The South Island has the largest land mass in New Zealand at 151,215 sq km or 58,360 sq mi and is a land of diverse scenery. The Southern Alps host New Zealand's highest mountain - Mt Cook at 3,754 metres (12,316 feet) and separate the moist West Coast from the dry Canterbury Plains. In the far south, Fiordland National Park has achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is a dramatic mix of waterfalls, rainforest, lakes, and deep fiords. At the opposite end of the island is one of the sunniest spots in New Zealand - Marlborough Sounds and the Nelson Region are known for the production of fine wines, and New Zealand's smallest National Park, the Abel Tasman with it's granite sand beaches.
Wildlife also abounds throughout the South Island of New Zealand. Marine mammals such as the endemic Hector's Dolphin, Giant Sperm Whales, Hookers Sea Lions, and NZ Fur Seals frolic in the coastal waters. Yellow Eyed and Blue Penguins come ashore to nest, while Oyster Catchers, Royal Spoonbills, and Plovers frequent lagoons, and cheeky Kea's entertain tourists in the alpine regions. This is only a handful of wildlife species found on the South Island of New Zealand.
The South Island is renowned for its scenic beauty and is therefore a photographers paradise with no end of possibilities and directions to point a camera.
Make sure to see our special listing for the north island of New Zealand:
New Zealand North Island information.
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Abel Tasman Sea Kayaking Adventure NZ A great family vacation adventure during a visit to New Zealand is paddling the pristine waters of the Abel Tasman National Park during a sea kayaking Tour. The coastline of the Abel Tasman National Park on the South Island of New Zealand is the ideal... |
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Wildflower Pictures Yellow Tree Lupins are a wildflower which grows in abundance along the roadside in Central Otago. Growing up to 2 metres tall, the Yellow Tree Lupin is a rapidly growing wildflower or rather a... |
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Pancake Rocks Punakaiki New Zealand Sunsets along the lush coastline of Punakaiki on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand are exceptional especially when the rays from the sun glisten off the Pancake Rocks. Rocks line the coast near Punakaiki on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand which... |
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Kaikoura Peninsula Canterbury Visiting Kaikoura Peninsula in Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand at sunset is a breathtaking experience. Sunset lights up the Kaikoura Mountain Range and the water of Kaikoura Peninsula glistens as the... |
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Russell Lupin Picture Fiordland The roadside is ablaze with colour as the Russell Lupins bloom from early to mid summer in Fiordland National Park. Although the Russell Lupin is a perennial plant which is native to North America, it is widespread... |
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South Island Sunset New Zealand A threatening sunset of fascinating colors near Hopewell in Kenepuru Sound on the South Island of New Zealand. A sunset turns the clouds into an amazing display of colors over Double Bay near Hopewell in... |
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Destination Kaikoura New Zealand A clear day at the popular holiday destination of Kaikoura along the east coast of the South Island, New Zealand Situated on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, the town of Kaikoura is cradled... |
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Tasman Glacier New Zealand A beautiful scenic picture of the snow covered Tasman Glacier in Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand. The Tasman Glacier is the largest of seven glaciers which flows south and east on the South Island... |
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Pied Shag Kaikoura Peninsula The pied shag enjoys his viewpoint from this rock on the Kaikoura Peninsula on the South Island of New Zealand. Mainly a coastal, sea fishing bird the pied shag breeds in New Zealand and Australia and can be... |
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Gore Bay Kaikoura New Zealand The Kaikoura coastline of New Zealand is full of unique bays like that of Gore Bay. Gore Bay near Kaikoura, New Zealand is an exposed beach break that has a fairly consistent surf but... |
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Sunset Rock Memorial NZ A rock memorial stands in the glowing rays of the disappearing sunset on Gillespies Beach near Fox Glacier in New Zealand. The Gillespies Beach is a wild stretch of coastline near Fox Glacier on the South Island of NZ and... |
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Maruia Falls South Island A picturesque view of the Maruia Falls in Maruia Falls Scenic Reserve on the South Island of New Zealand. The Maruia Falls on the South Island of New Zealand catches you off guard with its abrupt drop on a... |
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Elephant Rocks Waitaki Valley NZ Unusual limestone formations are known as elephant rocks in the Waitaki Valley in North Otago on the South Island of NZ. Walking through the Waitaki Valley in NZ you will come across many limestone formations in a... |
