There's no shortage of iconic destinations on New Zealand's South Island, from nature reserves to bustling metropolises. Explore a few of the best spots on this 12-day, self-drive itinerary across the island. Get your fill of cosmopolitan cafés, museums, and architecture in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Queenstown, and connect with nature and the boundless night sky at Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, and the Otago Peninsula.

Highlights

  • Take a tour of Christchurch in a punt on the Avon River / Otakaro
  • Stargaze under some of the clearest skies on Earth at Lake Tekapo
  • Climb to the top of Tyrwhitt Peak on Mou Waho Island 
  • Spot rare yellow-eyed penguins at Penguin Place in Dunedin

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Christchurch, Free Afternoon Christchurch
Day 2 Explore Christchurch by Bus, Tram & Punt Christchurch
Day 3 Drive to Lake Tekapo, Visit the Dark Sky Project Observatory Lake Tekapo
Day 4 Drive to Wānaka, Gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park Wānaka
Day 5 Lake Wānaka Cruise & Island Nature Walk Wānaka
Day 6 Drive to Queenstown, TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner Queenstown 
Day 7 Shotover River Canyon Jet Boat, Skyline Queenstown Gondola Queenstown 
Day 8 Day Trip to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi Queenstown 
Day 9 Drive to Dunedin & the Otago Peninsula Dunedin
Day 10 Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise & Penguin Place Dunedin
Day 11 Drive to Christchurch, Historic Tram Dinner Christchurch
Day 12 Depart Christchurch  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Christchurch, Free Afternoon

Christchurch Botanical Gardens
Get your bearings with a stroll around the Christchurch Botanical Gardens

Welcome to New Zealand! On arrival, you'll be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Once you've settled in, start exploring Christchurch, the country's second-largest metropolis. You'll see the virtual rebirth of the city following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and today the urban city center is full of new secrets, from modern architecture and immense street art to cocktail bars and bustling restaurants. Christchurch is also known for its green spaces like Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens—it's nicknamed the Garden City, after all—so a stroll through one is always a good idea.

Day 2: Explore Christchurch by Bus, Tram & Punt

Take a relaxed punting trip down the Avon River / Ōtākaro

Dive deeper into Christchurch today with a guided hop-on/hop-off bus tour, or ride one of the city's 19th-century trams, which loop the city center, passing by Cathedral Square and the Canterbury Museum. For a more leisurely experience, take a traditional boat ride along the Avon River / Ōtākaro. A punter dressed in Edwardian garb will guide you quietly past trailing willows, woodlands, and the leafy banks of the Botanic Gardens or through the city center on board a classic punt.

In the afternoon, you could go behind the scenes at a penguin habitat and welfare center, the International Antarctic Centre. Explore off-limits areas and find out what it takes to keep these little stars happy while learning about their daily routines, penguin feeding and husbandry, and the long-term goals of the program. Your pass includes general admission, so you can also visit "Antarctica" with the snow and ice experience and survive an Antarctic storm.

Day 3: Drive to Lake Tekapo, Visit the Dark Sky Project Observatory

A view of the stone Church of the Good Shepherd by Lake Tekapo
The historic Good Shepherd Church on the shores of Lake Tekapo

Today, you'll pick up your rental car and drive toward Lake Tekapo, a turquoise lake in Mackenzie Country. The roughly three-hour route takes you through the pastoral Canterbury Plains—consider taking a break in Geraldine, a small town by the woods with plenty of cafés, shops, and restaurants. Continuing on, you'll pass gorgeous scenery like the aptly-named Beautiful Valley. The last part of the drive ascends Burkes Pass, bringing you into Mackenzie Country's basin and the picturesque town of Lake Tekapo.

Later in the evening, head to the nearby Dark Sky Projects Observatory on the shore of the lake to learn about the southern sky using telescopes and even the naked eye. Lake Tekapo sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, an area that restricts light pollution, so the views are unparalleled. Your guide will point out highlights like the Milky Way Galaxy, Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, and Orion as you peer, unobstructed, into the sky.

Day 4: Drive to Wānaka, Gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park

The Lonely tree of Lake Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand, at the morning light and the snow clad Buchanan Peaks at the Backdrop
Snap a photo of the famous Wānaka Willow in Lake Wānaka

It's time to leave Lake Tekapo behind and drive about 2.5 hours south to Wānaka. Within just 30 minutes, you'll reach Lake Pukaki, with clear views of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Consider stopping in the park for a hike to the 10-mile-long (15 km) Haupapa / Tasman Glacier. Other solid rest stop options include Twizel, the largest town in the Mackenzie District and a location for many "The Lord of the Rings" scenes, and Bendigo, an old gold mining town with several preserved mineshafts and other buildings.

Wānaka, your final destination today, sits on the shores of one of the largest lakes in the Queenstown Lakes District. Known as the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, Wānaka's remote wilderness, high mountains, and beautiful river valleys are also popular with hikers, making this the perfect place to stop for a trek on your way to Franz Josef Glacier. If you're visiting in the wintertime, consider hitting the slopes at Treble Cone or Cardrona, two wildly popular ski resorts in the area.
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Day 5: Lake Wānaka Cruise & Island Nature Walk

Moh Waho Island on Lake Wanaka
Cruise over to Mou Waho Island on Lake Wānaka

While visiting Wānaka, the must-see spot is Mou Waho Island Nature Reserve. Take a 35-minute boat ride to the scientific reserve, a predator-free zone home to native New Zealand wildlife like the rare flightless buff weka bird, and hike around the pristine landscapes. The island's most famous feature is the Arethusa Pool, where a tiny "island within an island" sits in the middle of the small lake.

