You can connect these itineraries with the connecting itineraries in the next section of this blog to make an epic north and south island road trip in new zealand. Nov 29, 2019 10day new zealand south island itinerary. However you are travelling and whatever your interests, youll have an unforgettable new zealand experience on one of our recommended south island trips. Detailed itinerary starting in queenstown and ending in christchurch taking you across the highlights of the south island. But what it does offer, is an introduction to the absolutely best. Our 7day new zealand south island itinerary lets you discover the beautiful autumn landscapes, that includes christchurch, hanmer springs, wanaka, mount cook, queenstown and more. This new zealand south island itinerary is designed for those that have decided to see the island through the lens of a campervan, but anyone looking for things to do on the nz south island would also find it useful. Our modern selfdrive travel itineraries have routes specifically for the north island as well as the south island, ranging from 5 to 11 days, plus there are some travel routes that take in both the north and south island s. Choose trips to suit your interests and how much time you have. With new zealand vehicles driving on the lefthand side of the road, that means you will be closest to the coast, heading south along the east coast and then north along the west coast. A journey from canterbury to fiordland and across to the west coast is packed full of memorable experiences including stunning scenery, adventurous activities, historic townships and great food and wine. Our self drive itineraries are all custom designed. But if youre short on time, fly between major destinations and pick up a rental car for short journeys.
A one week road trip itinerary around new zealands south island showcasing the best photography spots. One writer traveled over miles to find the very best views, tastes, and experiences on new zealands south island. Your new zealand south island ultimate itinerary with prices. As soon as we booked our tickets, i started doing a ton of research on everything to do on new zealand s south island. The number in the brackets indicate the year the post was published. South island self drive itineraries new zealand driving. So ive put together this two week new zealand south island road trip itinerary that is perfect for a first timer to the region. New zealand s south island boasts a range of unique experiences that are all within an easy drive of each other. If youve come to new zealand to do some serious exploring in the south island then this new zealand road trip itinerary is perfect for you. The best direction to travel in around the coast of the south island is clockwise.
The marlborough sounds are home to some of new zealand s most scenic coastal roads and a couple of days exploring the various bays, winding roads and viewpoints should be on everyones new zealand south island itinerary. This town has become incredibly popular in recent years and its primarily because of the hundreds of outdoor things you can do in this beautiful place. New zealand south island tours self drive coach bus. Then, explore the culture, wildlife and rock formations of oamaru, the churches and cathedrals of dunedin, and more. A whistle stop one week tour of the south island of new. Aug 12, 2019 16 day new zealand south island self drive itinerary. Travel south from the vibrant city of auckland to the spectacular mountains and thrilling adventures of queenstown. Jan 24, 2020 i spent 7 days in the south island of new zealand and did a selfdrive road trip from christchurch to queenstown in a jucy car. Sep 27, 2019 a one week road trip itinerary around new zealand s south island starting in queenstown and ending in christchurch, showcasing the best photography spots, hikes and route to optimise your time in new zealand. South island new zealand itinerary travelgal nicole travel blog. The ultimate 2 week south island new zealand itinerary. Feb 25, 2020 we will be spending at least 15 days on the south island with doubtful sound and the bike trip being two of our priority activities.
How to make the most of the south island in one week. New zealands south island is incredibly beautiful but deceptively large, so travellers often underestimate the time needed to explore. If you love the outdoors, adore hiking, and want to see the most beautiful parts of new zealands south island, this detailed itinerary has you. Learn from the mistakes i made whilst touring around new zealands south island for 14 days. Road trip itinerary around the south island of new zealand aimed at hobby and professional photographers looking to capture the best. Youll be spending a fair amount of time travelling most days, including the flight from auckland to christchurch. New zealand south island 10 day itinerary new in new zealand. Remember, although new zealand is relatively small and compact, theres certainly a lot to see. Below are 4 different road trip itineraries for exploring new zealand s north island. One of the most important things when planning your road trip through new zealands south island is choosing a good camper van. This is the exact 7day itinerary i did on my recent trip to new zealand. If youre planning your own road trip, heres our 10day new zealand south island itinerary. Aug 27, 2018 2 week south island new zealand itinerary. This road trip itinerary doesnt cover everything new zealand s south island has to offer, that would be impossible to fit into a two week vacation.
In the first post, i also explained all the logistics of our road trip in new zealand. Our range of south island travel itineraries cover a diverse range of touring options, each includes information regarding travel distances and time to ensure that you can make the best of your time in new zealand, no longer how short your visit. The best 7day tours of the south island nz pocket guide. And there are some great places to visit in the north island as well but the south island is the highlight of new zealand. Wild, beautiful and relatively untouched, new zealands south island is a real favourite, both amongst tourists and locals. If youve seen photos of the incredible lupin on new zealands south island chances are they were taken at lake tekapo. Theres beauty around every bend, with woodland walks and dramatic waterfalls along the route perfect for picnic stops. Wild, beautiful and relatively untouched, new zealand s south island is a real favourite, both amongst tourists and locals. South island new zealand itinerary travelgal nicole. This dreamy, island country is replete with natural beauty and spectacular scenery. Dec, 2019 make it a new zealand itinerary south island 10 days. This new zealand selfdrive itinerary focuses on the deep south, starting and finishing in the garden city of christchurch. Sep 25, 2019 experience the best of both islands of new zealand in just 2 weeks following this self drive road trip itinerary beginning in auckland on the north island and ending in queenstown on the south island visiting the touristy highlights of the country.
