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From North to South: My first time experience of New Zealand's stunning South Island

Writer's picture: Solo TravellerSolo Traveller

The route I chose for my first ever trip around the South Island covers some of the Island's most dramatic scenery.





Honestly, the landscapes along this road trip were so diverse and unlike anywhere I have ever experienced.


Golden beaches, lush rain forests, cracking glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and pristine alpine lakes together with vast agricultural plains, and an enormous number of vineyards.


The South Island has it all.


My journey started with the InterIslander ferry from Wellington to Picton.


Then:


  • Picton to Nelson and the Abel Tasman Reserve

  • Nelson to Greymouth travelling through the Brunner Gorge and Havelock

  • Greymouth to Franz Josef Glacier via Hokitiki

  • Franz Josef Glacier to Queenstown traveling through Fox Glacier, the Haast Valley and Wanaka

  • Queenstown to Milford Sound via Te Anau

  • Queenstown to Mt Cook via Lake Tekapo

  • Queenstown to Dunedin

  • Dunedin to Invercargill and Bluff

  • Invercargill to Christchurch

  • Christchurch to the North Island


The statistics of my road trip, that was all done using public transport, were something like:


  • 18 days

  • 2,250 miles

  • 13 x bus/coach journeys

  • 1 x ferry journey

  • 3 x flights


An absolutely fantastic experience for me personally and it's opened my eyes to the possibility of even more adventures on the South Island on my next trip!


My Solo Traveller Facebook page recorded the day-by-day activities together with photos if you want to see more:



Or maybe just sit back and watch this video:





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