Southern destinations dominate a list of New Zealand's most popular tourist venues.

The Automobile Association has asked New Zealanders to vote for their favourite tourism activity as it compiles a list of "101 Must-Dos for Kiwis" in Aotearoa.

Nine out of the top 10 destinations are in the south. Hanmer Springs, Doubtful Sound, Stewart Island, the Abel Tasman National Park, Milford Sound, the Marlborough Sounds, the Kaikoura coast, Fiordland National Park and Aoraki/Mount Cook have all been in the top 10 throughout the campaign.

The Bay of Islands is the only North Island spot to be regularly in the top 10.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism general manager, marketing, Chris Griffin said the dominance of South Island sites at the top of the list was not a huge surprise.

"They're most of our iconic holiday destinations when you think about it, both for domestic and international visitors. They're the big icons that come to mind when you think about your favourite places." AA Tourism general manager Peter Blackwell said the South Island was a "majestic kind of place".

"It has a lot of places that New Zealanders think represents what we think New Zealand is all about."

SOURCE: By JANINE BENNETTS - The Press