New Zealand South Island Itinerary: Highlights & Travel Tips

Who Should Visit New Zealand’s South Island?

One of our first questions when planning our New Zealand trip was whether to visit just one island — and if so, which one would be more beautiful?

Now we can tell you with certainty: neither island is better than the other! They’re simply different, and depending on your travel style, you might be more drawn to the South Island or the North Island of New Zealand.

So when is New Zealand’s South Island the right choice for you?

• You love peace and solitude: New Zealand doesn’t have a large population, and only about 30 percent of its residents live on the South Island. You can genuinely drive or hike for ages without running into a single soul.
• You’re a nature lover: The South Island has very few cities, and even those have nothing resembling big-city life. Instead, you can camp right in the middle of nature, go hiking, and enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities.
• You want to ski: The South Island is colder in general, and nearly all the best ski resorts are clustered here. If you’re coming to New Zealand for winter sports, the South Island is definitely the better choice.
• You’re excited about road tripping: The distances between highlights are longer on the South Island than on the North Island. We personally love watching the landscape change as you drive — and the South Island is absolutely perfect for that.

Now you might be wondering: why do I have to choose at all? Can’t I just visit both islands?

Sure, you can. But we’d recommend sticking to either the North or South Island if you have a maximum of three weeks of vacation. Otherwise, you’ll have very little time for the individual attractions in New Zealand and will spend most of your trip in the car.

Orientation: Our South Island New Zealand Highlights on a Map

We’re about to get to our 11 top picks on New Zealand’s South Island. But first, here’s a map to help you get your bearings.

Our Top 11 Things to Do on New Zealand’s South Island

We could have listed plenty more, but these are the 11 highlights of New Zealand’s South Island that you absolutely have to see. Let’s go!

Abel Tasman National Park

The Abel Tasman National Park is located at the very northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.

You can only explore it by hiking, kayaking, or on a boat tour. There are no roads in the park — just one long trail, the Abel Tasman Coast Track.

If you don’t want to walk the entire track, you can hike a section and then take a water taxi back.

Along the track, you’ll pass countless beautiful bays with beaches that look almost Caribbean. And the best part: in many of them, you’ll have the place practically to yourself.

Our tip: The absolute standouts are Tonga and Adele Island. At both, you can watch seal colonies.

Best base for overnight stays: Kaiteriteri. Our hotel recommendation: Kaiteriteri Retreat.

Book a boat tour in Abel Tasman National Park

Milford Sound

Milford Sound belongs at the very top of your New Zealand South Island itinerary! It’s a breathtakingly beautiful fjord landscape with towering rock walls and waterfalls plunging down into the sea.

The one catch with Milford Sound is that it’s pretty remote, and you need to plan at least a full day for it. The nearest larger town is Queenstown, and from there it’s more than a five-hour drive — one way.

If you only have time for a day trip, we recommend exploring Milford Sound by boat. That way you can make the most of your time there.

Even if the drive sounds lengthy, the road trip itself is absolutely worth it — you’ll have stunning views of Lake Te Anau along the way.

You can enjoy the drive even more by joining a guided tour, so you don’t have to do the driving yourself.

Our tip: Helicopter flights are also available at Milford Sound. If there’s one landscape where it’s worth splurging on a heli-flight, it’s definitely here.

Best base for overnight stays: Queenstown. Our hotel recommendation: Scenic Suites Queenstown.

Milford Sound boat tour with your own transportation

Milford Sound: Guided day tour from Queenstown with boat cruise

Combo tour: helicopter flight and boat tour at Milford Sound

Mount Cook

Mount Cook is promoted by New Zealand’s tourism industry as the ultimate highlight of the South Island. With things like this, expectations often outrun reality — but Mount Cook is genuinely impressive.

At over 3,700 meters, it’s the tallest mountain in New Zealand. That might not sound all that high, but it’s surrounded by other 3,000-meter peaks, which creates a stunning mountain panorama.

