New Zealand South Island
executive summary by darmansjah
Embark on this seven-day road trip across the South Island – starting from cosmopolitan Christchurch, cruising across the beautiful lake regions of Tekapo and Wanaka, passing by bustling Queenstown for your adventure fix and finally seafood feasts in Kaikora.
CHRISTCHURCH Best for wine; Dusting off the remnants of recent earthquakes, the buzz is back in South Island’s gateway to the rest of New Zealand and the world. The newly refurbished International Airport makes Christchurch a great starting point for your self-drive.
QUEENSTOWN Best for adventures; Cruising along the gorgeous Lake Wakatipu and into the alpine region of Queenstown, this is where actor John Travolta once commented, ‘Oh my God – this is where God lives’.
WANAKA Best fro river journeys; Quieter but still equipped with proper tourist facilities, Wanaka boasts a dramatic history of glaciers dating back to the ice age, and choice locations picked for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
TEKAPO Best for picture perfect reflection; Lying in the heart of the Mackenzie country, lake Tekapo ists as the area’s crown jewel, shining in different splendors between day to night. Mt John also gives you a chance t shoot some stars, literally, at its Observatory.
KAIKOURA Best for whale watching; Fringed by a range of snow capped mountains, giant sperm whales, blue whales, seals and dolphins up the fun factor in the deep tranches off the kaikoura coast.