New Zealands South Island

New Zealands South Island, offers some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in not only the whole of New Zealand but all of the world.

With a total residential population of 967,000 people and an Area of 151,215 square kilometers or 58,093 square miles, the South Island offers Mountains, Rainforests, Glaciers, Beautiful beaches and lively cities with lots of history. It is definitely a place you want to visit.

The South Island was first settled by the Maori's (Indigenous New Zealanders) but is now home to different cultures as people from all over the world are now calling the South Island home. It has since been found that the South Island of New Zealand is the 12th largest Island in the world.

With such a big island there is alot to be seen. The main regions are:

Nelson - Offers great beaches and National Parks

Marlborough

West Coast - Offers Glaciers, Rivers and Rainforests

Christchurch - "The Garden City", This is also the largest city on the South Island

Canterbury

Aoraki/Mount Cook - Part of the Southern Alps Mountain Ranges and the highest point at 3754 meters above sea level.

Queenstown - 'Adventure Capital of the World'

Wanaka - Second only to Queenstown

Otago - Offers dramatic landscape

Dunedin - Oldest city in New Zealand

Fiordland - Listed as World Heritage and the Sightseeing and Walking capital of the world

Southland - Most southern part of the island

Stewart Island - This island is 75 kilometers long and 45 kilometers wide.

Some of the best spots to visit whilst staying on the South Island are Mount Cook, Queenstown, Dunedin, Franz and Josef Glaciers and the Penguin colonies. Also worth a visit is Fiordland and Kaikoura which is half way between Christchurch and Picton on the east coast of the island here you can go whale watching, swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling with the seals or walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.

Of course while your there don't forget to find out more about the Maori culture.