| Ashburton |
 The Ashburton District has a vast backcountry in which visitors can
lose themselves for a day, a week or longer. Ashburton is the agricultural centre of the district and today the district is one of the most productive
and prosperous farming areas in New Zealand. For visitors Ashburton is an easy town in which to find their way around, with streets laid out in a neat,
easy to follow pattern. The key to discovering the beauty of the district, however, is to venture into the scenic, rural heartland, rich in rivers, mountains
and lakes. Ashburton has many activities from which visitors can choose - tramping, walking, fishing, hunting, skiing, heli-skiing, water sports, jet boating,
rafting, hot air ballooning, horse riding, golf, biking, garden tours, farm tours, flying horse racing - to name just a few.
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| Lake Tekapo |
 In the midst of the Mackenzie Country's wide open spaces is
Lake Tekapo. Over 2310 feet (700 metres) above sea level, this lake has an astounding
turquoise blue hue reflecting the surrounding mountains. The beautiful blue/green colour
of the lake is caused by 'rock flour' which is finely ground particles of rock held in
suspension in the melted water from the glaciers that run into the lake. Around the shores
of the lake are several hectares of russel lupins in attractive shades of pinks and purples
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| Mt Cook |
 The magnificent Southern Alps stretch from Nelson
in the north down to Fiordland in the south. In this maze of mountains, Mount Cook stands
highest, situated in the Mount Cook National Park. Awarded 'World Heritage' status in
recognition of its qualities and rare beauty, the Park covers an area of nearly 7,000 hectares of majestic alpine scenery with more than one third being in permanent snow and glacial ice.The park contains 22 of the 27 peaks over 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) in New Zealand and provides a wonderland for walkers, skiers and mountaineers. A popular way to experience the grandeur of this mountain area is with a helicopter or a fixed wing flightseeing trip.
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| Queenstown |
Queenstown is New Zealand's year-round alpine destination,
where you can be as active as you like or just leisurely soak up the magnificent scenery.
There are year-round action-packed thrills such as jetboating on the Kawarau or Shotover rivers, where these amazing New Zealand-invented
craft execute seemingly impossible manoeuvres. Queenstown is also the world capital and home of bungy jumping.
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| Te Anau |
Te Anau is a township of tranquil beauty, nestled at the southern shores
of a lake bearing the same name and also New Zealand's second largest lake.
Te Anau is the gateway to explore the playground of Fiordland and is known as
the walking capital of the world as many walks begin here. At the head of Lake Te Anau
is Glade House - the starting point of the Milford Track which traverses 34 miles
(55 kilometres) of the Fiordland National Park.
Activities based at Te Anau include flightseeing, fishing, kayaking, sailing and horse
riding as well as a variety of trips on the lake itself. From here you can also visit
the underground waterfall and glowworm grotto of the Te Ana-au Caves. The Te Anau Wildlife
Park is 10 minutes walk from the Visitors Centre and is home to many native bird species,
including the colourful rare takahe.
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| Milford Sound |
Many visitors travel into Milford Sound and take a launch cruise on the Sound beneath
the grandeur of Mitre Peak. Dolphins, penguins, seals and seabirds are frequently seen.
The Underwater Observatory at Milford features spectacular varieties of coral, fishes
and other sea life. Its extraordinary serrated coastline and deep branching lakes were
carved out by glaciers millions of years ago, leaving behind a land internationally
acclaimed for its spectacular scenery, isolation and uninhabitied environment which is
now designated a World Heritage Area.
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