South Island

The South Island (Te Waipounamu) is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, but is home to less than ¼ of the population. This sparsely populated paradise is where you’ll find the spectacular Southern Alps, majestic fiords such as Milford Sound, and the stunning Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.

There’s plenty to do in the South Island with ‘Adventure Capital’ Queenstown known for activities to fuel the adrenaline junkie, Kaikoura for the marine-life & nature lover, and Abel Tasman National Park for the beach enthusiast.

The largest settlement in the South Island is Christchurch, known for it’s British heritage, and the tragic earthquake that shook the city in 2011. The city is still regenerating and rebuilding, which creates a unique blend of old and new architecture in a city that has shown its strength to survive.

The island is also known as Te Waka a Māui which means "Māui's Canoe". In Māori legends, the South Island existed first, as the boat of Maui, while the North Island was the fish that he caught.