If you're planning on booking some round the world flights, chances are you'll want to include New Zealand. Not only is stunningly unspoilt, it's also a free stopover on most round the world tickets. The South Island of New Zealand has incredible landscapes and there is so much to see and do here it's difficult to know what to leave out, especially if your time is limited. With a focus on the natural beauty, here are just a few things you won't want to miss out on:

1) Whale watching, Kaikoura
Kaikoura is located on the rugged east coast between Christchurch & Picton and the spectacular coastline is towered over by the Kaikoura Mountain Ranges. A deep undersea canyon just offshore and unusual sea currents combine to make this an unbeatable place to see an abundance of marine life, most famously the Sperm Whale. These giant whales are resident all year round but depending on the season you may also be lucky enough to see the following migrating: Humpback, Pilot, Blue and Southern Right Whales.

2) Walk the Queen Charlotte Track, Marlborough Sounds
The Marlborough Sounds is a stunning coastal landscape, a beautiful area of islands and peninsulas where the untamed forest meets the sea. It's not on the main tourist track, so the peace and solitude you find waiting for you make you feel like you've uncovered a hidden gem. The Queen Charlotte track is a 71km path that leads you along shorelines, through forest and up on to ridgelines which reward you with panoramic views across the islands. You can walk it comfortably in 4 days and there's no shortage of excellent accommodation en route where you can rest those weary limbs.

3) Kayaking, Abel Tasman
Situated on the north coast just to the west of Marlborough Sounds, the Abel Tasman National Park is hard to beat for unspoilt natural beauty. Forest clad hills meet pristine sandy beaches and national park status means that there is virtually no development here. The combination of crystal clear, calm seas and hidden coves make it the perfect place to explore by kayak.

4) Skydiving, Wanaka
If you prefer something a bit more adventurous, then jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet should get the adrenaline going. The beautiful mountains and lakes around the town of Wainaka make this one of the most spectacular places to skydive in the world.

5) Take a cruise around Doubtful Sound
Situated in the heart of the Fiordland National Park, Doubtful Sound is less well known than its neighbour Milford but it's every bit as breathtakingly beautiful. It's also a lot bigger and is home to fur seals and bottlenose dolphins. If you're really lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.

These are just a handful of the amazing things to see and do on the South Island - to discover them you'll just have to go there yourself!