Best itinerary for a road trip in the south island of New Zealand

Sep 08, 2024Elodie Pellet

Landscape of Lake Matheson with a reflection in the lake

The South Island of New Zealand is a true paradise for those who love the great outdoors! This place is full of incredible scenery, warm little towns and as many outdoor activities as you can count. It promises to be an unforgettable trip! This three week itinerary is designed to help you make the most of your time in New Zealand and explore the best of what the island has to offer. From hiking, driving through the most majestic scenery, relaxing in soothing hot springs and taking a relaxing day to taste some of New Zealand's famous wines, this itinerary covers it all! So get ready for an epic road trip through one of the most beautiful places on earth!

Before you start, please note that this itinerary is a three-week road trip itinerary that only covers the South Island of New Zealand.

Day 1

Pick Up the Van: Begin your adventure by picking up your van
Groceries and General Organization: Stock up on groceries and organize your van for the trip ahead. You might find small stores along the road but it is best to prepare a few things before venturing in the wild!
Depart from Christchurch
Drive through the scenic Arthur’s Pass
Hike a short walk at Castle Hill, known for its large rock formations (Level - Easy)
Camp at the free Andrews Shelter Campsite. (Different campgrounds are provided around that area)

Landscape with rocks at Castle Hill in New zealand

Day 2

Arthur’s Village: Continue driving to Arthur’s Village
Temple Basin Track: Hike the Temple Basin Track (Level - Moderate to Hard)
Devil's Punchbowl Walking Track: Visit the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall (Level - Easy)
Camp at the free campground at Woodstock Hotel

Mountain landscape, with blue cloudy sky and snow on the top

Day 3

Hokitika Gorge Hike: Explore the stunning Hokitika Gorge (Level - Easy)
Visit Hokitika: Discover the charm of Hokitika town and beach
Amethyst Hot Springs: Take a walk to the Amethyst Hot Springs (Level - Easy)
Head towards Lake Mapourika
Camp at the Lake Mapourika Campground and enjoy a starry night with the lake’s reflections (This campground includes fees as it is part of the governement department of conservation)

Blue water of Hokitika Gorge in New zealand

Day 4

Sunrise at Lake Mapourika
Drive towards Franz Josef Glacier
Hike the Robert’s Point Track with the view on the Glacier (Level - Hard, technical)
Franz Josef Village: Relax with a beer and explore Franz Josef Village
Camp at Pat the free Peak View Point Campground with a beautiful view on the Glacier

Day 5

Enjoy breakfast with glacier and mountain views
Lake Matheson Walk: Take a walk around Lake Matheson, famous for its reflection (Level - Easy)
Hike to the Fox Glacier viewpoint and return via the Moraine Walk (Level - Easy)
Drive through Haast Pass and stop at the Tasman Sea viewpoint
Camp at the free Haast River roadside spot

Day 6

Visit the atmospheric Roaring Billy Falls
Visit the Thunder Creek Falls
Visit the Blue Pools
Wanaka & Hawea Lakes: Drive by the stunning Wanaka and Hawea Lakes
Visit Wanaka: Explore the town of Wanaka
Wanaka Beach: Enjoy the sunset on Wanaka Beach
Camp at the free Lake Hawea Campground with a beautiful view

Trees with clouds that are coming through them

Day 7

Sunrise at Lake Hawea: Watch the sunrise and have breakfast on the beach
Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Track: Hike this 7km track (Level - Moderate)
Visit the famous Wanaka Tree
Head towards Queenstown
Camp at Creeksyde Holiday Park (Paid campground)

Landscape from Rocky Mountain Track with the view on the lakes and mountains

Day 8

Explore Queenstown: Visit the highlights of Queenstown
Drive to Te Anau
Have a beer at Bailiez Bar, very cozy and wam bar
Glowworm Caves: Visit the glowworm caves with a night ferry under a starry sky
Camp at Andy’s Place: Stay at the paid campground at "Andy’s Place"