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Livingstone Daisy Flower Picture The Livingstone Daisy flower creates beautiful pictures growing on a wall in North Otago, New Zealand. The brilliant flower of the Livingstone Daisy brightens the road side wall in the Waitaki Valley on... |
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Toitoi Plants Kaikoura Toitoi plants blowing in the breeze along the Kaikoura Beach on the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The toitoi plants can grow up to 3 meters tall along the Kaikoura Beach on the South Island of New... |
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Christmas Traditions New Zealand Traditions at Christmas are very important for the residents of Pukeuri, Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. As we toured the small town of Pukeuri, New Zealand around the Christmas Season we came across this... |
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Clyde Dam New Zealand Water rushes through to the Clutha River from Clyde Dam in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. The largest hydroelectric dam in New Zealand is the Clyde Dam which was built along the Clutha... |
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Fyffe House Kaikoura The Fyffe House is a charming colorful house in Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand. The oldest house in Kaikoura in Canterbury, New Zealand is the Fyffe House located in a historic... |
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Canterbury Landscape New Zealand From a roadside viewpoint, the lush green hillsides form the picturesque landscape of Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. The green landscape of Canterbury almost looks like a painting with its beautifully colored rolling... |
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Kingston Flyer Steam Train The Kingston Flyer Steam Train is a famous vintage steam train that runs twice daily on the South Island of New Zealand. The original Kingston Flyer Steam Train was a passenger service steam train that operated between... |
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Pukaki River Canterbury NZ The control gates are opened and Lake Pukaki drains into the river canal in Canterbury, New Zealand. The Pukaki River flows through the Mackenzie Basin in Canterbury on the South Island of New... |
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Franz Josef Glacier New Zealand Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand is designated as a World Heritage Site. Taking a helicopter tour and flying above the Franz Josef Glacier on the South Island of New... |
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Kelp New Zealand Waters The waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula off the South Island of New Zealand is filled with beautifully golden colored kelp. The waters surrounding New Zealand have four different types of kelp that grow in the undersea... |
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Motueka Town New Zealand Turquoise waters of Tasman Bay encompass the town of Motueka in the Tasman District of New Zealand. The view from Highway 60 is stunning as the green hillside surrounds the town of Motueka on the... |
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Apricot Tree Roxburgh Brilliant colored apricots are ready to be picked on this apricot tree in Roxburgh, New Zealand. The region of Roxburgh in Central Otago on the South Island of New Zealand has hot summers and cold... |
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Coastal Ocean Biomes The planet is made up of 6 major biomes and the Coastal Ocean areas belong to the Ocean biome of the world. Also known as the Coastal Ocean Biome, the inter-tidal zone connects the land to the ocean. Because... |
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Livingstone Daisy Flowers Pink, radiant Livingstone Daisy flowers grow along a wall in the Waitaki Valley in North Otago on the South Island of New Zealand. Livingstone Daisy flowers of a brilliant pink hue adorn the road side in the Waitaki Valley on the... |
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Yellow Eyed Penguin Picture The Yellow Eyed Penguin is a protected endemic bird species found in the South Island of New Zealand. Found only in New Zealand, the Yellow Eyed Penguin is the rarest of all penguin species and... |
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Russell Lupin Flowers Thousands of Russell Lupin flowers create a carpet of colour waving gently in the breeze along the Milford Road in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. A field of colour caught our eye from a distance - brilliant purple contrasting against the green... |
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Rainforest Plants A variety of Rainforest Plants thrive in Fiordland National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site A biomass of rainforest plants in a New Zealand National Park. There is an extensive network of... |
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Kahurangi National Park The Kohaihi River flows towards the sea passing through the Kahurangi National Park and these sandy and rocky shores in the South Island of New Zealand. At the start of the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park. Translated from Maori to English... |
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