The best view is from the Hooker Valley Track. The trail is 10 kilometers long but has very little elevation gain — you can comfortably complete it in three hours without needing extraordinary fitness. It passes Hooker Lake, and around a bend, a spectacular view of Mount Cook suddenly opens up.

There’s a small village, also called Mount Cook, where you’ll find nice cafés and hotels. You can also book helicopter flights over Mount Cook from here.

Best base for overnight stays: Twizel. Our hotel recommendation: Matuka Lodge.

Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers

Two of New Zealand’s most famous glaciers are located on the West Coast: Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier.

Fox Glacier is a bit smaller than Franz Josef, and the village that goes with it is more modest too — though the town of Franz Josef itself is really just a handful of cafés, tour operators, and some very nice hotels.

Most visitors at Franz Josef Glacier just do the Valley Walk (about one hour total). It takes you just far enough into the glacier valley that you can see the ice tongue from a distance. Along the way, you also learn how dramatically the glacier has shrunk in recent years — truly alarming!

If you want to see more of the glacier, you can either do a guided hike or take a helicopter flight.

A helicopter flight isn’t something you do on a whim — but with a landscape this incredible, the money is genuinely well spent.

Best base for overnight stays: Franz Josef. Our hotel recommendation: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier.

Helicopter flight with snow landing at Franz Josef Glacier

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a lovely coastal town in the northeast, and it’s seriously famous for one thing: the incredible variety of marine life you can spot here.

A whale watching tour is a must in Kaikoura. Sperm whales, humpback whales, and sometimes even blue whales make appearances. You can also join tours where you swim with dolphins.

The chances of not seeing any animals on your tour are very low — but if that does happen, most operators will give you a partial refund.

The trail that runs around the Kaikoura Peninsula is also highly recommended. A large seal colony lives here, and albatrosses sometimes appear as well. The path winds through impressive, rugged cliffs.

If you’re driving from Picton to Kaikoura, take your time on the drive itself. The route is lined with stunning lookout points and bays that are absolutely worth stopping for.

Our hotel recommendation in Kaikoura: Sudima Kaikoura.

The Catlins

The Catlins is a region at the very southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island.

There’s a lot of beautiful nature here and almost no infrastructure — so think ahead about shopping, fueling up, and accommodation before you arrive.

An absolute highlight in the Catlins is the road from Kaka Point to Nugget Point. It passes one secluded sandy beach after another. At Nugget Point itself, you can walk out to a lighthouse. We’ve rarely seen such wild and impressive coastline!

Our tip: Right near Nugget Point there’s a bay where penguins nest. There’s a small hide from which you can watch penguins — but they’re very shy and won’t come out if they notice you.

The second must-see in the Catlins is Curio Bay. Here you can check out a petrified forest, and with a bit of luck you’ll spot dolphins on the beach.

If you have more time, the Catlins also has three waterfalls (McLeans, Purakaunui, and Matai Falls) and some cool caves (Cathedral Caves).

Best base for overnight stays: Owaka. Our hotel recommendation: Catlins Area Motel.

Marlborough Sounds

The Marlborough Sounds are located at the very northern end of New Zealand’s South Island. They form a labyrinth of small islands, sea inlets, and peninsulas — similar to a fjord.

Many people come here to hike the Queen Charlotte Track. It takes several days to complete, but you can easily just hike a section and take a water taxi back.

In general, the best way to explore the Marlborough Sounds is by boat. In addition to water taxis, mail boats operate here too — they deliver mail to homes that are only accessible by water.

You can book official tours on the mail boats. It’s a fascinating experience, as the captains know the area like the back of their hand.

A great day-trip destination is the Lochmara Lodge. You can eat really well there and even stay overnight if you want to spend a night right in the Sounds.

Beyond that, a kayak tour is a must-do in the Marlborough Sounds. We unfortunately didn’t spot any dolphins, but we did see huge starfish and cormorants.

