Lonely Planet - Lonely Planet New Zealands South Island Road Trips

WELCOME TO NEW ZEALANDS SOUTH ISLAND

Welcome to one of the worlds ultimate outdoor playgrounds, bursting with opportunities for adventure amid diverse and inspiring landscapes. Top-of-the-South neighbours, Marlborough and Nelson make for splendid road-trip country with an emphasis on sunshine and good times. The scenic drive along the Kaikoura Coast rewards with whale-watching and seals, plus swimming and surfing at pristine beaches. Head inland from Christchurch along the Southern Alps Circuit for stunning vistas of glaciers, Aoraki/Mt Cook and turquoise Lake Tekapo. The mountains, fiords, lakes and coastlines of New Zealands deep south will not disappoint. The road from adventure capital Queenstown leads to spectacular Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park one of the worlds great remaining wildernesses.

View of Lake from Mt Luxmore on the Kepler Track
NARUEDOM Y/500PX

NEW ZEALANDS SOUTH ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS

A collage of verdant cliffs and cobalt waters reveals the iconic Mitre Peak. See it on Trip

INBALRUBIN/500PX

A great spot to take a boat tour or flight to see whales, dolphins and seals. Watch them on Trip

KONRAD MOSTERT/SHUTTERSTOCK

Against a backdrop of jagged mountains and a snake-shaped lake, travellers can hike, bike or raft, then spend the evening enjoying cosmopolitan restaurants and bars. Hit it on Trips

PETER WALTON PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES

CITY GUIDE

Christchurch is a vibrant city in transition, coping creatively with the aftermath of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The city centre is graced by numerous notable arts institutions, the stunning Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. Inner-city streets conceal art projects, pocket gardens and dynamic businesses repopulating the thinned-out cityscape.

Shipping container cafe in
PETER UNGER/GETTY IMAGES

Christchurchs flat topography and gridlike structure make getting around on foot or by bike a breeze. The extensive bus network (www.metroinfo.co.nz) is a cheap and convenient way of reaching the citys suburban attractions.

All-day parking is available throughout the city centre ($2 to $3.10 per hour), although roadworks and one-way systems may test your patience.

While many cafes and restaurants still occupy the suburbs they fled to after the earthquakes particularly around Addington, Riccarton, Merivale and Sumner many new places are springing up in the CBD. Expect plenty of high-quality, exciting surprises, especially around Victoria St.

As the rebuild progresses, more beds (for all budgets) are becoming available in the city centre and its inner fringes. If youre camping or touring in a campervan there are decent holiday parks within 20 minutes drive of the city centre.

Tourist Information (www.christchurchnz.com) Sights, accommodation, restaurants and events.

Neat Places (www.neatplaces.co.nz) Authoritative local bloggers views on the best of Christchurch.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/christchurch) Destination low-down, hotels and traveller forum.

Trips Through Christchurch

Framed by mountains and the meandering coves of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a right show-off. It wears its Global Adventure Capital crown with pride. The towns bamboozling array of adrenalised activities is bolstered by cosmopolitan restaurants galore, and excellent vineyards nearby. Boredom is definitely off the menu.

seen from the Remarkables
ANDREW PEACOCK / GETTY IMAGES

Queenstowns compact centre is easy to navigate on foot with the mountains and lakes allowing visitors to find their bearings. Connectabus (www.connectabus.com) has various colour-coded routes, reaching the suburbs and as far as Arrowtown.