The Ultimate 10 Day New Zealand South Island Itinerary

From the country’s deepest fiord to its tallest mountain, from busy cities to charming small towns, and from bra fences to blue penguins, you’ll find it all on the South Island of New Zealand! 

With so much beauty to discover, so many epic sights to see and so many delicious pies to eat, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why I put together this ultimate 10 day South Island itinerary so you can see the best of Aotearoa (the Māori word for New Zealand). 

Personally, I don’t think 10 days is enough to see the entire island. I would not recommend driving from the top to the bottom of the South Island and rushing to fit it all in. Instead, this itinerary moves at a comfortable pace allowing you to fill your days, see the highlights and hidden gems, but not blink and miss the whole thing. 

My husband, Colin, and I visited New Zealand in April 2023 and had the most incredible time driving the South Island. It’s one of my favourite road trips we’ve ever done and some of the most magical things I’ve seen anywhere in the world – and I’ve been to almost 50 countries – I saw on the South Island! 

Nothing beats watching the clouds lift off the deepest and longest fiord in New Zealand with no one around you except birds and waterfalls. My mouth still waters thinking about the salmon and bacon pie I ate in Glenorchy. And to this day my best hiking experience was completing the Hooker Valley Track in Aoraki Mt Cook! 

Keep reading for my 10 day South Island itinerary where I share what to do each day, where to sleep and how to get to your next destination. Plus I’ve got tips for how to shorten or extend your road trip if you have more or less than 10 days! 

PS: Exploring the South Island without a car? Keep scrolling as I also include some non-driving alternatives on this itinerary. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

My top 3 things to do on the South Island of New Zealand

This hurt to narrow it down but if I had to pick only three things to do on the South Island they would be: 

1. Waking up on Doubtful Sound after an overnight cruise
2. Seeing Aoraki Mt Cook from the Hooker Valley Track
3. Driving to Milford Sound and making lots of scenic stops along the way

And of course, all three of these things are included in my full itinerary below! 

South Island New Zealand map

10 day itinerary for the South Island of New Zealand

Below I’ll share my ultimate 10 day itinerary for the South Island, complete with what to do each day, where to stay and drive times between stops. I’ll also include some info about bus routes and day tours if you’re not renting your own car. 

Your 10 day South Island itinerary summary

• Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown and explore
• Day 2: Pick up your rental car, go on a hike and visit Glenorchy
• Day 3: Drive to Milford Sound and go on a cruise
• Day 4: Board a Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
• Day 5: Drive to Wanaka with stops along the way
• Day 6: Explore Wanaka and nearby waterfalls
• Day 7: Drive to Aoraki Mt Cook with stops along the way
• Day 8: Hike and enjoy nature around Aoraki
• Day 9: Drive through Tekapo and Timaru to Christchurch
• Day 10: Explore Christchurch and fly home

Day 1: Explore all the best things to do in Queenstown

Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world with lots of adrenaline pumping activities on offer. But don’t worry, if you’re a scaredy cat like me there’s still lots to do in Queenstown.

Start day 1 on the South Island by heading up the Skyline Queenstown gondola for a view over the city. I loved seeing the bright blue water, curved coastline and mountains in the distance.

If you’re feeling a little brave, my husband, Colin, would strongly recommend going on a few luge rides at the top of Skyline. It was his favourite part of Queenstown! Or if you’re extra brave, you could also try  zip-lining, mountain biking or paragliding from the top.

Back on the ground, get in line for a famous Fergburger, Queenstown’s most well known burger place. When we visited, the line moved quickly and the burgers were absolutely worth the hype! 

Spend the rest of your day by the water. Stroll through Queenstown’s shops, sit by the beach and enjoy a little more solitude in Queenstown Gardens. Or, if you need another adrenaline boost, get on a jet boat! 

End your night with a fancy dinner at Blue Kanu or Botswana Butchery and a late night soak at Queenstown Onsen. 

How to get to Queenstown:

I’ve started your South Island road trip off in Queenstown as this is where most people will fly into the South Island.

If you are coming from the North Island, Queenstown is a two hour flight from Auckland or a 90 minute flight from Wellington. You can also fly directly to QT from the east coast of Australia.

