Ultimate South Island Itinerary: 15 Day Scenic Road Trip

A scenic road trip is the best way to experience the south island; from Milford Sound to Tekapo and everything in between this New Zealand travel guide covers 10 towns, 4 hiking tracks, 2 national parks and approximately 992km of driving (so I hope you like driving!) Witness New Zealands’ incredible landscapes and discover some of the best adrenalin pumping activities. Everything you need for an amazing holiday is right here in this South Island itinerary.

Best Time to Visit New Zealand

The best time to visit the south island, in my opinion, is either during autumn or spring. Accommodation prices are cheap, there are less crowds and you get the best of both worlds when it comes to temperatures with the mornings feelin crisp and the afternoons incredibly warm while still enjoying the spectacle of snow capped mountains.

• Summer (December–February): Summer is peak season. Perfect for beaches, hiking (Great Walks), and water sports. It is the warmest time but also the busiest and most expensive.
• Autumn (March–May): Stable, settled weather, and stunning fall foliage, particularly in Central Otago. Good for hiking and wine tasting. March is ideal for lower crowds.
• Winter (June–August): Peak season for skiing, snowboarding, and hot springs, mainly in the South Island. Less busy and popular for visiting museums or watching winter sports.
• Spring (September–November): Wildflower blooming and waterfalls are flowing. The weather is unpredictable, but it is excellent for whale watching and hiking before the summer rush

New Zealand Travel Tips

• Drive on the left
• Never leave personal belongings visible in your car
• Our tap water is clean and fresh, no need to pollute our rivers with plastic bottles!

How to Plan for Your South Island Itinerary and Scenic Road trip

Planning for your scenic south island road trip depends entirely on what time of the year you are going; during summer this region can get very hot with long sunshine hours whereas winter brings snow, ice and sunset by 5pm.

Regardless of the time of year you visit, this South Island itinerary covers activities and hikes that can be done during any season! (given the weather of the day). From scenic hikes fit for the whole family, to beautiful views and warm, private hot tubs. There is nothing quite like a holiday in the south island and this travel guide will show you some of the best places to visit in New Zealand.

Driving can be a little risky during the height of winter with ice covers the roads, you may need to consider snow tires or chains depending on where you are heading. I also highly recommend investing in a couple of pairs of thermals and good socks and gloves; you will feel the cold easier if your fingers and toes are exposed!

Packing Tips

Packing for an overseas holiday can be hard enough, let alone when you’re packing for a country with a multitude of climates in such a small area. Our cars in New Zealand aren’t as big as American trucks so you might find yourself getting creative with your packing if you’re a family of 4 in a small sedan, luckily my friend at GlobeTrove.com has put together a list of 5 Epic Tips that can Change the Way you Pack. Give that a read and you’ll be saving plenty of space in no time.

New Zealand Rental Car Companies

A scenic road trip obviously needs to start with access to a car. You will find most of the car rental companies at Queenstown airport, you can either book in advance online or try your luck with a last minute booking at the desk. The last option would be incredibly risky during peak season so I definitely recommend booking in advance.

• Avis (We booked the 2019 Toyota Rav4 to travel the northern section of this itinerary)
• Jucy (We booked a small hatch to complete the southern section of this itinerary)

3 Days: Queenstown, Glenorchy and Arrowtown

Queenstown

Queenstown is the first destination you will make on this south island itinerary, as you’re most likely flying into the south island before you begin your scenic road trip. Queenstown is a great holiday destination whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a week. The food is great, the pubs are warm and the views are spectacular. Stroll around the waterfront with your morning coffee before heading out to explore the surrounding towns and landscapes.

Amazing Queenstown Activites

• AJ Hacket Bungy
• Skippers Canyon and Jet Boat Tour
• Hike Lake Moke
• Arrowbelle Feed the Goats (Free roadside goat feeding)

Glenorchy

Glenorchy is a small settlement at the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu, about a 40 minute drive from Queenstown. Most famously known for being one of the filming locations for Lord of the Rings, you can enjoy horseback tours through Glenorchy to visit Isengard, or drive yourself to dart river and totally geek out at the film locations. The wharf and red boat shed are the most photographed objects in Glenorchy with photographers from all around the world wait patiently in the freezing Glenorchy air to capture the shot of the wharf in perfect lighting conditions.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a great place to visit for a morning or afternoon while either staying in Queenstown or if passing through the area. The great thing about this scenic south island road trip is that it can be done in either summer or winter; as the views from Arrow River are absolutely beautiful during autumn when the ground is covered in a thick layer of frost and the surrounding trees are turning shades of yellow and orange. The main road of Buckingham St is even better when covered in a fresh layer of snow, however I’m yet to experience it.

