Which Island is Better - The North or South Island of New Zealand?

1. Bask on Beautiful White Sand Beaches, Even in Winter

Bay of Islands
New Zealand's climate gets warmer the further north you go, so the North Island is generally much warmer than the South. Travel approximately 3 hours north of Auckland to the subtropical Bay of Islands and you'll stays warm even in the winter months!

The Coromandel Peninsula
Popular with families and honeymooners, the Coromandel Peninsula is another region famous for its wonderful beaches and it's an easy drive from Auckland too. You will find a lot of New Zealanders travelling to the Coromandel Peninsula on holiday, giving you a real kiwi holiday experience.

Kiwi tip: In New Zealand you will hear locals refer to swimwear as "togs"

New Zealand's Best Beaches: The Coromandel

2. Geothermal Wonders, Volcanic Landscapes and Neon Lakes

Head to Rotorua's boiling mud pools, giant geysers and acid-green lakes for a truly out-of-this-world experience. There's geothermal activity aplenty here - not something you see every day!

Top geothermal experiences in Rotorua:

• Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland for New Zealand's most colourful geothermal and volcanic features 
• Te Puia for dramatic geysers, bubbling mud, Māori cultural experiences & kiwi conservation centre.
• Waimangu Volcanic Valley for volcanic craters, hot water springs, beautiful geothermal features, rare and unusual plant life
• Hells Gate for a geothermal walk before soaking in geothermal mud pools and sulphur waters
• Polynesian Spa for mineral bathing in geothermal waters on rotoruas lakeside

Hot Water Beach
The geothermal area stretches as far as the Coromandel Peninsula where at Hot Water beach you can dig your own hot water pool in the sand from the underground springs. Make sure you bring a spade or hire one.

Tongariro Crossing
If you fancy hiking on a volcano, try the Tongariro Alpine Crossing 20km, 6-8 hour hike - it's one of the world’s finest full day walks. Make sure you are well prepared though: the alpine conditions can change quickly. Here is more information on Safety in New Zealand's Great Outdoors

Make sure you bring: Plenty of water, food, good hiking shoes, a raincoat and extra layers of clothing

Itinerary inspiration: New Zealand's Self Drive Volcanic Adventure Trail

3. Immerse Yourself in the North Island's Māori Culture & Cuisine

With a higher Māori population than the South Island, the North offers more opportunities to experience our unique Māori culture. Take in a cultural performance at a local Marae (Māori meeting place) and try hangi (traditional Māori food cooked using heated rocks in a pit oven) for a melt-in-your-mouth feast of meats & vegetables slow-cooked to perfection.

Best locations to visit for cultural experiences:

• Rotorua (Central North Island) 

Rotorua is the birthplace of Māori Tourism and is arguably the best place to experience the customs, traditions and beliefs of Māori Culture. Rotorua has the most Maori cultural expereinces available in all of New Zealand. Visit Te Puia, Te Pā Tū or Whakarewarewa while you are here for an experience that is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

• Waitangi (Bay of Islands)

Waitangi is a brilliant places to explore our Maori heritage and is New Zealand's most important historic site. Learn all about the Treaty of Waitangi, explore both of their contemporary museums and enjoy a cultural performance.

Discover our North Island Culture & Heritage Itinerary

4. Enjoy the Bright Lights of our Vibrant North Island Cities

Auckland and Wellington are two incredibly diverse harbour cities, each offering world-class dining, arts and culture. They're distinctly Kiwi, and are only a stones-throw away from beaches, hiking trails and stunning landscapes.

Auckland
Auckland is our City of Sails, known for its waterfront lifestyle and superb skyline, perfect for that sunset shot over the harbour. You'll soon see why it's considered one of the world's most liveable cities. 

Wellington
At the bottom of the North Island, Wellington is our "coolest little capital" with a creative vibe, cafe culture and a thriving craft beer industry! Te Papa, New Zealand's innovative national museum, is not to be missed here - even if you're not a museum-lover.