Day 9

Head to Manapouri to catch the ferry to Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound Tour: Spend a full day on the boat tour of Doubtful Sound - spotting dolphins and seals, abolsutely spectacular! For those who would want an extensive of this trip, you can also opt for an overnight cruise
Camp at Industrial Zone Campground: Stay at the donation-based campground

Doubtfull sound landscape from the boat with view on the sound and the mountains

Day 10

Drive to Milford Sound: Make your way to Milford Sound with multiple tourist stops. Even if you don't plan on staying at Milford, the drive is spectacular to do
Lake Marian Hike: Hike to Lake Marian (Level - Moderate)
Milford Sound Village: Visit the tiny village of Milford Sound
Sunset Walk: Take a walk at sunset to the jetty viewpoint with waterfalls
Camp at the paid campground at Milford Lodge (Be prepared if you want to stay overnight at Milford as this is the only campground you can stay at. To access Milford road, you will also have to go through a tunnel that is closed during the night. Check this info when planning your day!)

View on very high mountain in milford sound route

Day 11

Key Summit Hike: Hike the Key Summit Track (Level - Moderate)
Drive to Dunedin
Camp at the free Smaill’s Beach Campground
Aurora Borealis: If lucky, catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis from the beach

Key summit lanscape from the top with pond, a waling path and the mountain in the background

Day 12

Peninsula Tour: Drive around the peninsula
Sandfly Bay: Visit Sandfly Bay where you might see some sea lions!
Walk up the steepest street in the world in Dunedin
Play pool and enjoy the bar at On Top Backpackers
Stay at the free parking lot near the train station (There are multiple other camps around Dunedin)

Day 13

Head towards Lake Pukaki
Stop for breakfast at Shag Point Beach
Stop and visit the Omarama Clay Cliffs and take a short walk (Level - Easy)
Stay at the free Lake Pukaki Freedom Campground - absolutely incredible spot to camp at. It is recommended to arrive more or less early as a lot of people will camp there for the night

Day 14

Head to Mount Cook
Hike the technical Mueller Hut Route (Level - hard and technical). You can also consider to sleep at the Hut at the top that is spacious and have all of the basic equipment for a hut
Explore the village of Mount Cook
Stay at the paid White Horse Hill Campsite

View from the Huller hut route, with glaciers, lakes and mountains

Day 15

Hike the Hooker Valley Track (Level - Easy)
Tasman Glacier View track (Level - Easy)
Tasman Lake Jetty and River Walk (Level - Easy)
Continue driving towards Tekapo
Camp at the free Edwards Stream Campground

Tasman glacier lake view with icebergs and mountains in the backfground

Day 16

Early Morning Hike for the sunrise - Mount John Walkway at sunrise (Level - Easy to Moderate)
Head towards Lewis Pass
Camp at the campground Maruia Hot Springs
Night Hot Springs: Relax in the hot springs at night

Morning landscape with pink and red sky with an observatory and mountains on the background

Day 17

Start the day with a free yoga class
Hot Springs: Enjoy another soak in the hot springs
Head towards Nelson
Camp at the free Wakapuaka Reserve Car Park

Hot spring with rocks and mountains in the background

Day 18

Head towards Picton, enjoying the scenic route along the northern fjords
Take a short hike to the Queen Charlotte View (Level - Easy)
Camp at the campground run by Peter at Watson’s Way Lodge

Mountains with cloud and light that goes through

Day 19

Winery Tour: Rent bicycles at the lodge and go on a winery tour
Visit Whitehaven Winery
Number One Family Estate Winery: Enjoy free bubbly wine tasting
Visit Forrest Winery
Visit Framingham Winery
Camp at the campground run by Peter at Watson’s Way Lodge

Day 20

Drive down along the coast through Kaikoura
Return the van

Before you take off on this new adventure, check out our other blog "Things to know before visiting New Zealand" to help you organize your trip!

Safe and happy travels!