Perfect 2 Week South Island New Zealand Itinerary (Campervan or Car)

Even though I grew up in New Zealand and had visited many places on the South Island, I had never done a proper road trip.

So we decided it was time to hire a campervan and explore my own backyard.

The South Island is an amazing place for a road trip because of the van-friendly infrastructure and diversity in scenery.

There are snow-capped mountains, fjords, rainforest-covered coastlines, and crystal clear beaches all within a few hours’ drive.

But planning an itinerary can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to map out the perfect route and see all the highlights.

That’s why I have put together the exact route we followed, including driving times, best stops, activities, and campsites, so you don’t have to figure it all out yourself.

Even though we did this trip in a campervan, you can also follow this South Island Itinerary if you are driving a car and staying in hotels or motels.

We started and finished in Queenstown and covered a big area. We are usually slow travelers, but on this trip, we squeezed in as much as possible.

From Queenstown, Wanaka, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Abel Tasman, Kaikoura, Glacier Country, and the West Coast – we saw it all!

We loved it so much that we did a second South Island road trip this year. This time, we reversed the loop, checked out different stops, and refined the route even more.

So if you want to see all the highlights in a short amount of time, love hiking and being on scenic campsites, this budget itinerary is perfect for you.

Itinerary Essentials

Before we dive into the actual itinerary, there are a few essential things you will want to consider before booking and planning your trip.

1. Where to start your trip?

First, you will need to decide where to start your trip.

The two main airports to choose from are Queenstown and Christchurch.

• Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island. It does not have the natural beauty of Queenstown. But it has the largest selection of rental vehicles.
• Queenstown is the tourism capital of New Zealand. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, it is one of the most beautiful towns in the country.

💡 My Recommendation: Start and finish in Queenstown so that you can have as much time there as possible. That’s what we did on this South Island road trip!

The only downside of starting and finishing in Queenstown is that there are fewer rental options.

If you want to get a budget campervan from Travellers Autobarn, for example, they are only available in Christchurch.

So fly into Christchurch if you would like to rent a van from them, as we did on our second trip! Otherwise, stick to Queenstown and this itinerary.

⛰️ Tip: Get a window seat for your flight into Queenstown. The views are amazing; it is one of the most beautiful flights that I have ever been on.

We found our flights from Auckland to Queenstown on Skyscanner which combined a return flight with Jetstar and Air New Zealand.

2. Vehicle Rental

The biggest choice you will have to make is whether to rent a car or a campervan for your South Island itinerary.

In my opinion, the best way to experience the natural beauty of the South Island is by campervan.

We woke up to so many amazing sunrises because so many DOC campsites are in the most beautiful locations.

But the big negative is that you sacrifice comfort by sleeping in a van every night.

So if you hate the idea of not having a comfortable bed, you can hire a super-cheap car and mix camping with cheap stays at holiday parks. Doing it this way, you may end up spending less than you would renting a campervan.

Campervan Rental

There are quite a few options, and we rented from two different companies for each of our South Island road trips.

• Camplify (pick up in Queenstown)
• Travellers Autobarn (pick up in Christchurch)

They both have their pros and cons, and there are a few rental details you should look out for that can make a big difference to your budget and trip planning.

We go into detail about each rental, plus other options, in our South Island campervan rental guide.

It was our first time travelling by campervan, and we are hooked! RV travel is addictive. It gives you the freedom to stop wherever you want, adjust plans easily, and stay off-road at awesome campsites.

So be warned, this might not be your only campervan or New Zealand trip you will ever do! 🙃

GAS PRICES ⚠️ We did our last road trip around the South Island as gas prices exploded because of the Iran War. This is also when we discovered that if your van is a Toyota Hi-Ace, which is the van Travellers Autobarn uses, the fuel mileage is terrible. So if you want to save money on gas, make sure that your camper is a diesel. All the budget camper companies use Toyota Hi-Aces because they are cheap to repair. But the problem is that they use a tonne of gas! The campervan we hired with Camplify was much bigger but because it was diesel we used far less gas

3. Campsites

You will find 3 main types of campsites on the South Island:

1. Freedom camping ($0)
2. DOC campsites ($)
3. Paid holiday parks ($$)

Each option has different pros and cons, costs, facilities, and rules.

We mainly stayed at Freedom and DOC (Department of Conservation) campsites for the off-road scenery and to save money.

If you have a bigger budget, you may want to stay at holiday parks more than we did.

For a deep dive, check out our South Island campervan rental guide.

4. Useful Apps

These are the sites we used before and during our trip. They are super handy and will save you money.

• CamperMate: This free app is awesome for finding free & paid campsites, dump stations, rubbish bins, etc.

