South Island Heritage Journey

Today as you make your way to Queenstown, you'll travel through the towns of Twizel and Ōmarama.

Twizel is a base for mountain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, horse trekking, fishing, and hiking. It's also a great place to catch a sighting of the rarest wading bird in the world – the Black Stilt. In Ōmarama, you can visit the fascinating Paritea cliffs, which are constantly being exposed by the active Osler fault line. 

Queenstown is home to almost any kind of adventure, get your adrenaline pumping with a bungy jump, jet boat ride, horse trek or rafting adventure. Soak up the stunning scenery and relax with a spa treatment, gourmet food, and wine or a leisurely round of golf.

Today you'll travel to the heart of Central Otago. Explore the vineyards of Gibbston Valley, visit historic Cromwell or discover old gold mining in Bannockburn. From Alexandra, there are three routes to Dunedin. The bus follows the fruit route through the orchards of Roxburgh. If you're self-driving, you can also head north to Ranfurly where you can choose to travel via Dunback, or via Middlemarch through the Rock and Pillar Range. 

Dunedin itself has been a student town since the 1870s when Otago University first opened. Today it contains a beautiful array of historic buildings, imposing churches, palatial homes and New Zealand's only castle. 

History and fascinating geology will flavour your journey north today. Be sure to visit the mysterious spherical boulders at Moeraki. According to Maori legend, these boulders are gourds washed ashore from the wreck of a great voyaging canoe hundreds of years ago.

Totara Estate Centennial Park is the birthplace of New Zealand's frozen meat industry. The restored farm buildings show the workings of a 19th century New Zealand farm. Oamaru's elegant historic buildings are built from the local sandstone. Visit the Harbour-Tyne area for examples of the best-preserved historic commercial buildings in New Zealand. The Steampunk Museum and the town's pretty public gardens are also worth a visit.

There are several interesting sights to visit as you journey north to Christchurch today.

In Waimate, a thatched cottage from 1854 makes a good rest stop. Built from a single totara tree, the cottage has been restored and is now opened to visitors. The region is also home to several examples of Maori rock art. Further north, Ashburton has a plethora of fascinating local museums and craft galleries.

Christchurch, the last stop on your heritage journey, overflows with innovation, creativity and heritage attractions. Visit the stunning botanic gardens, punt down the Avon River or ride the historic tram to the city's various shopping and eating precincts.