A New Zealand South Island highway journey needs to be on the bucket listing of each journey or panorama pictures fanatic. From lovely seashores, wild shoreline, and epic glacial fjords to the snow-capped Southern Alps, it may be onerous to plan a visit that takes all of it in. That’s why I’ve accomplished the onerous be just right for you!
New Zealand South Island Map – Road Trip Itinerary
New Zealand South Island Road Trip: 11 Epic Photography Spots
Most guests to New Zealand’s South Island fly into Christchurch or Queenstown, nonetheless, in case you are together with the North Island in your journey, then you could take the ferry into Picton. This New Zealand itinerary runs from the Northern tip and is usually round in an anticlockwise course, so you can begin and finish at your comfort. And don’t overlook there are infinite choices for facet journeys off my marked route!
1. Wharariki Beach
At the very high of the South Island, you can find this secluded and huge seaside, tenting is on the market inside strolling distance or you possibly can decide to remain in a lodge a brief drive away. The finest time for pictures here’s a sundown to seize the rock formations and the massive sand dunes. Wharariki Beach can also be house to New Zealand Fur Seals that may mean you can get shut sufficient for some epic wildlife pictures.
2. Nelson Lakes – Lake Rotoiti
Even in the event you solely cease briefly on the Lake Rotoiti carpark you can be rewarded with an incredible view. The traditional shot at getting right here is of the jetty searching throughout the lake with the steep mountain sides towering on both facet of your body. Be warned, the climate can depart the entire place lined in fog for days at a time!
3. Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
These unusual rock formations present an fascinating topic for a seaside panorama shot. As they’re on the west coast, it would be best to dangle round for sundown to get the perfect gentle.
4. Lake Matheson
A brief stroll round this small lake leads you to the most effective views of New Zealand’s highest peak, Mt Cook. The lake is understood for offering an ideal reflection of the mountains, so long as the water remains to be. Early morning normally offers the perfect situations right here.
5. That Wanaka Tree
New Zealand’s most well-known and most photographed tree earned its personal hashtag for a very good motive. A lone willow tree protruding of lake Wanaka proper within the township itself makes for an incredible {photograph}. Try a lengthy publicity right here to make the water look silky clean.
6. Roy’s Peak
This traditional New Zealand view requires a little bit of a hike, however it’s nicely definitely worth the effort. Position your topic on the level, and they’ll look tiny on this epic panorama. It can get crowded right here with everybody wanting the identical shot, however the hike supplies loads of related viewpoints.
7. Milford Sound
Probably probably the most recognizable New Zealand view comes from Milford Sound. Deep darkish water and large steep mountains rising from the deep make it straightforward to get superb panorama pictures right here. A ship or kayak journey is a good way to get a distinctive perspective, and you could even be fortunate sufficient to identify dolphins.
8. Moeraki Boulders
Another peculiar rock formation, this time on the east coast. The completely spherical ‘boulders’ are finest photographed at sundown with lengthy publicity to assist them stand out from the seaside.
9. Mt Cook village
The drive as much as Mt. Cook village may have you stopping each 2 minutes with a brand new view to {photograph}. On a transparent day, the most effective pictures is alongside the coast of Lake Pukaki, with a protracted lens to make the mountain bigger in your body.
10. Arthurs Pass
This must be considered one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. Best photographed in Winter or Autumn when the peaks are snow-covered, there are numerous alternatives for pictures of epic highways and bridges amongst the wilderness.
11. Kaikoura
Kaikoura is the capital of whale watching in New Zealand and likewise has resident seals which you could get near. Take a ship journey and take a look at for a shot of a whale or dolphins with the mountain peaks within the background.
When do you have to go?
The South Island can present superb images in all seasons, however for my part, winter/autumn is the perfect time to go to when the mountains are lined in snow. Fringe seasons can be barely cheaper by way of lodging, and the roads are stuffed with camper vans and tour buses in the summertime.
How a lot time do you want?
For journey pictures, you’ll need to be versatile with occasions because the climate is notoriously unpredictable right here. Allow your self further days to attend out the wet days once you need that excellent view. I might counsel a minimal of two weeks to get round the entire island comfortably and to provide you time for unplanned facet journeys.
Side journeys are a should right here…
Driving the primary highways, you’ll virtually always come throughout indicators promising waterfalls and viewpoints, and it’s best to completely comply with a few of them. The finest highway journeys embody getting a bit misplaced and following gravel roads simply to see what’s on the finish. Just be warned; New Zealand is riddled with gravel roads that appear to go on ceaselessly!
How a lot will it value?
Hiring a camper van is the perfect and commonest method of getting round. This lets you cease wherever you need, and a very good community of campsites in virtually each city supplies bathrooms and kitchen services for a small cost. Top 10 Holiday Parks has many campsites all through the Island. If you will have the finances, you possibly can simply drive between bigger cities every day for higher inns, however these can get costly in vacationer sizzling spots corresponding to Wanaka.
For the finances aware, reap the benefits of the nations ‘freedom camping sites. This is a network of parking spaces that are available free of charge for ‘self-contained’ autos solely (which means it’s important to have a bathroom onboard). Some freedom campers have given the apply a foul title by littering the areas, and this has rubbed locals the incorrect method, so be certain to take all of your garbage away with you!
Camping
It is an enormous no-no to camp in an undesignated spot in New Zealand resulting from littering and the big numbers of vacationers that go to annually.
If you pitch a tent illegally, you possibly can anticipate to get up to a ticket slapped in your tent or worse, be woken in the midst of the night time and advised to maneuver on. Instead, make use of DOC campsites which normally have a bathroom on-site; you should purchase a move that’s legitimate in any respect South Island campsites, excluding the busy huts in vacationer sizzling spots at www.doc.govt.nz
New Zealand South Island Road Trip | Conclusion
The finest recommendation I can provide you is to be versatile. The climate will thwart your plans, and you could discover a facet journey that you simply wish to spend a day exploring. This is all a part of the enjoyable! You by no means know what you could discover in New Zealand’s South Island.