• BookMe: Gives you up to 50% off on almost all South Island activities! We booked our Milford Sound Cruise and many others on this site.

• AllTrails: This itinerary includes many hikes & trails to which you can find detailed hiking descriptions, offline maps, and reviews on AllTrails.

• Saily: We used this eSIM for New Zealand to get mobile data. We got the 10GB plan, and it was plenty. Signal coverage also worked well! Just hotspotting the other person sometimes didn’t.

• SafetyWing: You will want travel health insurance for this trip, especially if you are doing lots of outdoor activities. We use SafetyWing for all our travels – it starts at only 2$ a day!

• Wise: We barely needed cash since we had mobile data and booked all campsites online. But that means you will use your card heaps. So get a free Wise account and save on all exchange, currency and ATM fees!

5. Budget

How much you will spend will depend on many factors, but our expenses will give you a rough idea. All prices are in NZD and for 2 people, which is roughly double the USD.

• Flights: Auckland to Queenstown return $780 NZD
• Campervan hire: $3,020 NZD
• Campsites: $190 NZD *
• Diesel: $862 NZD
• Diesel tax + extra km: $436 NZD **
• Parking: $14 NZD
• Groceries: $641 NZD
• Eating out: $110 NZD
• Activities: $264 NZD
• eSim: $48 NZD ***
• Total: $6,365 NZD ($3,183 NZD p.p.)

* We had a 1-month DOC campsite pass for $95 NZD p.p., which allowed us to stay on any DOC campsite. Now they only offer yearly passes, so you will need to pay for each campsite individually. But they are cheap! Around $15 NZD p.p. per night.

** Our campervan rental included 3,500 km (2,175 miles), everything above that we had to pay 0.25 cents per km.

*** We only had one eSIM that we shared between us. The signal worked well, but hotspotting sometimes didn’t.

Itinerary Overview + Map

• Duration: 14 days
• Start & End: Queenstown
• Driving Style: Moderate to heavy (some longer days)
• Total km/miles: almost 4.000/2.485!
• Best for: Budget travelers who love hiking, wildlife, and adventure

The map below shows the route of the itinerary. We listed all stops in the table below.

This itinerary involves quite a bit of driving. While it works well for a 2-week South Island itinerary, adding in a couple of extra days will allow for a slower pace.

Day 1 – Queenstown

The first day starts in Queenstown, the most famous town in the South Island, whose nickname is the adventure capital of the world.

You can go bungy jumping, white water rafting, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, and hiking. You name it, they have it!

But Day 1 is usually busier than you might think, so there might not be a lot of time for activities.

After flying into Queenstown, picking up our campervan, getting familiar with the van, and doing a big grocery shop, most of our day was gone.

🚨 We were also pulled over and given a ticket by the police! Our friend stood up in the back of the camper because we hadn’t tied something down. So never stand up while driving 🫣

Because we also finished in Queenstown at the end of this itinerary, we chose to leave straight away because there was good weather at Milford Sound the next day.

However, we would have also loved to do some famous activities like jet boating or bungee jumping.

But for us, this trip was about being in nature and not spending too much time in busy towns. That said, many people love Queenstown and spend an extra day here.

The waterfront is beautiful, and we had a quick stroll around while eating the famous Furgburger, which you will have to queue for!

Best Things To Do In Queenstown

• Shotover Jet – I’ve done this multiple times over the years and it’s still one of my favourite things to do in Queenstown. You fly through a narrow canyon at high speed, coming insanely close to the rock walls.

• White Water Rafting – you can also white water raft down the Shotover River if jet boats are not your thing.

• Kawarau Bungee – is the world’s first commercial bungee and a classic experience in Queenstown.

• Nevis Bungee – if you really want an adrenaline pump, then head to the Nevis Bungee. This is the highest bungee in New Zealand at 134 meters (440 feet).

• FurgBurger – we almost didn’t go because we hate queuing for food, but it’s worth it! Try Sweet Bambi, Bombay Chicken or Big Al. The burgers are big, delicious and unique. You can also get some at the FurgButcher in Arrowtown.

Best Queenstown Campsites

• Kingston Lake Camp – is a great freedom camping spot 35 minutes south of Queenstown, right on the lake, and where we stayed!
• Lumsden Freedom Camping – is another good option if you would like to get closer to Milford Sound.
• Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park – best if you want proper showers and facilities close to town.

BEST QUEENSTOWN HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES

Queenstown is by far the most expensive place to find somewhere to stay in the South Island. Below are some of the cheapest options I could find.

