For a country like New Zealand that’s split into two parts, it can be tempting to pit them against each other and choose which one is better. However, both islands have their share of that undeniable Kiwi charm, each in its own unique manner. Which of New Zealand’s islands is better to visit? Well, that all depends on what you’re looking for in Aotearoa. Here’s how New Zealand’s North Island and South Island stack up.
Best island for Maori culture
The first people to set foot on New Zealand, the Maori arrived 700 years ago, said to have been guided there by the semi-legendary Kupe, and landed at Hokianga Harbour on the North Island. Once they arrived, the different Maori iwi (tribes) explored and settled all over Aotearoa, and Maori culture still suffuses the land. If you’re looking to learn about Maori history and culture, every corner of New Zealand has its own story, but the most popular cultural experience villages and museums dedicated to documenting Maori history are found on the North Island. We highly recommend facing down the haka in Rotorua and learning about Maori history at Wellington’s Te Papa Museum.
Winner: North Island
Experience it for yourself on: Highlights of New Zealand
Best island for hiking
Both the North Island and the South Island have some incredible hiking adventures. The North Island’s Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a full-day, 19km (12 mi) hike over a volcano. In one of the most unique landscapes in the country, this hike takes you through New Zealand’s first national park, where you see the iconic emerald pools waiting at the top. The North Island is also more densely populated, meaning most hikes are easily accessible.
Not to be outdone, the South Island has scores of amazing hikes that wind their way through the Southern Alps. Some of them even require a helicopter to reach! For you multi-day maniacs, there’s always the option to spend three or four days traversing Abel Tasman National Park, one of the most beautiful natural environments in all of Aotearoa.
Winner: South Island, but only by a Kiwi feather
Experience it for yourself on: New Zealand – South Island Multisport
Best island for New Zealand wildlife
New Zealand is home to unique wildlife. New Zealand’s fauna (mostly large birds) evolved in isolation for thousands of years before humans changed the habitat by introducing larger mammals and predators. One of the most popular wildlife experiences in New Zealand remains the glowworm caves of Waitomo on the North Island.
However, the South Island’s reputation as the “wild island” means that it shines in terms of animal life. Thirteen penguin species can be found splashing in the southern fiords, along with dolphins, southern right whales, and the iconic (and mischievous) kea bird. New Zealand’s national animal, the kiwi, is found on both islands, but it’s most commonly seen in the wild on the South Island’s west coast or on Stewart Island.
Winner: South Island
Experience it for yourself on: Australia to New Zealand: The Best of the South Pacific
Best island for city culture
When comparing cities on the North Island and South Island, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the frenetic hustle and bustle of New York or London, well, you might be on the wrong continent. However, Auckland on the North Island is New Zealand’s biggest city and its financial, educational, and economic centre and is the Kiwi equivalent of a major metropolis. Wellington, the national capital at the southernmost tip of the North Island, is a beautiful city that embraces the natural landscape of forested hills and yawning bays. Wellington’s coffee shop culture is second to none, and Cuba Street offers a fantastic night out.
In contrast, the South Island doesn’t have too many big cities, with Christchurch, its biggest city, about four times smaller than Auckland.
Winner: North Island
Experience it for yourself on: New Zealand: Best of the North Island
Best island for adventure activities
If you’re going to New Zealand without going bungee jumping, skydiving, or rafting, then your travel insurance provider is probably thanking you, because these options are everywhere. It’s difficult to choose a winner for this category because adventure activities are so ubiquitous that you can find options anywhere you spend the night in New Zealand. If you’re in Taupo on the North Island, you can jet ski on the lake and go whitewater rafting on the Huka River.
Queenstown is one of the world’s adventure activity capitals, and jumping on the Shotover Jet boat is the perfect warm-up before bungee jumping in the Nevis Valley.
Winner: While Rotorua in the North probably has the most options, we’ve opted for scale. The South Island, especially Queenstown, is a must-visit for thrill-seekers.
Experience it for yourself on: New Zealand: South Island Encompassed
Best island for New Zealand’s wineries
While there is some friendly competition between the North Island and South Island on this list, the best winery island in New Zealand has a clear winner: the South. Most of the wines produced in New Zealand come from the Marlborough region. Indeed, Marlborough wines make up 85% of all wines produced in New Zealand, and 70% of the Marlborough region is dedicated entirely to wine production. The other 15% of wine production in New Zealand is spread between the North and South Islands, but Napier and Auckland are the main wine-producing regions of the North.
Winner: South Island
Experience it for yourself on: Journeys: Discover New Zealand
Best island for geothermal activity
As a country on a fault line, New Zealand is alternatively cursed and blessed with dangerous earthquakes and spectacular geothermal sites. One of the best places to experience the mesmerizing sights, sounds, and (unfortunately) smells of New Zealand’s geothermal activity is Rotorua. Between Rotorua and Taupo, you’re never too far from multi-coloured pools and bubbling vents. One of our favourites is Orakei Korako, a sprawling geothermal park that’s so isolated that you have to take a boat to get there.
While the South Island has some geothermal areas, such as Hanmer Springs, most of the activity is around Rotorua.
Winner: North Island
Experience it for yourself on: New Zealand: Best of the North Island
Best island for glacier activities
If you’re looking to walk on glaciers, drink from glaciers, or swim in glacier water, then head directly for the South Island. The Southern Alps along the west coast have a few options, each more iconic and heart-racing than the last. Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, two of the most famous on the wild coast, are renowned for their otherworldly appearances up close. Queenstown also has flyover and heli-hike options, landing on glaciers in Mt Aspiring National Park. Milford Sound was created by glaciers and continues to be fed by dozens of them on the towering peaks surrounding the fjord.
Winner: South Island
Experience it for yourself on: Australia & New Zealand: A Month Down Under
Best island for beaches
Unlike the Northern Hemisphere, the further south you go in New Zealand, the colder you’re likely to be, so it makes sense that the most temperate weather and best beaches are more concentrated around the North Island. Bragging rights for the best beaches in New Zealand usually go to Northland, but the beaches around Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Bay of Plenty are also spectacular.
However, if you’re on the west coast of the South Island and want a unique experience, make the winding drive out to the black sand and smoothed driftwood of Gillespie’s Beach.
Winner: North Island
Experience it for yourself on: Best of New Zealand: Mountain Biking & Black-Sand Beaches
Best island for Lord of the Rings activities
The North Island has bragging rights for being the heart of The Lord of the Rings films because Wellington was where most of the production took place. In Wellington, you can visit Weta Workshop, which continues to produce special effects and props for movies today. A day trip north takes you to Hobbiton, which was torn down after shooting but built up again for The Hobbit. Don’t forget Mt Doom, filmed in Tongariro National Park, or Rivendell, filmed in the Hutt Valley just north of Wellington. While more close-ups may have been filmed up north, many of the most iconic establishing shots can be found around the South Island, like Isengard (in Paradise), Edoras (Canterbury), and Lothlorien (Glenorchy).
Winner: While there are some incredible natural sights down south, the sheer amount of iconic locations up on the North Island takes this round.
Experience it for yourself on: Highlights of New Zealand
