Christchurch - The Garden City of New Zealand

From the silvery beaches of the coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury landscape is impossible to ignore. Big scenery is the order of the day - huge panoramas of ocean or mountains, great sweeps of pastureland and massive amounts of sky.



Dunedin

Dunedin is nestled in tree-clad hills at the head of the Otago Peninsula which is home to some of the world's rarest wildlife. Dunedin city captivates and enchants, it is a city in which to linger and explore. A city rich in heritage and architecture that leaves lasting memories for its visitors.

Once the centre of European commerce and culture in New Zealand, Dunedin retains an elegant grandeur often missing from larger cities in New Zealand and combines it with the vibrancy of youth.

Abundant Victorian and Edwardian architecture is found in this beautiful city. These elegant buildings often house, hotels, restaurants, and conference venues, and include New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle. These heritage buildings all bear testimony to the wealth that flowed into Dunedin during the gold rush period, 1860-1880.

A compact city with a population of 122,000 (including a student population of 23,000) Dunedin is located on the southeast coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a safe and compact city with most hotels and restaurants being within easy walking distance of the city centre, 'The Octagon'.

Queenstown

Rugged mountains, majestic lakes, crystal clear air, and just so much to do. From bungy jumping to wine trails, jet boating to tramping, dining out to skiing, the tricky part is extending your stay to try and fit everything in.

The area has captured hearts and imaginations since the first Maori came in search of pounamu (greenstone) and the giant Moa bird. More recently, gold miners, adventurers, filmmakers, wine enthusiasts, Hollywood stars and US Presidents have been drawn to this magical region and its intense alpine energy.

Born as an 1860's goldmining camp, 140 years later Queenstown has a compact and sophisticated downtown area tucked into a picturesque bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, there are amazing views from everywhere. There's also a permanent buzz in the downtown area where you'll find a lively café/bar scene and excellent shopping.

Milford Sound

Near vertical sea cliffs rising straight up form the fiord creates a vista that can only be described as awe inspiring!
Flightseeing and sea kayaking are two other ways to immerse yourself in the grandeur of huge peaks, waterfalls and sheer rock faces. At the underwater observatory, you can enjoy the unusual scenery than exists below the water. The Milford Track, which begins at the northern end of Lake Te Anau, finishes with a ferry trip from Sandfly Point to the Milford Sound wharf.

Glacier Region

Franz Josef Glacier was first explored in 1865 by geologist Julius von Haast, who named it after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is five kilometres from the town of the same name, and a 20 minute walk will take you to its terminal face. From the glacier car park, you can hike to a choice of lookout points for a bigger view of this awesome river of rice. If you want to actually make contact with the glacier, take a guided ice walk or a heli-hike. Aerial sightseeing is another option. In the town you'll find plenty of places to stay and eat. At nearby Lake Mapourika there are kayaks for hire.
Functional facts: Approx. population 320, Department of Conservation Visitor Centre, fuel.