7 Secret Places to See on New Zealand’s South Island

Tekapo Canals

While everyone flocks to the brilliantly blue Lake Tekapo, the less-famous canals are right next door and offer similarly amazing views. A perfectly maintained two-lane paved road (now closed to traffic) runs alongside the canal, so you can easily cycle or walk. Expect to see fisherman searching for salmon at the beginning of the canals, but no one else for miles as you head down the path.

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

I'd heard of environmental reserves before, but never a dark sky reserve, and I suspect I'm not alone in my ignorance. It's kind of like a national park for the stars—the Aoraki Mackenzie is an area of the South Island that has strict rules around the type and usage of lights in the nearby villages, which results in a nearly light-pollution-free sky.

What does this mean for you? You'll be able to see stars and planets you wouldn't able to spot anywhere else. While the stars are pretty spectacular to the naked eye, you'll want to maximize your experience by heading up to the Mt. John Observatory on a late-night tour with Earth and Sky, where you'll have unrivaled views. On a clear night, you'll be able to see the Milky Way just by looking up, but you'll also get to peep through high-powered research telescopes and see planets and even another galaxy.

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Moturua Bird Sanctuary Island

Want to check out the native species of New Zealand? Skip the zoo and head to Motuara Bird Sanctuary Island instead—home to some of the country's critically endangered species.

In the 1990s, all introduced pests and predators were removed so that wildlife that had previously died out on the mainland could live safely on the island. You'll see plenty of birds (like the Fantail, Grey Warbler, New Zealand Robin, and Tui) as well the Marlborough Green Gecko, Maud Island Frog, and possibly even a Little Blue Penguin or two.

To get to the island, hope on a boat tour with Beachcomber Cruises. You'll have plenty of time to explore the island independently—a trail climbs gently up to the island's peak where there's a lookout platform that offers views of the North Island on clear days.

The Ruby Coast

Most people bypass Tasman's Ruby Coast, preferring instead to spend their beach time at the much more famous Abel Tasman National Park. That's too bad, because the beaches you'll find along Ruby Bay are just as beautiful.

I passed countless beaches that didn't have a single soul on them, so it's easy to find your very own private beach for the day there. Plus, these beaches have the added bonus of being close to Tasman's Great Taste Trail, where you'll find plenty of wineries, art studios, and the famous restaurants of Mapua Wharf to keep you entertained if you want to get out of the sun.

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The Glaciers In Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

If your South Island itinerary involves glaciers, chances are they'll be the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. These are easily accessible and also the most famous in New Zealand. But, I argue that you'll have a much cooler experience heading to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, which is home to the country's longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier.

The ever-changing Tasman is more than 16 miles long, and its terminal Tasman Lake is currently about four miles long, yet the lake didn't even exist in 1973. Pieces of the glacier have broken off over time, and you can see the massive ice chunks floating in the lake. On a boat tour with Glacier Explorers you can touch and even taste the ice.

The park is also home to more than 60 other glaciers. My favorites were the hanging glaciers, which give Mount Sefton a winter wonderland look all year round. You can easily see these on a clear day from miles away.

Peel Forest Park

Some of New Zealand's more popular hiking trails can get crowded in peak season, but Peel Forest Park is more of a hidden gem, attracting mostly locals on weekends (which means you'll have the trails all to yourself if you head out on a weekday). It also makes a great halfway point to stop on the long drive back from Lake Teakpo to Christchurch if that's your route and you're in need of some leg stretching.

There are 13 walks to choose from, including one that leads to a waterfall where you can cool off, and another that summits Little Mount Peel for dramatic views.

Rabbit Island

Sure, you can drive to Rabbit Island (it's just 20 minutes from the city of Nelson), but you'll be rewarded if you take a less-traveled route. Head there via Mapua, where you can catch a ferry to the island. You'll be dropped off almost three miles away from the parking lots, which means you'll be rewarded with quiet stretches of sand that you'll only have to share with the seagulls. Bring a bike so you can explore the dirt cycle trails that cut through the pine trees on the interior of the island.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 7 Things No One Ever Tells You About New Zealand
• How to Do New Zealand's North and South Islands in Two Weeks
• 10 Best Places to Go in New Zealand

Caroline Morse recently traveled to New Zealand courtesy of Tourism New Zealand. Catch up on all her South Island photos and videos on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline and on Twitter @CarolineMorse1.