Top South Island Attractions & Museums

Depart Queenstown aboard the TSS ‘Earnslaw’ for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Travel round-trip by vintage steamship and dig into a gourmet barbecue lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead. Enjoy chef-prepared Central Otago specialties accompanied by salads, desserts, and local cheeses. Don’t miss the sheep shearing demonstration or showmanship by the farm’s sheepdogs.

Travel from Queenstown to the much-loved UNESCO-listed Milford Sound. Enjoy live commentary along the way, and many scenic stops to take photos and admire the views. At Milford Sound, you won’t have to worry about waiting in lines as entrance tickets are included. Cruise on the sound and see stunning views of waterfalls and Mitre Peak. Refuel with a tasty picnic lunch in a scenic location.

Book advance tickets to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve for guaranteed kiwi sightings and up-close access to native New Zealand species. Booking Willowbank Wildlife Reserve tickets online combines the convenience of advance planning with the flexibility to arrive at any time of day, making it easy to fit this wildlife experience into a full day of travel or sightseeing.

Experience heart-racing fun on an exhilarating Queenstown jet-boat ride. The expert captain races across Lake Wakatipu, navigates tricky turns on the Kawarau River, and speeds through the shallow waters of the Shotover River. Grab hold of your seat as the jet boat makes 360-degree spins and fishtails on a rollercoaster ride over the water.

Observe more than 20 native bird species —including New Zealand’s namesake, the kiwi — with admission to Kiwi Birdlife Park in central Queenstown. See wildlife shows, nature exhibits, and daily keeper presentations, and catch a rare sight of the flightless kiwi in a nocturnal enclosure. Your admission ticket is valid for the entire day so you can explore the park at your own pace.

Visit New Zealand’s only castle with admission to Larnach Castle & Gardens, where you’ll find beautiful antiques, manicured gardens, and gorgeous views across the Otago Peninsula. Learn the story of the castle’s founding family through recorded commentary on a personal headset, and pause to explore a collection of New Zealand native plants before entering the castle. Pre-booking your tickets to Larnach Castle & Gardens ensures a smooth visit, with the flexibility to see the castle and grounds at your own pace.

Learn about Antarctic landscapes, wildlife and explorers with tickets to the International Antarctic Center in Christchurch, an award-winning experience that combines fun and education. Try to weather a harsh Antarctic storm, then hear about life on the remote Scott Base and spend some quality time with the Center’s adorable Little Blue penguins. Enjoy Hagglund rides and 4D shows, and enter the 'cuddle zone,' where you can meet, snuggle and pet the fluffy Huskies that explorers historically used to pull their Antarctic dogsleds.

There’s more to brewing beer than meets the eye, and more to brewery tours than tastings. Learn about more than a century of beer-brewing history at one of Dunedin’s most iconic breweries—Speight’s Brewery—while a guide takes you and a small group through an interactive tour. Start at the breweries’ eighth floor, work your way down to the tasting rooms, and finish with a sampling of “hero” beers.

Treat your senses to a fun challenge at the Odyssey Sensory Maze in Queenstown. Your admission ticket gives you access to the maze, which generally takes 20-30 minutes to complete, although you can spend as much time as you like. Find your way through dark spaces and physical obstacles created by lighting, sound, and room design. An ideal activity for older kids and adults of all ages.

Our most popular astronomy experience at the world-renowned astronomical research centre. Prepare for an awe-inspiring evening of discovery. Immerse yourself in the stunning surrounds, pristine night skies and sophisticated viewing technologies as our expert guides share the science and stories of our Southern Skies. Don't miss New Zealand's premier stargazing experience. Exclusive to Dark Sky Project, the Summit Experience at Mt John Observatory is in partnership with the University of Canterbury.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy learning more about beautiful alpacas at an alpaca farm. This ticket gives you admission to the farm, where you can meet the furry creatures, take some photos, and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of Akaroa. Find out about their care, their friendly nature, and how alpacas are different from llamas.

Learn about the New Zealand native bird, the kiwi, with admission to the Franz Josef Wildlife Center. Tour the largest kiwi hatching facility on the South Island and opt to include a Backstage Pass Tour, where you'll get 30 minutes of access behind the scenes. Your ticket also includes access to the West Coast storytelling areas and an interactive glacier exhibition. Buy your passes in advance to guarantee your admission to this popular attraction, great for all weather and all times of year.