Ive taken many trips over the pond to visit what is one of my. Apr 08, 2018 so ive put together this two week new zealand south island road trip itinerary that is perfect for a first timer to the region. The new zealand grand tour is a comprehensive look at both the north and south island of new zealand. South island new zealand is all about nature and adventure. The south not only has less people living per square meter, it also has a lot less trees and possibly even more sheep. Take a look at these itineraries for the north island, south island, and all of new zealand.
South island itineraries new zealands information network. Two weeks in new zealand the complete south island itinerary. The ultimate 3 week south island new zealand itinerary. Two week new zealand south island road trip itinerary. Find here the best itineraries for 3 weeks in new zealand. The area youd want to visit in south island falls under te wahipounamu, which is maori for the greenstone waters. A 7 day itinerary in the south island is perfect if you are interested in exploring a land full of natural beauty. Its packed full of incredible sights, heartthumping adventures and brings you to t. Epic 2week south island new zealand itinerary road trip two.
Well get to the details in a bit after we cover the practicalities of taking a south island road trip, but heres a quick overview of this new zealand south island itinerary to whet your appetite. Here is an abridged version of our 16 day self drive new zealand south island road trip itinerary in case you are in the early stages of planning, or just want the snapshot version. The ultimate two week new zealand south island itinerary. Heres our 10 day road trip itinerary along with things to do on new zealands south island to help you plan your trip. Since 2001 travelers have trusted first light travel to deliver itineraries that exceeded their expectations.
Cook, however it lacks the same magic if you go outside of lupin season which is from the end of november until the end of december. I hope you have already planned some time for the north island, too, as it is very pretty read my daytoday itinerary for the north island here, but now it is time to see what the south has to offer spend the first day of your south island adventure in christchurch. The perfect 2week new zealand road trip itinerary day 1 arrive in auckland. Learn from the mistakes i made whilst touring around new zealand s south island for 14 days. Its a gorgeous lake with a nice view on the other side of mt. The views are impressive all the way, and once over the haast pass they change dramatically. The best way to discover these diverse experiences and landscapes is on a selfdrive holiday from christchurch.
Our range of travel itineraries include information regarding travel distances and time to ensure that you can make the best of your time in new zealand, no. A whistle stop one week tour of the south island of new zealand. This road trip itinerary combines the two above trip itineraries plus more for one epic nz road. An option is to take an organized tour from queenstown, but we opted to selfdrive. Jan 28, 2019 hello and welcome to the ultimate 3 week south island, new zealand itinerary. Five years ago camper vans were few and far between, but today thousands are ushering millennial travelers all over the island. Visit the best of new zealand s south island on a selfdrive tour holiday crafted by one of our expert itinerary planners.
From wanaka add fox glacier and franz josef glacier and then back. New zealands south island boasts a range of unique experiences that are all within an easy drive of each other. Youll journey from the east to the west, then back again via magnificent mountain passes, because theres a lot to see. Most interested in coming for sceneryhikingkayaking and want to complete a 3 or 4day great.
The adventurous traveller makes to new zealand but the hardcore adventure traveller attempts to travel the south island in one week. Most travellers enjoy exploring our new zealand south island trips in march, making it the most popular time of the year. Perfect 10day south island new zealand itinerary with. You can easily add a couple of days to the itinerary. This ten day road trip plan for the south island of new zealand starts and ends in christchurch and follows a loop around the south island visiting such locations as fiordland national park, queenstown, wanaka, mount aspiring and mount cook national parks and lake tekapo. Hire a car and enjoy the diverse scenery and activities of the south island in 8 days. The perfect 2 week new zealand south island itinerary an overview. A 7 day road trip around new zealands south island is the best.
We spent countless hours researching our route for new zealand. While this itinerary includes all of these destinations, ive also included some offthebeatenpath destinations like kaikoura, abel tasman national park and more. Even though this is a road trip itinerary, i actually dont recommend picking up your rental car or campervan, or whatever it is youre going to rent until day 3 of this itinerary. Experience the best of both islands of new zealand in just 2 weeks following this self drive road trip itinerary beginning in auckland on the north island and ending in queenstown on the south island visiting the touristy highlights of the country. Im so excited youre considering a three week or longer journey to the bottom of the world. Below is a day by day itinerary for a great two week trip to new zealand. All jokes aside, we get that sometimes we dont get all the time we want to hit amazing travel destinations.
If you have never been on a road trip, new zealand is the best place to do it for the first time. In my opinion, though, a campervan is the best way to explore. Spend a relaxing 2 or 3 nights in those mustsee locations after all, you are on holiday. So without further ado, here is the ultimate 2 week south island, new zealand itinerary. Along the way youll experience heartland new zealand, including the cultural mecca of rotorua and quirky wellington city in the north island.