Or, if you’re driving the length of Aotearoa, you can ferry from New Zealand’s North to South Island in 3.5 hours. If you are ferrying, it makes more sense to follow my 10 day itinerary in reverse (Christchurch to Queenstown).

Where to stay in Queenstown:

I recommend choosing Queenstown accommodation that is as central as your budget allows, so you can walk or take a short bus into town. Queenstown is notoriously crowded and expensive, so staying centrally doesn’t come cheap.

We stayed at Queenstown Motel Apartments and I think it was a great bargain. $153 NZD ($96 USD) per night for a clean, slightly outdated but spacious room with parking and laundry. And all within a short walk of downtown QT!

If you want to splurge, I’ve booked stays for people at Kamana Lakehouse and they said it was awesome. The views over the lake look incredible!

Day 2: Head out on a South Island hike and day trip to Glenorchy

If you flew into Queenstown, I recommend picking up a rental car which you can use for the rest of this South Island itinerary. We rented ours with Discover Cars and saved so much money compared to other online options (plus insurance was included)! 

Book your car rental in New Zealand here!

If you don’t want to drive, I’ll include a few day tour and transit options throughout this itinerary as well.

Today you’ll get your first taste of hiking in the South Island of New Zealand. I’m not a big hiker, but even I recommend a few short trails in order to appreciate these epic views.

From Queenstown, drive 15 minutes to Bob’s Cove. Here you’ll find an easy-rated nature track that should take less than an hour to walk round trip.

The first part of the track is flat. You’ll walk through a forest, come out to a beach, pass a historic kiln and pose for photos on a picturesque jetty.

Then comes the uphill. It is quite steep (at least, according to this novice hiker) but after much grumbling (mostly by my husband), we both were glad we made it to the top to take in the incredible views of Lake Wakatipu! 

After your hike, drive onto Glenorchy (30 minutes from Bob’s Cove). Stop at Mrs. Wooley’s General Store for a delicious and adorable lunch in the back garden, plus a browse through their beautiful goods.

Next, it’s back to the waterfront to see Glenorchy’s iconic red shed. Snap some photos and enjoy the scenery on a walk by the beach. You can then drive a little further to nearby Lord of the Rings filming site, Isengard.

You’ll then drive back to Queenstown (45 minutes from Glenorchy).

If you didn’t want to drive on your South Island trip, check out  this day tour from Queenstown to Glenorchy which includes Lord of the Rings filming locations and Māori history!

Where to stay in Queenstown: Queenstown Motel Apartments or Kamana Lakehouse

Day 3: Journey to Milford Sound & embark on a fiord cruise

On day 3 of your South Island itinerary we’re hitting one of my highlights of the South Island: the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound! 

You may have heard of Milford Sound. It’s often called the 8th Wonder of the World and known best for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs and wildlife set in a beautiful glacial fiord.

But in my opinion, it’s actually the drive to Milford Sound that makes it so worth it. Along the way you’ll be able to stop at viewpoints, waterfalls, reflective lakes, valleys and more! 

The drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound takes about four hours – and that’s not accounting for scenic stops, meals, bathroom breaks or any traffic. 

I highly recommend leaving Queenstown bright and early so you have lots of time to enjoy the drive to Milford Sound, plus stop at Miles Better Pies in Te Anau for lunch (get the venison and plum!). 

After your epic drive, you’ll board a Milford Sound cruise to experience the beauty of the fiord from the water. If you book a cruise in the late afternoon, you’ll have plenty of time to drive to Milford from Queenstown. 

We booked a 3:55pm cruise with Mitre Peak Cruises and it was actually the last cruise of the day of all of the operators. This meant ours was the only boat in Milford Sound and we had the whole fiord to ourselves! 

As Milford Sound is the most popular tourist attraction in New Zealand (and absolutely worth the hype), you’ll want to book your Milford cruise in advance. Click here to book your Milford Sound cruise!

After filling up your camera with beautiful shots of waterfalls, coastline and maybe some marine life if you’re lucky (we saw dolphins on our cruise!), you’ll head to your accommodation for the night. More on that below! 

