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The South Island of New Zealand is really, truly, magical.
If you’ve got just 1 week on the South Island, you’ll have just enough time to see the highlights and it will leave you wanting to come back! There’s a lot of adventures to be had here in NZ. I’ve created this route to help you make the most of it!
Please consider this road trip a starting point! While this is my ideal 1 week south island new Zealand road trip (based on months of travel) you’ll want to tailor it to fit you!
Every itinerary should be a little different because every traveler’s needs will be a little different! I’ve added in a “customize” section to each day to give you some ideas of how you can make this trip work for you!
This route will hit those major areas you’ve probably heard of when researching the South Island, but I’ve put an emphasis on fun things to do outdoors! This route is totally doable in the winter but it’s geared towards a summer traveler. I am not a city person and instead gravitate towards small towns and experiences in nature, which you’ll see in this itinerary.
I’ve also got the experience to back this road trip up. During my 2025 residency in NZ, I’ve gone on countless big and little road trips all across the south island!
If I wanted to spend 1 unforgettable week on the south island, this is how I’d do it.
Quick Tips
🏨 Most Stunning Accommodation: Milford Sound Lodge
⛰ Must Visit Areas: Mt. Cook National Park & Milford or Doubtful Sound
📍 Unique Experience: See Glow Worms in Te Anau
🚗 How to Get Around: Rental Car
💰 Currency: I’ve listed everything in NZD so you can convert to the current exchange rate. At the time of writing $1 NZD = $0.58 USD. Thus $100 NZD = $58
1 Week South Island New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary
This route showcases the beauty of the Fiordland region, the Southern Alps and Mt Cook National Park.
The road trip starts in Christchurch and ends in Queenstown, but you can just as easily reverse it! Keep in mind these are the common areas to explore on a limited time frame in NZ, I’ll be posting a multi-week road trip guide and an off the beaten path guide soon!
Day 1 – Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Day 2 – Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook to Wanaka
Day 3 – Wanaka
Day 4 – Wanaka to Te Anau
Day 5 – Te Anau day trip to Milford Sound
Day 6 – Te Anau to Queenstown
Day 7 – Depart Queenstown
Keep reading to see my drive time breakdowns, plus accommodation, activity and restaurant breakdowns! I do my best to only recommend things I’ve personally done, or have heard great things from a friend but I missed out on. There won’t be 10 restaurant recommendations for each town because I haven’t eaten at 10 restaurants! I’ll just be giving you my personal top picks.
Let’s get into it!
Best Time to Visit New Zealand?
New Zealand is a great country to visit year round! There are sports like skiing or relaxing in hot springs in the winter, wineries in the spring, hiking in the summer and apple orchards in the fall.
From my experience living in New Zealand, I would travel here in the summer because your access to activities will be higher. There will be more options for adventure and getting out into nature, the weather will be pleasant and roads will be open.
Something I discovered this winter is that a lot of storms roll through New Zealand (many this year were unprecedented and due to climate change). So there were many road closures and traveling around the South Island was restricted at times.
Getting to the South Island
From the US, getting to New Zealand is pretty straight forward! From your state you’ll likely fly to LAX and then have a direct flight to Auckland. From Auckland it’s an easy 1 hour domestic flight down to either Christchurch or Queenstown on Air New Zealand.
How to Get Around New Zealand
The best way to get around New Zealand and have autonomy over your travel is to rent a car. You can easily pick up your car at one airport and drop it off at another. Having the car will give you the freedom and flexibility to see as many magical nuggets of New Zealand as possible during your 1 week.
I’ve used Pegasus Rentals and GO rentals before, and have had good experiences with both!
➡️ Browse here to find a deal on car rentals! ⬅️
Day by Day Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Drive time: 138 miles, 3 hours
Customize: If you want to explore the city, you can opt to spend the night in Christchurch and drive to Tekapo in the morning. Lake Tekapo is a small enough town it can be enjoyed as a lunch stop before heading on to Mt. Cook.
Welcome to New Zealand!! To maximize your time at the South Islands true gems, I have you hitting the road straight away! Pick up your rental car and head towards Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo is beautiful!! Not only is it dark sky reserve (i.e. the night sky is stunning) but if you’re there in the late spring/early summer (Late Nov – Early Jan) the lupin flowers are in their full stunning colors by the lake side.
You feel like you’re walking through a postcard! It truly is picturesque!
I think Lake Tekapo is worth a stay overnight because of the dark sky reserve, but if you’re in a pinch and wanting to stay a night in Christchurch or somewhere else, you can see the area in just a few hours.
Where to Stay in Lake Tekapo
Customize: You can also stay a bit outside Lake Tekapo in Farlie or Twizle to save on accommodation. If you’ve rented a campervan, check out the Lake Tekapo Holiday Park.
