Home - Chirstchurch - Hanmer Springs - Kaikoura - Marlborough Wine Region - Nelson - Abel Tasman National Park - West Coast & Glaciers - Wanaka & Queenstown - Milford Sound - Invercargill, Stewart Island and The Catlins - Dunedin - Lake Tekapo - Christchurch - Home
Remember, this road trip route is only a route proposal for your big trip. If you wish to receive personal assistance designing your road trip, please get in contact with our adventurous travel experts. They love designing dream trips and they give you great insider travel advice.
Christchurch
Start your South Island road trip from Christchurch. Cycle along the picturesque Avon River, mountain bike down well-worn tracks in the Port Hills and enjoy delicious dining options in the central city. This student friendly city boasts lots of bars in it's vibrant nightlife, so make sure you satisfy your party gene here before you start your road trip! And don't worry, we've included the first night here, so you know where to crash.
Hanmer Springs
Travel through Hanmer Springs on the way to Kaikoura. Surrounded by mountains and towering forests, Hanmer Springs is a thermal water oasis with nice outdoor hot springs. This area is also one of New Zealand's best wine areas, so it's a no-brainer to get a nice glass while you're here.
Kaikoura
Whales, sea lions and dolphins are permanent residents of the Kaikoura coast. Whale watching from the deck of the boat is one of the city’s most popular activities, but watching sea lions and searching for paua mussels are also part of Kaikoura’s activities.
Nelson & Abel Tasman National Park
The Nelson area on the northern tip of the South Island is one of the sunniest in New Zealand, so it’s no wonder the place is so popular. Creative people in particular have embraced the city of Nelson and made it into a cradle of art and culture.
From Nelson it is also easy to visit the nearby national park of Abel Tasman. Enjoy the stunning coastline, relax on the beach, kayak around, go canyoning and admire the wildlife!
West coast & glaciers
Of course, the South Island road trip also includes glaciers! In the summer, travelers don’t have to worry about the cold, as the weather is probably on the plus side even on glaciers.
Fox Glacier is the smaller of the most famous glaciers on the west coast, but stopping here is not a bad idea at all. Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand and on a clear day Mt. Cook is beautifully reflected on the surface of the lake. The larger - and perhaps more spectacular - Franz Josef glacier is a great place for an expedition.
Queenstown
New adventures await in Queenstown! Here it’s time to spice up your road trip with at least one extreme sport: test out a bungee jump or enjoy the scenery a little longer by doing a parachute jump! Cycling, trekking, horse riding and downhill skiing are also good options. Queenstown also offers some high-quality wellness facilities, tasty food and a lively nightlife.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is the diamond of the Firodland National Park. The beauty of the place is enchanting no matter the weather or the time of day, but at sunrise Milford is perhaps at its best - so wake up in time and grab your camera ready!
The area has some beautiful trekking paths but we also recommend a kayak cruise, to really get the feel of the magnificient fjords.
Invercargill & Stewart Island
The next destination is Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city and the only place with a distinct regional accent. If you're in a hurry or not interested in seeing birds and more nature, you can skip Stewart Island and Invercargill and head straight to Dunedin.
However, Stewart Island is not to be missed if it fits in your schedule. There are far fewer tourists here than in the rest of the country and the nature of the area is amazing. There's only around 28 km of road on the island, so there's a need for some good walking shoes, if you wish to get around. You can be lucky to spot dolphins and whales even from the bays on the island, and you might get a glimpse of a kiwi bird or even the mighty albatros, if you're around in their m...
Dunedin
Dunedin is one of the lesser-known gems of the South Island. In the Victorian town you will find New Zealand’s only castle (Larnach Castle), an architecturally eye-catching train station and the beautiful St. Paul’s Cathedral.
A fun way to warm up your feet is to walk from Baldwin Street end to end. It is the steepest street in the world, so it takes easily 10 minutes to walk 350 meters!
Urban activities are by no means the only attraction in Dunedin - on the contrary, on the Otago Peninsula you will encounter albatrosses, penguins, seals and many other animals as long as you go out into the wild.
Lake Tekapo & Christchurch
Before ending your road trip back in Christchurch, take a slight detour and visit the picturesque Lake Tekapo in the middle of South Island. Soak in the beautiful views, dip into the lake and enjoy some local cuisine at one of the restaurants.
Next it's time to head back to Christchurch to return the campervan and catch your return flight home.
Recommended duration
3-4 weeks
Kilometers
Approx. 2700 km
Starts and ends in
Christchurch
Included in the price
Flights, camper van rental
Prices from
2,710 EUR
A road trip on the South Island of New Zealand is a breathtaking experience: mountain ranges, golden beaches, glaciers, rainforests, fjords, extreme sports and whale-watching. Get the ultimate South Island experience on this wonderful road trip!
Start and end your road trip in Christchurch and spend 3 weeks in between road tripping through the amazing scenery that South Island has to offer. Enjoy the variety of nature from mountains and glaciers to lush forests and beautiful beaches, taste local wine, spot whales, dolphins and exotic birds and try different activities from bungee jumping to kayaking!
What is road trippin’ the KILROY Way?
Well, we always encourage our travelers to be curious. To open up, and to embrace the unexpected. Stop where you can, go down the narrow side street and don’t get stuck in the camper. Don’t just drive for the sake of driving. Approach new people. Approach new ways of doing things. Explore and be open to changes – that’s where the magic happens.
*Price is a from-price per person and based on 2 people over 25 traveling together. Reach out to us if you're a little younger than that - it's not a problem!