Find out more about Auckland and Wellington

5. The North Island's World-Class Wines at Award-Winning Vineyards

Waiheke Island
Just a short 40 minute ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke Island is heaven for wine-lovers. This island paradise is home to some of New Zealand's best-loved boutique wineries, many with stellar ocean views. This bohemian getaway oozes charm: it's a great place to unwind after a long-haul flight and is a perfect day trip. You can even join a group wine tour so that you can sit back and relax while you are taken from one winery to the other.

We recommend visiting these wineries:

• Mudbrick Vineyard & Restaurant
• Casita Miro
• Man O' War
• Wild On Waiheke - Waiheke Island Brewery and Wild Estate Vineyard

Not big on wine?
No problem! If your not a big wine lover there is still so much to love about Waiheke Island. Waiheke Distilling Co has a range of craft distilled spirits to sample, Wild on Waiheke has a range of activities on offer including archery and clay bird shooting and you can go ziplining with EcoZip Adventures.

Hawkes Bay
Further south, Hawkes Bay is home to New Zealand’s oldest vineyards, with over 80 wineries to discover. Many are open to the public for tastings, and several vineyards have award-wining restaurants where the wines are perfectly paired with fresh local artisan produce. As a result of gravely soils and a long growing season Hawke's Bay specialises in producing red blends; merlot, syrah and pinor noir. 

We recommend visiting these wineries:

• Church Road Winery
• Elephant Hill Winery
• Craggy Range

Related: New Zealand Wine Regions & Tours

Tip: make sure that during the weekends and public holidays you make reservations ahead of time to avoid missing out.

6. Find Yourself in The Real Middle Earth

The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were filmed all over New Zealand, but there are two North Island locations you mustn't miss you are a fan. 

Hobbiton
The Hobbiton movie set just outside of Matamata brings the Shire to life in all its glory, with 39 hobbit-holes nestled amongst the beautiful rolling hills. You can even venture inside a hobbit hole and have a drink at The Green Dragon Inn.

Hairy Feet Waitomo
Hairy Feet Waitomo offers guided scenic tours of their beautiful family farm near the town of Waitomo. It is famously known as the filming location for some of the most iconic scenes in The Hobbit trilogy, particularly the scenes set in Trollshaws Forest.

Weta Workshop
Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Weta Workshop in Wellington where the special effects for the movies were created. As well as seeing props & costumes from the films, you can glimpse the creators working on their latest big-screen projects.

We specialise in creating customised Lord of the Rings Self-Drive Itineraries so we can help to create the perfect one to suit you!

A Hobbit's Journey: The Ultimate New Zealand Lord of the Rings Vacation

1. The South Island's Snow-Capped Mountain Ranges 

The Southern Alps mountains form a 500-kilometre spine down the centre of the South Island, from Nelson Lakes National Park down to Milford Sound in Fiordland. Visit Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Cook National Park for seriously spectacular alpine views (and plenty of powder to play in during winter).

Our highest peak, Mt Cook, is where Sir Edmund Hilary trained to conquer Mt Everest. The nearby Tasman Glacier is New Zealand's largest: treat yourself to a glacier helicopter tour and you'll land in the middle of this unique, icy wonderland.

Related: Which New Zealand Glacier to Visit

2. The South Island Provides Pure New Zealand Wilderness

The South Island is bigger than the North Island, but with only a third of the population. You're never far from uncrowded hiking trails and remote backcountry adventures.

Multi-Day Hikes
Many of the best multi-day New Zealand Great Walks are in the South Island - the Routeburn Track, the Milford Track and the Abel Tasman Coast Track are all distinctly unique and stunning in their own way. You can explore these tracks independently, staying in the trampers' huts en route, or with arranged accommodation and a knowledgeable guide if you prefer.

Great Walks
If you would like to hike any of the 11 Great Walks in New Zealand spots on guided tours do need to be booked quite far in advance to secure a spot. If you would like to hike these independently and stay in DOC tramping huts do your research and find out when the hut spots for the season are being released online for each walk and get in quick, many peak season dates sell out on the date of release!

What Great Walks are in the South Island?

• Abel Tasman Coastal Track
• Paparoa Track
• Heaphy Track
• Routeburn Track
• Milford Track
• Kepler Track
• Rakiura Track
• Tatapere Hump Ridge Track

Did you know? You can also do the Routeburn Track Day Walk from the Glenorchy side of the trail to give you a taste of this great walk.

