Ultimate South Island Self Drive Itinerary

Settle into New Zealand’s second-largest city, where heritage architecture, green spaces, and a revitalised dining scene create a relaxed introduction to the South Island.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer
• Explore at your leisure
• 1 night in Christchurch

Suggested Accommodation:

Today you will collect your rental vehicle and travel across the Canterbury Plains into the Te Wāhipounamu region, home to Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, surrounded by spectacular UNESCO World Heritage landscapes.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Dinner
• Dark Sky Reserve Stargazing Experience
• 2 nights in Mount Cook

Suggested Accommodation: 

Experience the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake on a guided journey from the village to the Tasman Valley, followed by a short alpine walk before boarding a boat to explore floating icebergs and the ever-changing glacier face shaped by wind and water.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, dinner
• Hooker Valley walking track
• Tasman Glacier boat tour
• Glacial lake & iceberg scenery

Make it yours
Upgrade to a heli-hike to get up-close or opt for a scenic glacier flight for an unforgettable aerial perspective.

Ready to make the journey yours? Enquire online or speak with a Travel Designer to personalise your perfect New Zealand escape.

Descend from the alpine high country through the Mackenzie Basin to the coastal heritage town of Oamaru, known for its Victorian architecture and wildlife encounters.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Blue Penguin Colony experience
• 2 nights in Oamaru

Approximate Distance: 210 km | 130 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins


Suggested Accommodation:

Explore the charming coastal town further and get to know its heritage streets, galleries, and waterfront scenery offering a relaxed blend of culture, history, and coastal beauty.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Victorian architecture
• Explore at your leisure

Travel south through Otago’s rolling countryside to Dunedin, a city known for its Scottish heritage and striking architecture.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Moeraki Boulders stopover
• Larnach Castle self-guided tour
• 2 nights in Dunedin

Approximate Distance: 115 km | 71 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Explore the wildlife-rich Otago Peninsula, one of the best places in New Zealand for marine and rare species encounters.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Otago Peninsula wildlife cruise 
• Albatross and fur seal sightings
   

Make it yours
Fancy a drink? Make the most of your Dunedin visit with a Speight’s Ale House Tour and three-course dinner package.

Settle into Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park, where lakes, rainforest, and mountain scenery create a peaceful base for exploring one of New Zealand’s most spectacular wilderness regions.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau
• Guided Glowworm Cave tour
• 2 nights in Te Anau

Approximate Distance: 290 km | 180 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Experience Fiordland’s dramatic wilderness with a jet boat journey on the Upper Waiau River and a unique scenic flight linking river, lake, and alpine landscapes in one unforgettable adventure.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Fiordland jet boat experience
• Lord of the Rings filming locations
• Seaplane flight across Lake Manapouri

Make it yours:
Feeling adventurous? Explore the world-renowned Kepler Track, discovering beech forests, lakeside trails, and spectacular Fiordland scenery on one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

Departing from Manapouri, journey deep into remote Fiordland on an unforgettable overnight cruise through Doubtful Sound, a vast and secluded waterway surrounded by rainforest, towering mountains, and abundant native wildlife.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
• Kayaking with opportunities to view seals and penguins
• 1 night in Doubtful Sound

Approximate Distance: 20 km | 12 miles  Total Driving Time: 20 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Travel to Queenstown through ever-changing landscapes of rugged mountains, mirror-like lakes, and the winding Kawarau Gorge, arriving in New Zealand’s adventure capital where spectacular scenery and unforgettable experiences await.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Panoramic views from Bobs Peak
• Skyline Gondola & 3 luge rides
• 3 nights in Queenstown

Make it yours
Upgrade your Skyline experience with a premium dinner overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.

Approximate Distance: 175 km | 108 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Experience Queenstown’s mix of adventure and heritage starting with six thrilling ziplines, then a scenic cruise across Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Gourmet BBQ dinner
• Zipline experience
• TSS Earnslaw vintage steamboat cruise 
• Walter Peak farm visit

Approximate Distance: 45 km | 28 miles  Total Driving Time: 45 mins (each way)

Discover Central Otago’s renowned wine region, visiting vineyards, historic towns, and scenic landscapes while enjoying gourmet food and award-winning wine.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Gourmet Lunch and wine tour
• Gibbston, Bannockburn & Cromwell wine regions 
• Historical Arrowtown stopover

Journey through the dramatic Crown Range, where winding alpine roads reveal sweeping valley, mountain, and lake views before descending into the charming town of Wānaka.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Scenic Crown Range drive
• Cardrona viewpoints
• Lake Wānaka
• 2 nights in Wānaka

Make it yours:
Challenge yourself to a collection of puzzling exhibits designed to entertain, amaze, and challenge your perception of reality at Puzzling World.

