As rainbow flags and posters begin to pop-up all over town, we’re reminded that it’s that time of year again – Winter Pride! This annual 10-day festival includes a series MORE
New Zealand is known all around the world for many things; snow-covered mountains, dramatic landscapes, black sand beaches, unique birds, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and sheep. Yes, sheep. MORE
Milford Sound is often the highlight for many visitors in New Zealand. The breathtaking glacier-carved fiord is far from ordinary and deserves an extraordinary visit. At Southern Discoveries, we can MORE
It’s no secret Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand. Within a quick glance, you’re welcomed with stunning scenery and a landscape unlike MORE
Driving overseas can be a daunting experience. To say the least, New Zealand has some interesting roads. They navigate through impressive landscapes and although beautiful, they do require a little extra MORE
Te Anau, a beautiful little town in the deep south, is most commonly known as the gateway to Milford Sound. It’s not only the closest town but is also the MORE
In winter, Queenstown is known as one of the top destinations in New Zealand for skiing and snowboarding. There are four nearby ski fields to choose from making it an MORE
Visiting Milford Sound is one for the bucket list! Getting there along the Milford Road is just as much a part of the experience as visiting Milford Sound itself! Along MORE
Queenstown’s stunning backdrop is one of the many draw cards that bring visitors from all over the world to its shores. Arguably the most beautiful part of that backdrop is MORE
Fiordland National Park is one of the most loved national parks in New Zealand. Every year thousands of tourists travel to this remote region in search of stunning views and MORE
Conservation is a hot topic right now, but it’s something we’ve always believed in. So when Southern Discoveries got the opportunity to get involved with the Sinbad Sanctuary Project and MORE
Milford Sound is hands-down one of the best places to visit in New Zealand. The beautiful scenery is sure to leave you breathless. But don’t bank on blue skies while MORE
It’s that time of the year again, when we’re all getting ready for another great winter in Queenstown, that means the LUMA Southern Light Festival is back. The LUMA festival MORE
Stunning mountain peaks, alpine lakes, gorgeous beaches and huge glaciers – New Zealand’s South Island is one of the most picturesque and interesting places to travel in the world. The MORE
Queenstown is one of the most popular towns in New Zealand for tourists and holidaymakers. It’s filled with so many amazing places to visit, things to do and bucket list MORE
There are so many exciting things to see and do in Milford Sound and a great way to see and do it all is by staying the night at the MORE
A boat cruise in Milford Sound is one of the best experiences you can have in New Zealand. Taking in the breathtaking scenery, getting showered by a waterfall, and even MORE
School holidays are an exciting time in Queenstown. With kids off school, it gives families an excuse to get out and have some fun. No matter if you’re a local or MORE
Milford Sound is one of the most popular and arguably the most beautiful tourist destinations in New Zealand. It is one of the best places for New Zealand sightseeing known MORE
Queenstown’s huge mountain peaks, breathtaking lake, and deep canyons make it an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. From hiking trails, to ski slopes, to skydiving, there is no shortage of things to MORE
Top 10 things to do in Queenstown on a budget Visiting Queenstown on holiday can be daunting for some travellers because let’s face it, Queenstown isn’t the cheapest place in MORE
Milford Sound is arguably the most famous tourist attraction in all of New Zealand. Every day, thousands of excited visitors embark on a once in a lifetime bus journey from Te MORE
Many visitors who come to Queenstown do so alone. Travelling solo comes with its perks – you can be completely selfish and decide where you want to go and what MORE
Get Outdoors Week (or GO Week) is a New Zealand wide initiative that aims to get people outdoors to safely explore this beautiful country. All over New Zealand, there will MORE
Milford Sound is the wettest place in New Zealand and one of the wettest places in the world! Many visitors are shocked to know that this true world wonder actually MORE
For many of Queenstown’s visitors, this vibrant town becomes a base to explore the breathtaking landscapes in the surrounding area. From Queenstown, there are endless places to see and explore. MORE
Lake Wakatipu is Queenstown’s crown jewel. Upon arriving in Queenstown, you will undoubtedly notice the huge lake the town sits adjacent to. Back in the day, it was used as MORE
Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand. Its soaring cliffs, unique wildlife, and spectacular scenery leave its visitors in awe. Without a doubt, MORE
Mountain biking is one of Queenstown’s most popular activities and in the past few years the trails on offer have grown and grown. There is something for everyone; steep and MORE
Thousands of people visit Milford Sound ever year, coming for its spectacular scenery including its hundreds of waterfalls! However, it can sometimes surprise visitors during their visit to see some MORE
If you love waterfalls, then Milford Sound is the perfect destination for you! ‘Chasing waterfalls’ in Milford Sound is easy because there are just so many! Only a few of the waterfalls in Milford are permanent and MORE
Queenstown is one of those places that is guaranteed to steal your heart almost immediately upon arrival. In fact, you will probably already be sold on Queenstown as you fly MORE
