There's no place on earth quite like the South Island of New Zealand.
In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere in the galaxy as beautiful as this remote chunk of land in the South Pacific Ocean.
The South Island is a lazy paradise of rolling green hills, craggy, glacier-clad mountains, and rugged, wind-swept beaches - a land where sheep outnumber people 13 to 1 and everything is "sweet as."
Mother Nature painted her finest strokes when she crafted this fantasy landscape.
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But, this is no secret. New Zealand's South Island is one of the world's top travel destinations - and for good reason. Any guidebook will steer you on a course from Christchurch to Dunedin, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Abel Tasman and Marlborough.
They're all great, but here's a different idea: you want to get off the beaten path and see the real New Zealand? Tack these ten spots onto your itinerary and you're bound to see the secret side of this remarkable island.
The Catlins
How this remains a well-kept secret is a mystery. The Catlins jut out from the mainland two hours south of Dunedin at the southernmost tip of New Zealand. Rugged, windswept beaches, glowing lighthouses, and a rich maritime history make this the perfect place to spring to life with the salty slap of the sea. Craving a deck chair on a porch in the woods by the sea? Spend the night in the Lendz Reserve at Tautuku Lodge for an affordable cabin in the bush.
Otago Central Rail Trail
New Zealand has several great walks, but only one great bike trip. This multi-day path along the former tracks of the Otago Central Rail links a series of small hamlets in the farm-covered plains of Central Otago. Want to see the "real New Zealand?" Pick up a bike in Clyde and spend a few days daydreaming in the countryside.
Paparoa National Park
