South Island Itinerary

Get ready for the journey of a lifetime – this driving route will introduce you to the very best of the South Island from top to bottom and from coast to sparkling coast.

Start: Christchurch
Finish: Christchurch
Minimum Length: 14 days
Distance: approximately 2,894 km

Day 1 Christchurch – Methven [106 km; 1 hr, 30 min]

Your journey begins in Christchurch. Once you’ve taken time to explore what this city has to offer, have breakfast at one of the many excellent local cafés and hit the road. Drive west along SH 73 to SH 72. Heading south along Inland Scenic Route 72, you’ll experience the essence of the Canterbury Plains as you drive long roads past fields fringed with tall hedges. Take some time at the Rakaia Gorge Bridge to enjoy the scenery, then, south of the Rakaia River, detour east along SH 77 to Methven. Spend the remainder of your day sampling Methven’s outdoor activities – skiing or snowboarding at Mt Hutt are options sure to attract wintertime visitors.

Day 2 Methven – Geraldine – Timaru – Lake Tekapo [243 km; 3 hr, 34 min]

Keen golfers may like to get up early for a round of golf before continuing their journey back to Inland Scenic Route 72 and south to Geraldine [85 km; 1 hr, 14 min], a pretty town known for its boutique stores and gourmet goodies. Head east to SH 1 and drive to Timaru [54 km; 50 min]. Stop for lunch and explore Caroline Bay. Afterwards, drive west into the scenic Mackenzie Country, and onwards to Tekapo [104 km; 1 hr, 40 min]. Stop to admire the lakeside Church of the Good Shepherd, then spend the afternoon at Lake Tekapo enjoying the great outdoors – perhaps fishing or hiking – and later go stargazing at Mt John Observatory.

Day 3 Lake Tekapo – Twizel – Oamaru [204 km; 3 hr]

Start your day with a flightseeing tour by helicopter – the ultimate way to enjoy the scenery including Mt Cook. Next, drive south along SH 8, seeing the landscape from another perspective on your way to Twizel [58 km; 50 min]. Stop for lunch in Twizel. Continue south to Omarama, a popular place for gliding. Turn off SH 8 and head east along SH 83 through the beautiful Waitaki Valley to Oamaru [146 km; 2 hr, 8 min]. Spend the remainder of the day exploring this historic town with its lovely whitestone architecture. At dusk, visit the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony to watch the world’s smallest penguins come ashore.

Day 4 Oamaru – Dunedin [115 km; 1 hr, 40 min]

Drive south along SH 1 to Dunedin, stopping at Moeraki to investigate its huge boulders. Spend the rest of the day sampling the many experiences Dunedin has to offer. History buffs will enjoy combing fantastic museums and historic houses such as Larnach Castle. Get back to nature – join a Monarch Wildlife Cruise or drive out along Otago Peninsula to visit the Royal Albatross Centre and the NZ Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium. Allow time to explore the shops and architecture of the city, finishing with dinner and perhaps a leisurely beer or wine at a cosy pub.

Day 5 Dunedin – Invercargill [222 km; 3 hr, 10 min]

Continue south to Balclutha on the Clutha River [83 km; 1 hr, 12 min]. From here, you can take a detour to the Catlins – a wilderness area that begins 20 minutes’ drive south of Balclutha on SH 92. Back on SH 1, drive west to Gore [73 km; 1 hr], a small town famous for its Brown Trout. Visit the Hokonui Moonshine Museum to learn about colourful local history. Afterwards, continue to Invercargill [66 km; 1 hr] and explore this hospitable southern town with its excellent museum and restaurants. Drive a further 25 minutes south to Bluff for spectacular views of the Southern Ocean. (Optional – add an extra day to your itinerary with a detour to Stewart Island.)

Day 6 Invercargill – Te Anau – Milford Sound [273 km; 4 hr, 45 min]

Make sure your camera is charged (or loaded with film!) because Day 6 is a visual treat. Drive north from Invercargill along SH 6 through Southland’s countryside. At Lumsden, take SH 94 west to the lakeside town of Te Anau [152 km; 2 hr, 25 min]. Visit the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre for an insight into the region’s natural treasures before setting out for Milford Sound [121 km; 2 hr, 20 min]. A guided tour is an excellent option that allows you to focus on the scenery. At Milford Sound, join a kayaking tour or eco-cruise to see the fiord up-close. (Optional – add an extra day to your itinerary by staying overnight in Te Anau before joining a guided tour to Milford Sound.)

Day 7 Milford Sound – Queenstown [291 km; 5 hr, 5 min]

After breakfast, return to Te Anau [121 km; 2 hr, 20 min] before driving to Lumsden and turning north onto SH 6. From here, drive through rugged mountains and along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown [170 km; 2 hr, 45 min]. This busy town is most famous as the centre of a renowned outdoor playground, so after lunch it’s time to get out there! You can sample bungy jumping, jet boating, 4WD adventures, hiking or horse riding, and much more. Finish your day at one of Queenstown’s nightspots.