Milford Sound is one of the most visited places in New Zealand. The towering cliffs, endless waterfalls, and wildlife are just some of the spectacles that give Milford its claim MORE
New Zealand is filled with endless activities and experiences to tick off your bucket list; a Milford Sound Nature Cruise, jet boating on Lake Wakatipu or bungy jumping to name a few. One MORE
Sometimes there is nothing better than escaping the hustle and bustle of our day to day lives by getting out and enjoying nature. The most refreshing holidays are the ones MORE
Queenstown is one of the most scenic places in New Zealand. It’s famous for many things including the huge mountain peaks that surround it, but there’s one thing that really MORE
Visiting Milford Sound is likely to be one of your most memorable moments in New Zealand. The stunning landscapes, towering mountains, giant waterfalls and of course the famous reflections off MORE
A visit to Milford Sound will without a doubt be a highlight of your trip to New Zealand. The amazing scenery is unlike anywhere else in the world and makes MORE
If you’re planning a visit to Queenstown this winter and your time is limited, we’ve got the perfect itinerary for you. First tracks at Coronet Peak Start your day early MORE
You’ve just spent the day shredding up the mountain and it’s time to give the legs a break and quench your thirst. With so many après ski spots to MORE
Milford Sound is arguably one of the most breathtaking places on earth. From its towering cliff faces to its unique wildlife, Milford Sound has earned its nickname as the “8th MORE
New Zealand is fast becoming a hot spot for tourists from all over the world, with Queenstown and Milford Sound in particular being some of the most photographed destinations. In MORE
While Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, it boasts a wide range of activities and caters to all wants and needs. There really is something for MORE
Milford Sound is one New Zealand’s most popular destinations, renowned for its towering mountains, lush rain forest and incredible wildlife. Adjoining Milford’s iconic Mitre Peak is Sinbad Gully, home to MORE
Experiencing the best of your own backyard is something we think all Kiwis should do. So we’ve compiled two adventure-packed itineraries on how to discover Milford Sound and Queenstown this MORE
Queenstown is breathtaking year-round, but we do count ourselves exceptionally fortunate at this time of the year. We are treated to autumn yellows, oranges and reds, a colour palate that MORE
Queenstown is known for many things, among them being New Zealand’s adventure capital. Beyond the activities that make your heart beat right out of your chest, there are experiences that MORE
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever (Jacques Cousteau; explorer and conservationist, 1910 – 1997). Piopiotahi Marine Reserve occupies almost 700 hectares of MORE
Milford Sound is one of the most spectacular places to visit in New Zealand. Towering cliffs, peaks and waterfalls plunging down from as high as a thousand metres disappearing into MORE
If it is your first time to Queenstown, you have so many things you could do, see and experience during your stay. Where to Visit Obviously Queenstown has many attractions; MORE
Discovered by the Māori more than a thousand years ago, the early stories of Milford Sound are steeped in myth and legend that talk of its magnificent creation. According to MORE
They say it’s the wettest place in New Zealand – with almost 7,000mm of rainfall across 182 days of the year. That means in the course of 24 hours, magical MORE
New Zealand is often hailed as the adventure capital of the world, and no other town comes close to Queenstown when it comes to the variety and range of adventure MORE
A New Zealand trip wouldn’t be complete without seeing Milford Sound. Located on the southwest of South Island, it is in Fiordland National Park. The 16 kilometre length from the MORE
A trip to the gorgeous and ever-popular Milford Sound can only be made more enjoyable by preparing for it properly. Reaching Milford Sound can be done as a day long MORE
While Queenstown is world-renowned for its adventure activities, many flock to this little gem in the South to appreciate nature’s beauty and to have an epic relaxing and rejuvenating holiday. MORE
In 2015, New Zealand outranked every other country in the world as the world’s top film tourism destination. The wonderful Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy had much to do MORE
One of the great things about Aotearoa New Zealand is the ease of travel. Being a small country, nowhere is too far and everywhere is easy to reach. There are MORE
October 1999 marked the beginning of the transformation of our quiet little country into a wild rumpus, a runaway marriage of literature and film technology which became Middle Earth. With MORE
While the British and Irish Lions Tour that starts in June will already take you to some of the most marvelous places around New Zealand, there are some destinations that MORE
Get to Know Your Lions Tour Host Cities One of the most exciting sports events happening in New Zealand this year is the Lions Tour. It isn’t just an amazing MORE
The British and Irish Lions Tour in New Zealand is the most exciting sports event happening in the country this year. It all kicks off on 3 June at the Toll MORE
New Zealand has some of the best tramping tracks in the world. It really does. And they are virtually all in reach of many of our major cities. The MORE
To see Fiordland and Milford Sound/Piopiotahi from a helicopter is a whole new kind of awesome. From above, the mountain ranges open out into the lush southern plains to the MORE