If you don’t want to drive, it’s also possible to take a Milford Sound tour from Queenstown. These tours include a bus ride to/from Milford Sound with a few stops and your cruise. 

Book your Milford Sound tour + cruise from Queenstown here! 

Pros to taking a Milford Sound tour bus from Queenstown: You don’t have to drive! You can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. You also don’t have to worry about running late as these buses have their timing down to a science. 

Cons to taking a tour bus: Since you’re not self-driving, you won’t have as much flexibility to stop when you want. You’ll also be travelling with a bus load of new friends – and many of the buses leave at the same time – so all of your stops will be crowded. 

How to get to Milford Sound:

As you can see above, most of your third day on the South Island will be spent getting to Milford Sound.

You can get to Milford Sound by rental car, tour bus or, if you’re happy to spend more to save time and see an even more incredible view, you can fly to Milford Sound! 

Where to stay in Milford Sound:

Accommodation at Milford Sound is extremely limited. These is essentially only one hotel and it doesn’t come cheap.

But being able to wake up on the fiord and enjoy it before any of the other tourists arrive? Priceless! Book your stay at  Milford Sound Lodge here.

If, like us, Milford Sound Lodge isn’t quite in your budget, a great nearby option is Eglinton Valley Camp. We stayed here after our Milford Sound cruise and found it very charming and convenient at just under one hour from Milford.

It’s a little hard to find (especially if you’re arriving at night) but the owners gave us good directions. Eglinton Valley Camp also doesn’t have wifi or a restaurant, but that’s what you get for a remote stay in Fiordland! 

Or, many people choose to drive back to Te Anau (just under two hours from Milford Sound) and spend the night there, as they have more accommodation and dining options. Check out hotels in Te Anau here. 

What I would not recommend is going back to Queenstown to sleep if you’re self driving. Assuming you drove from Queenstown this morning, driving all the way back after your Milford Sound cruise would mean 8+ hours of driving in one day. 

If you really want to return to Queenstown and only see Milford Sound on a day trip, then I do recommend going with a tour bus. Let someone else drive while you nap on the way back! 

Day 4: Go on a magical Doubtful Sound overnight cruise

For day four of your South Island itinerary, you’ll be heading out on another fiord cruise. This time, you’ll be visiting Doubtful Sound and I recommend you stay overnight! 

Not many people visit both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound on a trip to New Zealand. It can be hard to find the time and money to cruise both. But if you do have the time and money, I highly recommend it! 

Have to pick just one? Find out who wins the Milford Sound vs Doubtful Sound debate! 

So on day four you’ll wake up in Milford Sound, Eglinton Valley or Te Anau (depending on where you decided to stay last night), and drive to Manapouri where the Doubtful Sound cruise leaves from.

If you headed back to Queenstown yesterday, you can get on a Doubtful Sound tour from Queenstown. 

Once in Manapouri, you’ll board a boat across Lake Manapouri and then a bus across the Wilmot Pass before finally getting onto your Doubtful Sound cruise to explore one of the longest and deepest fiords in New Zealand!

Because Doubtful Sound is more remote and harder to get to (there’s no public road access), it’s less touristed. Unlike at Milford Sound, you won’t see dozens of tour buses or boats.

While it is a splurge, I recommend booking an overnight cruise of Doubtful Sound. Not only did the overnight cruise offer delicious food, an informative nature talk, water activities and a very comfortable bed, but I also had the most magical experience waking up on Doubtful Sound and watching the clouds lift off the water. 

You can book your Doubtful Sound overnight cruise here. If an overnight cruise isn’t in your budget, you can still take a day cruise on Doubtful Sound. You won’t spend as much time on the fiord, but I’m sure it will still be memorable! 

How to get to Doubtful Sound:

Doubtful Sound cruises leave from Manapouri which is a two hour drive from Milford Sound, one hour drive from Eglinton Valley, 15 minute drive from Te Anau or a two hour drive from Queenstown.

Once in Manapouri, your cruise company will handle the rest of your transport to Doubtful Sound, including a boat ride and bus. Technically it’s another two hours from Manapouri to the fiord.

