14 Day South Island Itinerary: The Classic Two-Week Road Trip

With so much beauty to unfurl on a South Island road trip, driving a loop that takes in the West Coast, the glaciers, Queenstown and the Canterbury region makes perfect sense. Christchurch is also a logistical winner, as it’s where you’ll find the largest airport in South Island. You can fly in, pick up your campervan from our Christchurch depot and hit the road.

However, another option would be to fly into Auckland on the North Island, pick up your campervan from there and make your way south across the ferry to Picton and begin the loop before returning your campervan to Christchurch or head all the way back to Auckland to complete the loop across both islands. This will add a few more days to your journey.

This road trip takes you by one South Island icon after another. From the sheer and icy beauty of the glaciers, to windswept west coast towns and the drama of Milford Sound, every day brings something new and extraordinary to discover.

Once you’ve picked up your campervan, exit the city in a northerly direction on route to the Kaikōura. Stretch your legs after the drive with a walk along the spectacular Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway, accessed from the town centre. The full walk is 11.7 kilometres and takes around three hours, but you can pick it up at different sections and do as much or little as you like. Don’t miss the seal colony at the Point Kean Viewpoint and catch resident whales and dolphins that frolic in the waters year-round thanks to a deep offshore trench, which is a rich food source.

Take your time through the Marlborough wine region that’s well-known for its sauvignon blanc. With much of the area under vines, there are plenty of cellar doors to dedicate a day to enjoying. Just be sure to nominate a designated driver! Along your way out of town, swing by Marlborough Sound via the pretty Queen Charlotte Drive to Havelock, before continuing on to Nelson.

Build in a side day to experience the jaw-dropping loveliness of the Abel Tasman National Park. The park is beloved for the 60-kilometre Abel Tasman Coastal Track, a stunning ribbon of gold-sand beaches and coastal beauty that takes about 3-5 days to complete on foot. You can walk the track in either direction, but many people opt for taking a water taxi or tour to access these postcard-perfect beaches. It’s a great way to experience the gentle bays and pretty track without tackling a multi-day hike. Those clear waters are exceedingly popular in summer, so book ahead for tours.

You’ll meet the West Coast at Greymouth before winding down southwards to the glaciers. Along the way, make time for some light adventure at Buller Gorge, where you can swoop across the water on a zipline 160 metres high. While you’re based in Greymouth, take a drive north up the coast to marvel at Punakaiki Pancake Rocks to experience the ocean’s might as it’s forced through blowholes at high tide. Next point to plot is Hokitika Gorge before arriving in Franz Josef.

You can’t miss a helicopter ride to experience the cold beauty of the World Heritage glacier from above. While you can no longer access the glacier face on foot, you can take a heli-hike or guided ice walk. Otherwise, you can enjoy the glacier from a viewpoint after a short, 30-minute walk. Equally impressive Fox Glacier is just 30 minutes away, so be sure to make space for it in your itinerary.

Just 90 minutes from the glaciers is Haast. From here, drive over the Southern Alps via Haast Pass. Drop a pin at Thunder Creek Falls in Mount Aspiring National Park and stretch your legs on the short walk to the viewing platform. Another 20 minutes will have you at the cerulean-coloured Blue Pools, where a swing bridge over the Makarora River will snatch your breath away. After arriving in Wanaka, adventure awaits with the challenging 10-kilometre-return Roys Peak track, which takes around 3-4 hours of near-steady climbing. If you’d prefer a gentler activity, head to the curious and amusing Puzzling World.

For the scenic route, follow the Crown Range Road to arrive in cosmopolitan Queenstown. No visit, no matter the season can miss a ride on the lofty Skyline. Experience the beauty of the region as you glide in a gondola 480 metres above Lake Wakatipu to Bob’s Peak taking in vistas of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cecil Peak. Adventure awaits in Queenstown, whether it’s skiing, jet-boating or bungy jumping. For more low-key activities, there’s incredible dining, wellness experiences and scenic cruises.

Given the drive time to Milford Sound from Queenstown, a better option is to anchor yourself in the gateway town of Te Anau, rather than doing it in one go. From here, Milford Sound is another 2 hours away, so leave early to make the most of a day there, cruising in the sound. Driving through the Homer Tunnel, stopping at the Chasm and Mirror Lakes ensures the journey is just as magical as the destination. This can be a tricky drive in winter, so bring chains and check the road conditions before setting out.

