Because New Zealand is divided into North Island and South Island, many feel they need to choose between the two. But how to decide? Our handy North Island v South Island guide will help you pick what you want to get out of your New Zealand trip. There’s plenty of one-upmanship going on. South Island skiing wins hands down, but with major cities like Wellington and Auckland North Island will appeal to the culture vultures.
There’s also a lot of crossover. Marlborough on the South Island might be the largest wine region in New Zealand but Hawkes Bay and Gisbourne on the North Island come in at a very respectful second place. The North Island is generally more popular because Auckland is the primary international airport for New Zealand.
Food & Wine
Hawkes Bay and Gisborne are New Zealand’s second largest wine producing regions so wine-lovers will find plenty to savour on the North Island. Large cities attract business so unsurprisingly you can find many of New Zealand’s best restaurants in Auckland, Napier and also Wellington, which is often sung as New Zealand’s culinary capital.
History & Culture
You can catch Maori shows throughout New Zealand but almost 90% of Maoris live on the North Island particularly around Northland, Auckland and Waikato. The Bay of Plenty was home to one of the earliest Maori settlements as well as the beginning of European colonisation. The cities are major hubs for museums and galleries. In Auckland Te Papa is the only museum that can claim to display a complete colossal squid. It is also New Zealand’s most multicultural city and has the larger programme of cultural activities with the Maori gallery, Auckland Museum, Auckland Art Gallery and the city’s fashionable Ponsonby area. A winning day trip is to the blissful island of Waiheke, a short 35-minute ferry ride from CBD – a much sought after commute! Boasting beautiful sandy beaches, boutique wineries and breathtaking views back to the city, you’ll soon see why. Try the Waiheke Arts Trail which takes in 26 galleries and craft shops.
Sport and Adventure
Many of the North Island cities boast waterside locations. It’s no wonder Auckland is nicknamed the ‘City of Sails’ and the Bay of Islands and Wellington are all popular sailing spots too. The Lord of the Rings trilogy has, for many, put New Zealand on the tourist map. While the South Island claims a greater number of Middle Earth backdrops, North Island is home to Hobbiton and the Shire, Mordor, Minas Tirith and Helms Deep. Many of the film locations are within easy reach of Wellington, which explains why the capital is nowadays, referred to as Wellywood! You can join a tour group but there is bucket-loads of information in books and on the web for you to be able to build a DIY tour. Considered one of the top dive spots in the world, The Rainbow Warrior was a Greenpeace boat which was bombed by French government saboteurs in Auckland harbour in 1985. Later refloated and scuttled in Matauri Bay, it is now coated in colourful corals and swarming with fish, anemones and algae.
Nature
The North Island’s position above a geothermal system, lures many travellers. At many points the Earth’s crust is weak and allows plenty of heat to rise up and manifest in the form of bubbling mud pools, hot springs and volcanoes. Perhaps the best place to see this in action is at Kuirau Park which has plenty of atmospheric steam vents and is THE place to try ‘zorbing’ – which requires that you wriggle inside a large plastic ball and roll downhill at speeds of up to 50km/h. Alternatively the Tongariro National Park has a trail that crosses three active volcanoes known as ‘Craters of the Moon’. You can also find lots of thermal pools around Lake Taupo to the north – which is also the largest freshwater lake in Oceania, created by a huge eruption over 26,000 years ago – or at the Huka Falls Walkway along the Waikato river.
Other North Island Attractions
Auckland is the place in New Zealand for shopping with many of the boutique designers based in the city. If you’re interested in architecture, the city of Napier was all but destroyed by an earthquake in the 1930s. Many of the buildings were rebuilt in the Art Deco style, both an aesthetic and economical solution during the Depression. If you’ve heard the rumours, that North Island is busier than South Island, take the Twin Discovery Highway leading to the Far North and experience pristine beaches, secluded coves, sand dunes and tranquil harbours.
Trump Card
The Bay of Islands might just be what drew you to New Zealand in the first place, with picture-perfect turquoise waters dotted with white sails and scattered islands. But the tourist industry has pounced on this region, and the boat tours certainly make you dig deep into your pockets. There are perhaps a number of other similarly spectacular sights without the price tag you could consider.
Accommodation
Want to try an accommodation knock-out? Well ok then. For budget travellers and backpackers New Zealand offers some great hostels in all the major cities as well as the smaller towns. Auckland hostels are located in the city centre and travellers have easy access to the port area where you can catch boats to Waiheke. Alternatively, stay on the outskirts and try hostels in Auckland in the shadow of Mt Eden.
Best North Island Hostels: Moana Lodge is 20 minutes north of Wellington and right on the beach. They offer private, shared and sea-view rooms and have a roaring fire going in winter for nights in with a DVD or, in the summer, BBQs on the patio. Anndion Lodge is more of a boutique hotel. With spectacular views across the Whanganui River, it has both private and shared rooms, offers free bus or airport pick-up, a swimming pool, bar and BBQ area.
