New Zealand’s South Island is home to some of the best outdoor adventure activities in the world. With Queenstown unofficially named as the ‘adventure capital of the world’ and Milford Sound described as the “eighth wonder of the world”, this region has a remarkable range of experiences.
In this blog post, we’ll share our top 20 adventure activities on the South Island, to help you find the perfect outdoor activities to add to your New Zealand Itinerary.
1. Explore the fjords with a Milford Sound Cruise
Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural attractions, and is a must-see when visiting the South Island.Located in Fiordland National Park, this stunning fjord is known for its dramatic cliffs, lush rainforests, and thousands of waterfalls.
A cruise through Milford Sound is the best way to explore this magical part of New Zealand, where you’ll see the towering Mitre Peak, roaring waterfalls like Stirling and Lady Bowen Falls, and frequent sightings of dolphins, seals, and even the rare Fiordland crested penguin.
2. Experience the thrill of a Jet Boat Ride
Jet boat rides in New Zealand’s South Island, especially around Queenstown and the Shotover River, offer an exciting adventure that combines a high speed ride with New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes.
These powerful boats, designed for the narrow and shallow waterways of New Zealand, perform 360-degree spins and rapid turns, all while navigating through stunning gorges and past rugged cliffs.
3. See New Zealand from above with a Helicopter Tour
A helicopter tour over New Zealand’s South Island is one of the best activities you can do. It offers a unique and breathtaking perspective over the region’s incredible landscapes, including its dramatic mountains, pristine glaciers, and expansive fjords. From the air, you can witness the sheer scale and beauty of landmarks like Mount Cook, the Southern Alps, and Milford Sound.
Helicopter tours often include landing on remote glaciers or mountain peaks, allowing you to see the untouched parts of New Zealand and capture unique photo opportunities. With various tour options available, ranging from short scenic flights to extended journeys with multiple landings, a helicopter tour is an extraordinary way to explore the South Island.
4. Hike on Glaciers with a Heli-hiking Tour
Heli-hiking is a unique experience that combines a helicopter tour and hiking on glaciers, and is one of the best outdoor experiences in New Zealand. In the South Island, you can Heli-hike on Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier or Tasman Glacier.
This adventure begins with a scenic flight over the stunning glacier landscapes, offering panoramic views of the Southern Alps and the lush rainforest below. Once you land on the glacier, a guided hike takes you through an otherworldly terrain of towering ice formations, deep crevasses, and blue ice caves.
5. Discover the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Located on the western shore of Lake Te Anau, the Glowworm Caves transports you to an underground world illuminated by thousands of tiny, bioluminescent creatures. This unique attraction starts with a scenic boat ride across the lake, with serene views of the surrounding Fiordland National Park.
Once at the caves, a guided tour takes you through twisting limestone passages filled with rushing water and fascinating rock formations, leading to the glowworm grotto, where the cave ceiling sparkles like a starry night.
6. Take in the Views at Queenstown Skyline
Queenstown Skyline is undoubtedly one of the best places in New Zealand for adventure activities. Start with a scenic gondola ride up Bob’s Peak for panoramic views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and the Remarkables mountain range.
At the top, you can do a variety of activities, from the adrenaline-pumping luge rides and paragliding, to serene walking tracks and mountain bike trails. The Skyline complex also features a restaurant with one of the best views in town, making it an ideal spot for a meal or a sunset cocktail.
7. Stargaze at Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo, located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, is known for its clear skies and minimal light pollution, making it one of the best stargazing spots in the world.
Joining a guided stargazing tour at the Mount John Observatory is a must-do activity in New Zealand, where you can use powerful telescopes to see the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and star clusters. You can also join a guided stargazing tour at Tekapo Springs, which combines a guided tour with stargazing in the hot springs!
This area is one of the best spots in New Zealand for astrophotography, so make sure to bring your camera if you want to capture New Zealand’s best night skies.
8. Relax in Natural Hot Pools at Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs is famous for its natural thermal pools surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains. Located just a 90-minute drive from Christchurch, this resort town offers a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountain biking, and forest walks in the surrounding Hanmer Forest Park.
The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa features a variety of thermal pools, each with different temperatures and mineral compositions, perfect after an adventurous day.
9. Go Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Kaikoura is one of the best places in the world to see Whales in their natural habitat due to its unique marine environment. Located on the east coast of the South Island, Kaikoura offers whale watching cruises that provide close encounters with these majestic creatures year-round.
Sperm whales are commonly seen year-round, while humpback whales, blue whales, and southern right whales migrate through the area at different times of the year. Besides whales, you can also see dolphins, seals, and a variety of seabirds.
10. Cruise Through the Serene Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound, located in Fiordland National Park, is a tranquil and picturesque alternative to Milford Sound. This remote fjord is known for its untouched beauty, and is harder to reach than the popular Milford Sound, which results in a more secluded and peaceful experience.
