A guide to road tripping the South Island of NZ
It took me 28 years to finally embark on a 2.5-hour flight to breathtaking New Zealand, and the realization that I had waited so long to experience its unparalleled beauty hit me hard. As the plane soared above the majestic snow-capped mountains encircling Queenstown, I was spellbound by the unparalleled magnificence of the landscape - a sight that instantly captivated my heart and soul.
The best way to travel around New Zealand, especially the South Island, is by hiring a car or van and driving yourself around. This method provides the flexibility to explore at your own pace and uncover hidden gems off the beaten path. With its diverse landscapes and attractions, the South Island offers a wide range of experiences, from stunning fjords and glaciers to picturesque vineyards and charming towns. Embrace the freedom of the open road and immerse yourself in the natural beauty and adventure that await around every corner.
The best time to visit - Anytime! This is correct, visiting the South Island is really amazing anytime of the year! Summer time (December - February) is more expensive and busier than in the winter. But it really depends on what interests you the most, if you want to visit the snow and trying some snow sports then winter is for you! If you would like to visit during the warmer months and see the lupins then summer would be best. But all year round is the best time to visit.
Hiring a Car or Camper Van
Choosing a car or camper van rental can be the tricky part, you need to consider where you are going, your budget, for how long, if you want to sleep in your transportation, and how many people you have. Me personally will always choose to book a camper van as it allows you the flexibility to stay in more places and see more of what NZ has to offer. There are some important things to remember though:
Insurance - There are lots of winding and weather conditions in NZ that can make driving a little more dangerous, Always include insurance when hiring a car/ camper van.
The cost of Fuel - Fuel can be expensive in NZ more so then in other countries.
Young Driver fees
Camping Fees
Location fees (If picking up your car from Queenstown or other areas that aren’t in the major cities)
Here are a few companies that are recommended in NZ:
https://www.jucy.com/nz/en/campervans/
Where to Camp
There are so many locations to stop at along the way in NZ, it’s hard to know where you should park up and stay the night.
I heard a lot about freedom camping in NZ, where you can camp for free in designated areas.
Most sites you could only stay at if you are fully self contained, meaning your vehicle must have a toilet, fresh water storage, waste water storage and a rubbish bin with a lid.
But we found many sites that we were able to stay in that didn’t require being self contained. You can Rankers Camping NZ to help you find the right place. https://camping-nz.rankers.co.nz/filters/campgrounds
Please note there are rules when freedom camping to make sure that everyone is respecting and looking after the land.
Taking all rubbish with you, do not leave anything behind
No dumping of any camper waste.
Click here to see all the rules in regards to freedom camping https://www.doc.govt.nz/freedomcamping
7 Day Itinerary
On my trip to New Zealand, I embarked on a memorable adventure, spending 7 incredible days exploring the breathtaking landscapes and charming towns in a cozy camper. Following this unforgettable experience, I dedicated another splendid week to savoring the delights of Queenstown. Reflecting on this enchanting trip, I am already eagerly anticipating my next visit, as I am yearning to immerse myself in a full two weeks of road-tripping across the mesmerizing country. There is still so much awaiting me to discover and countless more exciting activities to engage in, making it an absolute must for my future travels.
DAY 1 & 2 - Arrowtown & Wanaka
After picking up the camper from Queenstown and stocking up on food and essentials for the next week, I headed up to Arrowtown for my first stop.
This quaint little town sits only 24 mins outside of Queenstown and it is a great first stop to see and to get a feel of what New Zealand is like. Enjoy a meal at the local pub and walk the streets of this small country town before heading north to Wanaka.
You might have heard or seen a photo of the famous Wanaka tree, it is ionic to Wanaka and definitely worth a visit when stopping through town.
Things to do in Wanaka
- Wanaka Tree
- Roys Peak (Check with the information centre before venturing out on this hike to make sure conditions are good)
- Blue Pools https://www.newzealand.com/au/feature/blue-pools-track/
- Paddling the lake Wanaka https://paddlewanaka.co.nz/
There are so many things to see and do, You can click here to see what else you can do. https://www.lakewanaka.co.nz
Day 5 - Mt Cook
To get from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook you do have to pass by Lake Pukaki on the way, the total driving time is about and hour and 20 minutes. I recommend doing this first thing inn the morning so you have as much time as possible but also make sure you stop at the iconic photo stop along the way - Peter’s Lookout.
