next part of our trip took us south to the east coast of New Zealand. Here, we had really warm weather for the first time and took advantage of it for a beach ride near Dunedin (3 hours and approximately NZ$200). The beach itself is worth seeing – endlessly long, wide, and incredibly white – but the horseback ride topped the experience. It was wonderful to trot and gallop across the beach, as well as to ride back through the dunes in a relaxed manner. Also worth seeing is the “Nugget Point” lighthouse; a beautifully curved path leads up to the lighthouse with a view of a large seal colony at the foot of the cliffs. You can book horseback rides here, among others: Hare Hill Horse Treks.

Canoe tour on Lake Pukaki

From the sea, we headed back inland to Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo. These lakes are close to Lakes Wanka and Hawea, but there is no road connection between them, so they are only accessible from the east coast. Both lakes are crystal-clear and turquoise. From Lake Pukaki, you have an impressive view of Mount Cook, a mountain with a distinctive peak.

On Lake Pukaki, we went on a canoe tour and then a hike to the Mount John Observatory. From up there, we enjoyed a magnificent view of the vast New Zealand landscape and, of course, the lake itself. Two other sights there are the “Church of the Good Old Shepherd,” an old stone church right at the foot of the lake, which is simply aesthetic to look at, and a huge, open field full of lupins, where you can forget everything around you. By the way: You can rent canoes from “Paddle Tekapo.” One hour in a double kayak costs NZ$45 and a single kayak costs NZ$25.

Mount Cook National Park

The next day, we drove to Mount Cook National Park to hike the Hooker Valley Track through a unique landscape. This is a very easy hike, as the trail is completely flat, making it ideal for families with children. Here, too, you’ll always have a stunning view of Mount Cook while hiking.

Blue Penguins & Giant Dinosaur Eggs

From the lakes, we returned to the east coast to observe the blue penguins. However, you only see them in the evening, when they waddle out of the water into the dunes. During the day, you can see the Mooraki Builders in the area: numerous large, round stones lying in the sea that look like dinosaur eggs. Also perfect for climbing and jumping.

Abel Tasman National Park

Now the first two weeks were over, and we had seen almost everything we had planned. Originally, we wanted to skip the north to have more time for the remaining two-thirds, and we wanted to come back at the end of our au pair time to see the north. However, since we still had time, we decided to visit the north of the South Island.

• Abel Tasman: Scenic Cruise from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage Bay*
• From Kaiteriteri: Boat Tour to Abel Tasman National Park*
• Abel Tasman National Park: Sailing Adventure with Lunch*
• Full-Day Guided Canyoning Tour on the Torrent River*

Our first stop here was the Abel Tasman National Park. Beautiful green tree landscapes, golden sandy beaches, and stunning views of the blue sea await you here. We took a boat to our starting point on the Abel Tasman Track. From there, it was a good six-hour return journey. We passed a large stream with inviting, large, flat rocks, which were perfect for a relaxing lunch. Otherwise, we naturally settled down on one of the golden beaches and enjoyed the view of the crystal-clear sea.

Marlborough Sounds

Our second major stop in the north was Picton, the town at the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. Here, too, we went on a short hike, namely the first section of the Queen Charlotte Track. The many green islands that rise out of the water like magical giants are particularly notable here. Picton itself is a nice harbor town, where the large ferries connecting the North and South Islands dock. Here are some great tours in the area*.

Whale Watching in Kaikoura

Finally, the last few days had dawned, and our next destination was Kaikoura. This town is known for whale and dolphin watching, which is definitely an experience in itself. However, Kaikoura has even more to offer. On the main street, you’ll find numerous unique shops and cafés that invite you to stroll and relax. If you haven’t had enough of nature yet (in my opinion, that’s not even possible in New Zealand), you can take a short hike around the city’s hill, watch seals, and enjoy the view of the city. The relatively dry and therefore yellow landscape with its white cliffs and turquoise sea is particularly special here. Book whale-watching tours here*.

Swimming with dolphins in Akaroa

From Kaikoura, we headed to our final destination, Akaroa. This is a colorful village with a French flair, bright red pohutakawa trees, and a great opportunity to swim with dolphins, which I actually did. Unfortunately, they only swam alongside the boat for a short time, but at least I was in the water with them for a short time, which was definitely something special. We booked this trip with Bookme New Zealand, which cost us NZ$185.

After checking out the lighthouse in Akaroa and taking a walk across the jetty into the ocean, we returned to Christchurch, where we spent one last beautiful day before flying back to Auckland. Book the Akaroa & Banks Peninsula Penguin Tour here*.

Useful information for New Zealand

We were traveling with two tents. Our small 4-person tent for windy days was very stable and robust. The larger 6-man tent was simpler, but sufficient for the rainy days. As I said, camping was an experience in itself, as you are naturally very exposed to the weather conditions. You don’t have to pre-book campsites there, but it’s useful to use the New Zealand camping app “Campermate,” which lists all the campsites and their prices. These are available in all price ranges and with the appropriate amenities.

We naturally wanted to travel as cheaply as possible, so whenever possible, we chose nature campsites that had nothing but a toilet and only partially running water. The price here was around NZ$9 per night, or about €5. With a bit of luck, you might find a free campsite or two, but these are very popular and therefore often full.

Of course, we also had to charge our phones and shower every now and then. Instead, we drove to what we considered “luxury” campsites, where we often had a full kitchen for cooking. The prices were correspondingly higher here; we usually paid around $25-$30 per night, or about €12-€16. With the huge selection of campsites, there’s certainly something for everyone. The app also features many lesser-known travel tips that are often not found in travel guides.

So, now you’ve had enough impressions and information about the South Island of New Zealand. I hope you enjoyed my travel report and are excited about a trip to New Zealand.