Where to stay in Doubtful Sound:

If you’re doing the overnight cruise, you’ll get to sleep right in the fiord! I’m someone who usually gets seasick but actually found sleeping in Doubtful Sound very peaceful.

If you opted for a day cruise instead, you can spend the night in Manapouri or Te Anau. Or if you took a tour bus from Queenstown, you’ll return to Queenstown after your cruise and spend the night there. 

Day 5: Check out must do’s on the South Island on the way to Wanaka

Day five of your South Island itinerary sees you waking up on Doubtful Sound, one of the most incredible places in the world to greet the day. Grab your coffee and watch in awe as the clouds lift, waterfalls run and birds sing. 

Your cruise will make its way back to port and you’ll then bus and boat back to Manapouri. Once in Manapouri, you can get back in your car and start the drive to Wanaka, three hours from Manapouri.

But don’t worry, it won’t be three straight hours of boring driving! Of course, we’ll be making lots of scenic stops because that’s just what you do in Aotearoa New Zealand! 

Your first stop will be Arrowtown, a historic mining town just outside of Queenstown. This place gave me Stars Hollow vibes (my fellow Gilmore Girlies will understand what I mean): small town, quaint shops and beautiful fall foliage.

Enjoy a cup of coffee at Provisions (I recommend sitting in their back garden if it’s nice out), stroll down the main street, visit the Historic Chinese Settlement, and try your luck panning for gold. 

Back in your car, you’ll now be driving on the Crown Range Road. This windy road has some of the most stunning views I saw in all of New Zealand. There are lots of viewpoints where you can pull over and enjoy them.

Just before you arrive in Wanaka, you’ll pass through Cardrona. Cardrona is famous for two things: the Cardrona Hotel (apparently the most photographed building in New Zealand) and the Cardrona Bra Fence (nicknamed Bradrona). 

I only got a picture of the Cardrona Hotel from the car window but for the bra fence we pulled over and admired the controversial landmark.

While some locals don’t like the fence, many more think it’s a fun way to draw tourists and do a little good, as a collection box at the fence earns $500 per week for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. 

How to get to Wanaka:

As you read above, most of today is about driving to Wanaka from Fiordland.

If you’re following this South Island itinerary without a car, there is a bus that goes from Queenstown to Wanaka. Click here to learn more about the bus options. 

Where to stay in Wanaka:

We stayed at the Archway Motels & Chalets in Wanaka and I would highly recommend it! The location was perfect, set back from the main street but an easy walk to the lake and downtown shops, and our room was really spacious, modern and well-equipped.

The owner was also so lovely when we checked in and they have parking, laundry facilities and a cedar hot tub! 

Book your stay at Archway Motels & Chalets here!

Day 6: Explore Wanaka, waterfalls & the Blue Pools

Day six is all about the awesome things to do in Wanaka! Start by making your way to the most famous site in town, #ThatWanakaTree.

The Wanaka Tree sits out in Lake Wanaka and is one of the most photographed places in the entire country. And while it is pretty, I don’t know if it quite deserves the hype that it gets.

But you can’t go to Wanaka and not see the tree, so you might as well make your way along the beach and snap a photo! 

Then I’d recommend walking back into town, grabbing breakfast and stopping at the little shops on the main strip. I really liked Thieving Kea, which had a ton of cute houseware and jewelry. 

After a morning in Wanaka, jump in your car and check out some of the sights nearby. You can frolic in the fields of Wanaka Lavender Farm, get lost at Puzzling World or do what we did and check out the Blue Pools.

The Blue Pools are an hour from Wanaka and a lovely hike on the South Island of New Zealand. It’s an easy one hour round trip stroll through the forest until you reach two swinging bridges and the beautiful blue water underneath them. 

Just a few minutes’ drive from the Blue Pools are Fantail Falls and Thunder Creek Falls, which are definitely worth stopping at too! 

Return to Wanaka in time for dinner (we really enjoyed our meal at Bombay Palace Wanaka) and maybe a movie at local Cinema Paridiso. They serve warm cookies halfway through the film! 