If you have time definitely spend more than one day in Mt Cook but if you are like me and have limited time here are a few activities to think about doing while visiting Mt Cook:
- Take a helicopter and see from above but also get to hike through the glaciers. DO keep in mind that this only runs when the weather is in perfect condition and can be canceled at any moment for the safety of everyone. https://www.newzealand.com/int/plan/business/inflite-experiences-mt-cook-ultimate-experiences/
- Hooker Valley Hike - 10km hike taking roughly 2-3 return, such a stunning hike to do to get a closer look at Mt Cook.
- Tasman Glacier Lookout - 6 km walk, can be done in 40 minutes. It is mostly uphill though but definitely worth the incredible views up the top.
Day 6 & 7 - Milford Sounds
I have no words to describe how magical this place is, I love it so much that I got a tattoo of it. Most people only come here for a day but I really encourage you to spend 2 days here. We drove partly through the night and early hours of the morning from Twizel to reach Milford Sound for the afternoon boat cruise. This is definitely a must do when visiting Milford and there are plenty of tour companies to go with:
- https://www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz/milford-sound/cruises/
- https://www.mitrepeak.com/ - This is the company I chose as they had a smaller boat which means less people.
- https://www.cruisemilfordnz.com - Most Popular
We didn’t prebook our tickets and found that they all had tickets available on arrival but double check this for when you go because you definitely don’t want to miss out on this experience. I was in awe of all the incredible waterfalls we saw along the mountains, it was truly breathtaking.
If you have the chance to stay for a night or two definitely pre book your accommodation/ camp site at Milford Sound Lodge https://www.milfordlodge.com/ as it is the only accomodation at Milford Sounds itself and books up pretty quickly in advance. It’s definitely a beautiful place to stay and if you have the budget you must indulge in the cuisine at this world class restaurant.
There are some beautiful walks around Milford Sounds including Gertrude Valley, Grave Talbot Walk, Key Summit Walk. But do check weather conditions before you set out on a hike.
If you are a photographer like me and enjoy landscape photos, well you can’t miss either sunset or sunrise. They are both magical in their own ways and definitely not to be missed. Also I was surprised how quiet it was at these times and pretty much had the sounds to myself.
Day 3 - Lake Pukaki & Twizel
I think Twizel became my favourite little town in NZ, the food & atmosphere of this little town was a reason I visited it so often. If you do stop in to Twizel definitely give one of these restaurants/ cafes a go:
- Ministry of Works Bar & Eatery - https://www.mowbar.co.nz
- Mint Folks - https://mintfolks.co.nz
- The Musterers Hut Cafe - https://musterershut.co.nz
From Twizel to Lake Pukaki it is a short 15min drive and there is a free camp spot right on the lake which I highly recommend staying at. Sunrise there was absolutely incredible, Also check out the viewpoints around the lake for stunning photos and if you are feeling brave enough try taking a deep in the freezing waters!
Day 4 - Lake Tekapo
I definitely recommend spending a whole day at Lake Tekapo and spend the day in the small village around the lake and if the weather is good have a picnic on the waters edge enjoying the magical views. I definitely recommend visiting the Church of the Good Shepherd, try and get here early as it can get busy throughout the day and isn’t as enjoyable when there are lots of people. https://www.churchofthegoodshepherd.org.nz/
Another great thing to do around Lake Tekapo is to visit the Dark Sky Project https://www.darkskyproject.co.nz/choose-your-experience/the-summit-experience/ if you are here overnight and the skies are clear definitely recommend experiencing the stargazing tour, and during the day check out the The Brashear Telescope.
There is so much to see and do in the South Island of New Zealand and most of us won’t be able to see and do it all, But I hope this guide helps you to choose a few places to visit while you are visiting. If you only get to see one of these places on your road trip, I can’t recommend Milford Sounds enough. It’s definitely my favourite place that I will go back to time and time again. If you would like to know about Queenstown you can see my guide here for it.