Photos of the South Island that You Have to Take!
Do you suffer from lack of imagination? Are you a sucker for copying other people? Then you have come to the right place. Being in New Zealand, you can feel like a bit like sheep by following the crowd. (Yes, the sheep in New Zealand are pretty inspiring). So we have gathered some photos of the South Island that people like to take so you can copy them too. You’re welcome.
Don’t fret, there are photos you can take on the North Island too. 10 Token Tourist Photos You Have to Take on the North Island.
1. Wildlife Selfie
Probably one of the harder token tourism photos to take but it is a challenge any serious traveller should accept!
Location: Kaikoura, South Island
2. Eaten by a Moeraki Boulder
Hilarious! Find the Moeraki Boulders between Dunedin and Oamaru. It’s also one of the 10 Unique & Unusual Things to Do on the South Island.
Location: Moeraki, South Island
3. Gazing at an Amazing View
If you know what is good for you, you will gaze into the distance for the camera. It’s artsy enough to get a couple of extra likes on Instagram. You can pretty much do this anywhere in New Zealand, but for this example, we’ve used Milford Sound.
Location: Milford Sound, South Island
4. Cruising in Milford Sound
Ok, we all know you’re going to Milford Sound so here’s another photo opportunity. There’s always time to capture part of your cruise ship in Milford Sound. Nothing says New Zealand like the flag.
Location: Milford Sound, South Island
5. Token Architecture
Everyone needs a token piece of architecture in their photo album, like the most photographed building in NZ, Dunedin Railway Station.
Location: Dunedin, South Island
6. Waterfall in the Mouth
How clever! This particular waterfall is Thunder Creek Falls along the Haast Pass Highway between Haast and Wanaka.
Location: Thunder Creek Falls, South Island
7. Church of the Good Shepherd
It will be amazing if you see this church looking this empty. Everyone wants a photo of it standing so proudly in front of Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps.
Location: Tekapo, South Island
8. Show Sass in a Glacier
Don’t be boring in a glacier. Pretend your stuck, wiggle into an ice cave, look like you’re being swallowed by a crevasse… The possibilities are endless!
Location: Tasman Glacier, South Island
9. Jump Off a Wharf
In particular, the wharf at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park.
Location: Nelson Lakes National Park, South Island
10. Endless Photos from the Ferry Between the North and South Islands
You have a few hours to kill on the ferry between the North Island and South Island, so people tend to fill that time taking photos. Needless to say that the cruise is absolutely stunning and the ferry trip is much more than “transportation”, it’s an experience!
Location: Cook Strait, North and South Island
More Token Tourist Photos of the South Island
- 10 Photos That Will Make You Want to Explore New Zealand Right Now
- South Island in Two Weeks: New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary
- The Best Way to Spend 7 Days in the South Island
- 20 Places Off the Beaten Track in the South Island
Plus, have you planned your route yet? Check out the following itineraries for the places to visit between the best token tourist photos to take in the South Island!
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Adventure Mark (Health and Safety Audit - Updated [2024])
- Work Safe NZ (Adventure Activities Guidelines - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
About The Author
Laura S.
This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.