• Guest House a private guesthouse outside the city center. You will need a car, but the price is the lowest you will find
• Lake Avenue Studio is another private room located right on the lake and within walking distance of the airport
• La Quinta is one of the most affordable decent hotels with great views of the Remarkables mountain range

Day 2 – Milford Sound

Going on a cruise on Milford Sound was my highlight of our South Island Campervan trip. It is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand.

But it is not just Milford Sound itself that is amazing. The entire region surrounding it, known as Fjordland, is stunning.

There are steep valleys and snowcapped peaks everywhere you look.

Driving to Milford Sound is a highlight in itself. The road is one of the most beautiful drives in the country, so allow yourself plenty of time to stop and take photos.

We drove to Milford Sound early in the morning and were blown away by the scenery. It is truly one of those places that pictures will never do justice.

If you decide to drive from Queenstown like us, just be prepared, it is a big day of driving. The roads are very windy, so it takes longer than you think.

🌦️ Tip: Milford Sound is known for being rainy and cloudy for most of the year. We visited it twice, in sunshine and rain. We actually prefer seeing it in the rain as hundreds of waterfalls will come down the mountains!

Milford Sound Cruise

We booked our Milford Sound Cruise on BookMe and got 50% off!

There are lots of different companies, and they all do exactly the same route and have great reviews. So just pick whatever is cheapest or fits your schedule.

The first time we went with Southern Discoveries and the second time with Milford Sound Nature Cruise. Both had spacious boats, great guides and free coffee and tea on board to warm you up.

Both of our cruises could not have been better. Cruising past all the massive sheer cliffs and waterfalls was simply incredible.

The best part of our first cruise was that we saw dolphins! A pod of dolphins swam beside our boat for a good 20 minutes. There were even some baby dolphins! 🐬

It was such a magical experience and one of the most beautiful ones of our many years on the road.

Milford Sound Flight

If you want an even more memorable experience or save time, you can book a scenic flight to Milford Sound.

A cruise is included in the price, so you can see Milford Sound from the water and the sky. I watched a YouTube video of the flight and it looks incredible!

Gertrude Saddle Hike

If you love hiking, then I highly recommend the Gertrude Saddle Hike after visiting Milford Sound.

The start of the hike is on the Milford Sound Road, and it is my favorite day hike in the whole of New Zealand!

It is a tough, steep hike with some exposed sections up the top. But the views at the top – overlooking Milford Sound! – are well worth it.

In bad weather, it can be dangerous, so only attempt it if it’s a nice day.

🦜 Tip: After Gertrude Saddle make sure to stop at Monkey Creek. This is a car park where you have a good chance to spot Kea. These are alpine parrots that live in the mountains of the South Island. They are such cool birds, so playful and inquisitive.

Best Milford Sound Campsites

After such a long day, staying nearby is a good idea.

• Cascade Creek DOC Campsite – is the one we stayed at and the closest campsite to Milford Sound. It’s very basic and can get busy, but the views are great.
• Te Anau Lake View Holiday Park – head there for hot showers, a drying room and a great communal kitchen. We stayed there on our second road trip after getting soaked on our Milford Sound cruise.

BEST HOTELS AND GUESTHOUSES NEAR MILFORD SOUND

• Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park & Motels – this is also the best option if you are driving, as they have the cheapest private rooms in town
• Tasman Holiday Parks a more expensive holiday park with nicer private rooms and a free sauna!
• Mossburn Railway Hotel is a great option if you want to stay in an old-school Kiwi guesthouse. The pictures remind me of my grandparents’ house! But it looks super tidy and has a pub and restaurant attached

Day 3 – Wanaka

Wanaka is kind of like the little brother to Queenstown. It is another town on a lake surrounded by beautiful mountains and full of adventure activities.

To reach it, you have to drive back along the same route you took to Milford Sound. But the scenery looks completely different in the opposite direction.

We enjoyed the drive just as much the second time, and there are a few beautiful lookouts along Lake Wakatipu that you want to stop at.

The first thing we did in Wanaka was to park at the lake and walk to the famous Wanaka tree. You will know where the tree is by spotting a crowd of people surrounding it.

The tree is growing out of the water and makes a great photo stop. It’s probably a bit overhyped but the walk along the lakefront is well worth it.

After that, I recommend doing the Diamond Lake Hike and if you are in Wanaka between December and February, visiting the Lavender Farm.

But there are lots of other cool things to do that I listed below.

Best Things To Do In Wanaka

• Roys Peak Hike – the most famous hike in Wanaka, taking 5-6 hours return. We didn’t have time to do it on this trip. But if you are up for a challenge, the views look incredible.