$ Lakes Edge Lodge : $112 NZD / dorm bed
About 1 mile from the city center but right on the lakefront! Honestly this is the only hostel I would go for. The others are outrageously expensive for a dorm bed ($196 NZD) and only boast being right in the town center. I stayed at a different hostel my first time in Tekapo and I paid a silly amount for the dorm bed even though the hostel was mid-tier
$$ The Godley Hotel : $292 NZD
The jump from budget accommodation to mid-tired accommodation is big here in Lake Tekapo. But this hotel is in a great location, plus it’s modern and clean.
What to Do in Lake Tekapo
The BEST thing to do in Lake Tekapo is FREE! And it’s obvious, walk by the lake side and enjoy the flowers and scenery. You can also walk by the infamous Church of the Good Shepard, which may be the most photographed church in New Zealand (a stat I just made up).
This historic church was opened in 1935 and it is situated right on the lake front. You can’t miss it!
You can also soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools after your day of travel! My friends and I did this in 2022 and we especially liked that you get a view of the lake! When we were there in December is was pretty full and there were lots of kids. If you’re looking for something more private you may enjoy their spa area.
You can also book a star gazing hotsprings experience! This will be perfect if you’re looking to combine looking through a telescope, learning about constellations and relaxing in hot pools.
There are a ton of other star gazing tours based out of Tekapo. If you want to look through a big telescope this is a great option for you! But if you just want to look at a beautiful night sky and you don’t need all the science, you can easily opt out of a tour.
Also, I’ve been to Lake Tekapo 3 times and it’s been cloudy every time! No stars for me! Ha!
Where to Eat
Jack Rabbit Cafe – For coffee, breakfast for a quick nibble check out this cute cafe!
Blue Lake Eatery and Bar – This is an upscale eatery that has a great atmosphere! We really liked it here but there are limited vegetarian options if that is a concern for you!
Day 2: Mt. Cook National Park day trip
Drive Time: Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook – 1.5 hrs. Mt Cook to Wanaka – 2.5 hrs
Customize: The only accomodation in the National Park is the Mt. Cook Village, which is a bit expensive! I personally think the park can be seen as a day trip. Note that you can opt to stay in the Village if you’re keen on that expereince, then drive down to Wanaka on day 3.
Now on to the more mountainous Mt. Cook National Park!
TOP TIPS!
- On the drive from Lake Tekapo, make sure to pull over at the Lake Pukaki viewing platform. There are several pull off locations on the way up to Mt. Cook. It’s a beautiful and impressive lake!
- There is limited food in the National Park so be prepared with snacks and your own lunch.
- Fill up on gas before you head up to the park!
What to Do in Mt. Cook N.P.
The ultimate hike to do here is the Hooker Valley track! This is a 6 ish mile out and back trail that is moderate with some elevation. There are several cool swing bridges along the way, and unfortunately the government is currently replacing one of the bridges. The track is only partially opened at the moment (only 3 miles of trail) and will fully reopen in mid 2026.
Another great short hike is the Kea Point track, which actually boasts better views of Mt. Cook than the Hooker Valley. This is a 2 hour hike that is relatively easy with less than 600 ft in elevation gain.
Where to Stay in Wanaka
There is limited accommodation in the Mt. Cook Village, so I’d opt to drive the 2.5 hrs to Wanaka for the night! If more driving isn’t your thing, you can stay in the Mt. Cook Village or in the town of Twizle which is 1 hr from Mt. Cook.
$ Backpackers Bothy : $40 NZD / dorm bed
This is the backpackers option I’ve stayed at in Wanaka. It had that classic hostel feel to it with a common room full of games, nice outdoor area and a ton of dorm beds. I didn’t find the kitchen the cleanest but the room was fine! Plus it’s super close to the action in town. I will probably opt to stay in a proper hotel next time I’m Wanaka, but if you’re on a budget this is a fine hostel.
$$ Lake Hawea Hotel : $205 NZD
My partner stayed in this hotel which is actually 15 minutes outside the town center of Wanaka on Lake Hawea. He LOVED this hotel and it had amazing views of the lake!
$$$ The Wanaka Hotel : $247 NZD
Located right on the water, this cozy hotel has a beautiful restaurant with lakeside views, clean and comfortable rooms. A great spot to relax after your drive!
Day 3: Wanaka
Drive time: Nada
Customize: This is a full day in Wanaka, there’s no driving and you’ll spend a 2nd night here. It’s your chance to see the surrounding area! If you opted to stay the first night of your trip in Christchuch or if you stayed in Mt. Cook night 2, this day allows for flexibility in the schedule.
Wanaka is one of my favorite towns in New Zealand! It’s less crowded than Queenstown and is still a great jumping off point for adventure sports like bungee jumping, or for alpine hiking like Roy’s Peak or for relaxing by the lake!
