7 Day New Zealand South Island Itinerary

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Are you planning a road trip around New Zealand’s South Island? You are going to fall in love with the gorgeous landscapes and have such an amazing time! I’m actually kind of jealous because I would love to go back again.

But first things first. You need to plan your trip. You’ll need to book a rental car or campervan rental (I recommend the campervan) and then hotels and plan your route. I’m here to help with all of that, because my road trip around New Zealand’s South Island was one for the books and I would 100% do it again.

In May 2019, I surprised Dave with with a flight and campervan trip to the NZ South Island for his birthday. He had no idea that we were even leaving the country because I had told him that he didn’t need his passport which I had already sneakily packed it into my bag.

This guide has the perfect 7 day road trip itinerary, whether you want to rent a campervan or stay in hotels.

Oh and if you’re into photography, this trip is definitely for you!

Summary of Your South Island NZ Road Trip

Where to fly into: Queenstown International Airport
Best eSim: Airalo
Travel Insurance: Safety Wing
Day 1: Lake Pukaki
Day 2: Lake Tekapo
Day 3: Mount Cook National Park
Day 4: Hot Tubs Omarama
Day 5: Roy’s Peak Hike + Wanaka
Day 6: Lake Marian Hike + Fiordland National Park
Day 7: Milford Sound Cruise

7 Day South Island NZ Itinerary

Your going to want to fly into Queenstown for this itinerary. We arrived late so stayed in a hotel for the first night and picked up our van the next morning.

Things to do on arrival

• Pick up your rental car or campervan. I opted for a campervan from Jucy because I loved the idea of a van life experience adventure and we also saved a ton of money doing it this way. Jucy are the cheapest option for campervan rentals in New Zealand. If you rent with Jucy, you’ll see loads of other Jucy vans on the road and they all wave to you. It is a lot of fun and makes you feel like you’ve joined a little road tripping club!
• Activate your eSim. Airalo is a good eSim for New Zealand coverage. If you don’t have an eSim, you can also download offline Google Maps for the South Island so that you can still use them to navigate.
• Download the Campermate app to find both free and paid campsites.
• Stock up on groceries before leaving Queenstown – there’s a Woolworths about a 5 minute drive from the airport.

Where to stay each day

Day 1 – Lake Pukaki

Travel from Queenstown to Lake Pukaki: 2.5 hours drive

Pick up your campervan or car rental and stock up on some groceries before you leave Queenstown. We hired the Chaser van from Jucy which came with a shower and toilet. I have to say that the shower was probably not necessary as we only used it once but the toilet was very handy as it saved us time on finding bathrooms along the way.

Then you’re off to Lake Pukaki which is the most blue Gatorade-coloured lake I’ve probably ever seen (and I live in Canada now so that’s saying something!) A nice stop along the way to have some snacks and a rest is Lake Dunstan. It’s only about 45 minutes out of Queenstown but worth the stop for a photo because it’s really pretty.

Then keep driving the rest of the way to Lake Pukaki and either check into your hotel or campground or if you visit in the off season like us, you could even try to snag a free camping spot around the lake. There are a few campsites like this at Lake Pukaki which you can find on Google Maps or using the Campermate app. Keep in mind that there are no showers or bathrooms at the free campsites at Lake Pukaki.

I don’t know what took us so long, but we arrived at Lake Pukaki just in time for sunset to snap a few photos.

Day 2 – Lake Tekapo

Travel from Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo: 45 minutes drive

After getting some more photos at Lake Pukaki, head straight to Lake Tekapo. We grabbed coffees when we got there from The Greedy Cow which were really good before exploring the lake and getting some photos. Lake Tekapo was absolutely gorgeous and it was a really beautiful day so we hung around the Lake soaking up the sun for a while.

You can head over to the Church of the Good Shepherd to get a photo and then you could check out the Dark Sky Project. This is an indoor, daytime experience where you learn all about Māori astronomy, storytelling and science.

Then I highly recommend booking a star gazing tour for that night. Lake Tekapo is a one of the best places in New Zealand to see the stars so this is something you don’t want to miss out on.

Still got time in Lake Tekapo? ⬇

👉 Find more things to do in Lake Tekapo here

Day 3 – Hooker Valley Track and Tasman Glacier (Mount Cook NP)

Travel from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook National Park: 1 hour 15 minutes drive

Just an FYI in case you decide to visit at the same time that we did. Mount Cook is very cold in May and we actually brought a hot water bottle with us and an extra blanket as the van was pretty cold at night without heating.

The next day, journey to Mount Cook National Park. We opted to stay in White Horse Hill Campground (non-powered sites) which is a paid campground ($20per adult per night). Bookings were not required when we were there, however now they are.

Campsite Pass bookings must be booked online before occupying a site. If you do not book, bookings may be made by campground staff (if present) and will incur a $10 service charge. Sites may not be available if you do not book. You can book the campsite here.

This campsite was awesome as it was right next to the Hooker Valley Trailhead, one of the most popular day hikes in the area, however, there are no showers at this site (only bathrooms). If you need a shower, you can pay for one at a public shelter in Mount Cook Village (2.5km from campground).

If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, you can book one in Mount Cook Village. Mt Cook Lodge and Motels is a good choice if you don’t want to spend too much money but if you are looking for a more luxurious stay, The Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook is the one you want.

The Hooker Valley Track and Tasman Glacier

We spent the day exploring Mt Cook NP and did a couple of the hikes, the start of the Hooker Valley Track and the Tasmin Glacier. There are loads of hikes in Mount Cook National Park to choose from and both of these were so worth it!

