Vegemitevix’s 10 More things to see in New Zealand

After extolling the virtues off-the-beaten track in the North Island, I’m going to tackle the South Island, – or ‘the Main Land’ as the South Islanders would have you believe! (Don’t listen to them they’re high on fresh air!)

1/Dunedin – Perhaps an unlikely choice as most visitors head to the larger city Christchurch, but I love the Edinburgh of the South, and besides I went to University there so I have happy memories of the place albeit through student-tinted glasses. The story goes that Dunedin was actually mapped out on paper sight-unseen, based on the good city of Edinburgh.

I’ve been to both cities and I can see some resemblance, though of course the poor city planners had no way of knowing exactly how hilly the city is! One of Dunedin’s suburban streets – Baldwin Street – is actually steeper than the supposed steepest street in the world, Lombard Street in San Francisco. Don’t try and drive up it, especially if it’s winter that would just be silly! Students from the nearby University of Otago hostels often have races down it and each February there’s a gut-buster race for masochists so inclined.

Still in Dunedin head out onto the Otago Peninsula and check out New Zealand’s only castle – Larnoch Castle. Built in the 1800s by Scot William James Mudie Larnach, whilst impressive for New Zealand it will seem rather cute and somewhat new to those from the old world.

2/ Albatross Colony – Whilst out on the Peninsula head out further to the Royal Albatross Colony the only mainland breeding centre in the world.

It’s a beautiful place, I challenge you to not feel moved by these amazing seafaring birds.

3/Lingerie Lines – Heading over to Central Otago now keep your eyes peeled as you drive over the ranges to the skifield town of Cardrona. Kiwis’ have an insane sense of the ridiculous and someone started this collection on bras to …actually I don’t know why it was started but it is really funny and an attraction in its own right.

4/Central Otago Bike Trail -The Otago Bike Trail follows the old railway line up over the ranges from Middlemarch (just out of Dunedin) to Clyde (Central Otago – not far from Queenstown). Although I haven’t actually done it myself I have friends who have and it’s a blast. Suitable for ‘big kids’ the trail covers a fair distance but you can stop each night at pubs and b&b’s along the way. You can hire bikes at Middlemarch or take your own and the scenery is absolutely to die for. Do this as a family-friendly adventure or a couple’s retreat, your bum may not thank you, but your soul will.

5/Paradise – I’m pippy with Peter Jackson. Until he shot the Lord of the Rings Trilogy this little spot out of Queenstown wasn’t terribly well known. As a student I travelled up this way on the winding road (it was gravel back then) north west-ish from Queenstown through the adorable little town of Glenorchy until we reached a road sign that simply said Paradise. We got out of the car and realised that we were almost entirely surrounded by snow capped mountains. It was divine. I haven’t been there in twenty years but I intend to drag my husband down there to stay in one of the little self-catering cottages. This is also a brilliant jumping-off point for any of the great walking trails – such as the Routeburn and Rees-Dart.

If you are heading to NZ and are physically fit I recommend a walk – or as we call it a tramp- to really get out and experience the countryside! Just make sure for heaven’s sake that you tell the local DOC (Department of Conservation) ranger where you’re going, and what your plans are and please please please for the sake of the poor locals who will be called out of bed to go drag you out of a snow cave, wear something appropriate for the conditions.

6/Milford Sound – I know I said places that weren’t in the brochures but my South Island friend Liz said I had to put it in because you just can’t really leave it out. You may well have seen Mountains and waterfalls before. But you haven’t seen these ones and they are beautiful, even if there are almost as many tourists there now as sandflies. Don’t forget the insect repellent, decent wet weather gear and do hink about walking the Milford Track. If you can’t be bothered walking it you can do it the cushy way. These days you can even pay someone to carry your pack, cook your meals and turn down your duvet in the private cabins on the track. Can’t get much better really!

7/Marlborough Sounds – A beautiful spot at the tip of the South Island, the MarlboroughSounds boasts beautiful tracts of wild bush (with nothing that wriggles, slithers or bites!) beautiful beaches. Just when you thought it couldn’t be any better, then there’s the foodie paradise. Marlborough features some of New Zealand’s best wineries…. and then there’s all the other gourmet delights – green lipped mussels, stone fruit, cherries, and of course juicy Pacific oysters and pink and perfect salmon. Much of the NZ Sauvignon Blanc we enjoy in the UK comes from Marlborough.

8/Kaikoura Whale Watching – Kaikoura a small town on the east coast of the South Island is reknown for its whale watching tours. The local Ngai Tahu strictly observe a sustainable tourism approach and the tours not only see beautiful sperm whales but also humpback whales, orca, Hector’s dolphins, sea birds and other marine life.

9/West Coast – The wild west is New Zealand’s wettest spot. It’s also the wildest. From barren wild beaches to the snow and ice covered valleys and glaciers, the West Coast of the South Island has a lot to offer, but by far the ‘wildest’ experience you can have may well be at the annual Wildfood festival held in Hokitika each March. Sample some of the local delicacies such as possum pies, huhu grubs, paua titties (roe), bull, lamb and goat testicles, gorse flower wine and of course whitebait (usually served up in whitebait fritters! Just don’t look at the eyes as you bite off their heads!)

10/Arrowtown – I’ve always been fascinated with the old gold-mining town of Arrowtown just down the road from the tourism mecca of Queenstown, but worlds away in ambience. Try a walk up to Macetown an old mining settlement or look around the reconstructed Chinese settlement that dates from 1860s gold rush days. In winter Arrowtown is a good base for skiing at the nearby fields at The Remarkables, Cardrona, amongst others.

And of course you can always dip your toe in and out of the tourist chaos just down the road in Queenstown.

So that’s my round up!

Allow yourself plenty of time to get out of the main cities and see the countryside, and to get to know the locals. Most of all have fun!!

NB/ These are just my own ideas of what’s fun to see in NZ. This is not a commercial post, nor a paid link, and I am not a certified travel agent. So go look, have fun but make of it what you will and don’t blame me if you have a different experience from what I’ve described here.

Tagged as: Arrowtown, Dunedin, home, Kaikoura, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, New Zealand attractions, Queenstown, Royal Albatross Colony, South Island New Zealand, tourism, tourists, Uncategorized, West Coast New Zealand, Whale watching, what to see in New Zealand, Wild Food festival