Day Walks
There are endless day-walk options in our Regional and National Parks too. Whether you fancy a coastal cliff walk or a ramble through prehistoric rainforests, the South Island more than delivers.

Discover the best day hikes in the South Island on our blog and learn more about the South Island's National Parks

3. The South Island for Adventure Sports

Queenstown is the "Adventure Capital of the World," with an endless menu of adrenalin activities on offer. 

Top adventure activities:

• Skydiving
• Bungy jumping
• Paragliding
• White water rafting 
• Jet boating 

Mountain bikers can head to Nelson and the West Coast for world-renowned trails like the Heaphy Track and the Old Ghost Road. Test your downhill skills on hand-built technical tracks at the Christchurch and Queenstown Bike Parks.

Not looking for anything too adventurous? Don't worry there are still so many activities in Queenstown made to give you a taste of adventure without a crazy adrenaline rush. You can take a gondola ride up to Bobs Peak and take a scenic luge ride down. Or if you would like to take to the trees you can join a family friendly ziplining adventure. Alternatively sit back and relax on a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw steamboat. There really is something for everyone!

Related: Why rafting in New Zealand is the ultimate Kiwi adventure

4. South Island Skiing

Central Otago Skiing:
With four epic mountains in the Queenstown region alone, the town is a happening winter destination with legendary après-ski ambience. The Remarkables, Cardrona, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone offer a wealth of options, and you can end each day by a roaring fire in one of Queenstown or Wanaka's cosy pubs.

Never skied before? You don't need to be an advanced skiier to enjoy the slopes in the South Island and it is infact one of the best places to try skiing for the first time. Every ski area has a dedicated beginners area and have qualified instructors available for skiing lessons. Ski and snowboard gear rental is available on every mountain but you can also hire your gear from ski shops in Queenstown or Wanaka.

Canterbury Skiing:
Further afield in the Canterbury region, there's even more choice to be had within an hour or two of Christchurch at Mount Hutt. From family friendly beginner runs to pristine backcountry powder for those looking for more advanced ski runs.

Don't forget:
Layers are a must in the snow and it is worth investing in a good pair of thermals. Also don't underestimate the power of the sun as the UV rays reflect off the snow. Make sure you wear ski goggles or sunglasses and reapply plenty of sunscreen throughout the day. 

Learn more about skiing in New Zealand

5. Sail The South Island's Dramatic Fiords and Sounds

What is a fiord? Fiords are carved when giant glaciers retreat, and the sea fills up the remaining valleys. Sounds are formed when the sea level rises (or the when the land sinks) and seawater floods the space left behind. The effect is spectacular, and the South Island has some seriously impressive fiords and sounds to explore.

Marlborough Sounds
At the top of the South Island, the sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds are pretty as a picture, with beautiful hidden bays and inlets surrounded by steep forested hills. 

Milford Sound
Further south, the towering cliffs and thundering waterfalls of Milford Sound must be seen to be believed. Its breathtaking landscapes have caused many to refer to this area as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

Both regions can be explored by way of a nature cruise, kayaking, scenic flights or even an overnight cruise.

Learn more about magical Milford Sound

6. South Island Lakeside Tranquility

The South Island claims eight of then ten biggest lakes in New Zealand, all of them stunning.

Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki get their remarkable turquoise colour from tiny particles of glacial rock suspended in the water. Visit in November when the pink and purple lupin flowers bloom for a gorgeous explosion of colour.

Can you swim in the lakes? Of course you can. But don't be fooled, even on a warm summers day these lakes are cold! The water temperature in Lake Tekapo gets to a high of 17 °C in summer and due to its depth Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown remains between 11–13°C all year round.

Take an old-fashioned steamship cruise on Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu or laze at Lake Wanaka with your fishing rod, and don't be surprised to feel your everyday worries dissolve away in the cool, rippling waters.

In Wanaka you can even visit a lake on an island on a lake with a day trip to Mou Waho Island, accessible only by boat.

Further reading: awesome things to do in Wanaka