To reach Doubtful Sound, you’ll have to cruise across Lake Manapouri and take a coach ride over Wilmot Pass, to eventually cruise through Doubtful Sound.
If you’re after an off-the-beaten-track adventure in New Zealand, then this is a must do! It’s also one of the best places to spot native New Zealand animals in the wild, such as dolphins, fur seals, and various bird species.
11. Experience the Thrill of Skydiving in New Zealand
Skydiving in New Zealand is one of the best outdoor activities you can do, with breathtaking views of the country’s vast landscapes.
Whether you jump over the alpine landscapes of Queenstown, the dramatic fjords of Fiordland, or the beautiful coastlines of Abel Tasman, skydiving is an exhilarating way to experience the South Island from above.
Skydiving in New Zealand is suitable for both beginners and experienced divers, with tandem jumps available for first-timers.
12. Glide through New Zealand’s landscapes on a Zipline
Ziplining in New Zealand, particularly in Queenstown and the West Coast, is a thrilling way to admire New Zealand’s landscapes from above. You can glide through native forests, across rivers and canyons, and rugged mountains. Many zipline tours also include other activities such as suspension bridges, tree-top walks and scenic viewpoints.
13. Explore the Cable Bay Adventure Park
Cable Bay Adventure Park, located just outside Nelson, is one of the best spots for outdoor activities in the South Island. The park has a diverse range of activities, including the Skywire Experience, a scenic yet thrilling ride over the forest canopy, quad bike tours, mountain biking trails, a challenging high ropes course, and scenic walking tracks.
14. Ride through New Zealand’s landscapes with Mountain Biking
New Zealand’s South Island is known for its mountain biking trails, offering some of the best in the world. Queenstown, known for its world-class bike parks, features technical downhill trails and epic cross-country routes with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and lakes.
Other biking destinations include the rugged trails in the Craigieburn Range, the picturesque paths of Nelson and the largest bike park in the southern hemisphere, Christchurch Adventure Park.
15. Kayak Through Abel Tasman’s turquoise waters
Kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park is the best way to explore one of New Zealand’s most beautiful coastal regions. Paddle through the park’s clear, turquoise waters to discover golden sandy beaches, hidden coves, and spot a variety of marine life, including seals and dolphins.
It’s one of the best places to kayak in New Zealand, with sheltered bays and gentle currents, and some of the best weather conditions in the South Island. If you’re up for an adventure, consider a multi-day kayaking trip that includes camping on the park’s pristine beaches.
16. Bungee Jump in Queenstown
Queenstown is the birthplace of bungee jumping and remains one of the most iconic places in the world to experience this thrilling activity. There are several bungee jump locations in Queenstown; Kawarau Bridge is where bungee jumping began and has a 43-meter drop over the turquoise waters of the Kawarau River.
For those looking for an even greater challenge, the Nevis Bungy provides a jaw-dropping 134-meter plunge, the highest in New Zealand, with a dramatic drop over the Nevis River valley. Not only can you bungee jump at these locations, you can also swing, catapult and zipride; which all offer an adrenaline-pumping experience.
17. Trek the Iconic Milford Track
The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks and a must-do for adventure lovers and hikers looking for the best outdoor adventures in New Zealand. Spanning 53.5 kilometers through Fiordland National Park, this world-renowned trek takes you through the South Islands vast wilderness, with breathtaking views of ancient rainforests and dramatic fjords.
Some highlights of the Milford Track include the picturesque Mackinnon Pass, the lush Sutherland Falls, and the serene Lake Te Anau. The trek typically takes around four days to complete, with comfortable hut accommodations provided along the way. Due to its popularity, it’s essential to book your trek well in advance, especially during peak season.
If 4 days sounds like too much or you havn’t booked your place far enough in advance, alternatively, you can experience a taste of the Milford Track with an easy one-day guided hike.
18. Set Sail in Marlborough Sounds
Sailing in New Zealand is extremely popular, and the Marlborough Sounds is one of the most beautiful locations for it. Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough Sounds is known for its intricate network of waterways, tranquil bays, and forested hillsides.
Sailing allows you to discover secluded coves, coastal towns, and abundant marine life, all while learning a new skill of maneuvering a boat through the waters of New Zealand. Whether you’re interested in a leisurely day sail or a longer, multi-day journey, there are plenty of tours to choose from.
19. Hit the Slopes at The Remarkables
New Zealand’s South Island is one of the best destinations for skiing and snowboarding, with a variety of world-class ski resorts and the most beautiful alpine scenery. Located near Queenstown, The Remarkables is one of the best in the South Island, with a diverse range of slopes and breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.
There’s plenty of ski resorts located between Queenstown and Wanka, such as Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort.
20. Canyoning in Wanaka
Wanaka has some of the best landscapes for Canyoning in New Zealand’s South island, with its deep, forested pools, cascading waterfalls and moss covered canyons.
This adventure sport involves descending through canyons using a variety of techniques, including rappelling down waterfalls, sliding down natural rock slides, and jumping into crystal-clear pools.
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