Where to stay in Wanaka: Archway Motels & Chalets

Day 7: Enjoy epic places to see on the way to Aoraki Mt Cook

On day 7 of your South Island trip you’re going to make your way to Aoraki Mt Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Like every drive on this itinerary, it’s going to be scenic with some beautiful stops! 

You’ll drive through the Lindis Pass, where you’ll likely want to pullover at a few viewpoints for photos, and then to your first stop, the Omarama Clay Cliffs. 

The Omarama Clay Cliffs are located on private land (there’s an honesty box where you can pay your $5 NZD entrance fee, cash only) and an easy walk from the gravel parking lot. They’re definitely worth a stop as it felt like we were walking around something out of Star Wars! 

Also in Omarama are the Hot Tubs Omarama, a chance to soak in a mineral water tub looking out at a beautiful mountain view. 

Back in the car, your next stop is Twizel. Twizel is the last “big” town before Mt Cook, making it the perfect place to fill up on gas, take out cash, have lunch and buy groceries. Options for gas, groceries and ATMs are limited after this point.

Journey on to Lake Pukaki, a stunningly blue lake whose coast you’ll drive along until you reach Aoraki Mt Cook.

Stop at the Punatahu Visitor Centre for a nice look out over the water and at the Alpine Salmon Shop for delicious fresh salmon. Colin and I picked up sashimi, salmon spread and smoked salmon and it was all amazing! 

Spend your final 30 minutes driving into Mount Cook Village and gawking at the view out your car window. Once you’re settled in, you can have dinner at the Hermitage Hotel or do what we did and enjoy a picnic dinner at your accommodation (using the groceries you picked up in Twizel!). 

How to get to Aoraki Mt Cook:

From Wanaka it’s a 2.5 hour drive to Aoraki Mt Cook and the Mount Cook Village. Add a little extra time for all of the stops listed above. 

Not driving? If you’re following this South Island itinerary without a car, you can go on a day trip to Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo from Christchurch or a day trip to Mt Cook from Queenstown!

Where to stay in Mount Cook:

Accommodation in Mount Cook is limited and quite expensive. If you can afford to splurge, definitely check out the Hermitage Hotel. It’s one of the oldest and most beloved hotels in New Zealand.

If you’re on more of a mid-range budget, I’d highly recommend the hotel we stayed at  Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge. While not the newest hotel, our room was spacious and included a kitchenette, free parking and a balcony.

The hotel also has a beautiful lounge room with full cooking facilities and a great view of Aoraki Mt Cook! Check out my full review of our budget accommodation in Mt Cook, plus some other accommodation options. 

Day 8: Walk the Hooker Valley Track & other must sees in Mount Cook

Day 8 means it’s time for one of my favourite hikes in the South Island of New Zealand: The Hooker Valley Track! This is one of the most famous trails in New Zealand and also one of the most scenic and accessible.

The Hooker Valley Track is a 10km out and back trail that has a gradual elevation gain of about 650 feet. The trail is very well marked with many sections having wooden boardwalks. There are a few sections of stairs, as well as three very pretty (and a little bouncy) swinging bridges.

The track leads to Hooker Lake, a glacier fed lake, and offers views of Aoraki herself the whole way (as long as there aren’t too many clouds!). 

As a non-hiker, I found this track very manageable. Experienced hikers will have no problem with it, but should hike it anyway because it’s just that pretty! 

If you don’t think you’re up for the whole 10km or have mobility concerns, I encourage you to give the hike a try. If you make it to the first viewpoint (roughly 20 minutes in and before the big set of stairs), you’ll still get a really nice view! 

After you’ve hiked Hooker Valley, you can check out some other things to do in Aoraki Mount Cook. Adrenaline junkies can explore the area by helicopter, go skydiving or try out heli-hiking. There are lots of other hiking and biking trails too.

I’d recommend heading over to Lake Tasman, which has a few easy walking routes offering views of the lake, river and glacier.

The Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre is also incredible and worth visiting. You can learn lots about the area across their two floors of exhibits, plus entrance is free!  

End your full day in Aoraki with dinner cooked at your accommodation or treat yourself to the famous dinner buffet at the Hermitage Hotel. 

