Where is the best viewpoint in south island of new zealand for scenery?

Question

I want the exact spot!

Answer 1

They all seemed to have ignored your request for an exact spot. Well, here it is, and you'll agree, once you're there, that it is the best on New Zealand's South island:

Follow Highcliff Road out of Dunedin, along the ridges of the mountains of the Otago Peninsula, until you pass Sandymount Road; keep going for another 50metres around the bend, and prepare to be blown away by what you see. It's hard to describe. Let's say "a composition of sea, green mountains, bays with sandy beaches and surf, all intertwined with wind-swept vegetation and ended by a huge horizon" or some such thing. Either way, that's as good as it can get on this planet.

Another one would be when you leave Dunedin via its Northeast Valley, using Mount Cargill Road. Follow it until you reach the lookout above Port Chalmers. have a look down onto the Otago harbour and the Otago Peninsula, stretching dazzlingly into the distance with volcano mounds and cyan bays. It'll make you weep, friend, there's nothing like it anywhere else on earth.

Answer 2

Well i went on a Milford Sound cruise which was totally amazing. You see the water (including Dolphins!) and all the ice capped mountains. Its so beautiful there but anywhere u go to on the South Island of NZ the scenery will take ur breath away! Ur really lucky to be going, enjoy it!

Answer 3

Depends what you want! I spent a month there in 2005 (April to May, their autumn), and covered both Islands...

Auckland... great view from the Skyline tower. Go early in the day, book the restaurant, look around, watch the jumpers, eat, and stay to take pics of the glorious sunset, and the city lights below.
Waiheke Island (in the Hauraki Gulf)... a ferry ride from Auckland. I stayed at Onetangi YHA... great beach, great view of the bay... and visited Oneroa (good place to eat and shop, and another good beach)
Matamata... flatter than the above two, but has a park walk that circles the city. Matamata has a town sign, 'Welcome to Hobbiton', and a coach tour that takes you out to the Alexander farm... this is the site of the Hobbiton movie set, but even if you aren't a LOTR fan, this is a beautiful place. Try to time it so you get on a tour just before sunset... the pastures, hills, and trees take on stunning colours at this time.
Rotorua... the Whakarewarewa geothermal site is worth a visit, and is near to the Maori Arts and Craft Centre... good place to learn something of Maori culture. Take a gondola up to the Skyline building for good views of the lake and mountains, and eat at the restaurant (good seafood), unless you like crowds of yelling kids and are on a tight budget, then it's the cafeteria! If you want a bit of fun, get on a go-cart and speed to the base of the hill, on the Luge.
Taupo... again, just before sunset, find a cafe-bar/restaurant facing Lake Taupo, and watch the distant mountains change colour.

South Island is even better!...

Marahau.... I stayed at The Barn, got a water taxi to Torrent Bay, and did a coastal walk (through rainforest) back to Marahau. A wrong turn took us up a huge hill when we set off... worth it, for some of the best views of coastal scenery I have ever seen!
Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks)... more great coastal scenery, and the rocks are best seen when the sea is rough, and rushes into the enclosing rocks to blast through the blowholes.
Franz Josef... A Heli-Hike gets you up and down the glacier, with a one and a half hour guided tour of the ever changing ice face.
Wanaka... another lake with stunning views.
Queenstown... go up to the Skyline for a fantastic view of Queenstown, the river, and The Remarkables mountain range... best seen in the setting sun. Also worth a visit is Deer Park Heights... site of some scenes from LOTR, and there is a tour... worth it for more views from on high.

Hope this helps?

Answer 4

Difficult to choose, and I have spent a lot of time in the country since my mother moved there 26 years ago. The South Island is definitely the best, and I would choose from (personal experiences):
Queenstown from a cable car. Littleton (Christchurch) Harbour having gone up in a cable car. Wanaker from a hang glider. Mount Dobson, you can drive all the way to the top. Waimate and the Canterbury Plains from Mount Studholme. Little Mount Peel. There's but a few suggestions.

You can see a small selection of my NZ photos by going to my space http://everestmark.spaces.live.com/

Answer 5

All of latest Zealand promises the atmosphere/life type you're speaking approximately. i think of the NZ government is attempting to get human beings to bypass down south so there could be incentives to bypass someplace like Dunedin. I lived in Wellington and it particularly is my well-known city in the worldwide. I walked to artwork, ate my lunch via the sea - it has super museums, exciting nightlife, extraordinarily parks - it particularly is in basic terms undeniable have been given plenty going for it. each little thing that's, different than the climate. it particularly is extraordinarily undesirable. good now they're having an incredible summer yet Wellington is in many circumstances rain & wind. Auckland, besides the undeniable fact that, has plenty nicer climate. It additionally has extra of a "great city" sense yet i in my opinion want Welly. Now - there is extra advantageous than in basic terms those 2 cities in NZ, too. Napier is suitable - having the main 1930's shape of any city in the worldwide, i think of. besides, Nelson (on the applicable of the south island, a ferry journey from Wellington) gets the main sunlight according to NZ city so some distance as i understand and has a comfortable little coffeeshop artsy fartsy city sense. it particularly is too not easy to assert - all human beings likes what they like. you're able to desire to extremely in basic terms bypass down for a bypass to and make a determination afterwards! otherwise, my completely biased answer is - bypass to Wellington!

Answer 6

Glenorchy, Around the lake from Queenstown its used by the government in NZ tourism advertising propaganda also. The best view is just up the hill above the town looking across the river plain to Paradise (the real name of the area) and the mountains beyond.
very nice.

Answer 7

Milford sound seems to be a popular answer, and I know why - it's ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!! if you can afford it, fly there, you're dodging mountain peaks through clouds of mist. wow.
Lake Tekapo is amazing too. Sit in the tiny church for a few minutes and watch the southern sun drizzle off the mountains and turquoise lake!

Answer 8

Lake Tekapo

Answer 9

Boat trip - Milford Sound

Answer 10

i would say Milford sound on a nice hot day, but also take a helicopter flight to top of Fox's or Franz Joseph glaciers.. out of this world, top of the gondola in queenstown is also out of this world..