New Zealand is mainly made of two separate islands that, despite their close proximity to one another, are vastly different in their landscapes, ecosystems, culture, and populations. This means that each of the New Zealand islands give you vastly different offerings. You could be hiking within snow-capped mountains one day and bathing in hot springs on another. This is one of the things that makes New Zealand so unique and interesting to visit.
Unlike other major landmasses around the world, the New Zealand islands remained untouched from other ecosystems for over 80 million years and were only inhabited about 700 years ago by the Polynesian people. Because of this, birds, reptiles, fish, and plants have had the ability to evolve independently from the rest of the world. However, the North and South Islands are very different because they are located on two different tectonic plates. The North Island is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a ring of geothermal and volcanic activity that goes around a ring encircling the Pacific Ocean. The climate is warmer and more tropical than the South Island. In contrast, the South Island is much more temperate with dramatic snow-capped mountains, large glaciers, fiords, and forests. These varied climates are one of the major reasons that the two islands are not comparable and have such different activities for you to do.
When it comes to culture, the two islands are also pretty different. The South Island is scarcely populated as the North Island, and this openness and ruggedness is apparent as you drive around the island and see the large expanses of nature around you. The North Island has the large majority of the population centers and where you will experience the local culture and history of the country, especially celebrations of the Māori migration and inhabitation of the islands starting 700 years ago.
So which island is better? Neither! They are both exciting and full of adventure and a balance between the two islands based on your personal interests is the best way to visit New Zealand.
Why Visit the South Island
Hiking (Multi-Day and Single Day)
Roy’s Peak in Wanaka outside of Queenstown
The Wine Regions
A vineyard in the Central Otago region
The Turquoise Blue Waters
The Turquoise Blue Waters of Lake Tekapo
Why Visit the North Island
Tropical Beaches with European-Like Coastal Towns
A town on the coast of the Coromandel Peninsula
