5 Days in South Island, New Zealand

Pickup your rental car from the airport and drive 20 minutes over to The Riverside Market for lunch. There is plenty of parking in the numerous garages downtown. This market is a great first stop as it is in the heart of Christchurch, and has 30+ food vendors to eat in or take out to eat by the river.

A Day in the City

Next, take a walk and do some shopping on the main street behind the market. On summer days, you can find street performers, live music and other activities.

Grab dinner and a drink at Dice and Slice and prepare for a day of driving tomorrow.

The drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo takes about 4 hours through vast farmland on flat roads. Before heading out, grab breakfast at C1 Coffee and be sure to fill your car with gas!

Stop about half way through the drive at Opuke Thermal Pools and Spa. A perfect place to rejuvenate for the whole family with stunning scenery of the mountains in the distance. Complete with locker rooms and robes, there is also a full restaurant where you can eat in the pools.

Spend the day exploring this incredible National Park on one of the many hikes you can find via the AllTrails app. The drive from Tekapo to the National park takes a little over an hour and has quite windy roads. You will drive along Lake Pukaki for the majority of the ride, and may see the famous Lupin flowers if you travel in the spring.

On your way back from hiking, be sure to stop at the Lavender Fields for some photo opps and an array of Lavender goods.

Back in Lake Tekapo, enjoy dinner downtown and see more stars at the Dark Sky Project observatory.

Another day of driving, and this leg will take you about three hours through more farmland and winding roads, but with incredible scenery. Before leaving Tekapo, grab a famous meat pie (vegan options available) at The Greedy Cow.

Take this day to relax and reflect on the amazing experiences you’ve had thus far. When you arrive in Queenstown, wait in line for a famous FergBurger and take it to eat by the lake. Spend the rest of the day wandering the streets where you’re likely to find maker’s markets and pop-up shops in the summertime.

Arguably the best part of the South Island, make the trek through Fjordland National Park to arrive at the Milford Sound. It is best to take a private car hire to get the most out of the four hour journey. Your guide will know the best places to stop, grab food and arrange a boat tour on the Sound.

The majority of the drive is winding roads, and make sure to bring a rain jacket as it rains almost every day! Pro-Tip- this day is most beautiful when it is raining or has just rained, so no need to worry about the weather!

There is so much more to do in the South Island if you have a few more days for your trip. Some honorable mentions include the Kawarau River Bungee for thrill seekers and spectators. A historic boat ride on the TSS Earnslaw, or spin your own honey at Buzzstop. You can also add a few days to explore the beach town of Dunedin.