Forty Five South

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Forty Five South Private Tours & Transport. Queenstown, New Zealand.

Winter in the South Island ❄️There’s a certain stillness to the South Island in winter.The mountains hold their snow, th...
26/08/2026

Winter in the South Island ❄️

There’s a certain stillness to the South Island in winter.

The mountains hold their snow, the mornings are crisp and clear, and the lakes can sit perfectly still beneath the ranges. It’s a quieter side of New Zealand, but one that’s hard to forget.

And perhaps that’s what makes the South Island so special. Every season brings something different. Winter has its snow and frosts, summer brings long golden days, autumn fills the landscape with colour, and spring brings everything back to life.

Whenever you choose to visit, there’s always something worth seeing.

Aurora Australis ✨One of the South Island’s most spectacular natural phenomena. Caused by charged particles from the Sun...
20/08/2026

Aurora Australis ✨

One of the South Island’s most spectacular natural phenomena. Caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, the result can be incredible displays of green, pink and purple across the southern sky.

New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to experience the Southern Lights, particularly from the South Island. The darker skies and southern latitude give you a much better chance of seeing them, with March to September generally being the best time of year.

This image was captured on a long exposure from Coronet Peak, Queenstown. A camera can reveal colours and detail that are often difficult, or sometimes impossible, to see with the naked eye.

Another great reason to visit the South of NZ.

Spring in the South Island 🏔️Taken from Peak Hill above Lake Coleridge, Canterbury, a landscape that captures just how d...
14/08/2026

Spring in the South Island 🏔️

Taken from Peak Hill above Lake Coleridge, Canterbury, a landscape that captures just how diverse Aotearoa’s South Island can be.

From vivid green high country pastures and winding streams to rugged tussock covered slopes and snow still clinging to the Southern Alps, the landscape changes dramatically with altitude and season.

Lake Coleridge was carved by glaciers during the last ice age, leaving behind the deep valley and dramatic mountain scenery seen today. Peak Hill rises to 1,240 metres above the lake, offering sweeping views across the surrounding high country.

This is one of the things we love most about travelling through the South Island. You can experience so many different landscapes within a single journey.

A lovely winter’s day on tour in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Not to be missed while exploring the South Island.Just...
06/08/2026

A lovely winter’s day on tour in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Not to be missed while exploring the South Island.

Just over three hours from Queenstown, the journey leads through the heart of the Southern Alps to New Zealand’s highest peaks and grandest glaciers.

Established in 1953, the national park is steeped in history and forms part of an International Dark Sky Reserve.

The first image captures the view from Sealy Tarns, reached by a climb of 2,200 steps up the mountain. Above the cloud line, the tranquil alpine tarns offer panoramic views across the Ho**er Valley and Mueller Glacier.

A landscape worth experiencing in every season.

The road to Glenorchy is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. Not to be missed while staying in Queenstown.Just 45 m...
30/07/2026

The road to Glenorchy is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. Not to be missed while staying in Queenstown.

Just 45 minutes from town, the road follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu past alpine views and snow dusted peaks, once reachable only by steamer before being carved into the cliffs and sealed over the decades.

Glenorchy is quiet and serene, a place to slow down. Stroll the historic wharf, the Glenorchy Lagoon walkway, and nearby Paradise Valley.

A drive worth taking slowly.

Tiaki means to care for people and place.New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here shares the res...
20/07/2026

Tiaki means to care for people and place.

New Zealand is precious, and everyone who lives and travels here shares the responsibility of looking after it.

The Tiaki Promise is a commitment to care for this country now and for the generations who follow, and Forty Five South has made that commitment.

For us it’s practical rather than symbolic. We’re owner-operated, running a single vehicle and small private groups, so our footprint stays modest by design.

We guide under a Department of Conservation concession, which sets real conditions on how we treat the places we take you.

We keep to formed tracks, give wildlife plenty of room, and carry out everything we carry in.

Swipe through for the five parts of the promise.

We’re proud to own and operate high quality vehicles like this modern Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.A twelve seater with leathe...
20/07/2026

We’re proud to own and operate high quality vehicles like this modern Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

A twelve seater with leather seats, plenty of legroom, generous luggage space and a high roof, all of it built around comfort.

It makes those long journeys on tour in New Zealand all the more enjoyable. Sit back, relax, enjoy the views, and perhaps even take a nap.

We’re now taking bookings for the 2026/27 summer season.

Enquire today. We look forward to seeing you.

Kia ora, and welcome to Forty Five South.My name is Aaron, the founder and director and a proud Kiwi. We’re a tour compa...
20/07/2026

Kia ora, and welcome to Forty Five South.

My name is Aaron, the founder and director and a proud Kiwi. We’re a tour company based in Queenstown, specialising in private tours and transport throughout New Zealand.

We create bespoke experiences that take you to world-class locations across the South Island, including Milford Sound, Aoraki Mount Cook, Glenorchy and Paradise, and many more.
We also provide multi-day tours across the whole of the country.

Forty Five South was born out of a pure passion for showing discerning travellers my backyard, and giving them the experience of this beautiful country that they deserve. That means slowing down and appreciating the quiet, the nature, the serenity, which I think is what makes Aotearoa New Zealand so special.

The name refers to the 45th parallel south, the line of latitude that circles the earth. While it crosses very little land anywhere on the globe, it runs directly through Queenstown and the Otago region where we’re based, and marks out a rare part of the world.

Enquire today. We look forward to seeing you!

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Queenstown

Telephone

+642885112962

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