Up to 30% off international hotel stays
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
We've done all the work for you and made three unbeatable South Island New Zealand itineraries for road trips as short as a week or as long as two weeks.
All our itineraries start in Christchurch as many airlines, including Jetstar, fly into this hub from Australia. If you're flying into Queenstown, you can tweak your trip to start here instead as all these itineraries are round-trip drives that pass through the adventure capital.
7-day South Island road trip
Christchurch – Franz Josef – Queenstown – Milford Sound – Christchurch
- Distance: 1,352.8km (or 1,927.6km including Milford Sound)
- Highlights and attractions: Queenstown, Milford Sound, Arthur's Pass, Lake Tekapo
- Landscape: Mountains, glaciers, lakes and coastal scenery
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
Day | Itinerary |
---|---|
Day 1
| Christchurch to Hokitika |
Day 2
| Hokitika to Franz Josef |
Day 3
| Franz Josef to Wanaka |
Day 4
| Wanaka to Queenstown |
Day 5
If you add Milford Sound onto your trip, you'll add 574.8km. The return drive is 7 hours | Day trip to Milford Sound |
Day 6
| Queenstown to Lake Tekapo |
Day 7
| Lake Tekapo to Christchurch |
Our recommended hotels
10-day South Island road trip
Christchurch - Tekapo - Queenstown - Te Anau - Wanaka - Franz Josef - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch
- Distance: 2,079km
- Highlights and attractions: Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef Glacier, Arthur's Pass, Te Anau, Milford Sound
- Landscape: Mountains, glaciers, lakes and coastal scenery
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
Day | Itinerary |
---|---|
Day 1
| Christchurch to Lake Tekapo |
Day 2
| Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki day trip |
Day 3
| Lake Tekapo to Queenstown |
Day 4
| Queenstown |
Day 5
| Queenstown to Te Anau |
Day 6
| Te Anau to Milford Sound |
Day 7
| Te Anau to Wanaka |
Day 8
| Wanaka to Franz Josef |
Day 9
| Franz Josef to Arthur's Pass |
Day 10
| Arthur's Pass to Christchurch |
Our recommended hotels
14-day South Island road trip
Christchurch - Tekapo - The Catlins - Te Anau - Queenstown - Glenorchy - Wanaka - Franz Josef - Nelson - Kaikoura - Christchurch
- Distance: 2,786km
- Highlights and attractions: Queenstown, Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, glow worm caves, Abel Tasman National Park
- Landscape: Mountains, lakes, coastline
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
Day | Itinerary |
---|---|
Day 1
| Christchurch to Lake Tekapo |
Day 2
| Lake Tekapo to The Catlins |
Day 3
| The Catlins to Te Anau |
Day 4
| Te Anau to Milford Sound |
Day 5
| Te Anau to Queenstown |
Day 6
| Day trip to Glenorchy |
Day 7
| Queenstown |
Day 8
| Queenstown |
Day 9
| Queenstown/Arrowtown to Wanaka |
Day 10
| Wanaka to Franz Josef |
Day 11
| Franz Josef to Nelson |
Day 12
| Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park |
Day 13
| Nelson to Kaikoura |
Day 14
| Kaikoura to Christchurch |
Our recommended hotels
New Zealand South Island overview
- Weather: New Zealand weather can change quickly so it's best to expect the unexpected. Temperatures reach an average of 25°C in the summer and as low as 12°C in the winter. Average rainfall is higher in the winter but expect it year-round. There will be snow in the mountains, so keep that in mind if hiking is a part of your itinerary.
- Best time to visit: While summer is the best time to travel for weather we recommend road tripping around New Zealand in autumn (March to May) when the colours are pretty, there are less people and accommodation doesn't get booked as fast.
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
- Safety: It can drop below freezing point in the winter on the South Island and the roads can be windy, so it's recommended to drive carefully, stick to speed limits and make sure you have adequate car rental excess insurance in case anything goes wrong.
Want to hire a campervan?
Powered by: Motorhome Republic
Car hire deals in South Island New Zealand
Popular Car Hire coupon codes
Last checked | Code description | Code |
---|---|---|
5 Aug 2022 | $20 off for first time riders + an extra $10 off with Finder's exclusive | FIN**** |
13 Jul 2022 | Get up to $20 in ride vouchers | FIN**** |
1 Aug 2022 | 7th day free on car hires | TPP**** |
29 Jul 2022 | Up to 10% off long-term car hires | LON**** |
29 Jul 2022 | Get the 3rd day free on rentals | TPP**** |
More guides on Finder
-
Canberra road trip itineraries
You’ll have the car packed up in no time with these Canberra road trip must-sees.
-
Cheap campervan hire
Catch the latest deals for cheap campervan hire in Australia. Brands include Hippie Campers, Jucy and Spaceships.
-
Campervan hire in Broome | Where to book, what to know
Plan your epic road trip around WA with our guide to campervan hire in Broome.
-
Campervan hire on the Sunshine Coast | Where to book and what to know
Encounter wildlife, regional treats and sandy shores with your campervan hire on the Sunshine Coast.
-
Campervan hire in Cairns | Where to book, what to know
Get out and explore Tropical North Queensland with our guide to campervan hire in Cairns.
-
Campervan relocations in Australia | Where to book and what to know
Discover great destinations for campervan relocations for your adventure across Australia.
-
Campervan hire in Darwin | Where to book, what to know
Get out and explore the Top End with our guide to campervan hire in Darwin.
-
Campervan hire in Hobart | Where to book, what to know
Make the most of the great outdoors by comparing your options and the latest deals for campervan hire in Hobart.
-
Campervan hire on the Gold Coast | Where to book, what to know
Take your vacation to the next level with a campervan hire on the Gold Coast.
-
Campervan hire in Melbourne | Where to book, what to know
Hit the road and experience the beauty of Victoria with a campervan from these companies.
Ask an Expert