Unfortunately the Hooker Valley Track was closed at the first swing bridge so we were only able to do a small section of the hike but from what we saw, the HVT totally lives up to expectations!

Day 4 – Hot Tubs Omarama (+ drive to Wanaka)

Travel from Mount Cook National Park to Omarama Hot Tubs: 1 hour 15 minutes drive
Travel from Omarama Hot Tubs to Wanaka: 1.5 hours drive

An unexpected hot tub experience

I was extremely keen for a hot tub experience in NZ as it was so chilly while we were there. Ideally I wanted to have a hot tub right after we did the Roys Peak hike in Wanaka but we came across some tubs on the way to Wanaka that we couldn’t pass up on. The place was called Hot Tubs Omarama.

The experience was so awesome with incredible views from the hot tub and our own little heated cabin room right next to our hot tub to get changed in and keep our belongings. There were also hot showers in the main office building that we were able to use after. Perfect for van lifers!

Stops on the way to Omarama

On the way to Omarama, we stopped off on the side of the road a couple of times to take some pictures of some really incredible glacial blue lakes. The first stop was Lake Ruataniwha which we got to by turning off down a side road and pulled over to get some pictures. (Pictured below).

We got the first photo just off the highway. You can actually see this spot in the second picture. I think there was a bit of a parking lot there from memory. The second shot was taken a little further in and down a road which soon became dirt (as seen in drone shot). You can also see from this shot how absolutely empty it was! This was one of the many perks of going in the off-season at the end of Autumn.

The second stop was completely random and I think we just pulled over because I liked the look of the orange trees against the blue water. Then we decided to put the drone up quickly and got this!

Lindis Pass

Along the way to Wanaka we stopped at Lindis Pass briefly to take some photos because it was a really picturesque section of the road. Lindis Pass also has a little viewpoint tourist stop a bit further on from this road. We also stopped here and did a small 5 minute walk as the sun was setting.

Staying in Wanaka

When we arrived in Wanaka, we chose to stay at this Caravan Park (which has both campsites and cabins) and set up and cooked dinner for the night. One thing I really noticed while we were in New Zealand, was that most of the Caravan Parks there have great kitchens. This one had a kitchen and an undercover outdoor eating area complete with fairylights which kind of made you forget that you were in a caravan park and instead maybe a cool hostel?

We had quite an early night and prepared our clothes and food for the next morning as we had a 4am wake up planned because the next day we were doing Roys Peak for sunrise.

Day 5 – Hike Roy’s Peak for sunrise and explore Wanaka

Travel from Wanaka to Roy’s Peak Trailhead: 7 minutes drive

Distance: 16km / 9.9 miles out and back | Elevation Gain: 1,310m / 4,297 ft | Time: 5-7 hours

We did Roy’s Peak back before we moved to Canada and became used to hiking and backpacking and honestly, we actually found it quite hard at the time. BUT in saying that, if you want an epic view during your trip to New Zealand and like hiking, then I highly recommend Roy’s Peak because it is stunning, especially at sunrise or sunset.

Don’t forget to bring snacks, plenty of water, layers and of course a headlight if you plan on hiking at sunrise or sunset.

After the hike, we went back to our campground to freshen up and then did a bit of sightseeing around Wanaka and saw the Famous “Wanaka Tree.”

Day 6 – Drive to Milford Sound + Lake Marian Hike

Travel from Wanaka to Lake Marian: 4 hours drive
Travel from Lake Marian to Milford Sound: 40 minutes

Day 6 is a big day. You will be driving all of the way to Milford Sound and if you are keen, you can do the Lake Marian hike on the way. Lake Marian is really pretty. It is 6.1km with an elevation gain of 400m and will take around 3 hours. It can be slippery on the trail in the wet so make sure you bring good grippy shoes.

Just before you arrive at the lake, you will pass through a really magical bright green mossy area. I was in awe! Then, after scrambling through the bush, you’ll reach the lake which is pure magic.

After Lake Marian, continue driving the last 40 minutes to Milford Sound and check into your hotel or campground. We stayed at the Milford Sound Lodge which has both a lovely campground with another amazing kitchen and a lodge! I recommend pre-booking before you go as this is literally the only place to stay in Milford Sound and so availability tends to sell out fast.

Day 7 – Milford Sound Cruise + drive back to Queenstown

Travel from Milford Sound to Queenstown: 4 hours drive

The one must-do in Milford Sound is the classic Milford Sound boat cruise. You will feel like you have entered another world on this cruise, with crazy waterfalls and fiords.

After your cruise, it’s time to head back to Queenstown. We briefly stopped off in Arrowtown on the way to catch some Autumn colours.

After dancing around and taking photos in the autumn leaves, we dropped off our luggage at our motel and returned our van. We stayed at Autoline Queenstown Motel which was lovely and we so appreciated the warm underfloor heating in the bathroom and comfy bed after living in the van for 7 days.

Our thoughts

Both Dave and I absolutely loved this trip and we have such good memories from it. It was both relaxing and adventurous and personally I think doing this trip with a campervan is the way to go because it’s just so much fun and so freeing!

I’d never been to NZ before this trip, but I think going in the off-season was fantastic and I would definitely do it again, although I do want to see the Lupins at some point which are there in Summer… There were less crowds, the flights and van hire were cheaper and the autumn colours were stunning! Take us back!

Planning a trip to New Zealand? You might also enjoy these guides:

• How to Hike Roys Peak at Sunrise and Sunset
• Reasons Lake Tekapo is Worth Visiting
• Day Hikes in Mount Cook National Park

📌 Like it? Pin it!