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
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