The South Island is less populated than the North and appears to
have a slower pace of life, with sheep-filled pastures and remote
farm settlements backed by rugged snow-covered mountains. The
scenery is magnificent, and with its alpine mountains, fjords,
glaciers, lakes and forests it is possibly even more spectacular
than the North Island. Often cheekily referred to as 'the mainland'
by South Islanders, the South is the main destination of New
Zealand tourism.
Canterbury is the hub of the South Island containing the largest
city, Christchurch, an English epitome, with punting on the River
Avon and a grand Anglican cathedral dominating the central square.
The Queenstown region is the capital for adrenalin-inducing
activities and the home of the bungee jump, with a history of gold
in the hills and rivers and set on a beautiful lake at the foot of
the Remarkables Mountains.
The southwest holds some of New Zealand's finest scenery and
natural wonders, including its highest mountain, Mount Cook or
Aoraki, 'cloud piercer', the Frans Josef and Fox Glaciers
stretching down to within a few kilometres of the coast, the
magnificent Fjordland National Park with beautiful fjords,
waterfalls and forests, and several world-famous walking
tracks.
The South offers an abundance of activities and attractions set
in wondrous surroundings, with a huge diversity of things to see
and do.