Explore the South Island off the beaten track
Whether it's for Middle Earth or eco-friendly farm stays, New Zealand's South Island gets quite a bit of attention. Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef and Invercargill are only a few of the reasons that this locale gets so much travel credit, but if you dig deeper, you'll be astounded by more off-the-beaten-path treasures that bring the wonders of Aotearoa to a whole new level. Whether you're taking flights from North Island or finding a Dunedin car hire to a hidden Kiwi spot, you're sure to find something new and exciting in your very own New Zealand home.
Here are some of the coolest things about South Island that you might still have yet to discover:
The backcountry
While tourism boosts like "The Lord of the Rings" have given the Land of the Long White Cloud a great deal of attention, there are spots outside of Christchurch and the rest of Middle Earth that are just as - if not more - beautiful. The countryside lodge Castle Hill Bed and Breakfast is one of those prime places that resides between major travel destinations like Queenstown and Invercargill, so if you don't look hard enough, you might even miss it. Spanning across more than 4-and-a-half hectares, the hideaway is run by Sharon Ford, with the help of her husband and police officer Mark. Not only will you enjoy the friendliest hospitality here, but a fleet of animals will keep you company too, including the pug-snouted kune kune pig, goats and some eager puppies.
Revival Bar
An earthquake can't keep Christchurch from thriving, and one sign of this is the beloved Revival Bar. Designed and decorated entirely with recycled materials, the establishment is a symbol of the revival of the city after the devastating event in 2011. Playing a mix of old and new music from The Beatles to The xx, the local pub invites residents and tourists from far and wide to celebrate the community and its blossoming path toward recovery.
Hokitika Wildfoods Festival
You want offbeat, you got it - South Island is also home of the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika. Every year, the most daring individuals gather to sample huhu grubs, fried locusts and mountain oysters...which just so happen to be something very different from an oyster. If you're not satisfied until your taste buds have been completely astounded, then this is the festival to attend. Even if you can't make it for the event, some of the stallholders are open year-round, including Udderly Wild Desserts, Monteith's Beer and The Pickled Hu Hu, among others.