Two weeks is the sweet spot for a South Island road trip — enough time to cover the major highlights without rushing, and short enough to fit into annual leave. This day-by-day itinerary loops from Christchurch back to Christchurch, covering 1,800 km of the most spectacular scenery on earth. Every stop is road-tested by a local. Make sure you have travel insurance and a rental car booked before you arrive.
Days 1–2: Christchurch & Kaikoura
Day 1: Arrive in Christchurch. Pick up your rental car from the airport. Explore the rebuilt city — Christchurch Botanic Gardens, the tram, the Cardboard Cathedral, New Regent Street. Get a flat white and settle in.
Day 2: Drive north to Kaikoura (2.5 hours). Whale watching is the headline activity — Kaikoura is one of the best places in the world to see sperm whales year-round. Stop at Nin's Bin roadside crayfish stall for lunch. Walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway for fur seal colonies. Overnight in Kaikoura.
Book Kaikoura whale watching on GetYourGuide
Days 3–4: West Coast & Glaciers
Day 3: Drive from Kaikoura via Lewis Pass to the West Coast (4.5 hours). Stop at Maruia Hot Springs for a soak on the way. Arrive in Punakaiki — walk to the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at sunset.
Day 4: Drive south along the West Coast to Franz Josef (3 hours). This stretch of highway between mountains and sea is one of the most scenic in NZ. At Franz Josef, book a heli-hike — a helicopter lands you on the glacier and you walk on the ice with crampons. It's the only way to get onto the glacier in 2026.
Book a Franz Josef heli-hike on GetYourGuide
Days 5–6: Wānaka
Day 5: Drive from Franz Josef to Wānaka via Haast Pass (4 hours). The road follows the Haast River through native rainforest, past thundering waterfalls (stop at Thunder Creek Falls and Fantail Falls). Arrive in Wānaka and walk along the lakefront to the famous Wānaka Tree.
Day 6: Full day in Wānaka. Hike Roys Peak (5–6 hours return, one of the most photographed viewpoints in NZ) or the easier Iron Mountain Track. Afternoon wine tasting at Rippon Vineyard overlooking the lake. Wānaka is quieter than Queenstown and many locals prefer it.
Days 7–8: Queenstown
Day 7: Drive from Wānaka to Queenstown via the Crown Range (1 hour — NZ's highest sealed road with spectacular views). Afternoon exploring Queenstown — Skyline Gondola, lakefront, and Fergburger. Evening on the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship cruise to Walter Peak for dinner.
Day 8: Full adventure day. Choose from bungy jumping, jet boating, Skippers Canyon tour, or a more relaxed day trip to Arrowtown or Gibbston Valley wine country. See our Queenstown day trips guide for all options.
Book Queenstown activities on GetYourGuide
Days 9–10: Milford Sound & Fiordland
Day 9: Drive from Queenstown to Te Anau (2 hours). Afternoon at the Te Anau Glowworm Caves — a boat ride across the lake to caves lit by thousands of glowworms. Overnight in Te Anau.
Day 10: Early start for Milford Sound (2 hours from Te Anau). Stop at Mirror Lakes, The Chasm, and Homer Tunnel en route. 2-hour cruise on the fiord — see our cruise comparison guide for which operator to choose. Drive back to Te Anau or Queenstown.
Book a Milford Sound cruise on GetYourGuide
Days 11–12: Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo
Day 11: Drive from Queenstown to Aoraki/Mt Cook (3 hours via Lindis Pass). Stop at the turquoise Lake Pukaki for photos. Afternoon hike the Hooker Valley Track (3 hours return, flat, three swing bridges, views of NZ's highest mountain). Overnight at Mt Cook Village.
Day 12: Morning stargazing tour or scenic helicopter flight over the Tasman Glacier. Drive to Lake Tekapo (1 hour). Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd, soak in Tekapo Springs, and if staying overnight, do a stargazing tour at Mt John Observatory (Dark Sky Reserve).
Days 13–14: Back to Christchurch
Day 13: Drive from Lake Tekapo to Akaroa via Christchurch (3.5 hours). Akaroa is a tiny French-colonial village on Banks Peninsula with a stunning harbour — perfect for a dolphin swimming cruise, fresh seafood lunch, and a relaxed end to your trip.
Day 14: Final morning in Christchurch. Last-minute shopping at the Riverside Market, a pie from the legendary Supreme Supreme bakery. Drop off rental car at the airport. Fly home (or continue to the North Island).
Budget Breakdown
Realistic costs per person for 14 days (based on two people sharing):
- Car hire: $45–$80/day = $630–$1,120 total ($315–$560 per person)
- Fuel: ~$300–$400 total ($150–$200 per person)
- Accommodation: $80–$200/night = $1,040–$2,600 total ($520–$1,300 pp)
- Food: $50–$100/day per person = $700–$1,400
- Activities: $500–$1,500 per person (whale watching, glacier heli-hike, Milford cruise, bungy etc.)
- Total: ~$2,200–$4,960 per person (NZD)
Campervan travellers can save on accommodation but pay more for vehicle hire ($120–$250/day). See our campervan guide and accommodation price guide for detailed comparisons.
Essential Tips
- Book accommodation ahead in summer. December to February is peak season and popular spots (Mt Cook, Te Anau, Franz Josef) have very limited options. Book 2–3 months ahead.
- Fill up with fuel whenever you can. Long stretches between fuel stops on the West Coast and Milford Road. Never pass a petrol station with less than half a tank.
- Download offline maps. No mobile coverage on the West Coast, Milford Road, and large parts of Fiordland. Get an eSIM for towns and cities.
- Drive on the left. Single-lane bridges are common. If the red arrow is on your side, give way. See our driving guide.
- Weather changes fast. Pack layers and a waterproof jacket for every day, even in summer. The West Coast and Fiordland are genuinely wet.
- Don't skip shoulder season. March–April has warm days, autumn colours, fewer tourists, and lower prices. May of the best road trips we've done have been in shoulder season.
