WANAKA is the gateway to the Southern Alps’ Mountain Aspiring National Park. It seemed like anybody who had access to an Instagram account was glued to their screens in November of last year when personality and restaurateur Erwan Heussaff tied the knot with actress Anne Curtis in Queenstown, New Zealand. Apart from hosting a star-studded wedding, the celebrity powerhouse couple also found time to go on an unforgettable road trip through the South Island.

In a media cookout event hosted by Tourism New Zealand, Erwan shared his love especially for the South Island in New Zealand where he witnessed some of the purest natural landscapes one will ever experience. Check out some of his favorite #NZMustDo’s in the South Island.

On the southern shores of Lake Wanaka, the resort town of the same name offers outdoor adventures and indoor luxury aplenty. But Wanaka’s not just for outdoor enthusiasts – stroll the streets and be inspired by cool galleries, stylish shops and a great selection of cafés and restaurants.

It is also a prime destination for luxury getaways. Its many prestige lodges and boutique B&Bs combine privacy and pampering, and perfectly complement options such as helicopter tours, vintage plane rides and back-country 4WD touring.

Hailed as one of the greatest road trips in the world, the West Coast drive from Hokitika on State Highway 6, will see you pass icy-looking rivers spanned by one-lane bridges, with the deep green of Westland Tai Poutini National Park looming up on your left. Catch the Franz Josef and the Fox glaciers, where one can go from easy guided or self-guided walks to scenic flights and heli-landings on the glacier.

The mesmerising Lake Matheson, described by Lonely Planet as “a hidden jewel” of the West Coast, is also part of the forested shoreline just six kilometers from the Fox glaciers. On a good day, New Zealand’s highest peaks, Aoraki Mt. Cook and Mt. Tasman are reflected in the still mirror-like waters.

One of the two glaciers down West Coast, Franz Josef is five kilometres from the town of the same name, and a 1.5 hour walk will take one to within 750 meters of its terminal face. One can take a guided ice walk or a heli-hike to make an actual contact with the glacier. Aerial sightseeing is another option.

There is also a range of natural attractions in close proximity to Franz Josef Glacier Village. There are rainforests, waterfalls, and lakes. Relax at the Glacier Hot Pools or explore the wildlife center. At nearby Lake Mapourika, one can take a kayak tour or rent a stand-up paddle board.

Nestled up against the Southern Alps, Central Otago is the world’s southernmost wine region. What makes Central Otago even more remarkable is that many of its wineries are family-owned and full of colorful characters, following philosophies of low cropping and handcrafting, while pushing the geographical boundaries of grape growing right to the edge.

There is a range of wine trails to suit any wine lover’s needs, including a new walking wine trail that visits four of Central Otago’s top wine producers – Misha’s Vineyard, Aurum Wines, Scott Base and Wooing Tree Vineyard – while capturing some wonderful scenery through orchards and around Lake Dunstan.

Ben Lomond towers above Queenstown and offers a rare opportunity to ascend a lofty New Zealand peak via a well-trodden route. Travellers can take the gentler route and grab a scenic ride from town up the Skyline Gondola (four-hour return) or start the hike from downtown Queenstown (six-hour return).

Panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables mountain range and Mount Earnslaw await one at the top, which is 1,748 meters above sea level.