South Island
Larger than the North Island but with only around one million inhabitants, the South Island is home to world-class wineries, ice-carved glaciers and some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet. But don’t let the Nat Geo scenery fool you into thinking there’s no life other than wildlife. Queenstown has one of the best food, wine and bar scenes in the Southern Hemisphere. The university town of Dunedin to the south will give off familiar Celtic vibes – with windswept castles, rowdy bars and gigging students. To the north, Christchurch is a lesson in community and cutting-edge innovation following the earthquakes of 2010-2011; while Nelson at the top of the South Island is an arty enclave for creators and makers.