The Southern Half
The South Island Welcome To The South Island
The South Island is New Zealand's Big Show. I'm a North Islander born and bred and still living here and I love the North island. But you've gotta hand it to the South Island (the Mainland as they like to style themselves). it really is the Main Event.
If you've seen the Lord of The Rings trilogy you'll know what I mean. Edoras, the plains of Rohan, the Dimrill Stair, Lothlorien, Fangorn Forest and much more were all shot in the awesome South Island lansdscapes.
You are never in the same landform for more than an hour or two. The scenery constantly changes and with every change comes an overpowering urge to stop driving and start taking pictures. In the old days, before digital cameras, I used to joke that the South Island was created by the Kodak marketing department as a sales promotion stunt . . . you just went through so much film.
So enjoy one of the great visual spectacles the world has to offer. And I'll lay dollars to donuts that no matter how long you are there you'll want to come back again and spend more time.
As I have been at pains to point out this guide is not a complete work. It's a half-finished version of an incomplete manuscript, There will be inaccuracies caused by the passage of time and incomplete research. But it may nonetheless be useful. Along the way I'll continually update it as time and work permit.
State Highway 1: Picton to Christchurch
State Highway 1: Christchurch to Dunedin
State Highway 1: Dunedin to Bluff
State Highway 6: Blenheim to Greymouth
State Highway 6: Greymouth to Wanaka
State Highway 6: Wanaka to Invercargill
State Highway 7: Waipara to Greymouth
State Highway 8: Timaru to Milton
State Highway 63: Blenheim to Kawatiri Junction
State Highway 70: Culverden to Kaikoura via the Inland Road
State Highway 72: Amberley to Geraldine
State Highway 73: Christchurch to Greymouth
State Highway 79: Rangitata to Fairlie
The Crown Range Road: Arrowtown to Wanaka
State Highway 83: Omarama to Oamaru
State Highway 94 Gore to Milford Sound
The Southern Half