Christchurch & South Island Things to Do

Playfully billed as “The Sound of Silence,” the sheltered waters of Doubtful Sound were not always held in such heralded esteem. In fact, the name of the sound is actually derived from when Captain Cook opted not to enter the area given that he was “doubtful” of the chances it could be navigated safely.

After an event-filled wedding, one thing that honeymooners never really want to be a part of is crowds. Luckily for those looking to honeymoon on New Zealand’s South Island, however, finding a quaint corner to skirt the crowds is never really much of an issue.

In a country where nearly 30 percent of the land is protected in national parks, if you were to hike a different trail on New Zealand’s South Island every day for an entire year you still wouldn’t come close to conquering the bountiful scenery. Nevertheless, a handful of South Island hikes are definitely more popular than others—although being popular doesn’t always translate to being the best.

The region that brought you one of the world’s best-loved Sauvignon Blancs is celebrating its wine and local produce at The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on February 11, 2012.

A series of earthquakes hit Christchurch, New Zealand in 2010 and 2011, causing widespread damage. While recovery is underway, there are still parts of the center that are out of bounds to the general public while rebuilding takes place. In order stay informed of the changes happening in the city, Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism have set up a new blog to chart the city’s recovery.