I love the laid back vibes of Wanaka, so it’s also fun to just walk around the little town!
What to Do
Wanaka is another spot where you can splurge on guided activities or just go at your own pace and do some free things.
Definitely check out the lake’s walking path. I’ve even seen eels in the lake if you walk onto the little dock!
There’s also a ton of hiking in the area! Roys Peak is a steep, 10 mile hike (estimated return 6 hours) that is famed in the Wanaka area! People love to hike up there for sunrise! It has incredible views .
If you’re not keen to do an all day hike, consider doing the Rocky Mountain Track. It’s a 3 hour looped track that’s about 4 miles long, plus you still get great views.
My Favorite Eatery
You’ve got to check out Big Fig! They are one of my favorite spots to eat in all of New Zealand. They have amazing vegetarian options as well as local meat options. Plus it’s a great value!
Day 4: Wanaka to Te Anau
Drive time: 172 miles, 3 hrs
Customize: Stop in Arrowtown or Queenstown for lunch! You’ll be coming back to explore Queenstown before you depart.
Te Anau is the gateway to the Fjordland National Park. It will be your jumping off point to the Milford (or Doubtful) Sound! The town of Te Anau itself is cute but not overly impressive… but the surrounding area sure is!
TOP TIPS!
- This is an incredibly pretty drive but it is quite windy! If you’re prone to car sickness you may want to take something non-drowsy to help combat the squirrely roads.
- This part of the drive will have lots of pull off points to admire the lakes and the Southern Alps! Take your time and take in the sights!
You’ll have 2 days in Te Anau, here’s how I broke up my 2 days during a recent trip here.
Assuming you arrive to Te Anau in the mid afternoon, I would spend the first day going to see the glow worm caves (I’ve done this twice now, it’s a great tour!). The tour is only 3 hours and half of that is spent on the lake boat, so it’s a chill yet exciting tour for your first day in Fjordland.
Then on your second day in the area, go check out Milford or Doubtful Sound! More on that in the next section.
Where to Stay
$ Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers : $60 NZD / dorm bed
I stayed here back in 2022 and I loved it! Located right across from the lake, they had a great atmosphere and clean spaces. Especially the kitchen (dirty hostel kitchens really give me the ick). Also there were no bunk beds!
What to Do
I’ll always try to start with the free activities! Check out the Fjordland N.P visitors center, but get there before 4pm when they close!
You can also go for a walk around the lake. From the visitors center it’s about 45 minutes one way to walk to “the control gates” which controls the water level in the lake. The control gates also mark the start of the Kepler Great Walk! The Kepler track is a 40 mile loop but you can do part of it as a day trip, or even do the whole thing as a big long 1 day adventure. We did it as a 4 day backpacking trip!
Also I really love the hospice shop thrift store in town! I’m not much of a shopper but I’ve always had fun checking out this store.
Finally, I highly recommend the glow worm caves! This is pretty much your only spot to see glow worms on this itinerary and New Zealand is famed for them! The tour starts with a beautiful cruise across the lake, then you’ll have a little info session about the worms before going and seeing them in the depths of the caves.
The cave is well lit until the end when you actually see the worms. You’ll be walking across a man made boardwalk, so no caving experience is needed! This is truly an awesome tour – I’ve done it twice!
➡️ Check tour availability here ⬅️
Keep reading to day 5 for the real gem of Fiordland, the Milford Sound!
Where to Eat
Te Anau isn’t really a “foodies” destination, but there are a few good eateries. For breakfast or lunch I recommend the Sandfly Cafe.
For dinner I went to Ditto Asian Fusion and had a really great meal.
Lastly, the Fat Duck is also highly recommended but I’ve yet to try it myself.
Day 5: Milford or Doubtful Sound
Drive Time: 2 hrs to Milford, “0 hrs” to Doubtful
Customize: This may be the hardest decision you make in New Zealand! Which Fjord to go to! I’ve been to Milford Sound twice and have loved it both times. The drive is curvy and dramatic and the boat tour at the end is awesome. Waterfall galore! I will be going on the Doubtful Sound tour in December and I’m super excited to check it out!
From Te Anau you’ll have an amazing day trip to one of the beautiful fjords. As an Alaska baby, fjords are one of my favorite landscapes! This may be the highlight of your trip!
The Milford Sound is a small but dramatic fjord and is 2 hour drive from Te Anau. If you don’t want to drive yourself out there (the perk of driving is getting to stop for sight seeing and short hikes), you can take a tour bus from Te Anau.
We drove ourselves into Milford Sound. Once there, the boat tour itself is about 90 minutes, where you’ll see amazing waterfalls, sheer cliffs and maybe even an albatross! Rain or shine (I’ve been there for both) it’s picturesque the whole way.