Take a look inside the Remarkable Sweet Shop to taste their multitude of flavours of fudge or walk down to the Chinese Settlement and grab pictures inside the historic village. There is plenty to do in Arrowtown, just make sure you take a few extra layers with you, as I’m sure this old gold mining settlement has subarctic temperatures.

Whether you’re wanting a full meal or to curb some sugar cravings, Arrowtown has an abundance of food options. The Remarkable Sweet shop is worth a visit if you love to taste fudge for free. The Bendix Stables Food Emporium and Watering Hole isn’t only a mouthful to say, but their food will keep you full for the rest of the afternoon. This stone pub transports you to classic Britain where the meals are hearty and pub is cosy, the mulled wine is worth the try too!

Scenic Adventures in Arrowtown

• Chinese Settlement
• Cycle to Gibbston Valley

3 Days: Te Anau and Milford Sound

Time to get in the car and enjoy a drive further south. This scenic road trip itinerary begins with the 2-hour drive to Te Anau, a town popular for being the go-to stop for those who wish to explore Fiordland National Park and all its incredible hiking trails.

Kepler Track Hiking Trail

Kepler track is one of the many great scenic hikes in New Zealand; the best thing about this hike in Te Anau is that it’s fit for everyone from beginners to expert hikers. The first section of the track to Moturau Hut is a great introduction into the beauty of Fiordland National Park and a must visit in this New Zealand travel guide, taking just over an hour to complete one way and is relatively flat.

Thick green moss covers most of the forest floor with native Kauri trees towering above, start your walk at Rainbow Reach and follow Kepler Track for just over an hour until you reach Moturau Hut. This is where most day hikers begin their return along the same path, unless you have packed and prepared for multiple days in the bush; then continue your climb!

Milford Sound Cruise

One of the best places to visit in New Zealand is Milford Sound, which is also one of the wettest places on earth (so pack a raincoat). A Milford Sound cruise is a typical tourist ‘tick box’ activity and is worth every penny, an hour and a half drive north of Te Anau making it an easy day trip and one of the best places to hone in on your camera skills.

This fiord in Fiordland National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the most isolated towns in New Zealand. If it wasn’t for the Homer Tunnel being built in 1953 we would still be accessing Milford Sound via boat or employing our lack of mountain climbing skills.

A cruise on Milford Sound takes you through some of the most dramatic landscape available in New Zealand; hundreds of waterfalls flow down the sides of mountains into the Fiord creating deep crevices into the surrounding landscape.

Milford Sound drags hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world to Fiordland each year so it’s no wonder that it has made it onto this south island itinerary. I do highly recommend packing your own lunch as there is only one cafe at the fiord and if they don’t have anything you lie…then tough cookies!

3 Days: Cromwell

The perfect place for lakeside accommodation, thrill seeking adventure and a more relaxed atmosphere while still enjoying a good night out. Cromwell is only a short drive from Queenstown which makes for the perfect addition to this south island itinerary.

Accommodation in Cromwell

Heritage Lake Resort in Cromwell is one of the most unique accommodation options in the country. Staying above the water on Lake Dunstan with your own private balcony looking out to the water, you’re going to want to stay in your room as much as possible to make the most of the luxury.
We have stayed here twice and loved both visits, the sunset and sunrise both create a gorgeous glow on the mountain ranges which tower above Cromwell. Don’t forget your camera!

Highlands Motorsport Park

As if you haven’t done enough driving already? Highlands Motorsport Park is the place to be if you’re a self-proclaimed ‘petrol head’. The Highlands car museum is only the beginning to what is one of the most technical racetracks in New Zealand. Push your car sickness to the limit and ride in a Ferrari, American muscle car or Porsche Cayenne, or drive the track yourself in a Radical SR3. Either way you’re going to be wishing you left more room between meals.

Bendigo Mining Trail

Kanuka Loop Track in Bendigo is one of the many locations in the south island where gold mining took place towards the beginning of the 20th century. Multiple mine shafts of different depths and length cover this hill and old stone buildings and wooden carts are scattered around the area. Watch out for mine shafts in the ground as not all of them are fenced.

3 Days: Wanaka

Wanaka is another popular tourist town for its ease of access to plenty of bush walks, hikes and nature trails. So it would only make sense that it would feature as one of the best towns to put on your south island itinerary. Most famously known for a spindly tree which sits in Lake Wanaka at Roys Bay. Wanaka is a great town with plenty going on; you can visit the salmon farm just north of the town where you can fish for your salmon and the staff can prepare it how you like on the spot, or you can swap your caught fish for freshly pre-packaged salmon.