Approximate Distance: 70 km | 43 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Cruise across crystal-clear waters to Mou Waho Island, a predator-free wildlife sanctuary with panoramic views and a remarkable secret: a lake on top of an island, on a lake, on an island!

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Lake Wānaka Cruise
• Mou Waho Island Nature Walk
• Native tree planting and wildlife encounters

Make it yours:
Feeling adventurous? Swap your activity for a thrilling day of skiing at Cardrona Alpine Resort, one of New Zealand’s most well-known ski fields, offering a range of terrain set against a spectacular alpine backdrop.

Travel from Wānaka to Franz Josef through mountain passes, rainforest, and waterfalls, following one of New Zealand’s most scenic coastal-to-alpine routes.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic Haast Pass
• West Coast rainforest scenery
• 2 nights in Franz Josef

Approximate Distance: 285 km | 177 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Suggested Accommodation: 

This morning, take to the skies on a spectacular helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, soaring above vast icefields and rugged alpine peaks before landing on the snow for an unforgettable close-up experience.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Twin Glacier helicopter flight
• Snow landing experience
• Franz Josef Glacier & Fox Glacier
   

Make it yours
Extend your adventure with guided glacier exploration through ice caves, crevasses, and frozen tunnels.

Travel along the West Coast to Hokitika, a creative beach town known for jade carving, wild coastline, and the striking turquoise Hokitika Gorge.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic coastal drive
• Hokitika Gorge stopover
• 2 nights in Hokitika

Approximate Distance: 135 km | 84 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours

Suggested Accommodation: 

Enjoy a relaxed day in Hokitika, where rugged beaches, rainforest trails, and artistic heritage create a peaceful coastal escape full of natural beauty and local culture.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Explore at your leisure
• Hokitika Gorge walk

Make it yours
Experience an unforgettable zipline adventure high above New Zealand’s breathtaking Rimu rainforest on the South Island.

Travel north along the West Coast before reaching Kaiteriteri, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, known for golden beaches and turquoise waters.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Nelson Lakes National Park stover
• 2 nights in Kaiteriteri

Approximate Distance: 340 km | 211 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Experience a guided waka journey along the Abel Tasman coastline, learning cultural traditions while paddling past iconic Split Apple Rock.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Cultural introduction & blessing
• Guided waka journey
• Split Apple Rock

Make it yours
Enhance your experience with a scenic cruise following your morning kayaking adventure, offering the opportunity to observe New Zealand fur seals in their natural habitat while enjoying the stunning coastal scenery.

Travel through rolling countryside and vineyard landscapes into Marlborough, New Zealand’s premier wine region, arriving in Blenheim.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Vineyard and farmland landscapes
• 2 nights in Blenheim

Approximate Distance: 180 km | 112 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Enjoy a fully guided day in Marlborough, visiting boutique and iconic wineries for tastings in New Zealand’s renowned wine region before relaxing on a scenic cruise through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. 

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast, lunch
• Guided boutique winery tastings 
• Scenic Marlborough Sounds seafood cruise

Travel the scenic coastal route to Kaikōura, where mountains meet the sea and rich marine life includes whales, dolphins, and seabirds.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic whale watching flight 
• Kaikōura Peninsula walkway
• 1 night in Kaikōura

Make it yours
Enjoy an unforgettable dolphin encounter, with the opportunity to get up close to these remarkable marine mammals and swim alongside them in their natural environment.

Approximate Distance: 130 km | 81 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 45 mins

Suggested Accommodation:

Follow the east coast to Christchurch, passing rugged coastline, farmland, and vineyards before arriving in the Garden City.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Breakfast
• Scenic coastal drive
• Rental vehicle return
• 3 nights in Christchurch

Approximate Distance: 180 km | 112 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Suggested Accommodation: 

Explore the Canterbury region with a guided journey through the plains and limestone landscapes of Castle Hill and surrounding high country scenery.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Lunch
• Castle Hill and Canterbury guided tour
• Springfield stopover

Make it yours
For a more adventurous experience, add a guided caving excursion through Cave Stream, where you'll discover the hidden wonders beneath the landscape (subject to dates)

Enjoy a relaxed day discovering Christchurch’s gardens, river walks, and evolving city centre with a mix of heritage and modern design.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Explore at your leisure
   

Make it yours:
Not sure where to go or what to see? Wander through the city with a guided tour and uncover cultural treasures hidden in plain sight, gaining unique insights into its history, architecture, and local stories along the way.

Your South Island journey concludes today as you depart Christchurch, carrying memories of mountains, glaciers, coastlines, and unforgettable wilderness experiences.

Inclusions at a glance:

• Private airport transfer

Inspired by what you’ve seen? Let’s create a journey to Aotearoa, New Zealand that’s uniquely yours.

Speak with a Travel Designer to start planning your personalised escape.