New Zealand - South Island's Best

Top 10 Best Places to See/Things to Do:

White water rafting down Kawarau River (LOTR Fans: Pillars of the King scene!) outside of Queenstown. This is great for all abilities and with two tours/day, you can easily get on one during your stay by booking at the “i” site. Despite the open-ability range, there was still plenty of excitement with a banger of a rapid at the end! You can even choose to jump out of the water and roll down the blue river.
Horse Trekking outside of Queenstown: the company we chose offered us a 2-and-a-half-hour ride across 15 rivers and streams after climbing mountains–it was insane and all for about $69.00. I had never been on a horse before but by the end I was cantering and even getting the rhythm of the trot! This was one of the best travel days of my life (we rafted in the morning and horseback rode in the afternoon!).
Franz Joseph Glacier Hike (photos above): We did the full day hike–no helicopters, no need. The Fox glacier is cool, too. But we hiked 14 kms in 8 hours up a massive height. We even had to pause so the guide could re-direct our route through the ice by swinging a 20-pound axe and literally ‘carving’ a new staircase. We drank the most delicious water melted fresh off the glacier. There were waterfalls pouring off nearby rocks.
Seals and Dolphin sighting in Abel Tasman: we intended to kayak but after the exertion of #1-3, we passed. Still, the cruise up the Abel Tasman pulled us close enough to smell the fish-lunch on the fur of the seals. We also managed to get off some impressive dolphin photos.
The birdlife: you see some really rare birds in NZ, like the Keas (parrot looking). However, the hawks stole the show for me. There were so many! Such that we would have them racing above us as we drove under them along the highways.
Milford Sound Road: visiting in January, this route up to Milford itself was a mountain scene of wildflowers and blue rivers pouring along the bottoms.
Blue Pools: this is a roadside stop on the way to Franz Joseph–don’t miss it! You cross a swingbridge and then come upon a body of glacier water of the deepest blue I’ve seen.
Thermal Pools (Hanmer Springs): in this cool Alpine Village you can refresh your overly exerted thighs and lower back! There are both sulphur and non-sulphur pools, but the sulphur ones get up to about 42 degrees celcius–fantastic! They are open pretty late too, and you can get passes that allow you to come and go all day long.
Blue Rivers: everywhere you drive you cross over white-rock bottomed rivers that reflect the sky. They beg you to photograph them as much as possible.
Avon River, Christchurch: rent a punt boat (and driver!) and have them pull you in the Old English way along a very shallow river. You’ll feel like you’re Anne of Green Gables based on the costume worn by the punt-master but with the English style of the town and the ducks paddling beside you, it’s a one-off experience you shouldn’t miss.