• Diamond Lake Hike – another beautiful hike close to Wanaka. We went all the way to the top (3h return) and enjoyed the amazing mountain scenery.

• Jet Boat Tour & Wilderness Walk – good option if you want to do something active without doing an intense hike. You have to do a jetboat ride either in Wanaka or Queenstown, so much fun and unique!

• Lavender Farm – this was a surprise highlight for me. The grounds are beautiful and there are lots of farm animals. Even just visiting their store and tasting all their honey is worth doing.

• That Wanaka Tree – a bit overhyped and crowded, but still worth going to check out. The walk along the lakefront is nice and the tree growing out of the water is a great photo spot.

• Rob Roy Glacier – this hike is on my bucket list. Getting to the start is a long drive down bumpy roads, which is why we haven’t done it yet.

Best Wanaka Campsites

Wanaka has some excellent camping options depending on how remote you want to be.

• Kidds Bush DOC Campsite – we loved staying here, it was one of our favorite campsites in the whole of the South Island. It’s right on the lake shore with insane views of the mountains, but a fairly long unpaved road leads to it.
• Glendhu Bay Holiday Park – is a pretty lakefront campsite close to Roys Peak. We would have stayed there if we had wanted facilities and easy access.
• Albert Town Campground – is a great budget option close to Wanaka. It is a basic campground and convenient, but nowhere near as scenic.

BEST WANAKA ACCOMMODATION

• Altamont Lodge – great budget rooms with excellent communal areas. Well-equipped kitchen if you want to prepare your own meals
• Manuka Crescent Motel – a solid motel just outside Wanaka central

Day 4 – Haast Pass & Lake Paringa

Today you will travel along the Haast Pass – one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand! We loved it.

This road takes you from the dry, golden high country of Otago into the wet, wild and green West Coast.

A very stark contrast!

The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest region in New Zealand and has some of the highest rainfall on earth. So don’t expect a sunny day.

But the rain actually adds to the experience. Because of all the water, the forests are covered in moss, and everything is so lush.

It feels like stepping onto the set of The Lord of the Rings. The forest has a real, untouched, ancient feel unlike anywhere else in New Zealand.

So make sure you get out of the car as often as possible along the Haast Pass to experience it.

🛒 Tip: Once you leave Wanaka, there are not many supermarkets around. So definitely stock up on groceries before you leave.

Best Stops Along Haast Pass

• The Blue Pools – this is an easy and lush forest walk along a river to a bridge with some stunning, clear turquoise pools. A must visit!

• Thunder Creek Falls – a tall waterfall that is just a short walk from the side of the road. Make sure to walk along the rocks to the right to get a great view of the mountains.

• Fantail Falls – is another pretty waterfall and a short walk from the side of the road.

• Roaring Billy Falls – a great short bush walk through some beautiful mossy native bush to a viewpoint of the waterfalls. We loved the walk even more than the waterfall.

• Ship Creek – another must-stop! Here you can check out the wild West Coast beaches covered in driftwood. We particularly loved the wetland walk that takes you along a tea-colored stream through mossy trees.

Best Haast Pass Campsites

• Lake Paringa DOC Campsite – is where we stayed. It’s an excellent site surrounded by nature. Make sure to book a spot ahead of time as it’s quite small and fills up fast. We got a spot right on the edge of the lake and had great views despite the rain.

BEST HAAST ACCOMMODATION

• Haast River Holiday Park – is the best place to spend the night in Haast, but it is fairly expensive. There are much better and cheaper places to stay in Fox Glacier, so I would suggest that you keep driving.

Day 5 – Franz Josef & Fox Glacier

The drive from Lake Paringa to Glacier Country takes only 1 hour, so this is one of the shortest days on the itinerary.

We planned it this way because we wanted to hike the Roberts Point Track, which took us close to the Franz Josef Glacier.

The area around Franz Josef and Fox Glacier is called Glacier Country because it has 2 of the easiest-to-access glaciers in the world.

If you come on a clear day, you will be able to see both from different viewpoints!

Both glaciers have retreated a long way over the last centuries, but what is left is still worth seeing.

The best things to do in this area are to go for walks. Or if you want an up-close view of the glaciers, you can take a helicopter ride.

Roberts Point Track

The Roberts Point Track takes you to a close viewpoint of Franz Josef Glacier.

The trail itself is challenging with lots of slippery rocks. But we loved it, there are multiple swing bridges and beautiful views across the valley.

We love hiking, but we have to admit that this trail was much more tiring than we thought.

There are multiple sections with fairly slippery rocks that wear you out because you are constantly trying not to slip.