Treat your self to an unbelievable stay in the Milford Lodge Chalet! I stayed in the riverside “mountain” chalet this year and it was peak luxury! Not to mention the restaurant is AMAZING!
The Milford Sound is one of the most popular destinations in the entire country. There will probably be about 4 other tour boats out in the fjord while you’re there. This didn’t distract from my experience, but if you want something more “off the beaten path” you may want to go to Doubtful Sound.
I won’t be able to give a Doubtful Sound tour review until after my December trip, but I’ve heard it’s much more remote and significantly less crowded. I’m super excited to get out there and see how it differs from Milford.
The only way to get to Doubtful Sound is to book the full day tour. Unlike Milford Sound, you can’t drive yourself there!
For an overnight option in Doubtful Sound – check out the 2 day Doubtful Sound cruise!
Customize: My itinerary has you spending a 2nd night back in Te Anau, but if you don’t mind moving around, stay out at the Milford Lodge or do the overnight doubtful sound trip.
Day 6: Te Anau to Queenstown
Drive Time: 106 miles, 2 hrs
Customize: If you’re coming from the Milford Lodge, plan on a 4.5 hour drive
Finally – your day in Queenstown! Queenstown is famed as being New Zealand’s adventure hub! You’ll find everything here from sky diving to the human catapult to boat cruises to wineries. There’s also a ton of hiking and mountain biking in the summer!
This is probably the most customizable day as there’s something for everyone in Queenstown!
Where to Stay
I’ll be honest I’ve kind of struck out on the Queenstown accommodation. I stayed at a mid tier 3 start hotel which wasn’t great and an airbnb for 6 people. Not very helpful when writing a travel blog!
$ Black Sheep Backpackers $69 NZD / dorm bed
I’ve got my eye on this hostel! It looks looks quirky and cool and right up my alley!
$ Haka House Hostel : $74 NZD / dorm bed
This is the same chain hostel I wrote about earlier. I haven’t been to this location but I stayed with them in the Bay of Islands and had a fine stay.
$$$ The Melbourne Lodge : $230 NZD / room
If I was going to splurge on a nice spot for my last night in NZ I would stay here! The hotel is right downtown and also super close to the airport for your departing flight.
➡️ Compare all Accommodations Here ⬅️
What to Do
There’s honestly a silly amount of things to do in Queenstown.
Keep in mind you’ll probably be arriving around noon, so don’t schedule anything for the morning.
- First up on the FREE list is to go for a walk around the lake. During my 2022 road trip, my friends and I all split up to do different activities. I kept it simple and walked around the lake and took in the sights – and I had a great time!
- Next up would be to rent a bike! One of my friends cruised by me on an e-bike while I was on my jog on the lake track. You can cover more distance and thus see a bit more! I tried to find the exact company my friend used to no avail. I remember she didn’t book ahead, she just walked in a day of and was able to get a rental. Check out full bike tours here.
- Wine isn’t really my thing. So while I was walking around the lake a few of my friends went on a biking wine tour. This is a $90 NZD self paced bike tour that has you stopping at several wineries. There are also guided versions of this tour! If biking isn’t your thing, check out the other wine tour options (there are A LOT).
- This one is for you adrenaline junkies. So not me (lol)… I supported my friends when they did the highest bungee jump in New Zealand… the Nevis bungee jump! This 440 ft bungee jump drops you into the Nevis valley and is quite the experience! My friends got multiple jumps and loved the thrill!
- I don’t have any experience with any of the water activities in Queenstown, but there are a plethora of more relaxing boat rides and scenic cruises on the lake if that is calling to you! Really, there’s something for everyone in Queenstown!
➡️ Compare all Tours Here ⬅️
Unique “Dining” Experience
Perky’s floating bar – one of the coolest spots in town! Relax drink in hand on the floating bar, take in the views and celebrate your trip to NZ! Note this is a bar without a food service, but they’re not fussed if you bring takeout food onboard!
Day 7: Depart from Queenstown
Your last day will vary greatly depending on what time your flight is! The Queenstown airport is small, getting there an hour before your flight is more than enough time. If you have an evening flight, you can sneak in a morning boat tour of Lake Whakatipu.
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve taken inspiration from my unforgettable 1 week south island New Zealand road trip itinerary!
Your week in New Zealand is sure to be jammed packed and utterly memorable. If you’re going in the summer make sure to book your accommodation at least 3 months in advance. Tours like the Milford or Doubtful Sound are also likely to book up in advance.
I’m sure you will be swept away in the magic of New Zealand! Happy travels!
Ahoy! I’m Bree and I’ve started this blog to help you plan your next great outdoor adventure. With a background in marine science, I’ve got an aptitude for all things ocean, but you’ll find land based adventures here too! Everything you see here is based on my own travel experience and paid for myself. I hope you stick around!