New Zealand's South Island is an absolute explosion of scenic diversity. We've seen Turquoise blue waters at dreamy sandy beaches in the Able Tasman National Park, the southern Alps with ancient glaciers rolling down from mighty peaks, and the deep old-growth forest of the Fjordland National Park. This island offers pretty much everything you could wish for in a small space.

In between, there is the less picturesque side of the country: farmland as far as you can see! We did some farm work on the South Island for about a month and quickly noticed that as soon as you leave the touristy paths, you'll find yourself driving past many fields and orchards. From fruit to veggies to berries and nuts. Not to forget the Grasslands for cattle and sheep!

Our southern road trip was not only a winner in terms of landscape: we were also able to share this section of the trip with Anna's parents. For almost a month, we explored the island together, went hiking, camping, eating delicious food, and ended the evenings with a glass of wine and good conversations.

In this visual guide, you will find our personal highlights of the South Island:

Snap Shots from a special road trip.

You can click on a picture to find out where we took it.

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