48 Best Sights in Upper South Island and the West Coast, New Zealand

Picton's seafaring history is captured with a wealth of memorabilia showcased in this quaint and worthy museum. The area was first a key Māori settlement called Waitohi, then an important whaling and sealing location for European immigrants in the early 19th century. Until 1860, all trade and travel was done by sea.

The main road out of Picton, State Highway 1, heads directly to Blenheim. If you're heading west toward Havelock and Nelson, and don't mind a slower, though much more scenic, route, Queen Charlotte Drive is for you. From Picton, the drive climbs the hill to the west of the town, then winds in and out of bays along the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound. Governor's, Momorangi, and Ngakuta bays are gorgeous spots for a picnic. The drive then cuts across to Pelorus and Keneperu sounds, and follows the water's edge to Havelock township. Cullen Point, a short walk near the Havelock end of the drive, leads to a good lookout point across Pelorus Sound. From Havelock you join State Highway 6, which leads to Nelson.

Vineyard owners Neal and Judy Ibbotson are viticulture pioneers within Marlborough. Judy planted the first vineyard in 1978, which was one of the first within the Marlborough region. Over the last 30 years, they have been developing a huge variety of award-winning wines, from classics to a variety of unique blends and reserves from the old pioneer block. The cellar door and restaurant are all-in-one. Order from the gourmet menu and bask in the sun of the courtyard while overlooking the Marlborough plains. 

A hands-on reenactment of an 1880s mining town, Shantytown will show you it was all about steam in those days. Most of the buildings are reproductions, including a jail, a blacksmith shop, a railway station, and Chinatown. Gold-digging displays include a giant water cannon for blasting the gold-bearing rock and soil from the hillside, water races, and a stamper battery---powered by a 30-foot waterwheel—for crushing the ore. You can pan for gold, ride an old bush tramline, take a break in the café, or share a picnic on the lawns and then go back for more.

This sustainable winery is located near an international satellite communication station, in the shape of a giant sphere—hence the name. James Bond memorabilia is scattered about the winery, and Morse code is used on its bottles and even the side of its building. The sweeping sights of the valley and ranges are fantastic, so if it's views you're after, look no further. With a big focus on protecting the ecology and having as little impact on the earth as possible, you'll find the staff knowledgeable and informative. Enjoy a cheese platter of local ingredients with your tasting. 

An impressive gallery for its size, Suter was bequeathed to the city of Nelson by Bishop Suter in 1899. In 1916 the gallery was significantly redeveloped and expanded. Collections include the watercolors of 19th-century artist John Gully; works of local Sir Toss Woollaston, a Nelson and New Zealand pioneer of modern art; British Modernism works by various artists; and ceramic pieces from local, nationally renowned artists. Visiting exhibitions change regularly. The gallery’s popular café looks out over neighboring Queen's Gardens.

Six kilometers (4 miles) west of Tākaka you'll find the largest cold-water spring system in the southern hemisphere, the Main Springs, likened to a fresh-water equivalent of a coral reef because of its superb variety of aquatic vegetation. The water here is among the clearest water ever measured, anywhere in the world. Swimming or touching the water is not allowed, to prevent the introduction of weeds and damage to the delicate flora within the springs, so leave your wetsuits and dive gear in the car. Instead, take a leisurely stroll around the Scenic Reserve on the 40-minute, top-quality walk to the Main Springs, Dancing Sand Spring, and Fish Creek Springs. Go quietly—the better to spot tūī, bellbirds, wood pigeons, and other birdlife. The turnoff from State Highway 60 to Pupu Springs Road is signposted on the western side of the Tākaka River bridge. Pick a sunny day when the Springs are fully illuminated.

From Tākaka, the coast road heading northeast leads to Tōtaranui, the northern entry for Abel Tasman National Park. This scenic road passes through Pōhara Beach, which has a few cafés and a holiday park, before winding around to Wainui Bay with its alternative Tūi community (a residential community that welcomes visitors) and cascading Wainui Falls (a 75-minute return walk from the road). From Wainui Bay, the road over the Tōtaranui Hill is a gravel surface. Take it slowly: it's a gorgeous drive through dense native bush to the coast. Tōtaranui Beach is a long golden-sand beach that is safe for swimming. This area can also be reached by scheduled boat services from Kaiteriteri and Marahau, on the Motueka side of the Tākaka Hill. It's a slice of pure beach bliss, and there's an unpowered campground with basic facilities. There’s generally a wait-list to camp here for the first few weeks after Christmas, large though it is. Otherwise, you should be fine—however, reservations are required no matter what time of year.

These artisan shops showcase wines alongside olive oils, fudge, homeware, quilts, ceramics, glassware, jewelry, and recipe books. There's also a new Whisky and Tasting store, and a Roots Gin Shack. Dine in the café, let the kids loose in the playground, or you can all just relax in the tranquil lakeside grounds.

Ngati Waewae is the iwi (tribe) of this area, a subtribe of the South Island Ngai Tahu. The iwi owns and carves all the pounamu (greenstone) at this center. The artists will reveal how every stone has a story. If you buy a piece, they will give you its unique code, which you can use to trace the story of your stone on the center's website.

After your day touring and hiking, fall into these pools nestled in a bewitching area of rain forest right in Franz Josef village. The public hot tubs heated to 39°C (102°F) are emptied and refilled after every soak, with optional additions such as lavender hydrosol or Epsom salts available to purchase. Best of all, you can BYO your own drinks and nibbles. 

