Canterbury’s second largest city is surrounded by gently sloping hills, which enfold the beautiful crescent of Caroline Bay. Timaru lies halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin, marking the southern limit of the broad gravel plains that produce the bulk of New Zealand’s cereal and grain crops.
No other region in New Zealand can match the breathtaking mountain scenery of Fiordland National Park. Te Anau is the jumping-off point for tours, cruises, treks and flights all through the country’s most remote and rugged landscape.
Deep in the Mackenzie Country is a town where the tussock plains reach the horizon, the rivers run slowly, and the mountains touch the sky. Twizel nestles among peaceful lakes, where the broad plain meets the foothills of the Southern Alps.
Dramatic seascapes along the Punakaiki Coast culminate in the amazing stacks of giant pancake rock formations and booming blowholes. Punakaiki is sited at the mouth of the Punakaiki River, 40 km north of Greymouth, on the West Coast.
The bustling port of Picton is the terminal for inter-island ferries, and gateway to the ‘Mainland’, the South Island’s self-proclaimed nickname. Picton is 30 km north of Blenheim at the head of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound.
North of Dunedin is a fine coastal town where you can admire some of the best-preserved and most stately commercial buildings in the country. Oamaru, the main town of North Otago, is a most interesting and attractive place to visit.
A little fishing village on the coast south of Oamaru has become famous for a geological wonder on its windswept sands. The Moeraki Boulders are huge spherical stones that are scattered over the sandy beaches, but they are not like ordinary round boulders.
The scenic icon of New Zealand is the picture-perfect view of Mitre Peak mirrored in the glassy waters of Milford Sound. Milford Sound’s majestic grandeur is symbolised by the perfection of this scene of sheer rock walls, 1700 metres high, plummeting into the black depths of the fiord.
Our country is favoured with many exquisitely beautiful alpine lakes, but Manapouri is often referred to as the ‘Loveliest Lake in New Zealand’. Manapouri is a small settlement on the shores of the lake, 20 minutes drive from Te Anau.
Surprises await those who venture into the vast limestone country at the extreme north end of the South Island’s West Coast Road. Karamea is a secluded haven, 100 km north of Westport, which holds the entry key to this magical wilderness.
