SOUTH ISLAND

ROAD TRIP

Two week highlights tour

Curated by

Petrina Darrah
hello,
traveller!

I’m so excited you’re planning on

exploring New Zealand.

This itinerary links together some

of my favourite places; places you
can hear glaciers crack as you sleep,
or see oceans as soon as you wake.

I’ve tried to include as many

recommendations as I can, of places
I have walked, eaten and slept.

Tailor this guide to suit your

interests; there is magic to be found
for all travellers on this route.

It is geared toward self-driving in a

private vehicle; in a campervan
you’ll find many places to camp. In
a car, there are rooms aplenty.

I hope that this guide helps you

plan your journey, and maybe leads
you somewhere you had never
thought to visit.

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2 WEEK SOUTH ISLAND

Christchurch
Hokitika
Franz Josef
Wanaka
Queenstown
Milford Sound
Glenorchy
Aoraki/Mt Cook
Lake Tekapo

The classic South Island road trip covers the main highlights of Te Wai
Pounamu – bright blue Lake Tekapo, the glittering peak of Aoraki/Mount
Cook, and the adventure thrills of Queenstown.

This Christchurch-Christchurch loop makes for easier logistics in terms of

car rental and flights, while helping to avoid too much backtracking.

There’s a lot of driving involved in this itinerary, but it helps that much of it
is glorious - on the stretch between Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo, for
example, the Southern Alps lie stretched out to your left in a glorious display
of might.

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Day 1 and 2: Arrive in and explore Christchurch

Christchurch is a lovely little city with plenty to explore, but don’t expect
a lot of nightlife here.
Take the tram around the central city
Explore New Regent Street and eat at Rollickin Gelato
Stroll along the Avon River, maybe go for a punt ride
Visit Cuningham House in the Botanic Gardens
Sauna at the New Brighton Hot Pools
Visit Quake City Museum
Go to Lyttleton for coffee and walks in the Port Hills

Stay: Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square

Eat: Twenty Seven Steps
Coffee and treats: Grizzly Baked Goods

LYTTLETON PUNTING ON THE CHRISTCHURCH

HARBOUR AVON BOTANIC GARDENS

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 HOKITIKA GORGE

Day 3: Drive to Hokitika (3 hours 30 minutes)

Castle Hill is a popular place to stop; there are some interesting rock formations.

You should also stop in Arthur’s Pass to spot kea and go for a short walk (try the
Devil’s Punchbowl track). There are kea in the village, so listen closely for their
calls and keep an eye out.

Day 4: Head to Hokitika Gorge (30 minutes) then to Franz Josef (2

hours)

Hokitika Gorge is a stunning stop. It’s hard to believe how blue the water is.
The walk around Hokitika Gorge is short (around 45 minutes) and easy for
all abilities. (It’s not worth going after heavy rain, as the blue water will be
muddy and brown).
Drive to Franz Josef.

Stay: The Orange Sheep Campervan Park is great for campervans. Otherwise,
Rainforest Retreat suits a range of budgets.

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 FOX GLACIER FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

Day 5: Franz Josef

Glacier country is a special place - the forest here is dense, mossy and lush. It
feels like a fairytale, so I highly recommend trying some of the walking trails
around Fox and Franz to get a taste of this wilderness.

Heli hike Fox or Franz

For hikers, Alex Knob or Roberts Point are both great half day tracks to
viewpoints
There are shorter walks (Franz Josef Glacier Walk and Fox Glacier South
Side Walkway) to viewpoints as well, but temper expectations - the glaciers
have retreated a lot and the weather is often bad.
Go for a short walk around the surreal Lake Matheson. The cafe by the lake
is a nice stop as well.
Visit Okarito to see an otherworldly lagoon and walk the coastal trail. It’s
eerily beautiful and I saw dolphins right off the coast.

Day 6: Drive to Wanaka (4 hours)

The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka is exceptionally beautiful, in my eyes at

least. The road is often in the midst of dense forest, occasionally cutting back to
the coast. Stop at Ship’s Creek to stretch your legs - last time I was there, I sasw
Hector’s dolphins right off the beach. Fantail Falls is another gorgeous stop
deeper in Haast Pass.

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Day 7: Explore Wanaka

Wanaka is pretty but with a resort-town vibe (busy and somewhat superficial). My
favourite activities are generally outside of town, making the most of the incredible
landscapes here.
Hike Rocky Mountain for sunrise
Hike to Roy’s Peak (or Isthmus Peak for a quieter option)
Take a cruise to Mou Waho, the island in the lake (which has it’s own lake,
with its own island)
For a treat, visit the Secret Sauna in Lake Hawea

Stay: Cross Hill Lodge & Domes

Eat: Big Fig Wanaka is a nice lunch spot, Muttonbird is exceptional for dinner

ROCKY SUNRISE ISTHMUS PEAK

MOUNTAIN

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Day 8: Queenstown

Queenstown isn’t huge, but it has a lot of energy. You’ll find a lot of
restaurants and bars here, if that’s your thing, and also many, many adventure
activities.
Jet boat on the Shotover River
Hike up the Queenstown Hill or Bob’s Peak (where the gondola is) to get
views of the lake
Go wine tasting at vineyards like Mt Rosa, Mt Difficulty, or Peregrine.

Stay: The Novotel and Crowne Plaza are both great central options, or the Lylo is a
solid budget choice
Eat: Margo’s, Amisfield (for a treat) or Blue Kanu. Ferg Burger is overrated for me,
but I don’t eat meat.

SHOTOVER RIVER QUEENSTOWN MILFORD SOUND

Day 9: Day trip to Milford Sound

The trip to Milford Sound is long, so be prepared for that. Take a scenic
flight if you want to save yourself the time on the road.

Day 10: Day trip to Glenorchy (45 minute drive one way)
Driving to Glenorchy is stunning. There isn’t much to do in Glenorchy
village itself, but there are some beautiful walks in the area. You can walk the
start of the Routeburn Track, or the shorter Routeburn Nature Walk.

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 LAKE TEKAPO
KEA POINT

Day 11: Aoraki/Mount Cook (3 hours 30 minutes drive)

Book a place to stay in advance so you can enjoy a night in the national park.
The village is tiny, so if you plan on self catering, you should bring your own
supplies. Top up your petrol tank in Twizel as well.
Walk the Hooker Valley and Kea Point Tracks, or the Sealy Tarns if you’re
up for a steep climb.
There are also options for seeing the Tasman Glacier, whether on a heli hike
or a boat trip.

Stay: Camp at White Horse Hill Campground if you want to be close to trails (and
hear glaciers moving overnight) or try the Hermitage for a more premium experience.

Day 13: Lake Tekapo (1 hour 20 minutes drive)

You can see the whole of Lake Tekapo village pretty quickly. Walk around the
lakefront and enjoy views of the church - you don’t need more than a few
hours.

Stay: Galaxy Boutique Hotel or the Mackenzie Suites

Eat: Tekapo is small and expensive, but Blue Lake is good for dinner and you can’t
beat the views from Astro Cafe

Day 14: Christchurch (3 hours 20 minutes drive)

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 Enjoy discovering New
Zealand
For more inspiration and planning advice, visit my website
or stay on my emailing list.

For any questions or comments, please feel free to write to

me: [email protected]

With love

Petrina