New Zealand's South Island: Queenstown, Milford Sound & Aoraki
Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables around Queenstown, the waterfalls and sheer walls of Milford Sound, and the glacier valleys and turquoise lakes below Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak.
- Best time to go
- December to March for long, warm days and hiking; April for autumn colours around Queenstown and Wanaka; June to August for skiing.
- Flying from India
- One stop to Auckland or Christchurch via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney or the Gulf (about 16 to 20 hours), then a domestic flight to Queenstown. Some routes fly direct to Queenstown from Sydney or Melbourne.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Indian passport holders need a New Zealand Visitor Visa, applied for online with Immigration New Zealand. Allow several weeks, and apply before booking non-refundable arrangements.
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZD). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
South Island, New Zealand at a glance
Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu beneath the Remarkables and is the natural base for the South Island. Take the gondola up Bob's Peak, ride a jet boat through the Shotover canyons, taste Pinot Noir in Gibbston Valley and wander the gold-rush village of Arrowtown. Glenorchy, at the head of the lake, leads into the mountain valleys seen in many films.
Milford Sound is the highlight of Fiordland: stay in Te Anau and drive the Milford Road through the Homer Tunnel, or fly in by small plane or helicopter, then cruise beneath waterfalls and Mitre Peak. Wanaka is a quieter lake town, and the drive north through the Lindis Pass reaches Aoraki / Mount Cook, where the Hooker Valley Track crosses swing bridges to a glacier lake, and the Mackenzie Basin's dark skies are perfect for stargazing.
Must-see
- Milford Sound
- The Hooker Valley Track to Aoraki
- Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki
- Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
- Wanaka and its lone willow
Food to try
- Central Otago Pinot Noir
- New Zealand lamb
- Bluff oysters (in season)
- Fergburger in Queenstown
- Hokey pokey ice cream
Where to shop
- Merino knitwear
- Pounamu (greenstone) carvings
- Arrowtown's boutiques
- Manuka honey and skincare
- Central Otago wines
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu
Lakefront hotels and hillside lodges
Hotels on the lake in town, close to restaurants and the gondola, or luxury lodges on the hills and in the wine valleys with mountain views.
Wanaka
Quiet lake-town retreats
Smaller lodges and apartments by Lake Wanaka, close to walking trails and vineyards, and less busy than Queenstown.
Aoraki / Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki
Mountain-view lodges
Lodges in Aoraki / Mount Cook village and on the shores of Lake Pukaki, with the mountain in view and some of the darkest skies on earth.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build South Island, New Zealand journeys around
Cruising Milford Sound
A two-hour cruise under Stirling and Bowen falls, past seals and occasionally dolphins and penguins, to the Tasman Sea. Fly back to Queenstown for an aerial view.
Shotover Jet
A high-speed jet boat through the narrow Shotover River canyons, skimming the rocks with 360-degree spins.
Central Otago wine
Tastings at cellar doors in Gibbston Valley and Bannockburn, the world's southernmost wine region, with lunch among the vines.
A glacier landing
A scenic flight from Aoraki / Mount Cook or Queenstown with a snow landing high on the glaciers, or a heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier on the West Coast.
Whale watching at Kaikōura
On a longer loop via Christchurch, sperm whales can be seen year-round off Kaikōura, where deep water comes close to the coast.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every South Island, New Zealand traveller
When to visit
December to February
Summer: long days (light until about 10 pm), warm lakes, and the best hiking.
March to May
Autumn: golden poplars around Arrowtown and Wanaka, crisp days and fewer visitors.
June to September
Winter: skiing at the Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cardrona; snow on the mountains, clear cold days.
Getting there and around
Into Queenstown
Fly to Auckland or Christchurch and connect to Queenstown, or fly direct from Sydney or Melbourne.
Driving times
Queenstown to Te Anau about 2 hours, Te Anau to Milford Sound about 2 hours, Queenstown to Aoraki / Mount Cook about 3½ hours via the Lindis Pass.
Insider notes
Stay in Te Anau for Milford
Milford Sound is about four hours each way from Queenstown by road but two hours from Te Anau. Or fly in and out for the views.
The Milford Road can close
Avalanche risk closes the road at times in winter and spring. We keep a flexible day and fly-cruise options in reserve.
Hooker Valley early
Start the 10 km Hooker Valley Track at sunrise for calm reflections and fewer people.
Pack for four seasons
Mountain weather changes quickly. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket, even in summer.
South Island, New Zealand: Common Questions
Nine to ten days covers Queenstown, Milford Sound and Aoraki / Mount Cook. Two weeks adds the West Coast glaciers or Kaikōura.
Plan your South Island, New Zealand journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our South Island, New Zealand specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Journeys from here
Itineraries that include South Island, New Zealand
Journey · Adventure & Landscape
New Zealand South Island Escape
Journey · Mountains & Adventure
Fiordland, Wanaka & Aoraki
Ready to plan South Island, New Zealand?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.