Once we got to the top, we were glad we made it. But I think it is the type of hike I would only do once because it was a bit of a grind getting to the top.

So only do it if you feel full of energy! If not, try one of the easier walks in the area.

Best Things To Do In Glacier Country

• Lake Matheson Walk – is an easy and great forest walk around a lake with lots of nice viewpoints. We loved this walk not only for the views but because the forest is covered in thick, dense moss. Even if it is a cloudy day, I think walking around this lake is worth it because of the amazing forest surrounding it.
• Fox Glacier Viewpoint – if the weather is clear, head to this viewpoint for stunning views of Fox Glacier. We couldn’t see Fox Glacier on our first trip because the mountains were covered in clouds. But luckily, on our next trip, the clouds cleared, and the view was amazing.
• Franz Josef Helicopter Flight – if you want to get up close to the glacier, a helicopter ride is your only way. You will be flown up to the glacier and be able to walk around! Definitely on my bucket list.

⛅️ Tip: Glacier Country is heavily dependent on the weather. If it’s very cloudy, you will not be able to see the glaciers. So keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to change your plans.

Best Glacier Country Campsites

• Otto/MacDonalds DOC Campsite – is near Franz Josef Glacier and where we stayed. It’s a great site and a short walk from a beautiful lake that you can swim in.
• Fox Glacier Top 10 Holiday Park – is where we stayed on our second South Island road trip. It’s less scenic than the DOC campsite but has great facilities and mountain views.
• Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park – is another solid option close to Franz Josef Glacier with kitchens, lounges and showers at a good price.

BEST GLACIER COUNTRY ACCOMMODATION

• Rainforest Motel – solid budget motel with kitchens to cook your own meals and great mountain views
• Mt Cook View Motel – an excellent motel in Fox Glacier with awesome views of the mountains
• Wild Kea Lodge – the cheapest place to stay in Franz Josef with many communal amenities such as a large kitchen, hot tub, and fitness equipment

Day 6 – Hokitika Gorge, Pancake Rocks & Punakaiki

After exploring Glacier Country, we made our way up the West Coast towards Punakaiki, home of the famous Pancake Rocks.

This part of the West Coast has much more farmland, but there are still beautiful mountains in the distance as you make your way up the coast.

Hokitika Gorge

Halfway to Punakaiki, I recommend taking a detour to visit the Hokitika Gorge.

A stream, made up of melting glacial water, runs through it, which is an amazing turquoise blue when the conditions are right.

But when we visited, there had recently been heavy rain, so it was not as blue as in the pictures we had seen.

However, we still found it worth the detour to stretch our legs and go on a nice bush walk over swinging bridges.

After Hokitika Gorge, we stopped in Greymouth to stock up on groceries and fuel because there isn’t much coming after it.

Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast, but it is still quiet and sleepy.

Pancake Rocks/Punakaiki

From Greymouth, it’s a 45-minute spectacular coastline drive to Punakaiki, with many great spots to pull over and take photos.

In Punakaiki, we visited the famous Pancake Rocks, where thousands of years of limestone deposits have created layers of rock like stacked pancakes. 🥞

Growing up in New Zealand, I had always seen pictures and didn’t really understand the fuss. But when we arrived, I was impressed!

I loved walking through the unique rock formations and watching the huge waves smashing against them.

Pororari & Truman Track

After the Pancake Rocks we walked the Truman Track and the Pororari River Track.

The Truman Track takes you 30 minutes through Native Bush to a rugged pebbly cove, surrounded by interesting limestone formations. Definitely do this one!

The Pororar River Track was one of the most underrated 2-hour walks of our trip, so make sure you do this one too.

It takes you past limestone cliffs alongside a tea-colored river. The mix of palm trees everywhere made it feel like a different planet compared to the vegetation on Haast Pass.

Best Punakaiki Campsites

This part of the West Coast is very remote, so there aren’t many places to camp at. There are also no DOC campsites.

• Fox River Freedom Camping – is a car park with toilets run by the local council and where we stayed. It’s surrounded by nature and great considering it’s free. The site fills up quick so don’t come after dark.

Day 7 – Nelson Lakes

After Punakaiki, we decided to drive inland to Nelson Lakes National Park. This spot often gets skipped but it’s beautiful!

There are many great hikes in the area (check out Mount Robert Circuit) but we just swam at the lakes and soaked up the sun. It’s a great place to recharge.

Lake Rotoiti vs Lake Rotoroa

There are two main lakes in the National Park. We stopped at both and liked them equally.

Lake Rotoiti is the most popular as it has the most campgrounds and a small town. Whereas Lake Rotoroa is more untouched and best if you want to be in nature by yourself.