Where to stay in Mount Cook:  Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge or Hermitage Hotel

Day 9: Journey to Christchurch through Tekapo & Timaru

On the penultimate day of your South Island road trip, you’ll make your way to Christchurch with stops in Tekapo and Timaru. 

Up first: Lake Tekapo! There’s lots to do around Lake Tekapo, one of the most picturesque lakes in the South Island.

Take the iconic photo of The Church of the Good Shepherd by the water (bonus points if the lupins are in bloom), soak in Tekapo Springs and grab a bite (I hear great things about Blue Lake Eatery and Kohan Restaurant). 

If you have extra time – or would rather stay in Tekapo instead of carrying onto Timaru and Christchurch – it might be worth spending a night in Tekapo. This area is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve, so the stargazing is incredible! 

On the way from Lake Tekapo to Timaru you’ll drive through Fairlie, where I highly recommend you stop for lunch at Fairlie Bakehouse.

Fairlie Bakehouse pies are famous throughout Aotearoa (I had one in Glenorchy I’m still dreaming about), but I’m sure nothing beats them fresh from the source! 

The whole reason I added Timaru to your South Island itinerary is for the little blue penguins that call this city home. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to Timaru on our trip to New Zealand but spotting these little penguins is definitely on my bucket list for our next trip back! 

You can visit their home by Caroline Bay Beach. Be sure to avoid flash photography, stay on the dedicated path and obey all rules signposted in the area in order to keep the blue penguins safe.

Also in Timaru you’ll find a historic town, art galleries, museums and a botanical garden. Finally, you’ll drive a little over two hours from Timaru to Christchurch and call it a day! 

How to get to Christchurch:

Most of your day will be spent getting to Christchurch. From Aoraki Mount Cook to Tekapo, Timaru and finally to Christchurch is 4.5 hours of driving. If you’re short on time, cutting out Timaru will save you half an hour. 

Not driving? If you don’t have a car, you can bus, fly or take a private transfer to Christchurch.

From Mount Cook, your best bet is the InterCity bus, which will take 5.5 hours. If you’re coming from Queenstown you can fly (55 minutes), bus with Intercity or book a private transfer (9-10 hour ride).

Where to stay in Christchurch: 

On our trip we returned to Queenstown after Aoraki Mount Cook, so didn’t make it to Christchurch. But here are a few highly recommended hotels in the city centre: The George, The Mayfair and The Observatory Hotel.

Day 10: Explore the top places to see in Christchurch

Sadly, it’s the last day of your South Island New Zealand road trip. You’ll spend your final day exploring Christchurch and then saying your tearful goodbyes to Aotearoa as you head home.

You may know Christchurch from the horrific earthquake they experienced in February 2011 which killed 185 people and levelled more than half of the buildings in the CBD.

Since then, Christchurch has rebuilt and emerged as a vibrant and resilient city. You can learn more about the earthquake and aftermath at the museum, Quake City. 

On your day in Christchurch, you’ll be spoilt for choice of activities. Head to Christchurch Adventure Park for mountain biking and zip-lining, ride the Christchurch Gondola, stroll through Christchurch Botanic Gardens, see more penguins at the International Antarctic Centre, and don’t miss the city’s incredible food scene. 

You can also drive an hour out of town to Akaroa and board a cruise to spot local dolphins, seals and penguins. Or ride the TranzAlpine train, said to be the most scenic train ride in the world.

With that, your time on the South Island has come to an end! 

How to head home: 

From Christchurch you can start your journey home. You can fly directly from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) to many destinations in Australia and New Zealand, as well as to China, Singapore and even San Francisco! 

If you’re continuing your trip in New Zealand, you can keep driving from Christchurch onward to the North Island or explore more of the South. Check out my ideas below to extend your itinerary.

You may also choose to return to Queenstown, where you started your road trip, to return your car and fly out from there. It’s a six hour drive back from Christchurch to Queenstown.

Personally, I’d look into the one-way fee for dropping your car off in Christchurch so you don’t have to drive back. 

Short on time? 7 day South Island New Zealand itinerary

If you only have a week for your South Island itinerary, I would cut out the journey to and day in Christchurch, and focus instead on Queenstown, Fiordland and Aoraki Mount Cook.