Our tour was with Lea and Aaron from Sea Kayak Adventures and was an absolute highlight of our trip. We’ve linked the tour for you below.

Best base for overnight stays: Picton. Our hotel recommendation: The Gables Bed and Breakfast.

Kayak tour through the Marlborough Sounds

Mail boat tour through the Marlborough Sounds

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

The Te Anau Glowworm Caves are the South Island’s answer to the famous Waitomo Caves on the North Island.

Here you can see something unique to New Zealand: thousands of glowworms light up the ceiling deep inside a pitch-black cave. It looks just like a starry sky, even though you’re completely underground.

You can only visit the Te Anau Caves on a guided tour. It consists of several parts: first, you take a boat ride across Lake Te Anau. Then you explore the cave on foot along wooden walkways and take in underground waterfalls and whirlpools.

Then comes the real highlight — you climb into a small rowboat and glide along beneath the glowworms.

At $120, it’s certainly not a cheap attraction, but in our opinion it’s absolutely worth every cent!

Best base for overnight stays: Te Anau. Our hotel recommendation: Cabot Lodge.

Tour to the Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in all of New Zealand, sitting roughly in the center of the South Island.

The lake is ringed by enormous snow-capped mountains that reflect in its surface. But the real standout is the lupines, which bloom in every shade of pink and purple from November to December.

The best view of the lake is from Mount John Observatory — a nearby observatory you can reach by car or on foot. Apart from the town of Tekapo, there’s simply nothing else in the area. Thanks to minimal light pollution, the lake is one of the best spots for stargazing and photographing the stars.

Tekapo is very small, but it gets quite touristy in summer. If you want to escape the crowds, we recommend driving along Lilybank Road and stopping wherever you feel like it. Drive carefully though — it’s a gravel road, and many rental car companies won’t cover you with insurance there.

Best base for overnight stays: Lake Tekapo. Our hotel recommendation: Galaxy Boutique Hotel.

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders near Dunedin are kind of like what you’d picture if you imagined gigantic gray dragon eggs just lying on the beach.

The perfectly spherical stones formed through the erosion of limestone — we won’t get into the geological details, but we can say with certainty: you can take some really fun photos here.

Above the beach, there’s a nice café with views of the shore.

You should also make a short detour to the village of Moeraki. From there, you can walk to the lighthouse (about 90 minutes one way).

A seal colony lives at the cliffs below the lighthouse, by the way — and if you stay until dusk, you might be lucky enough to spot penguins too.

Best base for overnight stays: Dunedin. Our hotel recommendation: The Victoria Hotel.

Pancake Rocks

The Pancake Rocks are exactly what the name suggests: rock formations that look like a really impressive stack of pancakes — and a genuinely cool photo spot.

You’ll find these unusual rocks on the West Coast in the town of Punakaiki. A short loop trail of about 20 minutes leads you right to them.

Between the rocks, there are so-called blowholes. When the tide comes in, it forces water through tunnels in the rock, similar to a geyser.

While you’re there, also check out the beach at Punakaiki and walk a section of the Paparoa Great Walk.

Our tip: The stretch between Punakaiki and Westport is one of the most scenic roads in the world. Make sure to allow plenty of time for photo stops on your drive to or from the Pancake Rocks.

Best base for overnight stays: Punakaiki. Our hotel recommendation: Scenic Hotel Punakaiki.

Our Route for a 3-Week South Island New Zealand Road Trip

In New Zealand, a road trip is really the only way to go — there are just so many incredible places to see. You should set aside at least three weeks for it, so the long journey there is truly worth it.

If you have more time, it’s worth doing a road trip through New Zealand taking in both islands.

We’ve put together a route for a road trip on New Zealand’s South Island. We drove almost exactly this itinerary ourselves, with a few improvements added in. You’ll see the route first on the map, then the detailed day-by-day breakdown with each stop.