Both lakes are beautiful, and you will be happy staying at either one. The water is crystal clear, and they are both surrounded by high alpine mountains.

The Nelson Lakes really remind me of lakes in the European Alps, just without all the churches!

Best Nelson Lakes Campsites

• Kerr Bay DOC Campsite – is the best campsite in the area, right on the shore of Lake Rotoiti. All other DOC campsites are inland. It was full when we arrived, so pre-book it!
• Teetotal DOC Campsite – is where we ended up staying. A lovely site inland surrounded by mountain views but next time we would pre-book Kerr Bay instead.

BEST NELSON LAKES ACCOMMODATION

• Tophouse Historical Inn Bed and Breakfast a beautiful historical building that has been turned into a guesthouse. A bit of a drive from the lakes, but it has great mountain views

❄️⚠️ It gets cold around Nelson Lakes at night, even in the summer. We could see our breath in the campervan in the morning, and it was March! The lakes sit in a deep valley, where cold air from the mountain tops gets trapped. So bring warm clothes with you.

Day 8 – Abel Tasman National Park

Day 8 takes you to a completely different side of the South Island. Abel Tasman has golden sand, turquoise water, and warm air in summer!

It’s the smallest National Park and in my opinion the most unique one. While in others, the main attraction is the mountains, Abel Tasman is all about the beautiful coastline.

We spent the day stopping on the way, admiring the crystal clear water and orange sand at Totaranui Beach, and treating us to an awesome homemade pizza with a view!

Best Stops Along Abel Tasman

• Paines Ford – has a couple of awesome swimming holes with crystal clear, ice-cold water. I had to jump in! There is also a spot for bouldering if you are into climbing.

• Te Waikoropupu Springs – is a large freshwater spring with crystal clear water bubbling out from the ground. A must-see spot!

• Totos Cafe and Pizzeria – has awesome views and delicious wood-fired thin-crust pizzas. Everything is made of eco-friendly materials. Check their opening hours before you go.

Best Abel Tasman Campsites

• Totaranui DOC Campground – is an awesome campsite right next to the beach! It’s a long drive on a windy dirt road but so worth it. We decided to stay 2 nights
  and it felt like a mini-vacation from all the driving we had been doing.
• Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park – if you want to avoid dirt roads, you could camp here instead and explore Abel Tasman from the south. But we highly recommend the Tataranui DOC Campground.

BEST ABEL TASMAN ACCOMMODATION

• Sunny Serene Studio super cheap studio in a private house in Motueka. Cheapest accommodation you will find in the area
• Marahau Beach Camp another super cheap option located right on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park

Day 9 – Abel Tasman Coast Track

Since we stayed 2 nights here, we had enough time to explore the beaches of Abel Tasman National Park via the Abel Tasman Coast Track.

It’s one of the Great Walks in New Zealand and ended up being Katharina’s highlight of the whole trip!

It’s a multi-day track but if you are staying at Totaranui Beach, you can walk either north or south and just do a section of it.

We went north, which is more challenging but also more scenic, and leads to Separation Point, where we saw seals playing in the water! 🦭

Multiple seal babies were swimming in the water, and some adults were sunbathing on the rocks quite close to us.

The trail took us from one golden bay with crystal clear water to the next one, all surrounded by native bush. Gorgeous!

After the 6-hour hike, we spent the afternoon chilling on Totaranui Beach. It’s a busy campsite in high season but has a super relaxed holiday vibe.

Keep an eye on the crystal-clear water, as we saw a big stingray coming close to shore!

If you decide to stay further south of Abel Tasman NP or don’t want to hike, there are other cool trips and activities you can book below.

Other Ways To Explore Abel Tasman

• Kayak Rental – rent a kayak and explore the crystal clear waters of Abel Tasman’s South by yourself.

• Scenic Cruise to Anchorage Bay – this scenic boat ride takes you to Anchorage Bay, where you have the chance to see seals and other wildlife.

• Sea Shuttle Cruise & Walking Tour – combines a scenic cruise along the coast to spot wildlife and a bush walk on land.

Day 10 – Marlborough Sounds

After Abel Tasman, we decided to head to the Marlborough Sounds, home to hundreds of Bays with blue waters.

This is not a super popular location on most South Island Itineraries. But we wanted to take things a bit slower and saw glow worms for free!

If you want to spend more time in other locations, you could skip Marlborough Sounds and head straight to Kaikoura to see whales and dolphins.

Best Things To Do In Picton

On the way from Abel Tasman to the Marlborough Sounds, we stopped in Picton for two activities.