Here’s what your 7 day South Island New Zealand itinerary would look like: 

• Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown and explore
• Day 2: Nearby day trip to Glenorchy
• Day 3: Drive to Milford Sound and go on a day cruise
• Day 4: Overnight Doubtful Sound cruise
• Day 5: Drive to Mount Cook with a stop in Wanaka
• Day 6: Hike around Aoraki Mt Cook
• Day 7: Return to Queenstown and fly home

Including both the fiords and Mount Cook in your South Island trip does mean a lot of driving, as both will take you in opposite directions from Queenstown. But I think it’s worth it since they’re some of the most scenic places in New Zealand!

But if you really don’t want to drive or if you only have 3-5 days for your South Island itinerary, I’d recommend sticking to just Queenstown and Fiordland, choosing between Milford or Doubtful Sound, and maybe including a side trip to Wanaka.

You can do this without a rental car, taking a day tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound or Queenstown to Doubtful Sound, and then another day trip from Queenstown to Arrowtown and Wanaka (or you can take the bus from Queenstown to Wanaka!).

More time? 14 day South Island New Zealand itinerary

If you have more time to spend on the South Island, that’s awesome! This 10 day New Zealand itinerary just scratches the surface and there really is so much more to see.

Here are some ideas to fill 2+ weeks on the South Island:

• Taste wine, cycle and hike in Central Otago
• Check out historic buildings and museums in Invercargill
• Go south of the South Island to Stewart Island, where you’ll find breathtaking landscapes, penguins and wild kiwis (the bird, not the fruit… or the people)
• Head north from Christchurch to Kaikoura, famous for seal and whale watching
• Visit top spots on the west coast such as the Franz Josef Glacier, Hokitika Gorge and Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks
• Journey to Abel Tasman National Park on the north end of the island to enjoy a tropical wonderland

7 tips for your South Island New Zealand road trip

1) Rent a car (if you can)

I highly recommend renting a car for your South Island New Zealand road trip. Bus routes are quite limited in New Zealand, and trains don’t cover much of the country. You can take day tours, but they can get costly and don’t allow you to move around as flexibly. 

I don’t drive but lucky for me, my husband does. New Zealand was his first time driving on the left side of the road and he did great!

After comparing prices across multiple websites – and hearing horror stories of cars going for $150 NZD/day – we booked our rental cars with Discover Cars for $62 NZD/day on average and I couldn’t have been happier.

The booking process was seamless, pick up and drop off were fast, the price was right and insurance was included.

Book your rental car with Discover Cars! 

2) Download offline maps

Many places on the South Island of New Zealand have spotty cell service, particularly in Fiordland and Aoraki Mount Cook. In Doubtful Sound, it’s completely non-existent!

So before you head out on your road trip, you’re going to want to download offline maps. You can do this super easily with Google Maps. 

3) Download the Gaspy app

Another app you’re going to want for your South Island road trip? Gaspy. This miracle app tells you where the closest gas stations are (as well as bathrooms!) and the current prices for fuel.

This free app saved our butt multiple times. Whenever we needed to fill up, I opened the app and could save us lots of money by simply choosing a gas station a few blocks away.

It’s also very handy when you’re headed to remote places with limited gas stations and bathrooms so you don’t miss your chance to fill (or empty!) your tank. 

4) Practice safe driving

The driving conditions in New Zealand are very safe and most drivers are courteous to tourists. After our three weeks of driving in Aotearoa, here are a few things I think you should keep in mind: 

• Watch your speed. We unfortunately got a speeding ticket on our way back from Doubtful Sound. Many drivers seem to think the speed limits are optional but our ticket says otherwise! 
• Get out of the passing lane. You’ll come across lots of two-lane roads in New Zealand with passing lanes every now and then. Make sure you’re allowing local traffic to pass.
• Practice driving. I don’t recommend making the long and windy drive to Milford Sound your very first time behind the wheel in New Zealand, especially if you’re not used to driving on the left. Give yourself some time to get used to it. 
• Safely go to viewpoints. There will be tons of scenic stops on your South Island New Zealand road trip with views so stunning you’ll feel the need to swerve across traffic to get a better look. Don’t. In my experience, most of the scenic lookouts were well signposted ahead of time. Find a safe space to park or pull over before enjoying the view. 

