New Zealand is a haven for wildlife, and highlights include whale watching off the shores of Kaikoura, visiting a blue penguin colony at Oamaru, looking for Hector’s dolphins at Akaroa, or birdwatching to see the striking royal spoonbill in Blenheim and Marlborough.
Located at the north end of the South Island is Abel Tasman National Park. Despite being New Zealand’s smallest national park, Abel Tasman offers turquoise seas, golden beaches framed by rocky headlands where fur seals can be found, and rich green native forests filled with native birdlife. Find Out More
Nestled in the heart of the South Island’s most prominent volcanic feature, Banks Peninsula, Akaroa is located around 82 kilometres from Christchurch. New Zealand’s only French settlement, Akaroa offers fascinating coastal excursions to see white-flippered (blue) penguin and the rare Hector’s dolphin. Find Out More
Arthur’s Pass National Park lies in the heart of the Southern Alps. Divided by the high mountain range that forms the backbone of South Island, the park is split into the drier eastern side and the wetter western side, providing diverse habitat for a wealth of native birds, including the comical kea. Find Out More
Situated in the heart of the wine-growing region of Marlborough, in the north east of South Island, Blenheim is one of the sunniest towns in New Zealand. The region is rich in birdlife, particularly at Wairau Lagoon, where more than 90 species, including the elegant royal spoonbill, can be seen. Find Out More
Located in the South Pacific, over 800 kilometres east of New Zealand, lies the Chatham Islands. This archipelago consists of about 10 islands and of all the Antipodean Islands south of Australia and New Zealand, the Chatham Islands are the only island group to have permanent human settlement. Find Out More
The deepest of New Zealand’s fjords, Doubtful Sound is rich in flora and fauna, where New Zealand fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins bask on many of the small islets at the fjord’s entrance. A place of power and tranquility the fjord also has a number of magnificent waterfalls. Find Out More
The World Heritage area of Fiordland offers some of the most dramatic and iconic scenery of New Zealand’s South Island. The west coast is indented with 14 fjords and over 215 kilometres of rugged coastline including Milford and Doubtful Sounds, both of which are rich in flora and fauna. Find Out More
Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier are both unique in the fact you have the opportunity to see ice pushing into rainforests, and nowhere else at this latitude can glaciers be found so close to the ocean. As well as this unique backdrop, the area is a haven for some of New Zealand's native birds. Find Out More
Picturesque Kaikoura is the ideal base for wildlife encounters - especially of the marine variety – with permanently resident sperm whales, several species of dolphin and New Zealand fur seals. It is also a fantastic place to enjoy crayfish: in Maori 'kai' means food and 'koura' means crayfish. Find Out More
Nestled between Arthur’s Pass National Park and the West Coast, Lake Brunner’s Maori name ‘Kotuku Whakaoho’ means ‘sea of herons’, and the white heron is a regular sighting here. A glacial feed rainforest lake, Brunner has several walking trails to admire the surrounding flora and fauna. Find Out More
Situated on the west coast of the South Island is breathtaking Milford Sound, celebrated as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination. Here lush rainforests cling to cliffs, providing a haven for many endangered bird and insect species, including the charming blue duck, takehe, mohua and kea. Find Out More
Historic Oamaru contains some of New Zealand’s best-preserved Victorian streets and buildings. Along with galleries, shops and museums, including steampunk exhibits, there are fabulous rock formations to see, beautiful public gardens to stroll through and the fabled blue penguin colony to visit. Find Out More
With a 20-kilometre long harbour situated on the east coast of the South Island, the Otago Peninsula is a spectacular spot for marine wildlife. The New Zealand sealion – one of the rarest sealion species – as well as the royal albatross, yellow-eyed penguin and blue penguin can be seen here. Find Out More
Stewart Island/Rakiura is New Zealand’s third largest island. Largely untouched by humans, the island provides a haven for native and endangered birds, particularly the southern brown kiwi. Ulva Island is part of Stewart Island and its predator free status makes it an important sanctuary for birds. Find Out More
Lying like stepping stones to the Antarctic continent are the little-known Subantarctic Islands. They're home to some of the most abundant and unique wildlife on Earth, and are renowned for the diversity and large number of penguins and seabirds. They're all National Nature Reserves. Find Out More
Internationally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this area of South West New Zealand comprises four national parks and covers ten percent of the country’s total land area. Also known by its Maori name of Te Wāhipounamu, the area is a pristine wilderness and a stronghold for rare plants and wildlife. Find Out More
The Catlins is a sparsely populated area of rugged beauty with wide deserted beaches, podocarp forests, rolling hills, scenic landscapes and a host of marine wildlife, including New Zealand fur seal and Hooker’s sealions, and endangered birds such as the yellowhead and the rare yellow-eyed penguin. Find Out More
Situated between the turbulent Tasman Sea and the dramatic peaks of the Southern Alps, the West Coast region of the South Island has a remote and rugged charm. The coastline is punctuated with unique rock formations and also provides ideal breeding grounds for New Zealand fur seals. Find Out More
Known as the Garden City of New Zealand, Christchurch is one of the main gateways to the scenic South Island. Activities include walks around Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, or a visit to the city’s coastal suburbs. Find Out More
One of the New Zealand's sunniest cities, and the gateway to three of its stunning national parks, Nelson offers the chance to indulge in the Kiwi lifestyle with a mix of art galleries, wineries and outdoor activities. Find Out More
With four distinctive seasons, dramatic mountains, a crystal-clear lake and a host of activities on offer, from the adventurous to the more leisurely, Queenstown is a popular year-round destination. Find Out More
The small, Southland towns of Te Anau and Manapouri are situated on the shores of beautiful lakes. Te Anau is the closest town to Milford Sound, whilst Manapouri is the departure point for Doubtful Sound. Find Out More
New Zealand comprises two main land masses; the South Island, Te Waipounamu, and the North Island, Te Ika-a-Māui, offering spectacular rural scenery. The country's remote islands are home to a unique biodiversity of animal, fungal and plant life.
This self-drive of New Zealand’s South Island showcases dramatic scenery, from sandy beaches to picturesque snow-capped mountains. Highlights include cetacean-rich Kaikoura, the Otago Peninsula - home to the endangered yellow-eyed penguin - and Stewart Island for southern brown kiwis. Find out more about Kiwis & Whales Galore: South Island Self-drive
The Subantarctic Islands are tiny sanctuaries for some of the most abundant and unique wildlife on the planet. This epic expedition provides a rare opportunity to discover these wild islands, perfect for pelagic enthusiasts, penguin fanatics, and those interested in island endemics. Find out more about Birding Expedition Down Under
This voyage takes you further south than any other sea route to discover the remote Ross Sea. Locked under ice for most of the year, few people visit this unspoiled part of the world. Complimented with the little-known Subantarctic Islands south of New Zealand, this is a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Find out more about Ross Sea Expedition Voyage
New Zealand is year-round destination, offering spectacular scenery and a plethora of wildlife, however the peak time to visit is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is at its finest.
New Zealand fur seal breeding season
