11 Ultimate Moments to Have in New Zealand’s South

Pristine nature, exhilarating activities and hearty eats are just some of the reasons to love New Zealand’s wild “deep south”. Closer to the South Pole than the Equator, it has a thrilling, edge-of-the-world feel. Start in Queenstown and explore the lower South Island for an unforgettable adventure that takes in the very best of the Land of the Long White Cloud. Keep reading for the insider tips and tricks to make a road trip around this stunning region as magical as possible. 

Day one: Kick off in Queenstown
8am: Wake up in luxury surrounds

Ease into the day, perhaps by the fireplace in your ultra-spacious suite at the historic Eichardt’s Private Hotel on the shore of inky blue Lake Wakatipu. Head downstairs to The Grille for an indulgent breakfast of eggs Florentine, French toast and creamy hot chocolate with crushed Maltesers – it’ll keep you warm long after the last sip.

10am: Do some designer shopping

Browse the outdoor Queenstown Mall, where high-street brands – including Country Road and Decjuba – abound and Seletti Concept Store stocks a curated range of designer clothing, including Isabel Marant, Anine Bing and Ganni. Or pop around the corner to Elle & Riley, on Beach Street, to shop its collection of cashmere jumpers embodying Kiwi casual cool with an elevated edge.

12pm: Head to glacier-carved Fiordland

Start your journey to Te Anau, about a two-hour drive south-west of Queenstown. From here, take a scenic flight with Southern Lakes Helicopters through the iconic Milford Sound – keep an eye out for the mystifying iceberg-filled lake – before landing at Lake Quill. This “hanging lake” feeds the fjord’s mammoth Sutherland Falls, which are among the tallest in New Zealand.

7pm: Refuel at a sophisticated speak-easy

Behind a black door in central Queenstown is The Bunker, an intimate restaurant and bar with a vibe that would make James Bond feel right at home. The eight-course Taste of the South menu is an inviting regional culinary tour, with dishes such as West Coast pāua (abalone) tortellini and tender Southland beef cheek. More energy to burn? Try night skiing at Coronet Peak. A few nights a week during winter, the fields stay open until 9pm so you can get some extra laps in as the sun sets. Afterwards, head to après-ski bar Heidi’s Hut to refuel and soak up the atmosphere with live tunes. 

TIP: Re-create the speak-easy vibe at home with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card and receive complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership. Not only will you get access to exceptional wines and exclusive events, you’ll also earn 3 Qantas Points per dollar spent on all Qantas Wine purchases.⁶

Day two: Go south to Invercargill and Bluff
12pm: Take in the Riviera of the South

From Queenstown, travel a picturesque route south through Orepuki, Riverton and the “Riviera of the South”. This charming region is filled with cute seaside towns, fishing boats bobbing on the water and dramatic windswept hills. 

Be sure to stop in Invercargill to try what locals call “southern sushi” from eateries such as The Batch Cafe and Tuatara Lodge’s café and bar. Rarely found outside the lower reaches of the South Island, they feature crunchy bread on the outside and molten cheese on the inside.

TIP: As you’re eating, drinking, shopping and soaking up the South Island’s wondrous sights, tap your way closer to your next trip with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. You’ll earn up to 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases¹ so you can continue to grow your points balance. You’ll also enjoy uncapped Qantas Points earning potential for every dollar you spend on your Card.

7pm: Spend a night at the end of the earth

In the charming historic town of Bluff, dine on freshly shucked oysters and piping-hot chowder at Oyster Cove, a spectacular restaurant overlooking the moody Foveaux Strait. Afterwards, spend the night at the Lands End Boutique Hotel, which feels like a cosy English country house. Between May and September, this area is also a great place to see the Aurora Australis shimmering across the sky.

TIP: Travel around the South Island with confidence. The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card’s Complimentary Travel Insurance³ offers domestic and international insurance for you, your partner and your dependent children when you pay for your return trip on your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

Day three: Visit wild Stewart Island
7am: Venture further south

Covered almost entirely by green forest, marshes and grassland, Stewart Island is a nature-lover’s paradise. Located south of the South Island, it’s accessible by ferry from Bluff (which takes about an hour) or a 20-minute flight from Invercargill with Stewart Island Flights – landing on a narrow strip atop a forested hill is especially thrilling.

There’s only one small town (Oban) on Stewart Island but it’s packed with charm. Rakiura Museum features fascinating artefacts linked to the isolated island’s unique history, including the collars of the sled dogs that accompanied Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica.

TIP: Like travelling in style? With the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you’ll receive two complimentary Qantas Club Lounge Invitations each year after your first Card spend on selected Qantas products and services⁴ and two complimentary Amex Centurion® Lounge entries to use at Sydney or Melbourne international airports⁵. Lounge access entitles you to complimentary food and beverages, plus enjoy free and fast wi-fi and more.

12pm: Explore Ulva Island

On predator-free Ulva Island, about a 10-minute water-taxi from Stewart Island, you can spot native birds in unspoilt forests and endangered yellow-eyed penguins and seals on secluded golden beaches. Return to the mainland (aka the South Island) in the evening.

Day four: Return to Queenstown
10am: Indulge in fine wine and food

On the leisurely drive back north, visit some of Central Otago’s wineries. At Kinross, in the bucolic Gibbston region, enjoy a sumptuous share-style lunch – think grazing platters and woodfired pizza – in its relaxed cellar-door restaurant for the perfect end to an epic adventure in the deep south.

TIP: If this little taster has you excited for more adventures around New Zealand, enjoy the $450 Qantas Travel Credit² that comes with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card to put towards your next trip. Each year, you’ll receive a $450 Qantas Travel Credit to use on eligible domestic or international Qantas flights when booked through American Express Travel.

Have fun getting there

Qantas flies direct to Queenstown from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.~ 

Fly Qantas Economy return from Sydney to Queenstown for 23,800 Qantas Points, plus AU$279 taxes, fees and carrier charges.^ 

Make it happen – and discover New Zealand’s ultimate moments – with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Earn 50,000 bonus Qantas Points* when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

You’ll also receive: 

• An annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit² to use on eligible domestic and international Qantas flights booked through American Express Travel.
• The potential to earn more Qantas Points, with up to 4 Additional Cards for family or friends for no extra fee⁷.
• Two Qantas Club Lounge Invitations each year after purchasing select Qantas products and services⁴, plus two complimentary entries to The Centurion® Lounge⁵ at Sydney and Melbourne international airports.
• Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership⁶, allowing you to enjoy gourmet food, exceptional wines and exclusive access to events around Australia.
• Domestic and international travel insurance³ (for you, your partner and dependent children) when you pay for the return trip with your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

SEE ALSO: 6 Ultimate Moments You Need to Experience in Tokyo