5) Give yourself extra time

There’s a tendency with tourists in New Zealand to race across both islands trying to see as much as possible. I get it – there’s a lot to see and most people don’t have a lot of time to see it in!

But New Zealand, and the South Island especially, is one of those places where slowing down pays off.

A lot of the things on this itinerary, such as seeing Aoraki Mount Cook, benefit from good weather. If you give yourself two nights in a place instead of a few hours, you can wait out the clouds and hope for some sun.

Plus, slowing down just means more time to enjoy the beautiful views. Don’t make the mistake of stuffing your itinerary so full you don’t have time to take it all in. 

6) Book ahead

While certain parts of this itinerary may feel remote, New Zealand is an in demand place to be! Queenstown can get super crowded and Milford Sound is the most popular tourist attraction in the country. That’s why it pays to book ahead.

When we travelled in April 2023, most of the hotels we stayed at had “no vacancy” signs hanging out front. We got turned away from restaurants and we ran into a couple on the North Island who were told they’d have to wait a week to get tickets to Hobbiton.

And this was April – which isn’t even high season! 

I would highly recommend booking your accommodation, transportation and any big activities (like a Milford Sound cruise) well in advance of your trip. If you prefer to travel more spontaneously, book refundable rates so you can cancel at no charge if your plans change.

Trust me, spending a few hours to make all of your bookings will be a lot less stressful than showing up and realizing you have nowhere to sleep, no openings for tours and no way to get anywhere.

Plus, you can just scroll back up and book all of my recommended hotels, tours and rental cars to save yourself time 😉 

7) Respect nature

Perhaps most importantly, you want to make sure you’re being respectful of your surroundings on your South Island road trip. One of the things about New Zealand is that there’s a deep culture of taking care of your natural environment.

So do like the Kiwis do and be kind to Mother Nature!

This means packing in and packing out, not littering, not taking anything from a natural environment (yes, even that one shell or rock can make a big difference) and obeying all rules in an area.

I noticed that the South Island does a great job at alerting people to any wildlife concerns, such as not feeding birds like the kea, so be sure to take note and follow their guidance. 

Need more tips? Check out 19 things to know before your first trip to New Zealand!

Should you visit New Zealand’s North Island or South Island?

Both! The best trip to Aotearoa New Zealand includes the North Island and the South Island. They’re both impressive and easily connected by short flight or ferry.

Both islands offer lots of great opportunities to appreciate New Zealand’s natural beauty. You won’t go wrong with either. But if you have to choose…

To me, the North Island has more singular places – a specific spot where you’ll see something epic, like a geyser, garden or glow worm cave.

Whereas the South Island’s beauty felt a bit more spread out. you’re not looking at one epic waterfall but a whole fiord full of only-slightly-less-epic waterfalls.

If there’s something you have to check off your New Zealand bucket list – like seeing Hobbiton or cruising in Milford Sound – choose your island based on that.

Still can’t decide? You can also factor in which island is easier to get to (most international flights fly into Auckland) and the weather (the South Island is colder than the North Island).

If I really had to choose, I think the South Island would just edge out the North Island for me. As epic as the North Island was, my memories aboard the Doubtful Sound cruise and along the Hooker Valley Track on the South Island will stick with me forever.

Wrapping up your New Zealand South Island itinerary

I can honestly say that the South Island of New Zealand is one of the most magical places I have ever been in 31 years of travel across 40+ countries and six continents. It’s really that impressive! 

From cavernous fiords and snow-capped mountains to quaint towns and delicious food, the South Island has it all! And there’s no better way to discover it than on a road trip where you can pull over (safely!) whenever the view looks good, which is often.

I loved our time on New Zealand’s South Island and definitely want to head back to see everything we missed. We did our South Island itinerary in a car but I think it would be a lot of fun to do in a camper, trying out van life. 

I hope this itinerary post has convinced you to put the South Island on your bucket list and given you lots of inspiration for your trip! Id love to know: Where on the South Island do you most want to visit? 

Check out these posts to plan your South Island itinerary: