The great outdoors gets a bit greater on the South Island, which is about jaw-dropping, wild scenery. In Queenstown, the gateway to the Southern Alps on Lake Wakatipu, it’s enough to while away the hours marvelling at the majestic view, if you can resist the pull of the outdoors and all its activities, from hiking for the more timid to jet-boating, white-water rafting and bungee jumping for the adventurous. It’s also a good base for exploring the region’s world-class wines. Further north, you’ll find Mount Cook (New Zealand’s highest peak), a clutch of glaciers, more wine, castles, the incredible turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge, and the stunning Marlborough Sounds. Paradise on earth? You decide: call us for a bespoke New Zealand experience.