New Zealand is a top destination for backpackers and quite rightly so. You’ve got everything from the breathtaking scenery of places like Lake Tekapo to crazy adrenaline pumping activities like bungee jumping and white water rafting! Undoubtedly one of the best ways to explore this beautiful country is by hiring a campervan because the country is set up perfectly for campervan travel and nothing beats travelling at your own pace. There is so much awesome stuff to see and do here and we thought we’d start off with some top destinations in the South Island. Christchurch is a great starting point as most international airlines fly there and its location is the perfect place to set you off on your road trip
Christchurch
First Stop
Christchurch has some really cool cafes, bars and restaurants as well some awesome activities do like the Christchurch Gondola. Hop in a gondola (or you might call it a cable car!) and experience some seriously breathtaking views. You’ll see the Christchurch cityscape, over the Canterbury Plains way out to the mighty Southern Alps and Banks Peninsula. For only $28 you get to witness these incredible 360 views that take you all the way to the top of Mount Cavendish. For you adventurous souls you can hire a mountain bike and explore the terrain on two wheels or go for a hike on one of the trails. Christchurch doesn’t have a rep for being the ‘Garden City’ for nothing. The Botanic Gardens are definitely worth a visit and easy to access as it’s right in the heart of the city.
Lake Tekapo
Stop 2
Lake Tekapo features in Rough Guides Top 20 Lakes in the World… so it’s kind of a big deal. It’s gorgeous teal blue colour is the result of lots of tiny bits of rock washing down off the glaciers and those snow capped mountains in the background are simply breathtaking. There are some lovely hikes around the lake which you should totally follow with a dip in the thermal pools nearby. Lupin flowers surround the lake and look beautiful when they’re in full bloom towards the end of November.
Franz Josef Glacier
Stop 3
Franz Josef Glacier is located on the West Coast of the island and is surrounded by Te Wahipounamu (a world heritage site) and has the Waiho River running through it. It’s one of the fastest moving glaciers, travelling to the Tasman sea about one meter each day. Highly recommend going on a guided hike with one of the Glacier Guides, there’s the option for half day and full day hikes to suit your budget/ lust for hiking. A guided hike will see supplied with all the essential hiking gear like ice crampons and boots. Do keep in mind that you need to get dropped off at the glacier by a helicopter which costs around $325… yes a little bit pricey but if you’ve got the cash it’s totally worth it for this once in a life time experience.
Wanaka
Stop 4
Wanaka is a beautiful, spotless town set at the southern end of Wanaka Lake, blissfully nestled among the mountains. Wherever you are in Wanaka you can pretty much always see the mountains and the lake which is why it’s got it’s rep for being the most photogenic town in New Zealand. It’s a beautiful, super safe, friendly and chilled town. Mt. Aspiring National Park is just one hours drive from town where you can go on … yeah you guessed it.. more hikes! hehe we know you love em’! There’s some great places to do some mountain biking too and make sure you check out Puzzling World ‘Wanaka’s Wonderful World of Weirdness’ and have your brain baffled and challenge your perceptions of reality!
Milford Sound
Stop 5
Milford Sound is acclaimed as New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination, attracting approximately 1 million visitors per year and Rudyard Kipling even described it as the eighth wonder of the world! To get there you pass through the Homer Tunnel, 1.2km long tunnel through solid rock… pretty cool huh?! Before it opened in 1954 you weren’t even able to access Milford Sound by road. You can have your go at lots of different water based activities here such as canoeing, jet boat fishing and diving. Most tours will include a 2hr scenic boat tour where you get to see two waterfalls; Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls.
Te Anau
Stop 6
Te Anau is the closest place to Milford Sound and is home to the seriously cool Glowworm Caves. It’s a mysterious underground world made up of winding limestone passages that you drift along down in a little boat. After passing a powerful underground waterfall you float into a hidden grotto deep inside the caves. Magically lighting up this space are thousands of glowworms, expect a mesmerising and blissful experience.
Queenstown
Final stop
Adventure capital of New Zealand, in Queenstown you can bungee jump, white water raft and zipline to your hearts desire. Along with breathtaking scenery the nightlife is pretty decent too… expect world class night clubs and pub crawls. Tons of backpackers pass through here so you can expect to have a lively time! Definitely go and get yourself a Fergberger, the burger that is Queenstown’s worst kept secret. Fergberger’s sweeter sister Fergbaker lives next door where you can get some sweet and savoury baked goods and mummy Mrs Ferg is close by too selling her delicious home made gelato! There’s a the Skyline Gondola too that you can take to see Queenstown and it’s beautiful surroundings from way up high.
With so many sights to see and things to do, the road trip from Christchurch across South Island is a must for any explorer.
Explore other popular road trips across the South Island
Check out some of our other popular roads trips across the South Island.
- Check out Christchurch to Hokitika Road Trip
- Check out Christchurch to Mount Cook Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Marlborough Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Lake Tekapo Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Franz Josef Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Nelson Road Trip
- Check Out Chirstchurch to Kaikoura Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Invercargill Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Wanaka Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Picton Road Trip
- Check Out Queenstown to Christchurch Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Christchurch Round Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Dunedin Road Trip
- Check Out Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip
Looking for more? See all of our recommended South Island road trip adventures & campervan road trip itineraries across NZ.
FAQs about South Island Road road trip
Taking a trip around the South Island may differ depending on the route you take. Our route is 500km and would normally take 8 to 9 hours to do without stopping. However, we recommend taking a 5-day road trip around the South Island for the best experience.
There are loads of beautiful places that you can stop over at on the South Island. We recommend starting at Christchurch. Explore the town a bit, visit the botanical gardens, and try out their restaurants. As you leave Christchurch, the first stop we suggest you make is at Lake Tekapo for no other reason than it’s stunning! There are some great hikes to take around the lake, and some areas to stop and have a rest and picnic.
If hiking is your thing, then taking a stroll to Franz Josef Glacier is certainly worth your while. It’s one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world. The next two stops have incredible mountains and views, Wanaka Lake and Milford Sound. These stops look like something out of a movie! Lastly, you have to check out the Glowworm Caves in Te Anau!
Yes. However, our only pick-up and drop-off zones are in Christchurch, so it’s best to do a round trip starting and ending in Christchurch.
As you travel around the South Island, you can stop at some amazing freedom camping areas to cut costs or use as a base to explore a specific area. These different freedom camping sites vary in the facilities they offer, with some having everything from toilets to communal kitchen areas, while others may only have a drop toilet.
We always recommend comparing the different sites before you hit the road to make sure the ones you choose to stay at fit your needs. Take a look at our guides on freedom camping near Christchurch, Wanaka, and Lake Tekapo.
If you’re planning a road trip across the South Island, October to April is the most scenic and enjoyable. Summer is especially popular, but spring and autumn offer beautiful landscapes with fewer crowds.
Yes, it’s a good idea to book your campervan early. Not only can it save you money during off-peak periods, but it also gives you more choice before things get booked out.
You don’t need to expect any tolls when driving anywhere across the South Island. Every road is toll-free.
Road Trips & Travel Tips
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