You can wander the tops of the ancient trees in the West Coast rain forest on this 1,500-foot-long, 65-foot-high walkway through the canopy. You can go even higher on the Hokitika Tower, 130 feet above the forest floor. Views extend over the rain forest to dark, glacial Lake Mahināpua and beyond to the Southern Alps. The walkway is fully wheelchair-accessible. A café and gift shop are also on-site.

The glaciers are the main attractions here, yet there are many other beautiful places to explore in this magnificent national park and World Heritage region, which encompasses everything from New Zealand’s highest mountains to glaciers, rain forests, hidden lakes, and coastal wetlands. Scenic drives and a couple of walks in the glacial valleys bring you to viewpoints within 500 feet or so of the glaciers. Alternatively, from Fox township, drive about 4 km (2½ miles) toward the coast on Cook Flat Road for a roadside view of Fox Glacier (weather permitting). Because of glacial recession access onto the actual glaciers is no longer possible by foot, but by helicopter only. There are many guided heli–hike options, as well as scenic flights for both glaciers. Flights are generally best early in the morning, when visibility tends to be clearest. Summer may be warmer, but there is more rain and fog that can scuttle flightseeing and hiking plans. In winter, there are fewer people, and the skies are clearer, which means fewer canceled flights and more spectacular views. In fact, winter in this area can be a lot warmer than the snow resort towns east of the Southern Alps. Note that the glaciers are currently receding fast, and with less ice to bind their rocks, the mountains and valleys are increasingly prone to slips and landslides. Accordingly, access roads and trails change regularly for safety reasons; do check with the Department of Conservation (DOC) or isite Visitor Information Centre about current conditions, and be sure to heed all DOC warning signs. Away from the ice, just a five-minute drive west of Fox Glacier township is the walk around Lake Matheson, leading to one of the country's most famous views. A trail winds by the lakeshore to where (weather permitting) the snowcapped peaks of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mt. Tasman are reflected in the water. It's an easy 2.6-km (1-mile) walk right around the lake. The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset, when the mirror-like reflections are less likely to be fractured by the wind. Other beautiful park walks are on the coast; at Gillespies Beach (coastal wetlands and forests and wild surf), and at Ōkārito, where your choices are the wetland boardwalk (20 minutes), Ōkārito Trig for an amazing viewpoint of Ōkārito Lagoon and Aoraki/Mount Cook (1½ hour round-trip), and the Three Mile Pack Track, where you can return along the beach if you get the tide right.

A must-see for its dramatic seascapes is Wharariki Beach, out beyond the road to Farewell Spit. To get here, drive past Collingwood to Pakawau and follow the signs. Go as far as the road will take you, and then walk over farmland on a well-defined trail for 20 minutes. Allow at least an hour for the return circuit, along the beach and back via another well-marked track along the Farmpark. Be wary though: it’s too rough for swimming and very easy to get caught by the incoming tide. Remember, this dramatic coast is quite remote, with few people (certainly no lifeguards) and tides change very quickly. Don’t be one of those who gets trapped by the sea walking out to the offshore rocks. Also, among the massive sand dunes you're likely to come across fur seals and their pups. Keep at least a 30-foot distance, as they can move quickly and do bite, and never get between a seal and the sea. It can be very windy here, at which times the sand will whip you like in a Sahara storm. But don’t let any of that put you off this inspiring place. Be sure to bring drinking water; there's none available anywhere at the beach. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; walking.

This annual event celebrates bush tucker (food from the bush) from the West Coast's natural food sources. Bite into such delectables as huhu grubs, grasshoppers, beetles, whitebait patties (far more mainstream), and wild pork (as in from pigs running wild in the bush, not farmed—or angry), and follow it all with gorse wine, elderflower champagne, or Monteith's bitter beer. It's usually held in the second weekend of March. Book well ahead, as there's a cap of 10,000 participants and usually sells out.

From this impressive, three-story edifice of river rock, tiles, concrete, and wood, there’s a commanding view across the Wairau Valley and the Wither Hills. Tastings include award-winning sauvignon blancs and rieslings. At the popular winery restaurant, guests can relax at alfresco tables, lounge on beanbags on the lawn, or opt for more formal seating inside and enjoy gourmet cuisine. A "wine library" consists of vines of wine grape varieties grown in New Zealand—30 of them lined up across the front of the winery.

About 12 km (7½ miles) south of Murchison, State Highway 6 takes a sharp turn to the right over O'Sullivans Bridge toward the West Coast. If you've decided to skip the coast and head back to Christchurch from here, follow State Highway 65 straight through toward Lewis Pass. The first part of this road is known as "The Shenandoah," which follows the Maruia River valley as it climbs toward the main divide. This is prime farming country bounded by high mountains clothed in thick bush. Check the Maruia Falls, created by the 1929 Murchison Earthquake. Just 15 km (9 miles) before Springs Junction, Reids Store provides a welcome coffee and lunch stop, superior to the offerings farther on at Springs Junction. There's no fuel here, though, so you will have to get that at Springs Junction. From Springs Junction the road starts to climb to Lewis Pass, one of the lowest crossing points over the Southern Alps. Maruia Springs, just west of the pass, has traditional Japanese bathhouses and hot, outdoor rock pools, a restaurant, and accommodations (these are less salubrious and, accordingly, less-crowded than the waters at Hanmer Springs thermal resort town, farther east). Cross Lewis Pass and you're in Canterbury, where the countryside changes to high arid hills. Hanmer Springs is an hour southeast of the pass.

The largest outlet in New Zealand to showcase pounamu has greenstone cutting and carving areas, and an extensive shop. Two or more artists are usually at work, plus they offer two tours each day that relates the history of pounamu, its significance to the Māori people, and its uses. There's also a stone-painting artist at work here.