https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/southland/best-things-to-do/10071445717090
Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Southland [2025]
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Milford Sound Scenic Cruises
4.5
/5
149 reviews
8.9
From HK$ 510.93
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6433981250
Address: 1 Milford Sound Highway, Milford Sound 9679, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Panoramic cabin & bow view
Waterfalls & wildlife up close
Saved by 224 users131 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Overall, the trip was below expectations. The round trip drive took nearly nine hours, but the fjords we saw were far worse than the hype online. Even in the rain, the space was quite ordinary. The seating was just enough; if everyone was inside, there definitely wouldn't be enough. We didn't see many animals, and there weren't many waterfalls. The scenery was average, and parking was incredibly expensive.
Milford Sound - famous for its towering snow-capped mountains, spectacular glaciers, lush rainforests, and cascading waterfalls, is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and is the only landform not found in China.
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Milford Sound / Piopiotahi
4.6
/5
430 reviews
8.6
Based on 5,854 reviews
>100 km from downtown
Phone +6434411137
Address: Southland, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day
Featured in 2025 Global 50 - Water fun & Cool Retreats
Highlights:
Boat tour: waterfalls & marine life
Boat tour: Bow Falls & marine life
Saved by 155 users168 positive reviews
Verified user reviews
Milford Sound is like a magical movie! When you are on a boat, giant waterfalls on both sides of the river crash into the emerald sea from the cliffs, such as Stirling Falls, and the water vapor hits you with rainbows. The steep cliffs are covered with moss, seals lie lazily on the rocks, and the snow-capped peaks in the distance are looming in the clouds. It is even more amazing when it rains and fogs, the mountain peaks are shrouded in mist, the sea is dark blue, as if the whole world is quiet and only the sound of water remains. It is so shocking!
It is recommended not to drive there by yourself, the road is too difficult to drive. We live in Te Anau and drove there by ourselves. Although the scenery on the road is very beautiful, we usually only drive on city roads. This mountain road really left a psychological shadow. Especially the road close to the fjord can be said to be high and steep. New Zealand cars drive fast, so for safety reasons, I sincerely recommend taking a bus so that you can safely enjoy the scenery along the way.
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Te Anau Glowworm Caves
4.6
/5
127 reviews
7.8
From HK$ 547.54
Based on 2,598 reviews
48 km from downtown
Phone +6432496000
Address: 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9679, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Glowworms' magical light show
Glowworms & cave boat ride
Saved by 149 users72% positive reviews
Verified user reviews
The staff are a massive asset, very professional but enthusiastic and just made our tour so special
The overall experience was not very satisfactory. There were not many fireflies, only a few scattered groups. The boat ride was too long, and the round-trip transportation time was longer than the tour time. The price/performance ratio was not very high. People with claustrophobia should be careful not to enter.
No.
4
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Fiordland National Park
4.8
/5
105 reviews
7.1
Based on 678 reviews
54.8 km from downtown
Phone +6432497924
Address: Southland Region, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
No. 1 of Spring Outings in Southland
Highlights:
Scenic fjord views by plane
Glacier-carved spectacular fjord views
Verified user reviews
Fiordland National Park hides the wildest beauty of New Zealand! It is located at the southwest end of the South Island, accounting for 1/10 of New Zealand's land area. The densely packed fjords, glacial canyons and pristine rainforests have turned this place into a real-life magical secret land.
The most famous one is Milford Sound. The park also has many treasures: for example, Doubtful Sound is more primitive than Milford, and you can see dolphins jumping out of the water when you take a boat. There are also hiking routes in the park, such as the "Milford Trail", which is known as one of the "best hiking routes in the world", and you can encounter glacial lakes and waterfalls along the way.
It rains all year round here, and clouds often hang on the mountainside. The waterfalls on the cliffs hang down into the deep blue fjords like silver chains. Seals and seabirds can be seen everywhere, and even the air is fresh with grass and water vapor. If you want to experience the most extreme natural power of New Zealand, you can't go wrong here~
A visit to New Zealand's famous Fiordland National Park is rich in content. In the Eglinton Valley, you can experience the largest natural grassland in the park, pass by Mirror Lake to appreciate the beauty of the mirror-like calm water all year round, and hike to see the world's unique cold temperate rainforest. The most exciting activity is to board a boat to cruise Milford Sound, one of the eight wonders of the world, to admire the towering peaks and cascading waterfalls on both sides, and take photos with seabirds...～.
No.
5
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Lake Te Anau
4.9
/5
84 reviews
5.9
Based on 1,116 reviews
70.9 km from downtown
Address: Southland Region, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Jet boat Misty Mountains & Anduin
Deep blue lake & mountains
Verified user reviews
Lake Te Anau is a must-see when visiting Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. It is the second largest lake in New Zealand and the largest glacial lake in the Southern Hemisphere. Staying in the lakeside town of Te Anau is also a wonderful experience. After dinner, the golden sunset shines on the roofs, streets and lake, dyeing everything in warm gold. At this time, take a walk and have an ice cream, leisurely enjoying the fresh air and tranquil atmosphere of the lakeside town.
New Zealand has many lakes, most of which are surrounded by mountains, with winding coastlines, clear water and pleasant scenery. They are excellent tourist destinations.
Lake Te Anau is the second largest lake in New Zealand and the largest lake in the South Island. Compared with the famous "Two Wakatipu and One Te" (Lake Wakatipu, Lake Wanaka, and Lake Tekapo), the uniqueness and appreciation of the landscape are slightly inferior, and the popularity index is also lower.
Because it is located on the main road to Milford Sound, there are endless tourists passing by and staying overnight in the lakeside town.
The seaplanes on the lakeside take off and land, and the speedboats on the lake go in and out, which set off the blue sky and white clouds, the lake and the mountains, and have a unique charm.
No.
6
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Doubtful Sound / Patea
4.4
/5
68 reviews
5.2
78.9 km from downtown
Address: Southland, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
A globally rare fjord dolphin population
Cruise through pristine rainforests and waterfalls
Verified user reviews
The Doubtful Sound in Queenstown is the most magnificent place here. The bay is full of towering mountains, dense vegetation, and a very calm sea. Dolphins and whales often appear, so taking a boat into the customs to watch dolphins and whales is also the best tourist project here. You must come and experience it.
Wonderland is the most beautiful place in Queenstown, with a magnificent view of the strait. The towering peaks on both sides of the strait reach the sky, and there are magnificent waterfalls in the mountains. The sea water in the fjord is very calm, and dolphins and whales often appear, making it a great place to watch them.
No.
7
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Queens Park
4.4
/5
10 reviews
4.0
Based on 672 reviews
81.1 km from downtown
Phone +6432498866
Address: Invercargill 9810, New Zealand
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
No. 2 of Spring Outings in Southland
Highlights:
1490 glass domes botanical greenhouse
Colorful parrots at bird center
Verified user reviews
Queens Park is located in invercargill just a few minutes walk from the city centre. It is a very beautiful and well maintained park. It has different entries. You can do many activities out there. - There's a golf course for the golf lovers. - It's a nice place to walk around or even do jog. You may also bring your dogs for a stroll. - Families with kids will surely have fun as there's a playground, a waterpark and an a free animal reserve. - You can enjoy seasonal flowers and greenery throughout the year. - There's also a nice coffee shop in the centre of the park where you enjoy delicious cakes, coffee & tea etc... - There's free parking available & toilets
From a purely geographical point of view, this is probably the Queen's Park farthest from the Queen of England on Earth. In addition to the distance, the style and layout of the park are completely original British style.
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