A rowdy seal convention in the Catlins

Stretching along the South Island's rugged southeast coast, the Catlins is a wildlife voyeur's wonderland.

The area extends from Nugget Point in Otago to Waipapa Point in Southland, linked by a narrow, winding 126-km coastal road.

Sandboarding down the dunes is the perfect way to waste a day in the Hokianga.

The road heading north to the Hokianga snakes through the lush Waipoua Kauri Forest before rounding a bend and unveiling the sparkling Hokianga Harbour.

The main street in Middle Earth

Located in prime Lord of the Rings country at the head of Lake Wakatipu, the teensy mountain-ringed town of Glenorchy is the gateway to some of the best tramps in the South Island - the Greenstone, Routeburn and the Caples tracks.