Pre-book tickets to Shantytown Heritage Park to explore a replica village from New Zealand’s 19th-century gold rush, where you can ride a steam train, pan for gold, and check out the working sluice gun and sawmill. Booking Shantytown Heritage Park tickets online combines the convenience of advance planning with the flexibility to arrive at any time of day, without being limited to a fixed tour schedule.

Explore the forest canopy from high above the ground with tickets to the West Coast Treetop Walk, where a steel platform stretches more than 1,475 feet (450 mt.) through towering rimu and kamahi trees. Booking West Coast Treetop Walk tickets online ensures your place at the spectacular site, where clear days mean views of the snowy Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea from the panoramic observation tower.

Try your hand at mind-bending games and puzzles at Puzzling World in Wanaka. This prepaid admission ticket lets you plan your vacation in advance and have guaranteed admission to this popular attraction. Try out the world's first 3D Great Maze, visit the illusion rooms, and test your problem-solving skills.

Save time and skip the lines with this combo ticket to Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre’s cutting-edge ‘Knights of the Sky’ and ‘Dangerous Skies’ exhibits. Learn about New Zealand’s wartime pilots and see their stories brought to life in sets created by the award-winning WingNut Films and Weta Workshop. Enthusiasts should make a beeline to the Centre’s aviation relics: immaculately-preserved bomber planes and fighter jets from both World Wars.

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre’s Dangerous Skies exhibition tells the incredible stories of World War II’s unsung aviation heroes. See impeccably-restored bombers and fighter planes from the era and immerse yourself in the museum’s Battle of Stalingrad Experience, a multimedia extravaganza that throws you right in the middle of the infamous siege. Skip the lines and book a special guided tour of the exhibit to learn more about these stories.

Buckle up and explore the outer reaches of reality on this vortex 12D motion theater experience in Queenstown! Step inside your own personal motion theater and choose from over 80 different movie scenarios including jet-pack rides, roller coasters, alien battles and dinosaur races. With each ride combining up to 12 different features including snow, wind, rain and even bubbles, it almost feels real! Transport yourself into magical worlds where fantastic surprises await round every corner, and enjoy an out-of-this-world adventure suitable for all ages in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Embark on a journey through time and space with this ticket to the Dark Sky Experience at Lake Tekapo. No need to wait until after dark to admire the night sky at this indoor exhibition which draws on Māori astronomy and recent discoveries to tell the story of our skies. This kid-friendly attraction is ideal for families, with multimedia exhibits and hands-on activities offering something to do for everyone.

The Monteith’s Brewing Company is one of New Zealand’s oldest beer-makers and a West Coast icon. Go behind the scenes at the company’s Greymouth brewery on this exclusive tour and learn about the history behind West Coast brewing. See how Monteith’s make their beer and cider and sample some of it for yourself during a hands-on beer-tasting lesson with tasting notes to help you out.

Discover New Zealand’s only castle with an excursion from Dunedin to Larnach Castle & Gardens. You’ll join a guided tour to learn the fascinating history of the castle and of William Larnach, who built the castle in 1871 for his beloved wife, then enjoy some time to explore on your own, strolling the sumptuous gardens or taking high tea in the castle’s ballroom. The basic tour includes entrance fees and round-trip transport from a central location in Dunedin, with multiple departure times available, or opt to upgrade with some exciting extras.

Educational and entertaining, the experience highlights the science behind our night sky. Using state-of-the-art space rendering technology explore and learn about the secrets of the night sky Ever wondered what it would be like to stand inside the rings of Saturn? Or how to find the stars of the Southern Cross? This 45-minute tour will reveal the universe through the unparalleled lens of science and technology. Presented by our knowledgeable astronomy guides and captivating virtual renditions of the universe, you truly feel like you are amongst the stars. Explore the sky with your very own astronomer, learn about the southern hemisphere constellations and objects, and come out with a renewed understanding and appreciation of our place within the universe.

This is a Private Tour. We can take up to 11 passengers and as locals have been proudly showing visitors Christchurch and the South Island for over 25 years (see "E S Tours" Trip Advisor Reviews). We like to think our tours are small, friendly, informative and we look for the interesting back roads to travel away from most tour destinations and itineraries.