Hotels in South Island, New Zealand

South Island is New Zealand's larger, less crowded island, famous for its dramatic fiords, glaciers, and mountain peaks like Aoraki Mount Cook. The climate is temperate, with mild summers (60-70°F or 15-21°C) perfect for hiking the Routeburn Track or bungee jumping in Queenstown, and cool winters (30-50°F or -1 to 10°C) ideal for skiing at Cardrona or visiting the Franz Josef Glacier. You can kayak in Milford Sound during the dry summer months, or catch the vibrant lupines in spring along Lake Tekapo - just rent a campervan to save money and stay flexible.