Towering Southern Alps rise above glacier-fed rivers, fjords cut into sheer cliffs, and windswept coasts face the full force of the Southern Ocean. Here in the south, wildness dominates, with the main event oftentimes being the highly endangered penguins that nest in remote bays. Vast, rugged, and sparsely populated, the South Island is where New Zealand's landscapes feel most like scenes out of Lord of the Rings.
Akaroa, cradled by the volcanic cliffs of Banks Peninsula, is famous as the best place to see Hector’s dolphins, the smallest and rarest dolphins in the world. Little blue penguins waddle ashore at dusk, while seabirds hang out around the dramatic headlands. The town itself carries a French influence, but its heart lies in the wildlife-rich harbor, where every cruise or paddle feels like a brush with rarity. The rewilding efforts here cannot be ignored, as the native plantlife is slowly making a comeback.
Dunedin is New Zealand’s bird haven. The nearby Otago Peninsula hosts the world’s only mainland breeding colony of royal albatrosses, while yellow-eyed penguins, little blue penguins, and fur seals share the rugged coastline. The cliffs, estuaries, and beaches combine into one of the country’s richest wildlife-viewing regions, with seabirds filling the skies and a new history of rewilding layered into the land.
Stewart Island is the last vision of New Zealand the way it once was. Dense forests, empty beaches, shells washing ashore, and star-filled skies create a sense of stepping back into the country’s ancient past. Kiwi birds roam here in the open, one of the few places in the country where they can still be seen. Offshore, the island has become known for great white sharks that pass through the colder waters, adding an edge of primal intensity.
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