• Pic’s Peanut Butter – we went on a tour in New Zealand’s most popular peanut butter factory. It’s not a must-visit but we had good fun and lots of tastings!

• Picton Harbour View Track – is a short little trail that overlooks Picton Harbour and its mountain scenery. We watched the big ferry come in that connects New Zealand’s North Island with the South Island.

Best Hike & Campsite In Marlborough Sounds

• Queen Charlotte Track – is a multi-day hike but you can also just do sections of it. If we had better weather, we would have done this 3-hour moderate trail section that leads to Camp Bay.

• Momorangi Bay DOC Campground – where we stayed the night. We loved this campsite. It’s right next to the lake and has great facilities. The best part: behind it is a glow worm walk which leads into the bush and is packed with glow worms at night! ✨

BEST ACCOMMODATION IN MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS

• Smiths Farm Holiday Park super cheap budget accommodation on a family farm. Shared bathrooms but you can feed the animals on the farm!
• Mahakipaoa Cabin rustic private cabin on a farm. Awesome views but at a budget price

Day 11 – Kaikoura

Day 11 takes you south along the coast to Kaikoura, which is the best place in New Zealand to see marine life.

On BookMe, you can get Kaikoura wildlife tours up to 40% off!

But you can also see heaps of wildlife for free right next to the main road, which is incredible.

Ohau Point Seal Colony

That’s a must-see! From the Ohau Point Lookout, you can spot hundreds of seals for free. 🦭

When we were there in March, we saw hundreds of seal pups playing in the rock pools. It was amazing!

Kaikoura Seal Colony Walk

In Kaikoura itself, there is another Seal Colony that is worth checking out. There are hundreds of seals here too, and it is a beautiful walk around the shoreline.

Because we had been driving so much, we did not have time to do any tours in Kaikoura. If you follow the same schedule as us, you probably won’t either.

But just in case you are really keen to see dolphins, whales, and other sea life, I have listed the best Kaikoura Tours below.

Best Tours In Kaikoura

• Whale Watching Cruise – this 2-hour cruise gives you a good chance to see giant sperm whales, dolphins, seals and albatross up close.

• Kayaking Tour – this 3-hour kayaking tour takes you around the coast of Kaikoura, where you can see whales, dolphins and seals.

• Whale Watching Flight – if you really want to splash out, you can take a scenic flight to see whales from above and get a spectacular view of the Southern Alps.

Best Kaikoura Campsites

Your campsite choice depends on how much driving you want to do the next day.

• Kaikoura Freedom Camping – right in Kaikoura there is a free camping spot with limited spots. It is paid parking from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. So you can only stay overnight. Best if you are really watching your budget and want to spend more time in Kaikoura.
• Peketa Beach Campground – is 10 km outside of Kaikoura and a great budget option if you want showers and other amenities.
• Peel Forest DOC Campground – this campsite is 4 hours drive from Kaikoura. It’s a great spot if you want to get closer to Mount Cook. We stayed here, and were so happy to have hot showers! There is also a great nature walk with giant old native trees right next to it and a track called like me 🙂

BEST KAIKOURA ACCOMMODATION

• Brook House B&B & Cottages budget bed and breakfast with an excellent breakfast included and comfortable common areas
• Dolphin Lodge another cheap guesthouse that feels like you are staying in a friend’s house. Less common areas but a cheaper price

Day 12 – Mount Cook

Day 12 is one of the longest drives of the itinerary. But it also delivers on some of the best views!

If you stayed in Kaikoura, the drive time to Mount Cook is 7 hours. If you stayed in Peel Forest, as we did, the drive time is 4 hours.

Lake Tekapo

Close to Mount Cook, you should check out Lake Tekapo with its famous Church of the Good Shepherd.

You’ll probably also see lots of tourists and tour buses. But the location is beautiful, and you will want breaks after a long day of driving.

Lake Pukaki

After Lake Tekapo, you are not far away from the Lake Pukaki Viewpoint, which must have the coolest blue color of any lake on earth!

When the sun is shining, the turquoise blue waters of Lake Pukaki with the snowy peaks of Mount Cook in the background are unreal.

I remember visiting as a kid and asking my dad what they put in the water to make it so blue! 😅

The Road To Mount Cook

After the viewpoint, the road to Mount Cook takes you along the edge of Lake Pukaki, which is another highlight.

As you drive along, Mount Cook grows larger and larger while you snake along the edge of the impossibly blue waters. Just wow!

Make sure to stop at the different sign-posted viewpoints along the road to take in all the amazing views.

Once you reach Mount Cook, there are two main hikes to choose from.

Hooker Valley Track

The Hooker Valley Track is the most popular one. It’s an easy 3-hour out-and-back walk with amazing views.

