A Land of Endless Discovery: How to Spend Two Weeks in New Zealand
Day 10: Milford Sound
Hit the road early and head toward Milford Sound, about a four-hour drive from Queenstown. Before your trip, book a tour in Milford Sound for the afternoon.
Unfortunately, you really do need to book a tour of some kind in order to properly see this area. There are many companies offering tours, all with slightly different packages available. You can explore the Sound on a kayak, see its inhabitants at the Underwater Observatory or just sit back and relax on a boat tour.
Whatever you decide on, you’ll get to see one of New Zealand’s most beautiful places up close.
Day 11: Bluff
Say goodbye to Milford Sound and set off for Bluff, at the very bottom of the South Island. This will be another four-hour trip, but there’s no rush — take the time to make stops along the road out of Milford Sound and do some exploring. The Mirror Lakes and The Chasm are both worth seeing.
And if you’re lucky, you might see a kea (a parrot native to New Zealand) in your travels! (Though if you do see one, resist the urge to feed it.) Stop off in Te Anau for lunch and then carry on to Bluff’s Stirling Point.
Stirling Point isn’t quite the southernmost point of the South Island, but it is the very end of State Highway 1 and the location of the famous signpost indicating the direction and distances to various big cities all over the world. (A matching signpost sits at the very top of the North Island at the Cape Reinga lighthouse.)
Snap a photo with the sign, walk down to the lighthouse and enjoy the view! On a clear day you can see across to Stewart Island, the smallest of New Zealand’s three main islands. Then take a drive up nearby Bluff Hill and enjoy the view from up there, too.
Lastly, a trip to this area wouldn’t be complete without trying some of Bluff’s famous oysters. Have dinner in Bluff or neighboring Invercargill and, even if you’re not sure if you like them, try an oyster!
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Day 12: Dunedin, Otago Peninsula
On to Dunedin! About three hours from Bluff is the city of Dunedin, which is full of beautiful old buildings. Have lunch in the city and take some time to explore, making sure to check out the railway station.
Next, head to the Otago Peninsula to the east of Dunedin, which has several attractions worth checking out. You won’t have time for all of them, but choose from:
Royal Albatross Centre: The center offers you the rare opportunity to see a royal albatross breeding colony. These enormous birds’ breeding colonies are typically found on small islands out in the ocean.
Penguin Place: Visit the conservation reserve for yellow-eyed penguins and help support their efforts with the cost of your admission.
Larnarch Castle: Explore the gardens and grounds of New Zealand’s only castle, or for a higher admission fee, take a tour of the castle itself.
Nature’s Wonders: Another wildlife tour, promising a close look at seals and penguins.
