Hanmer Springs
This pretty spa resort nestles in a mountain valley backed by the Hanmer Forest Park, which is especially dramatic in its autumn colours. The thermal pools have curative properties, which attract visitors to bathe in their warm waters, while the village is known for its tempting selection of cafes and restaurants. For those looking for an active holiday, the region also offers rafting trips, tandem paragliding, hiking and skiing.
Arthur’s Pass
The classic east to west traverse of the Southern Alps links Christchurch and Greymouth, via the alpine village and National Park of Arthur’s Pass, and is also the route taken by the breathtaking TranzAlpine Railway. Arthur’s Pass Village is a great base for hiking in the National Park, which is renowned for its unusual flora, while in winter, several ski resorts offer a variety of challenges.
Ashburton & Timaru
South of Christchurch, Ashburton lies in the heart of the unbelievably flat and uniform Canterbury Plains. The town’s several museums are a distraction from the views of the Southern Alps, which lure visitors to some of the best skiing in New Zealand at the resorts of Mt Hutt and Erewhon. Hot air ballooning and rafting on the grade 5 rapids of the Rangitata River are other activities on offer from the foothill towns of Methven and Geraldine.
The larger city of Timaru lies on the coast and means ‘Place of Shelter’ in Maori, as it was the only place where canoes could be safely moored up. The Maori left traces of their presence in the form of the rock art, which decorates shelters and caves throughout the region.
Aoraki (Mt Cook) & McKenzie Country
The rolling hills and plains of McKenzie Country are among the best sheep-grazing lands on the South Island. Prosperous sheep stations dot the wild and sparsely inhabited region, which is backed by the highest and most spectacular of the Southern Alps. Around 140 peaks are higher than 2000m, the greatest of all being imposing Aoraki Mt. Cook at 3754m, the highest peak in Australasia. Mt. Cook Village is at the gateway to the Mt. Cook National Park, which offers superb hiking opportunities in alpine surrounds. For the less energetic, helicopter and fixed-wing flights around the mountain and broad tongue of the Tasman Glacier are a great way to appreciate the grandeur of the place.
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Northland