Our route for three weeks on New Zealand’s South Island:

• Day 1: Christchurch
• Day 2: Akaroa
• Day 3: Timaru
• Day 4: Lake Tekapo
• Day 5: Mount Cook
• Day 6: Dunedin + stop at the Moeraki Boulders
• Days 7–8: Catlins
• Days 9–10: Queenstown + day trip to Milford Sound
• Day 11: Wanaka
• Day 12: Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
• Day 13: Hokitika + drive to Arthur’s Pass
• Day 14: Arthur’s Pass + drive to Westport
• Day 15: Westport + drive to Kaiteriteri
• Day 16: Abel Tasman National Park
• Day 17: Nelson
• Days 18–19: Marlborough Sounds
• Day 20: Kaikoura
• Day 21: Christchurch

New Zealand South Island: Campervan vs. Rental Car?

New Zealanders love camping, and especially on the South Island there are good reasons why a New Zealand road trip by campervan makes a lot of sense. Alternatively, you can travel the classic way with a rental car and hotels.

Here’s a rundown of the pros and cons of each option.

Pros and Cons of Campervans

• You can stay overnight in remote locations.
• You save on costs for food and accommodation.
• You’re more flexible and can plan your route around the weather.
• The rental cost of the campervan and gas are expensive.
• Campervans are often booked up far in advance.
• You still need to stay at campgrounds, and some require a self-contained certificate (more info below).
• Driving always takes longer than in a regular car and is more demanding.

A campervan is practical on the North Island too. But on the South Island, two arguments in particular make a strong case for going with a camper:

#1 The unpredictable weather

The South Island — and especially the beautiful West Coast — is known for extremely changeable weather. If you have a camper, you can check the forecast each day and simply adapt your route on the fly.

If you only have a rental car, book your accommodation as far in advance as possible. Especially in summer, places fill up well ahead of time.

#2 The sparse infrastructure

The South Island has many regions — like the Catlins or the West Coast — where you might pass only a small town every hour or so. The selection of places to stay is quite limited as a result.

However, there are many freedom campsites. These are very basic sites that often consist of little more than a field and a pit toilet — but they’re often located right in the middle of nature or directly on the beach, miles away from any hotel.

Important: If you want to use freedom campsites, you need a vehicle with a self-contained certificate. This means your vehicle meets certain standards — for example, for fresh and waste water tanks. These campervans cost significantly more than “standard” campervans, but freedom campsites are cheaper in return.

Our tip: A great platform for campervans is CamperOase. You’ll find good deals there, the van specs are described in detail, and you can immediately see whether the campervans are self-contained or not.

Pros and Cons of a Rental Car

• Significantly cheaper rental rates and fuel costs
• Better for doing day trips than with a campervan
• In bad weather, a hotel is warmer and more comfortable
• You need to plan your route in advance and book hotels ahead of time
• Constantly packing and unpacking your bags gets old fast
• There are only a few cities on the South Island, and otherwise the hotel selection is very limited

Not everyone enjoys camping, and that’s completely fine. You can absolutely do your South Island road trip with a rental car and hotels — it just requires a bit more planning and less flexibility.

Hotel prices on the South Island vary widely depending on the region and time of year. For a nice mid-range hotel, expect to pay around $80 to $150 per night.

Book hotels in New Zealand on Booking.com

Compare rental car deals for New Zealand on Discovercars
Looking for more information about driving in New Zealand? This article has plenty of practical travel tips.

The Best Time to Visit New Zealand’s South Island

The seasons in New Zealand are the reverse of what you’re used to. The best months to visit are October to November and March to April.

Those are early and late summer, when temperatures are pleasantly warm. At the same time, you avoid the peak travel season — and with it, sky-high prices for hotels and flights, as well as the tourist crowds.

In general, the South Island is colder than the North Island. The ocean is cold pretty much year-round.

Important: The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is known for its year-round, highly unpredictable weather. If you’re planning hikes there, always check the forecast to avoid getting caught in a storm.