Day 8 Queenstown – Wanaka [123 km; 1 hr, 50 min]

Enjoy a leisurely start with a round of golf or spa treatment. Catch the Skyline Gondola for fabulous views then drive to Arrowtown and explore this historic village [24 km; 20 min]. The most direct route to Wanaka is via the Crown Range, but this is a challenging drive so you may prefer to travel via the Kawarau Gorge and SH 6 [99 km; 1 hr, 30 min]. After lunch, get outdoors and explore. Whether you go hiking, jet boating or skiing (in winter), the scenery provides an unforgettable backdrop. Unwind later with a visit to Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World and its mind-boggling puzzles.

Day 9 Wanaka – Franz Josef [285 km; 5 hr, 55 min]

The drive on Day 9 is truly amazing, hugging the shoreline of Lake Hawea and then Lake Wanaka before climbing to Haast Pass – the pass is only 160 kilometres long but took more than 30 years to carve out of the rock. Lush rainforest marks your arrival on the West Coast as the road winds down to Haast [145 km; 3 hr, 20 min]. Stop for coffee before heading north to Fox Glacier [117 km; 1 hr, 40 min]. Here you can join a guided glacier tour on an amazing river of ice. Later, drive to Franz Josef [23 km; 20 hr] and spend the evening relaxing in a cosy and atmospheric pub.

Day 10 Franz Josef – Greymouth [180 km; 2 hr, 30 min]

This morning you may choose to drive up to the glacier carpark and take a 20-minute walk to Franz Josef Glacier or join a flightseeing tour. Afterwards, take your time and enjoy the winding drive north to Hokitika [136 km; 2 hr]. Stop for lunch and visit a local craft gallery to see pounamu (greenstone) carvings being made. In the afternoon, continue on to Greymouth [44 km; 40 min]. Spend the remainder of the day enjoying this West Coast town, perhaps visiting the recreated pioneering Shantytown.

Day 11 Greymouth – Nelson [331 km; 4 hr, 35 min]

Day 11 begins with a picturesque coastal drive, stopping to visit the blowholes at Punakaiki Pancake Rocks on your way to Westport [101 km; 1 hr, 25 min]. Here you can visit craft galleries and the seal colony at Cape Foulwind. From Westport, backtrack to the Murchison turn-off. Drive east through rainforest-clad valleys to the village of Murchison [101 km; 1 hr, 25 min]. This pretty village, the gateway to Nelson, is an ideal place to stop for refreshments. Continue your journey to Nelson [129 km; 1 hr, 55 min] and spend the rest of the day enjoying this charming laid-back town with its museums, art and craft galleries and celebrated eateries. (Optional – add an extra day to your itinerary with a detour to Abel Tasman and Golden Bay.)

Day 12 Nelson – Blenheim [116 km; 1 hr, 45 min]

This morning, head northeast along SH 6, the Treasured Pathway, to Havelock [73 km; 1 hr]. This picturesque seaside village is a popular launching point for charter boat cruises in Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds. It’s also a centre of the Greenshell Mussel industry, so if you’re partial to seafood make sure you stop for lunch! From Havelock, travel south to Blenheim [45 km; 40 min]. From here, you can take a 25-minute detour to Picton on Queen Charlotte Sound for a sea kayaking adventure – but make sure you allow time to sample some of Marlborough’s wonderful local wines at the cellar door!

Day 13 Blenheim – Kaikoura – Hanmer Springs [263 km; 3 hr, 50 min]

After you’ve stocked up on your favourite wines, drive across the Wairau Plain and south along the coast to Kaikoura [129 km; 1 hr, 50 min]. Famous for its marine wildlife against a backdrop of forest-clad mountains, Kaikoura is the perfect place to join a whale-watching cruise to see these amazing animals in their natural environment. Afterwards, enjoy lunch in the village – perhaps fresh fish ‘n’ chips! – before driving inland via SH 70 to Hanmer Springs [134 km; 2 hr]. Get your adrenaline pumping with an outdoor adventure such as jet boating or bungy jumping, then take a relaxing soak in the thermal pools.

Day 14 Hanmer Springs – Christchurch [145 km; 2 hr, 7 min]

You may like to start the final day of your tour with a gentle forest stroll or an indulgent spa treatment in the tranquil alpine village of Hanmer Springs before heading south along SH 7 to the Waipara Valley [79 km; 1 hr, 9 min]. Here you can visit a winery and sample local wines along with your lunch, before the final leg of your journey – an easy drive south to Christchurch [66 km; 1 hr].

Highlights

Abel Tasman National Park Explore sheltered coves and forest-fringed beaches. Marlborough wineries A premium wine-growing region producing world-famous Sauvignon Blanc. Whale watching Catch a glimpse of these deep-sea giants at Kaikoura. Aoraki Mt Cook New Zealand’s highest peak presides over an alpine region of exquisite beauty. Adrenaline rush Bungy jumping, skiing, jet boating, white-water rafting … adventure awaits in Queenstown. Fiordland A spellbinding region of pristine forest and fiords. Heritage From Dunedin’s Scottish roots and oh-so-English Christchurch, to the down-and-dirty history of the Gold Rush era, it’s paradise for history buffs.