The downside is that there will be hundreds of people on the track! So I recommend going early in the morning or late in the evening once the tour buses have left.

Sealy Tarns Track

The Sealy Tarns Track is a much tougher hike with over 2,000 stairs. That’s why it’s nicknamed the Stairway to Heaven.

It’s the hike we did! We didn’t like the crowds on the Hooker Valler Track, but loved Sealy Tarns.

It’s a straightforward 1.5-hour climb with great views. At the end, you will be rewarded with an amazing view over the snowy mountains and the Hooker Valley.

We didn’t do it, but from Sealy Tarns you could continue to Mueller’s Hut, which is a popular but challenging option. Next time!

Best Mount Cook Campsites

• White Horse Hill DOC Campground – is right at Mount Cook and at the start of the hikes. It is in the perfect location but it fills up fast! So make sure to book 1-2 weeks in advance.

• Haka House – has dorm rooms and private rooms with amazing views. It’s a great option if you would like to stay somewhere comfortable right next to Mt Cook and need a break from the van.

• Lake Poaka Freedom Camping – this is where we ended up as the other two options were already full. The toilets were smelly but considering it is free, the location is beautiful. You will have to travel on bumpy dirt roads to get here.

• Lake Wardel – is another freedom camping spot we considered. It’s closer to the main road, so much easier to access than Lake Poaka, but less tranquil.

BEST MOUNT COOK ACCOMMODATION

Day 13 – Glenorchy

On the final stretch of our South Island road trip, we returned to Queenstown.

But instead of staying in town, we decided to drive 45 minutes to Glenorchy and do part of the Routeburn Track.

The drive to Glenorchy is one of the most beautiful drives in the South Island!

The road winds along the edge of Lake Wakatipu with huge mountains rising straight up from the water.

Glenorchy itself is a small, quiet village that is a great place to grab a coffee or something to eat before moving on.

Routeburn Track Hike & Campsite

The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It’s usually a multi-day hike but you can do sections of it in one day.

We originally only planned to hike to the Routeburn Flats Hut. But once we got there, we decided we had to keep going to the Routeburn Falls Hut, and we were glad we did!

The views along the way are incredible, and you finish off at a waterfall with amazing views over the glacial valley below.

It took us 5 hours from start to finish and it was the perfect finish to our trip.

At night, we stayed at the Sylvan DOC Campsite, which is a beautiful site with basic facilities close to the start of the track.

BEST ACCOMMODATION GLENORCHY

• GY BOUTIQUE HOTEL one of the only hotels in town. There are not a tonne of options so you may want to drive back to Queenstown if you have time.

Day 14 – Queenstown

On our last day on the South Island, we had a late afternoon flight out of Queenstown and took it easy until then.

We drove from Glenorchy to Queenstown, strolled around the waterfront, ate another famous FurgBurger, and were busy getting the campervan ready for return.

No matter where you rent your campervan from, you will probably have to do the same:

• Empty grey and black water
• Refill with fresh water
• Tidy and clean the interior & exterior
• Dispose of all your rubbish
• Return with a full tank of gas

This took us quite a while, and we found that a large portion of our last day was spent driving to a dump station, petrol station, car wash, and cleaning.

But depending on your flight out, there might still be enough time to do some activities in the morning! I listed some cool options below.

More Things To Do In Queenstown

• Arrowtown – is an old, cute mining town just outside Queenstown with a nice main street that looks like a movie set. We stopped here on our second South Island road trip and walked along the river.

• Lake Wakatipu Boat Cruise – this is a quirky and super popular activity in Queenstown. You cruise along Lake Wakatipu on an antique coal-fired steam boat.

• Queenstown Skydive – if you are up for an ultimate adrenaline rush, you can skydive over the beautiful landscapes around Queenstown. A one-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Kawarau Bungee – is the world’s first commercial bungee jump just outside Queenstown. Even if you don’t want to jump, it’s worth a visit.

FAQ & Final Travel Tips

Do you have more questions? Check out these FAQ or leave us a comment below!

We absolutely loved our South Island campervan itinerary. There was nowhere that we visited that we were disappointed by.

What we liked most about the South Island was the sheer variety of landscapes. In just two weeks, we saw fjords, golden semi-arid hills, rainforests, golden beaches, seal colonies, and more.

It’s definitely a super memorable travel experience, and we are lucky enough to have done it twice already.

If you arrive in Auckland before your South Island trip, we have some articles on the best beaches in Auckland that you should check out. Plus one of my favourite short walks in New Zealand, the Mercer Bay Loop is right on Auckland’s doorstep.