New Zealand’s South Island is the larger but less populated of the country’s two main islands. It is ridiculously scenic – in fact, when you picture New Zealand, chances are you’re envisioning the South Island, with its rugged alpine peaks, vast plains and glorious coastline.
Work with Indagare to design the perfect itinerary for an immersive journey. Our travel experts know the destination inside and out, and they can make recommendations based on your travel needs and preferences.
The best of New Zealand includes time on both islands as well as lots of guided activities. An ideal itinerary, which Indagare’s expert team can help arrange, starts on the South Island.
Most itineraries kick off in Queenstown, the islands’ unofficial adventure capital, which is surrounded by stunning scenery. Don’t miss out on guided hikes, scenic helicopter tours with a glacier landing and meeting local farmers and vintners.
South Island also has the most spectacular accommodations – after all, the term “super lodge” was coined here. Indagare’s favorites are selected for their incredible locations and excellent food and wine. Allow our travel specialists to be your matchmaker.
New Zealand is the place to splurge on guided activities. As one Indagare client raved: “It was by far the most adventurous trip I’ve ever taken, and you were right to spend the money on the activities and not only on the accommodations.”
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities, including upgrades, early check-in, breakfast, spa credits and more. Look for the Indagare Plus logo in the reviews.
Matakauri Lodge is a stylishly appealing retreat set on a spectacular perch overlooking Lake Wakatipu, within driving distance of Queenstown, the heart of the rugged South Island.
This intimate lodge is foodie paradise.
Imagine four villas – from a historic homestead to an ultra-modern showstopper – folded into 4,000 acres of a working farm that is also located in one of New Zealand’s most picturesque bays, and you have a sense of the...
Eichardt’s collection of suites and apartments have a sleek design scheme, a cozy bar and wonderful lake views.
New Zealand’s smallest national park is also its most popular thanks to incredibly special scenery, including water the color of the Caribbean Sea. The park can only be accessed by boat, helicopter or on foot – the 51 kilometer (32...
The whaling capital of Kaikoura, on the South Island’s east coast, has been called the “Serengeti of the South Pacific” due to the range of animals that can be seen here, from Albatross to sperm whale. A stunningly scenic, 2.5-hour...
Oenophiles grumble that there is no place really nice to stay in Marlborough, one of New Zealand’s flagship wine regions (they are the largest exporter of Sauvignon Blanc in the world). And indeed the central town of Blenheim is as...
Everything we recommend is sourced first-hand by our well-traveled team and incredible network of insiders and resources around the world. Here are some the latest articles, interviews, and book and film recommendations not to be missed.
Indagare’s Eliza Harris reports on her recent trip to New Zealand, where she explored both the North and South islands, experiencing the country’s jaw-dropping natural beauty and warm hospitality.
Summer is the perfect time to hit the pavement and explore new places, and one of the most efficient–and fun–ways to cover a lot of ground is by embarking on a driving getaway. Here, Indagare rounds up the 10 best...
New Zealand is a great destination for the luxury traveler because there are about a dozen top lodges that are quite consistent in their excellence, so it’s easy to mix and match. All have wonderful settings, staff, and food. They...
A trip to New Zealand is an epic 10/10: the world-class lodges, the food, the people, the landscapes—which range from mountains to woods to beach to farmland–and everything is stunning.
It's the ultimate escape: unplugging in the great outdoors at a remote retreat, with stunning natural scenes providing the perfect backdrop and larger-than-life activities entertaining the entire family from dawn to dusk. These are the 13 best destinations for ultimate...
A trip here can easily be combined with these amazing destinations and more. Contact our team to craft the perfect itinerary.
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Queenstown, the self-dubbed adventure capital of New Zealand, has a slew of activities, but, above all, it is surrounded by some of the country’s most glorious countryside, so hikers, fishermen, and outdoorsmen and women will be happiest here. Three nights...
Dramatically different from New Zealand’s South Island, the North Island stretches from windy Wellington, the capital, on the southwestern tip to the beautiful Bay of Islands in the northeast. Highlights in between include massive Lake Taupo (the size of Singapore)...
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