A 7 day itinerary in the south island is perfect if you are interested in exploring a. Give yourself either nine or 10 days for your entire trip to new zealand to allow for your travel time to and from your tour s starting point, as well as time to explore your arrival towncity and get over the jet lag. In this post ive outlined our exact new zealand 7day itinerary, and any additional information i thought you might need to plan your own new zealand south island road trip. New zealand south island 10 day roadtrip itinerary for the outdoor. The south island was my home for five months in 2018, and where i think ill eventually end up living. The perfect 2week new zealand road trip itinerary north. The first part focussed on the south island, and this part takes details our new zealand north island itinerary. Insider south island new zealand itinerary 2020 guide. One of the biggest travel trends is to rv through the south island of new zealand. The perfect new zealand south island itinerary be my travel muse. Suggested itineraries in n ew zealand making your way around new zealand is simple, and many tourists find that renting a car is the cheapest and most flexible option. The highlights of the south island one week travel itinerary in.
If you only have a short time to visit, i might have a suggestion for your new zealand south island itinerary. The more i looked into all of the incredible hikes, mountains, lakes, and scenic spots, the harder it was to just pick a handful and plan a week and a half long road trip out of those sights. This road trip itinerary doesnt cover everything new zealands south island has to offer, that would be impossible to fit into a two week vacation. This long road trip hits so many amazing spots and covers all of the best places to go in the south island.
South island campervan adventure tour 11 day nz itinerary. Looking for the ultimate new zealand south island itinerary. Epic 2week south island new zealand itinerary road trip. Epic 16 day self drive new zealand south island itinerary. A one week road trip itinerary around new zealand s south island starting in queenstown and ending in christchurch, showcasing the best photography spots, hikes and route to optimise your time in new zealand. Experience the mustdo activities and excursions on this very popular 26day easygoing and fun self drive itinerary.
We start from christchurch and the first stop is a visit to lake tekapo where we take a sunset photo. New zealand south island had long been in my tovisit list, but new zealand is located out of the way from most places. Creating a 7 day itinerary in the south island, new zealand is no easy task, and thats because this gorgeous place has so much to offer, its often difficult to pick just a few highlights. In one week, enjoy an actionpacked road trip through new zealand s south island. The southern south island ok, were heading further south.
A new zealand, south island itinerary would be remiss without stopping in the major cities, like christchurch, nelson, and dunedin. See 1015 day new zealand self drive tour itineraries. New zealands spectacular south island is on the bucket list of many people right around the world. However, there are so many other amazing south island destinations and mustdo experiences in the great outdoors that cant be missed. A new zealand south island self drive tour package will ensure you get to see the iconic landscapes and locations that new zealand is famous for. New zealand south island itinerary 2 weeks highlights. Its the south west new zealand world heritage, which in turn is internationally recognized by unesco world heritage. Its the south west new zealand world heritage, which in turn is internationally recognized by. South island new zealand self drive tours l discover nz. If you know much about new zealand at all, you know that there are some glaring omissions on the first itinerary. Heres an itinerary that will bring you through all the major mustsee areas.
Right now, since nothing is booked yet, we can arrange our itinerary any way that makes the most sense. Apr 12, 2019 one of the biggest travel trends is to rv through the south island of new zealand. A perfect new zealand south island itinerary a 2 week. Planning a trip to new zealand can be overwhelming because there are so many things to do. Jun 02, 2019 our new zealand south island 10day itinerary is a fast tour of the highlights on the south island. All you need to do is take a look through some of our ideas, designed to inspire you and then give us a call to start planning your trip. The marlborough sounds are home to some of new zealands most scenic coastal roads and a couple of days exploring the various bays, winding roads and viewpoints should be on everyones new zealand south island itinerary.
But fear not weve done all the trip planning for you and put together the best 2 week south island itinerary youll find. Take it from a kiwi there are some epic views in the south island and youll want to check out where to go in this south island new zealand itinerary. Apr 06, 2020 plan your new zealand south island itinerary. To cover new zealands south island in a week is definitely doable. Discover amazing tours through new zealand south island visiting places like queenstown and christchurch. Be transported to the south islands wild west coast today on one of new zealands most breathtaking scenic drives. Yes, we do want to see more of the south island than just our two activities. The tenday itinerary allows you to visit some of the main attractions of the south island of new zealand.
If you have longer than two weeks, check out my three week itinerary here. Make it a new zealand itinerary south island 10 days. This is the day to explore fiordland national park and take a cruise along the milford sound. My girlfriend and i did this trip in the middle of winter july. This itinerary revolves around the two main cities in the south. Explore iconic nz with these new zealand south island tours. If youve seen photos of the incredible lupin on new zealand s south island chances are they were taken at lake tekapo. New zealand south island itinerary air new zealand. May 05, 2018 day by day detailed new zealand itinerary. South island itinerary logistics new zealand forum. Heres everything you need to know about road trippin in new zealand. As we only had a limited amount of time we decided to only visit south island, as it seemed to have more activities and. New zealand south island 10 day roadtrip itinerary for the.