With the highly anticipated opening of the Australia-New Zealand travel bubble starting in just a few days, Karen Cheng shares some of the must-see places on NZ’s South Island.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo from Mt John’s Observatory (Source: Author)

Wildly popular and rightly so, Lake Tekapo is one of the most piercing shades of turquoise blue you’ll probably ever see. If you’re lucky enough to visit in Spring or Summer, you’ll get to witness vibrant patches of violet lupin, which make for some seriously aesthetic photos. But even in the off-season, the lake is stunning. An $8 per car fee will let you drive up to Mt John’s Observatory, where the panoramic 360-degree view really lets that lake blue pop. If time allows, try your absolute best to get back there at night. With a clear sky, you’ll see the most insane number of stars in your life, smattered against the Church of the Good Shepard. The view is simply breathtaking.

Hot Tip: Stay in Twizel, it’s a small but well-stocked town only a 40-minute drive away with a range of accommodation options much cheaper than the lakeside tourist traps.

2. Mount Cook National Park

Hooker Valley Track (Source: Author)

Likely to be the attraction you’ve seen plastered all over NZ travel brochures, Mt Cook is an iconic must-see. If you’re really ready to bust your budget, you can opt for an aerial helicopter ride. But arguably the best and most economical way to experience its glorious peaks is to walk the Hooker Valley Track. This three-hour return trip will take you along three swing bridges and the sacred Tōpuni area, surrounded by smaller glacier streams and deep valley walls. At the end of the track, you are finally rewarded with a spectacular view of the infamous Mt Cook as a backdrop to the iceberg-clad Hooker Lake. Stop here to enjoy a packed picnic lunch or venture down to the freezing lake’s edge. The best bit about the walk? You don’t need to be a marathon runner to complete it! The entire 10km is paved, extremely well marked, and definitely doable for all fitness levels.

Hot Tip: Stop at Lake Pukaki along the drive for a wallpaper-worthy shot of Mt Cook against water vibrant enough to rival Tekapo.

3. Moeraki Boulders and Dunedin

Moeraki Boulders (Source: Author)

A bit off the typical ring route, it’s easy to miss these uniquely shaped rocks at Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast. Maori legend has it that they are remains of baskets that washed ashore after the Araiteuru canoe was wrecked nearby. It’s likely the boulders actually came from ‘concretions’ from the adjacent coastal wall. Several rocks remain ‘stuck,’ making for a rather amusing sight to see. Just another hour’s drive south will bring you to the charming city of Dunedin, South Island’s second-largest city. Here you can see a heavy influence of Victorian architecture and snap mandatory cheesy poses at Baldwin Street, the ‘Steepest Street in the World’.

Hot Tip: Tunnel Beach is just a 10-minute drive from Dunedin’s city centre and offers coastal views reminiscent of Australia, complete with grand sandstone cliff arches.

4. Milford Sound

Milford Sound (Source: Author)

Coined the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, Milford Sound is an unmissable attraction of the South Island. As NZ’s “wettest inhabited place”, it rains there most days out of the year. But never fear, it’s the gloomy weather that transforms the towering fiords into a magical, misty unknown, looking like something straight out of The Lord of the Rings. You have a few options to experience this: by cruise, kayak or if you’re super brave, paddle boarding. Many tour groups and transport combo deals from nearby Te Anau and Queenstown are available, but regardless, the earliest possible option is recommended to avoid crowds. Make sure to wear warm waterproof outer layers so you can be right up close when the tours bring you underneath the monstrous waterfall’s because the ocean spray (not the cranberry juice) is real.

Hot Tip: JUCY Cruise is a surprisingly solid option. Yes, its unpronounceable name and lime green branding might look seriously questionable. But they’re affordable, have super friendly staff, complimentary breakfast and get you out onto the water and back, which, in the end, is what really matters.

5. Wanaka

Lake Wanaka (Source: Author)

If you’re not the biggest adrenaline junkie in the world, you might just prefer Wanaka to Queenstown. Located just an hour’s drive from its better-known sibling, Wanaka offers a similar experience with fewer crowds and local energy. Renting a cheap kayak for a couple of hours and paddling out into the middle of Lake Wanaka is definitely the way to relax and enjoy the clear, tranquil mountain waters. Stay in a motel with a lakeside view and be a leisurely 15-minute stroll away from spectacular sunsets featuring ‘That Wanaka Tree’. The neighbouring Mt Aspiring National Park is known for its wide variety of walks, with perhaps the most popular being Roy’s Peak. This 13km hike into the clouds will grant you that infamous Instagram birds-eye shot of the entire lake and surroundings. For a change in pace, Wanaka’s Puzzling World is also worth a visit. It’s cute and colourful and you can race your friends to see who’ll get out of the maze first.

Hot Tip: If you’re driving from Wanaka to the west coast, make a pitstop at Lake Hāwea. It’ll come up on your right and is yet another distinctly turquoise photo op.

6. Arthur’s Pass

Hawdon and Waimakariri Rivers (Source: Author)

Truly the hidden gem of this list, Arthur’s Pass is usually a midway stop before people return to Christchurch. On the map, it might look like it’s in the middle of nowhere, and you wouldn’t be entirely incorrect in saying that. But it’s the place to go when you want to live out those mountain refuge dreams. A humble three motels, a youth hostel and a grocery store make up the town centre. Stop at the Otira Viaduct for a view of the river and North Gully Bridge and come back at night for another showering of stars. There’s also a train station where you can hop on a scenic intercountry route and literally walk onto the tracks (please proceed safely and at your own risk). Devils Punchbowl Walking Track is another great option for a short forest walk with a waterfall reward.

Hot Tip: As you drive out of Arthur’s Pass along State Highway 73, look out the window right before you round the bend nearing Cass. There’s a fantastic photo op as you approach the point where Hawdon and Waimakariri rivers meet.

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With airlines reawakening and flexible booking options on offer, a Trans-Tasman holiday is finally on the horizon. Be sure to stay updated with the latest government travel advice and proceed safely for the smoothest journey possible.

6 Unmissable Sights in New Zealand’s South Island