Destination guides: South Island, New Zealand – Part 1

People tend to toss around a lot of adjectives when describing the South Island of New Zealand. However, in just one short visit it will become apparent that words, be they adjectives or not, simply cannot convey the surpassing beauty encompassed by this tiny nation located deep in the Southern Hemisphere.

Christchurch to Mt. Cook

Most international travelers arrive via Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city whose Scottish architecture and charm nestled along the Avon River prepares the visitor for the harmony between man and nature that lay just outside the city limits. From Christchurch journey south on the well-paved highway that runs the length of the level eastern coast. Not long after your route will turn inland, and you will be staring out at the snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps.

Drawing near, the road hugs the hilly shorelines of the glacial blue waters of Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki with the jagged outline of the mountains forming the perfect backdrop. The tallest of them all is Mt. Cook, or Aoraki, in the native Maori tongue. The national park that bears its name offers easily accessible trails that admire the mountain from different vantage points. Here you will have a taste of how difficult it would be to effectively describe the grandeur this country possess in such a small space.

Mt. Cook to Queenstown

Heading south, it is a winding road all the way down to New Zealand’s adventure capital of Queenstown. Here, the visitor can defy death in any number of ways, from bungee jumping, to an exhilarating jet boat ride, to an alpine slide perched high above the town. Hugging the northeastern shoreline of Lake Wakitipu, Queenstown is a year-round destination, doubling as a ski resort in the winter months.

A very pleasant discovery lies on a small mountain on the opposite shore called Deer Park Heights. It was here that many scenes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy were filmed, and it is readily apparent as to why. I noted here, as in several other locations, that New Zealand was truly as close to Tolkien’s “Middle Earth” as it gets. There’s a primordial feel about the place that makes it seem ancient yet innocent at the same time. Cinematic fame aside, this quasi-animal park also affords some spectacular views of the entire Queenstown region, from the lake to the river to the appropriately named Remarkables mountain range.

Queenstown to Milford Sound

Basing yourself in Queenstown, one can make a