Blue Pools Track

Blue Pools Track is a popular destination for families or individuals wanting to escape into nature. And it’s not a South Island road trip without experiencing some of the coldest waters in New Zealand. The short, flat walk winds you through bush before welcoming you to two swing bridges suspended over a bright blue pool of water feed by glaciers high up in the mountains nearby. You’re welcome to swim in the pool but I do recommend waiting for warmer weather.

Other Amazing Hiking Tracks near Wanaka

These hikes near Wanaka are not for the casual strollers; these hikes require a good level of fitness, appropriate preparation; gear, food etc, and a lot of will power. But the views at the end are well worth the calories lost!

• Roys Peak
• Brewster Hut
• Rob Roy Glacier Track
• Isthmus Peak
• The Pylon and Cascade Saddle

Warbirds Over Wanaka

Every 2 years over Easter weekend, Wanaka holds one of the most incredible air shows in New Zealand; featuring fighter jets, helicopters and military planes all wound into one incredible spectacle showcasing the amazing talents of pilots from around the world. If you weren’t a fan of planes before this, you definitely will be afterwards. I highly recommend planning your holiday far enough in advance that you can fit Warbirds over Wanaka into your south island itinerary.

3 Days: Omarama, Twizel and Tekapo

Omarama

Omarama is a great little town to stop in for a coffee or a spot of souvenir shopping while continuing on your scenic road trip. Omarama sits on the northern side of Lindis Pass so is often the hub for stranded locals or tourists trying to make it south during a snowstorm. Although Omarama comes across as a quiet town, it holds a lot of history, scenic walking trails and some incredible private hot tubs.

Omarama Hot Tubs

I’m yet to experience these hot tubs, but I’m writing about them because they are next on my list when we are back in Omarama! Definitely a rival to Onsen hot pools back in Queenstown. Do yourself a favour and Google image search Omarama Hot Tubs or simply search it on Instagram. You’ll find yourself booking a return flight to the south island in no time!

Omarama Clay Cliffs

What’s a South Island itinerary without seeing some of the weirder and more peculiar sides of New Zealand’s nature? Omarama Clay Cliffs are an example of what water can do to landscapes over thousands of years and look like a piece of land only found on planet Mars. The cliffs sit on private land but are easily accessed with a $5 donation at the gate. Read about how to get to Omarama Clay cliffs here.

Twizel

Twizel is another cute town visited primarily for the incredible landscape of the Southern Alps and the bright blue lakes dotted around the region. If you’re visiting the region, then Mt Cook is a definite on your South Island road trip itinerary. Twizel is the best town to stay in if you want convenience of travel but cheaper food and dining options. Otherwise there are plenty of accommodation options in Mt Cook National Park.

Hooker Valley Track

The Hooker Valley Track is one of the best Mt Cook day hikes that you shouldn’t leave off your south island itinerary. Visiting Mt Cook National Park is a must if you have the time while visiting Twizel, the rugged edge of the southern alps casts a stark contrast in comparison to the rolling hills and flat fields which are present throughout most of the north island.

Tekapo

Known for Tekapo Hot Springs and Church of the Good Shepherd. Tekapo is a great town for a day trip or the perfect relaxation getaway to wind down after your South Island road trip. It’s further enough away from any hustle and bustle of large cities or ticky tacky tourist towns, and close enough to nature if you want to get a bit adventurous for the day.

Tekapo Hot Springs

Sitting perched on the side of one of the many hills in the area overlooking Lake Tekapo. A great place for families and anyone wanting a relaxing afternoon spent in multiple hot pools of varying degrees. Tekapo Hot Springs are unsheltered so there’s a chance if visiting during winter you’ll experience snow on your face while basting in the warm waters of Tekapo Springs.

Church of the Good Shepherd

Church of the Good Shepherd is a gorgeous stone church sitting on the edge of Lake Tekapo. Prior to COVID-19 Church of the Good Shepherd would see around 600,000 – 700,000 visitors each year. It’s a popular spot to take pictures, have a couple photoshoot and get married and it is probably the most photographed church in the country. Church of the Good Shepherd is worth a visit if you’re in the Tekapo area.

We didn’t complete this full South Island road trip in one go, we first visited Te Wai Pounamu/South Island in October 2018 where we completed the southern section in a small hatchback from Jucy Rentals. We came back again in June 2020 to complete the Northern section in a Toyota Rav4 from Avis. Spending around 2 weeks both times around, giving us plenty of time to truly explore each town and revisit our favourite spots.