South Island New Zealand

South Island New Zealand

South Island has received recognition as a great destination for travel. The larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, it is less populous than its smaller counterpart, the North Island. The waters that surround South Island are Cook Strait, the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean and it has a temperate climate.

The primary economy is based on tourism and agriculture, manufacturing, mining, construction etc. Popular sites of interest for tourism include adventure tourism, hiking and camping. The Milford Track is one area that has gained recognition for its scenery scattered with mountains and rainforest. The trip is over 50 miles long and passes through rainforests, wetlands and even an alpine pass.

The Less Touristy South Island

Much of the Queenstown area is considered the tourist area on the South Island. If you visit the smaller less traveled routes, you are sure to find a goldmine of true New Zealand areas not so focused on the tourism industry, but friendly and down to earth. Other towns on South Island include Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercagill, Kaikoura, and Nelson. There are wonderful aspects to each.

The City of Christchurch

Though Christchurch is the most populous city of the island, it is a great place to start. Rich in history, you can glance into the past of the European settlement of the island before setting off to other less traveled areas. If you prefer modern amenities though, Christchurch is a great place to visit. It has a large variety of cyber cafes and has many places to stay. Bicycles are a common mode of transportation in this city and there are special bike lanes to help make travel simpler.

Less Tourists More Locals

Invercargill is the most southerly city in New Zealand. It is primarily a center of service for the farms of the Southland Plains. Wide streets take the visitor back in time along with the old buildings taking you far from the Queenstown area of today. Other small towns offer that same small town old South Island feel that really makes the area so special. South Island is a beautiful, stunning and pleasant place to visit. Check out South Island New Zealand on your next vacation.