Food & Wine
Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine region and with Central Otago fast developing notoriety for its award-winning pinot noir, the South Island wins on this battle. The Marlborough Wine Festival is by far the most popular and longest running in New Zealand with 200 wines and 40 wineries displaying their wares near Blenheim. This is a beautiful region to explore so we suggest you stay and book a hostel in Bleheim. Another foodie experience to add to your South Island checklist is New Zealand’s southernmost fish and chips. Kai Kart on Stewart Island is parked with the southern ocean wind coming at it full throttle and offers up tasty blue cod, battered mussels or oysters for a windswept supper. If you don’t quite make it as far South as Stewart Island, keep an eye out for Green-lipped mussels on restaurant menus. They are ginormous, perhaps three times the size of the ones you’re used to. Alternatively, head to the mussel farms where you can haul them up on ropes and cook them at home.
History & Culture
The South Island might not boast the big and bustling cities of Auckland and Wellington but Dunedin is the intimate and quirky party destination. It boasts some beautiful grand Victorian buildings, cafes and indie music venues. On to Christchurch, use the tram to help get to grips with the city’s layout. Christchurch has plenty to offer by way of galleries and museums. Try the Arts Centre, the International Antarctic Centre or the Willowbanks Wildlife Reserve where you can try paddling a Maori canoe. Alternatively, punt along the Avon river before hitting the bars in the Lyttelton area.
Sport and Adventure
The North Island may have the culinary capital but South Island has Queenstown, which argues a strong case for the adventure capital. Here you can organise all your extreme sports including bungy-jumping, skydiving and white water rafting, all set against spectacular scenery, making Queenstown something of a nature theme park. Stay at Queenstown hostels and staff can help you book tours and extreme sports. If you’d like to combine cosmopolitan city life with big thrills, try Nelson. You’ll find a vigorous coffee culture for your caffeine kick but the city is also a good base from which to go tramping – the New Zealander’s world for ‘hiking’ – and kayaking in Abel Tasman national park or paragliding, kiteboarding and hand gliding. The South Island is also the place to come if you enjoy skiing. While the North Islands has 4 ski fields, the South Island has 21 so you have much more choice and fewer crowds.
Nature
The South Island pulls out all the statistical stops here. It can claim nine of New Zealand’s fourteen national parks, all ten of New Zealand’s highest mountains (the tallest is Mt Cooke at 3754m), the five largest glaciers and four of its five largest lakes. The Fiordland is the country’s largest national park boasting the Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Lake Manapouri as well as wilderness largely unexplored by tourists. For wildlife, head to Kaikoura, a peninsula town with snowcapped peaks which act as the most spectacular backdrop so close to the sea. Whales, dolphins, albatross, penguins and seals all congregate and flourish to put on quite a display for the tourists.
Trump Card
If South Island decided to fight the Bay of Islands, it would whip out Milford Sound.. The crowning glory is the 1692m-high Mitre Peak with dramatic rocky forestation meeting the water’s edge. The tourist throng is hardly noticeable once you’re out on the water cruising the Milford Sound. Spot seals and dolphins and no doubt experience a rainy downpour – the the area witnesses an average of 7m per year!
Accommodation
Christchurch hostels are located in the city centre but there are a number of New Zealand hostels by the beach on the outskirts of town. If you decide to take our advice and visit the quirky town of Dunedin hostels offer both private and shared accommodation.
Best South Island Hostels: YHA Anakiwa Lodge is the perfect base for exploring the Marlborough Sounds and only minutes from Charlotte Track in Picton. Guests can borrow kayaks at no extra cost, relax in the hot spa pool or chill out on the patio with a BBQ. For hostels in Kaikoura Albatross Backpacker Inn is a home away from home. Housed in a historic building, hosts Ben and Katie ensure a laid-back, friendly atmosphere. There are jamming sessions with a ukulele taster class, an art corner if you feel like painting your own canvas and nice communal family meals with fresh veg and herbs from the garden. No wonder it ranked top three in HostelBookers’ Awards for Excellence 2010.
Let’s not forget, the ferry journey between Wellington and Picton takes just 3 hours. The scenery along the way is reason enough to take this trip. You’ll head through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds and might even spot a few dolphins. Prices vary between €25 and €45 for foot passengers and around €80 for a car. Visit us again soon and we’ll show you how to do the North and South Island in New Zealand in 4 weeks!
Visit the website to find more New Zealand hostels.
Thanks to t3rmin4t0r, katclay, Sarz.K, The.Rohit, PhillipC, mnapoleon and Marc Veraart for the images off Flickr!
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