New Zealand South Island
Templates · 13 days · 9 stops
South Island road trip with a Queenstown base, ending on the Interislander ferry to Wellington.
- Christchurch
- Lake Tekapo
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Franz Josef
- Punakaiki
- Kaikoura
- Picton
- Wellington
Day 1 · Home → Christchurch
Home→Christchurch
Day 2 · Christchurch → Lake Tekapo
Pick up the rental. Wander the rebuilt centre, the Re:START laneways and the Botanic Gardens before the long drive south.
Christchurch→Lake Tekapo
Day 3 · Lake Tekapo → Wanaka
Lupins ring the turquoise lake in summer; the Church of the Good Shepherd is the classic shot. It's a Dark Sky Reserve — stay up for the Milky Way over Mount John.
Lake Tekapo→Wanaka
Day 4 · Wanaka
Day 5 · Wanaka → Queenstown
#ThatWanakaTree in the lake, then the Rippon vineyard for a tasting with a view over the water.
Hike Roys Peak early — start before 7am to beat both the heat and the crowds at the famous ridge lookout.
Wanaka→Queenstown
Day 6 · Queenstown
Day 7 · Queenstown
Day 8 · Queenstown → Franz Josef
Base for the adventure capital. Ride the Skyline gondola for the luge, and a Fergburger is mandatory (expect a queue).
Day trip to Milford Sound — **book the boat cruise ahead** and leave early; it's a stunning but long two-hour drive each way through the Homer Tunnel.
Day trip to Glenorchy along the lakeside road; paradise valley scenery, plus jet boating on the Dart River if you want a thrill.
Queenstown→Franz Josef
Day 9 · Franz Josef → Punakaiki
Glacier country. A guided heli-hike puts you up on the ice; failing that, the valley walk to the terminal face is free and worth it.
Franz Josef→Punakaiki
Day 10 · Punakaiki → Kaikoura
The Pancake Rocks and blowholes on the wild West Coast — time it near high tide for the surge.
Punakaiki→Kaikoura
Day 11 · Kaikoura
Day 12 · Kaikoura → Picton
Cross to the east coast. Whale watching year-round here off the deep Kaikoura Canyon; crayfish straight off the boat at a roadside caravan.
Swim with dusky dolphins in the morning if the swell allows.
Kaikoura→Picton
Day 13 · Picton → Home
Drive the coastal road north to the top of the island and drop the rental here in the Marlborough wine country.
Picton→Wellington
The Interislander across Cook Strait threads the Marlborough Sounds — one of the world's great ferry crossings; sit up on deck.
Wellington→Home