This home stretch is too much to tackle in a single day and with so much to see it certainly wouldn’t do the turquoise lakes and golden plains of Mackenzie Country the justice it deserves. Whether you choose to add a side trip to Aoraki Mount Cook or not, this drive will take you by the milky-blue Lake Pukaki. A must-do at Aoraki Mount Cook is the Hooker Valley Track, a 10-kilometre walk that wanders the Hooker Valley to Hooker Lake that offers incredible views of Mueller Glacier.

Spend the night in Lake Tekapo before making your return to Christchurch.

If you’re travelling through peak periods, such as summer and school holidays, it’s best to be prepared and book certain experiences ahead. Milford Sound cruises, Abel Tasman water taxis, glacier helicopter trips and holiday park sites over the December to February peak are things you don’t want to miss out on, so have them organised early.

When it comes to winging it, most walks, lookouts and Department of Conservation campsites are fine to turn up to without prior bookings. Although, campsites might get busy in peak periods.

Beyond bookings, flexibility is also a good thing to build into your itinerary. Leave yourself a day or two buffer in case you get rained out on the notoriously wet West Coast. Also, leave extra time for Milford Road closures, which are reasonably common.

There’s no single best time to experience the epic grandeur of the South Island, but there are seasonal differences, benefits and challenges. In summer, from December to February, you’ll enjoy long days and easy access to most attractions in terms of tracks and roads being open. However, you’re also competing on price and for space with plenty of crowds. Add on the West Coast sandflies are at their worst.

The shoulder season of March to May is quieter with mild weather, clear skies and pretty autumnal colours. Spring has pretty blooms but more chance of rain. While winter can mean snow on the road in alpine regions and chains are required, but ski regions are open if you wanted to add some snow activities to your trip.

Please also keep in mind that all Travellers Autobarn Vehicles are not permitted on, Skippers Road (Queenstown), Crown Range Road
(Queenstown), Ball Hut Road (Mt Cook) on the South Island of New Zealand. Vehicles are also not permitted on all ski field access
roads between 1st June and 31st October.

When you hire a campervan for this incredible road trip, your bed is always with you. It makes for a relaxed and easy-going journey, where you can stay longer at the places that excite you the most. Overnight camping in New Zealand ranges from holiday parks full of amenities to low-cost Department of Conservation sites and freedom camping.

For freedom camping, you need a self-contained and certified vehicle and must follow the rules. Check out our freedom camping guides to find the best spots on your route.

If you’re keen to freedom camp, be sure to plan your overnight stops ahead and have a back up option in case there are no available spots. Because freedom camping sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, they fill up quickly in peak periods and some regions have limited sites, such as around the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.

Hiring a campervan from Christchurch or Auckland make for great loop itineraries of the South Island. With free, unlimited kilometres on every hire, you can afford to stretch this drive out and really make the most of the South Island’s diverse regions and high-drama landscapes. Given the length of this drive, a campervan is the best way to get the most out of it, you’re all set up to overnight wherever feels good to you and you can save money along the way by cooking for yourself.

When you hire a campervan from Christchurch, the whole of the South Island is ready to be discovered. This 14-day itinerary is just the beginning, once you return to Christchurch, check out these other South Island trips.

• Christchurch to Marlborough
• Christchurch to Christchurch road trip
• Christchurch to Picton road trip
• Christchurch to Invercargill

Freedom Camping in New Zealand – Important Information

We’re confident that you’ll have a blast freedom camping around the South Island. But, before you head out, there are some details you need to know about responsible freedom camping in New Zealand:

Amenities at freedom camping areas are usually limited, so while some might have access to bathrooms and running water, others may not

Most freedom campsites don’t operate on a booking system; instead, they follow a first-come, first-served basis. So, try to get to sites early so you can get the best spot

Department of Conservation (DOC) campgrounds are generally the most affordable sites to stay at, apart from freedom camping, offering over 150 campgrounds in New Zealand. Some of them operate on a booking system, while others use a first-come, first-served basis. If you have a DOC Campsite Pass, you can get access to parks year-round

DISCLAIMER: All information provided, including prices, availability, and site details, is correct at the time of publishing. We recommend contacting campsites or caravan parks directly to confirm the latest details before planning your visit. Please review our Terms and Conditions for additional information.