The Bottom Half
If Lake Tekapo 's beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd is open, enjoy the stunning vista from the picture window behind the altar. Continue past Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook village. Here you can go flightseeing over the Southern Alps and glaciers, cruise on a glacier lake, tackle an alpine bush walk or take a 4WD safari.
At Omarama you can detour to view the weird formations at the Clay Cliffs (donation at the entrance and don't forget to close the gates!). Pass the lakes and dams of the hydro-electric scheme and travel towards the coast. Oamaru has a lovely town centre with distinctive white stone buildings. Nearby are the fascinating Moeraki boulders.
There is a lot to do both within Dunedin and nearby so take an extra day if you can. See the Otago Settlers' Museum, the Speights Brewery, Cadbury Chocolate factory, Olveston House and the Taieri Gorge railway. The Otago Peninsula is home to some rare wildlife, such as royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguins, as well as the Marine Studies Centre and Larnach Castle .
Although you can travel directly from Dunedin to Invercargill in only 3 hours, this is a journey which should not be rushed. The Catlins is a stunning area of native forest and sweeping seascape, wildlife and farms, walking trails and heritage spots.
Stay in Invercargill and visit Queens Park and the Southland Museum , or continue on to Stewart Island . There are regular flights and ferries.
A highlight of a trip to Stewart Island would have to be a cruise on Paterson Inlet and a visit to Ulva Island , a renowned wildlife sanctuary. On alternate nights a guided tour gives you a rare opportunity to spot Kiwis in the wild.
Return to the mainland and continue to Te Anau, the hub of the Fiordland region. Options include jetboating, glowworm caves and day trips on the Milford Track.
Most visitors have heard of majestic Milford Sound, with its stunning waterfalls, underwater observatory and Mitre Peak rising sheer from the sea bottom. Fewer have heard of Doubtful Sound with its remote grandeur, wildlife and underground power station. We recommend a full-day visit to either (or both!).
Queenstown is the jewel of the South Island, nestled in the shadow of the Southern Alps and beside Lake Wakatipu . It is known year-round as an adventure paradise, although there are many options for people who prefer more sedate pursuits. Cruise across the lake to Walter Peak station aboard historic TSS Earnslaw, ride high about the town on the Skyline gondolas, go wine tasting, horse riding or enjoy a round of golf at one of several top courses in the area.
Aside from bungy jumping, winter skiing and white-water rafting, we can recommend a range of excellent activities. Journey into the remote Dart River valley by jetboat, take a 4WD excursion into the Arrow Valley to the abandoned mining town of Macetown or tour the many sites which were used in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Stop at Lake Wanaka to see Puzzling World, the Fighter Pilots Museum and the Transport and Toys Museum . From Makarora, the Siberia Experience is a 4-hour journey by plane, foot and jetboat into the wilderness of the Mt Aspiring World Heritage Park. Alternatively Haast Pass has many short walks to waterfalls and through native bush.
Visit both the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers by helicopter, foot or from the lookout points. Nearby to Franz Josef is a rare colony of kotuku (white herons).
At both Hokitika and Greymouth you can see jade carvers at work on South Island pounamu (greenstone). Visit Shantytown to dig for gold and ride on the steam engine, or Punakaiki to see the pancake rock formations. The train from Greymouth to Christchurch departs each afternoon and is renowned as one of the world's best train journeys. Alternatively continue to Hanmer Springs to continue your tour of the South Island .
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