Exploring New Zealand’s South Island (Te Waipounamu) and looking for ideas for your own outdoor adventures or travel itinerary? Find some inspiration as you read about the places we’ve explored and activities we’ve experienced in our travels around New Zealand.
Our South Island Outdoor Adventures
Hooker Valley Track
This 10 km family-friendly track is the most popular walk in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and offers amazing views of New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Climbing Mount Fox
The Mount Fox Track may be short at just 7.2km return but don't let that fool you. This is a steep, muddy and fairly brutal climb but the views are worth it.
Climbing Roys Peak
For panoramic views of Lake Wanaka and the snow-covered peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park, the climb to the summit of Roys Peak is a tough but very rewarding walk.
Visiting Hokitika Gorge
It sounds like a bit of a cliche, but Hokitika Gorge, or more specifically, the incredible turquoise river that flows through the gorge is something you really have to see to believe.
Visiting Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
New Zealand’s most interesting rock formations have got to be these incredible limestone Pancake Rocks and Blowholes in the Paparoa National Park.
South Island Outdoor Adventure Map
Here’s our pick of top outdoor and adventure activities on New Zealand’s South Island. The orange map markers below are places we’ve visited and you can click on a marker to see photos and read about our experience there. The blue markers are places we still need to explore – lucky us.
This is a living map, and we’ll update it regularly as we explore and discover new places and more exciting outdoor activities. Have some suggestions of places we should visit? Use the contact form over here and share the adventure.
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