Total Days: 9 days on the South Island | Accommodations: Hotels/Hostels in central downtown Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka, Mount Cook, Tekapo and Christchurch, and one night on a Milford Sound Cruise | Traveled with: A girlfriend | Type of Trip: Focus on mountains, hiking and unique scenery | Highlights: Queenstown scene, Milford Sound, Rippon Vineyard, Hooker Valley Track and the heli-hike
Welcome to the South Island where you’ll be oohing and aahing every hour of the day. We spent time in Queenstown, Fiordland, Wanaka, Mount Cook, Tekapo and Christchurch. If there was more time, would have extended the road trip to Fox Glacier, Hokitika Gorge and Abel Tasman National Park.
We traveled from the North Island (click here for that itinerary) for a total of 2 weeks in New Zealand.
DAY 1
At a glimpse: Fly into Queenstown and explore the town
Travel Agenda: Take the local Fernhill 1 Orbus to Queenstown, or just a 15-minute taxi ride to the center of town. Once checked in, wander the maze of streets and alleys and admire the mind-blowing view from the Queenstown Gardens park. Stop at any of the outdoor markets for homemade goods and locally made souvenirs.
Dinner is at Botswana Butchery, known for their fine-dining and fireside setting, followed by drinks two blocks away at The Bunker on the deck.
DAY 2
At a glimpse: Queenstown from above
Travel Agenda: Begin the morning at Vudu Cafe, which has the breakfast game perfected and offers it all day. Take the Skyline gondola up the mountain to first ride on the luge track (get 3 tickets so you can try different tracks!) and race with your new friends/rivals you encounter along the way. This is also the time to freestyle bungee on the Bungee Ledge if the mood strikes you, which it should.
Tip: Buy the Skyline gondola, luge and bungee tickets in town at one of the many tourist centers. That way you can skip the line at the base of the mountain. Skyline only promote the upscale restaurant, but the cafeteria and cafe have plenty of lunch options!
After, get a cafeteria-style lunch at the Market Kitchen Cafe. From here, follow the signs for the paragliders. This will take you 20-minutes to the Lower Ridge Track for a beautiful view and peaceful setting overlooking the Remarkables.
Head back to the hotel and then plan on dinner at Bespoke, a restaurant with fresh, unprocessed and locally focused ingredients, followed by drinks at the lively 1876 bar.
DAY 3
At a glimpse: Adventure morning in Queenstown, exploring nearby Arrowtown and relaxing at the Onsen Hot pools
Travel Agenda: Seize the morning by walking to Arthur’s Point for the Shotover Jet adventure, a thrilling ride through the Shotover River Canyons.
In the afternoon, take the #2 bus 50-minutes to Arrowtown, a cute old mining town that feels like you’re stepping back in time. Lunch should be on the outside patio of Provisions, set in a historic Romans cottage and ideal for people watching.
Just prior to sunset, take the complimentary 10-minute shuttle (but book beforehand) and enjoy the Onsen Hot Pools experience with breathtaking views of the mountains and canyons. On the way back to your accommodation, order a burger and fries from the world renowned Fergburger.
DAY 4
At a glimpse: Rent a car in Queenstown and drive to Milford Sound
Travel Agenda: Start the day with a bagel or pastries from Fergbakery and a couple snacks for the drive to Milford Sound. Leave by 9am so that you can get the full experience. Plan on stopping for photo ops at: sheep farms, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes and Pop’s View lookout. For longer breaks, try the Lake Gunn 45 minute hike, Lake Marian 3 hour return hike or the 15 minute Chasm walk with rivers and waterfalls.
Arrive before 4:00pm for the overnight cruise on the Milford Wanderer, which includes a hike, dinner and a once-in-a-lifetime dip in the Tasman Sea.
Tip: Milford Sound weather is incredibly unpredictable and having the opportunity to spend extra time overnight is worth the time and money. There’s no service after you hit the Homer Tunnel, so be prepared for about 20 hours off the grid. You can read more about our experience here.
DAY 5
At a glimpse: Milford Sound cruise in the morning and then drive to Te Anau
Travel Agenda: Rise and shine on Milford Sound! Enjoy breakfast and spend the morning on the deck taking in the incredible sights.
Back on land, drive to Te Anau, possibly stopping at some sights missed along the drive to Milford. Once there, get a hand pie from Miles Better for lunch. Then book the scenic ferry to the underground world of Glowworms in the afternoon. This ferry ride and cave adventure is unique to New Zealand. For dinner, opt for picking up ingredients and having a picnic dinner by the water.
DAY 6
At a glimpse: Drive to Wanaka for Lavendar Farms, winery visit and lake exploration
Travel Agenda: Get up early and drive the 3 hours to Wanaka. Head straight to the Wanaka Lavender Farm with 15 acres of lavender fields and gardens. Here you can unwind over a cup of herbal tea, then indulge in lavender ice-creams. The lavender products are some of the best souvenirs!
From there, head to more iconic views at Rippon Vineyards, home to Central Otago’s oldest vines that lie on the shores of Lake Wanaka. The vineyard is open for free tastings until 5pm.
After settling in to your hotel, check out the adorable town, pick up provisions for tomorrows hike and grab dinner along the main street – Burrito Craft is a treasured food truck for something more casual. Get an ice cream at Patagonia Chocolates and walk along the lake to #ThatWanakaTree at sunset.
Day 7
At a glimpse: Hike in Wanaka and drive to Mount Cook for unique walk. Stay at the Aoraki Mount Cook Village.
Travel Agenda: Prepare for an early morning, with an alarm around 3am for the Roy’s Peak sunrise hike. This 5-7 hour hike is considered one of the best with views across Lake Wanaka and up to the peak of Mount Aspiring. Once back in town, grab a hearty lunch at Big Fig on Ardmore Street.
From here, drive 2.5 hours to Mount Cook with a stop at Pukaki Lake on Mount Cook Road. Drive to the trailhead of the Hooker Valley Track, an easy but rewarding 3-hour trail with swing bridges and streams that leads to iceberg laden Hooker Lake. A much deserved dinner is at the Old Mountaineer’s Café.
DAY 8
At a glimpse: Glaciers in Mount Cook, and then a drive to Tekapo and stay in town
Travel Agenda: Start the day with an epic Tasman Glacier Heli hike for 2 hours in the AM. Get a true feel for the glacial ice formations that are only accessibly via helicopter. Once the adrenaline has worn off, lunch is at Tasman Delta Cafe. Soak in one more look at the Glacier lake with the short 20-minute Hooker Glacier Trail, with the trailhead located just down the road.
Tip: Schedule your heli hike for the earliest time slot possible. The weather can change quickly and if the conditions force a cancellation in the morning, it could become possible hours later.
Drive to Lake Tekapo and stop by the Church of the Good Shepherd, a picturesque church that holds interdenominational services. Get dinner on Main Street at the Blue Lake Eatery & Bar. Tekapo is a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve so at night walk to the lake for stargazing and potential Northern Lights viewing.
DAY 9
At a glimpse: Drive to and visit main sites in Christchurch
Travel Agenda: Get breakfast at Astro Cafe in Tekapo before making the 3-hour drive to Christchurch. Once checked in, meander through Hagley Park to see the beautiful gardens and fascinating recreational sporting grounds and courts.
A 15-minute walk further is the Quake City Museum, with an interesting history of the earthquake devastation and revitalization plans.
To end the trip, enjoy dinner on New Regent Street, Christchurch’s only complete heritage streetscape. Finally, walk 10 minutes along the Avon River until you hit Kong, a cocktail lounge that will pour you the appropriate farewell beverage.
Heading to the North Island instead? Click here
