Driving Itinerary Ideas-South Island New Zealand

The Best Advice we can give you is to not stress about driving  – we drove about 3 to 4 hours most days with ease and STOPPING regularly to appreciate each towns features or getting a coffee and food – Stop – Revive – Survive

Driving the south Island and staying in Queenstown for 3 days, Dunedin for 2 days and Christchurch for 2 days is squeezing the whole south island in 15 to 16 days – Here is an idea for an easy 15 day tour

14 or 15 day South Island Itinerary

1. Arrive and Stock up in Christchurch – stay at Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park http://www.christchurchtop10.co.nz/

2. Drive north to Kaikora and maybe on to Malbourough – must do, stop and view the seals at Kaikora and take a drive to the look out for an awesome view over the valley and ocean.

3. Explore the great wine district – Stop at Montana Wines http://www.montana.co.nz/index.php Check out http://www.tourism.net.nz/wineries-new-zealand.html for details on all wineries in New Zealand

4. Explore Queen Charlotte Sound – maybe cruise and/or bush walk – Cruise the Sound http://www.queencharlottetrack.co.nz/cruises/

5. Drive to Hamner Springs – Stay at Mountain View Top 10 Holiday Park http://www.mountainviewtop10.co.nz/ and a visit to the Hot Pools is a must http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/

6. Drive to Geraldine (stay at the kids camping ground) – http://www.thefarmyardholidaypark.co.nz/ Our favourite park in the South Island

7. Drive to Lake Tekapo – take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps taking in the Glaciers and beautiful Lakes http://www.airsafaris.co.nz/ – go ice skating http://www.alpinesprings.co.nz/– feed and buy some delicious local Salmon  at the Mt Cook Salmon Farm

8. Drive on to Wanaka – go to Puzzling World http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/and have lunch or dinner and play by the lake

9. Drive on to Arrowtown and Queenstown – A must do is to have a Venison pie at the Arrowtown Bakery

10. Stay and play in Queenstown –  Must do, ski, ski, ski http://www.nzski.com/report.jsp?site=coronetpeak Take the gondola ride up and the luge down the mountain http://www.skyline.co.nz/ For the more adventurous, do a bungy jump or a shot over ride, visit a local winery or have lunch in town by the river. http://www.everythingqueenstown.com/

11. Drive on to Te Anua – Visit the Glow Worm Caves http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/main/glowwormcaves/

12. Drive and cruise the Milford Sound – a must do!! It is simply STUNNING http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/

13. Drive towards Dunedin

14. Explore Dunedin – Stay at Dunedin Holiday Park http://www.dunedinholidaypark.co.nz/ and a must do is to do a tour of the Cadbury Factory http://www.cadburyworld.co.nz/visit.html

15. Drive back to Christchurch – stop at Boulder Beach

Click here to read how we did it in 13 days 

OR

To include driving the West Coast via Fox Glacier –

14 or 15 day Itinerary

1. Arrive and Stock up in Christchurch

2. Drive north to Hamner Springs

3. Drive to Kaikora and on to Malbourough – Explore the great wine district

4. Explore Queen Charlotte Sound – maybe cruise and/or bush walk

5. Drive to West Coast on route to Fox Glacier – check out mirror lake and take a flight over the glaciers

6. Drive to Lake Tekapo or straight to Wanaka and Queenstown missing Tekapo

7. Explore Lake Tekapo – take a scenic flight over the Southern Alps taking in the Glaciers and beautiful Lakes – go ice skating – feed and buy some delicious local Salmon

8. Drive on to Wanaka – go to Puzzle World and have lunch or dinner and play by the lake

9. Drive through and stop in Arrowtown (get a venison pie from the cafe at the end of the road) drive onto Queenstown

10. Stay and play in Queenstown

11. Drive on to Te Anua – Visit the Glow Worm Caves

12. Drive and explore the Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound

13. Drive towards Dunedin

14. Explore Dunedin – peninsular and Cadbury chocolate factory

15. Drive back to Christchurch

Click here to read how we did it in 13 days

 As agents for Pacific Horizons and all the best New Zealand Tour Operators, we are happy to help you arrange your next self drive New Zealand holiday.

Please call or email us if you have any queries.

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Buderim Qld 4556

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