There are plenty of good reasons to visit Milford Sound. Any visitor to the area can, and usually will wax lyrical about the amazing photographic opportunities. We’ve listed a few of MORE
Aotearoa New Zealand is a little dot on the world map, yet it has been, and still is, home to some of the biggest creatures ever to have lived. Dinosaurs MORE
As an alternative to hotels and motels, bed and breakfast accommodations tend to be warm and welcoming options. Often run by the owner in their home, the rooms are usually MORE
Harrison Cove, in Milford Sound Piopiotahi, is a unique and lovely area. Shaped like the head of a roaring lion, with the magnificent Harrison River pouring into its throat, this MORE
For the ultimate high country experience, it’s hard to beat Mt Nicholas Station. Set on the edge of Lake Wakatipu near the mouth of the Von River, the working cattle MORE
New Zealand is proud of its clear blue skies and fresh, clear air. The southern climate is said to be as crisp as the apples grown in the Deep South, MORE
Driving the scenic road from Queenstown to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi is an unforgettable experience. There are few places where you will find such a diversity of scenery in a relatively small MORE
Thousands of endurance runners are expected to turn out for the third Queenstown International Marathon this November. This relatively new event is taking off in the running world, with people MORE
If your idea of a relaxing holiday includes hooking a few local beauties – trout that is – then head on to Queenstown. With an abundant stock of rainbow and MORE
The impressive Southern Alps mountain range forms New Zealand’s great divide, a geological, geographical and politic boundary between the east and west coasts. The Alps are the largest mountain range MORE
Naming the fiords of Fiordland Nestled inside Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site, which gives it similar status to the Grand Canyon and pyramids of Giza, Fiordland is home to a MORE
If you want to leave the stress of your daily routine behind, the serene elegance of Fiordland will soon have you forgetting that you have left your responsibilities at home! MORE
Staying over in Milford Sound Piopiotahi The surreal beauty and untouched majesty of Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) has seen it named, at various times, the eighth wonder of the world, the MORE
“There is a waterfall in every dream. Cool and crystal clear, it falls gently on the sleeper, cleansing the mind and soothing the soul.” (Virginia Alison, author). For centuries, people have MORE
Bring out your fabulous for the most colourful, quirky event down south – Gay Ski Week, where the slopes are packed with hairy bears, lovely lesbians, divine divas and queens MORE
Rising sharply beside Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables Mountain Range is an attractive and rugged area close to Queenstown. The highest peak is Double Cone, which towers 2,319 metres over the MORE
At the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu, less than an hour’s drive from Queenstown, sits the small town of Glenorchy, population 363. With panoramic views of lush beech forest, rugged MORE
New Zealand is well known for celebrating everything from wearable arts to wild foods. Many of our celebrations start as small, backyard ideas and grow to international fame. The American MORE
Our friends at Omega Car Rentals Queenstown have a great travel blog featuring some of the best things to see and do in New Zealand, including cruising Milford Sound. If MORE
Te Anau, on the road to Milford Sound, is the perfect place to stop for refreshments or to stay when travelling between Queenstown and Milford Sound. Lake Te Anau is MORE
Cycling is a healthy, eco-friendly and inspiring way to enjoy the wonders of this remarkable country. Whether you are a relaxed road cruiser, an amped-up mountain biker or a family MORE
If you keep your purse in your pocket because your handbag is full of extra lenses and a spare battery, you truly believe that fifty shades of grey is a MORE
The gold mining township of Arrowtown, 25 minutes from Queenstown, is a beautifully preserved piece of New Zealand’s early history. The first European settlers were the miners, and the small MORE
The Southern Lakes District is well known for its stunning scenery, dramatic landscapes and brilliant autumn colours. It is also known for some of the finest golf courses in the MORE
In 1935, five men were given picks and wheelbarrows, and asked to dig a tunnel… so begins the remarkable story of the Homer Tunnel, a 1,270 metre granite-faced tunnel through MORE
A brief history of Queenstown Nestled on the banks of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown (Maori name Tahuna) is one of New Zealand’s most loved tourist and holiday destinations. The town is MORE
The Legend of Lake Wakatipu Long ago, before the promise of gold brought Pakeha to Otago, the Maori roamed the land, hunting for moa and greenstone and eels. Manata and MORE
The cruise to Mt Nicholas across crystal clear Lake Wakatipu allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy magnificent views of The Remarkables and the surrounding mountain ranges . Enjoy MORE
Kayaking through the eighth wonder of the world – Milford Sound If you’re looking for a unique way to explore Milford Sound, why not add a bit of adventure to MORE
Top Six Stops on the Milford Road The Milford Road offers a spectacular journey into the heart of the Fiordland National Park. The trip from Te Anau to Milford Sound MORE
Icebreaker connection to Mt Nicholas New Zealand is notorious for three aspects; scenery, adrenaline sports and farm-life. Both cows and sheep outnumber the amount of people in New Zealand! Sheep MORE