Climb to the top of Tyrwhitt Peak to see the best views of this unusual sight, plus panoramic vistas of Lake Wānaka and the surrounding glacial mountains and valleys. You can take a break for tea or coffee before heading back down the track to rejoin the cruise to the mainland.

Day 6: Drive to Queenstown, TSS Earnslaw Farm Tour & Dinner

Cross the Crown Range to descend into Queenstown

Leaving Wānaka, you'll drive about an hour south over New Zealand's highest sealed road, the Crown Range Road, before dropping into Queenstown, your home base for the next few days. Along the way, you might want to take a detour east to Gibbston, a community by the Kawarau Gorge known for its pinot noir wineries. Or consider visiting the Kawarau Suspension Bridge, the site of the world's first commercial bungee jumping outfit. If you're feeling up for it, get out of the car and try the 141-foot (43 m) leap!

Once you've settled into your accommodations in Queenstown, head to the shores of Lake Wakatipu and step aboard the TSS Earnslaw steamship for a ride to the Walter Peak High Country Farm, where you'll have a barbecue dinner of New Zealand's signature dishes. After the meal, join a sing-along with the ship's pianist and breathe in the fresh night air as you watch the lights of Queenstown come into focus.

Day 7: Shotover River Canyon Jet Boat, Skyline Queenstown Gondola

Embrace Queenstown's famous adrenaline sports with a jet boat ride on the Shotover River

Queenstown is known as New Zealand's adventure capital, and for a taste of its famous thrills, venture into the Shotover River Canyons to ride in a high-speed jet boat. The Shotover Jet, owned by Ngāi Tahu, a local Māori iwi (tribe), hits speeds up to 55 mph (90 kph) as your driver navigates the narrow canyon. Fly over whitewater rapids, make 360-degree spins, and do other gravity-defying stunts on this wild ride.

Later, take a scenic ride on the Skyline Gondola, the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere. As you rise to over 1,400 feet (450 m) above Queenstown, enjoy panoramic views of the many peaks around the lake. While up there, visit the Skyline Complex and take an exhilarating ride down the 5,250-foot (1,600 m) luge track past banked corners and tunnels. 

Day 8: Day Trip to Milford Sound / Piopiotahi

Embark on a full-day adventure into Fiordland National Park

With towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic mountain scenery, Milford Sound / Piopiotahi is a must-see when on the South Island. Carved by glaciers during the Ice Age, the fjord stretches for 9 miles (15 km) and is surrounded by peaks, such as Mitre Peak, which rises 5,550 feet (1,692 m). Today, you'll board a bus and journey south to experience Fiordland National Park for yourself.

Sit back and enjoy the ride, taking in panoramic views and stopping to take pictures en route. Once at Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, you'll board a scenic cruise to experience the scenery from the water. On your two-hour nature cruise, you'll soak up the magnificent landscape and see wildlife, including seals, dolphins, and penguins. Get up close to impressive geological features and feel the full force of the powerful 15,000-year-old Stirling Falls. End the day with a scenic 45-minute flight back to Queenstown in a fixed-wing aircraft, for a birds-eye view of the fjord and the surrounding peaks. 

Day 9: Drive to Dunedin & the Otago Peninsula

Dunedin has a spectacular setting on the natural Otago Harbour

Get back on the road today and drive 3.5 hours southeast to reach the east coast city of Dunedin, known as the "Edinburgh of the South" for its strong Scottish heritage. The city also has Chinese and Māori influences and is famous for its eclectic architecture, like the gingerbread house-style Dunedin Railway Station and the Gothic Revival Larnach Castle. After settling in at your hotel, spend your afternoon sitting at a café or wine bar in The Octagon, drive off to the coast to sunbathe, or visit the Otago Peninsula, the home of the only mainland royal albatross colony in the world.

Day 10: Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise & Penguin Place

See the endangered yellow-eyed penguin on today's wildlife tour

The Otago Peninsula is known for its abundance of native New Zealand wildlife, and you'll spot some today on a nature cruise around Otago Harbour. Pass by the historic fishing village of Careys Bay and the working port of Port Chalmers, and continue to the tip of the peninsula to search for albatrosses, New Zealand fur seals, and up to 20 species of birds and marine mammals in their undisturbed and otherwise inaccessible environment. 

Later, switch to a bus to see the peninsula from a different vantage point, as you wind your way around Taiaroa Head, known for its famous royal albatross colony. You'll see another rare bird when you stop at Penguin Place, a private conservation reserve that supports the yellow-eyed penguin, an endemic endangered species.

Day 11: Drive to Christchurch, Historic Tram Dinner

Don't miss the  Moeraki Boulders / Kaihinaki on your drive out of Dunedin

It's the penultimate day of your road trip, and time to circle back north to Christchurch, driving along the South Island's east coast. Consider taking a break at Koekohe Beach to see the spherical Moeraki Boulders / Kaihinaki dotting the shore, or pause at the white Omaru limestone Riverstone Castle on the border between the Otago and Canterbury regions. For a quirky dinner option back in Christchurch, ride a colonial-style dining tram around the city center. Feast on a multicourse dinner while driving a city loop, passing famous sights such as New Regent Street and Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga.

Day 12: Depart Christchurch

The sun sets on your New Zealand road trip

All good things must come to an end, and today marks the end of your New Zealand self-drive tour. Remember to drop your rental car off in Christchurch before heading to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!

More Great New Zealand Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to New Zealand? Check out these other New Zealand itineraries, explore more ways to spend 12 days in New Zealand, or discover the best time to visit New Zealand.

 

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Map

Map of South Island Self-Drive City & Nature Highlights - 12 Days
Map of South Island Self-Drive City & Nature Highlights - 12 Days