Awash in prospectors during the gold rush of the 1860s, the South Island boasts a colonial history that’s as rich as the soil, where some of the world’s finest wine grapes are grown. The island’s elongated shape makes it ideal for driving its length and breadth, with must-see sights ranging from Milford Sound and Fiordland on the west coast to Christchurch and Dunedin on the east, with stunning resort towns Queenstown and Wanaka nestled in between.