New Zealand’s South Island is renowned for its lakes, glaciers, mountains, skiing and hiking trails. Seperated by the Southern Alps mountain range, it’s home to Aoraki Mt. Cook and many beautiful national parks. The TranzAlpine scenic railway crosses the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Greymouth. There are six magnificent forest parks in the South Island which are situated on public land managed by the Department of Conservation.
Tourism is a huge earner for the South Island, which is testament to how welcoming and popular it is with holiday makers. Popular tourist activities include adventure tourism, such as glacier climbing and Bungee jumping, sightseeing, hiking, canoeing and camping. A multitude of walking and hiking trails such as the Milford Track have great international recognition.
The climate in the South Island is mostly temperate. The mean temperature for the South Island is 8 °C . January and February are the warmest months while July is the coldest, making it a great winter holiday destination. Conditions can vary drastically across the regions, from incredibly wet on the West Coast to semi-arid in the Mackenzie Basin. There are many ski resorts to take advantage of in South Isalnd, when the cold snaps are apparent! Call us for more info and book your exciting multi-centre holiday to New Zealand today.