Day 01
Night 1 · Picton
01
Day 1
Arrive in Picton
Picton → Marlborough Sounds
- 1
Pictonallow an afternoon
Ferry town at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound. Walk the foreshore and the Bob's Bay track.
Night 1 · Picton
Rough cost · NZ$220–NZ$400
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South Island · 14 days · 13 nights
14 Day South Island Grand Tour
Marlborough, Kaikōura, the West Coast, Fiordland & the Catlins
Two weeks lets the South Island unfold at its own speed. You start with wine and whales in the north, cross to the wet green coast, run the alps south to the fiords, and come home along the empty Catlins shore.
- Starts
- Picton
- Finishes
- Christchurch
- Days & nights
- 14 days · 13 nights
- On the road
- 2,850 km · approx. 38 hrs
Major highlights
PictonBlenheim · MarlboroughAbel TasmanKaikōuraPeninsula walkwayChristchurchArthur's PassPunakaiki
Where you sleep
Picton (1 night) · Nelson (2 nights) · Kaikōura (1 night) · Christchurch (1 night) · Punakaiki (1 night) · Franz Josef (1 night) · Fox Glacier (1 night) · Wānaka (1 night) · Queenstown (1 night) · Te Anau (1 night) · The Catlins (1 night) · Ōamaru (1 night)
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Picton
Nelson
Kaikōura
Christchurch
Punakaiki
Franz Josef
Fox Glacier
Wānaka
Queenstown
Te Anau
The Catlins
Ōamaru
Christchurch
The journey, day by day
14 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Nelson
02
Day 2
145 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Picton → Blenheim → Nelson
- 1
Blenheim · Marlboroughallow half a day
Sauvignon blanc country. Cycle between cellar doors so nobody has to abstain.
Book the bike hire and a tasting or two.
Night 2 · Nelson
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$540
Day 03
Night 3 · Nelson
03
Day 3
130 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Nelson → Abel Tasman
- 1
Abel Tasmanallow full day
Water taxi in, walk a section of the coast track out. Golden sand and clear water.
Book the water taxi.
Night 3 · Nelson
Rough cost · NZ$320–NZ$550
04
Day 4
245 km · approx. 3.5 hrs driving
Nelson → Kaikōura
MorningBack east and down the coast.
- 1
Kaikōuraallow afternoon
Sperm whales year-round, dusky dolphins, and a seal colony you can walk to for nothing.
Book the whale watch — sailings cancel in swell, so allow a spare morning.
Night 4 · Kaikōura
Rough cost · NZ$320–NZ$580
Day 05
Night 5 · Christchurch
05
Day 5
185 km · approx. 2.5 hrs driving
Kaikōura → Christchurch
- 1
Peninsula walkwayallow 2 hours
Two hours around the clifftops with seals below.
- 2
Christchurchallow afternoon
Arrive mid-afternoon; gardens and dinner in town.
Night 5 · Christchurch
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$460
Day 06
Night 6 · Punakaiki
06
Day 6
330 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Christchurch → Arthur's Pass → Punakaiki
- 1
Arthur's Passallow 2 hours
Devils Punchbowl Falls and the viaduct lookout.
- 2
Punakaikiallow 1 hour
Pancake Rocks at high tide.
Night 6 · Punakaiki
Rough cost · NZ$270–NZ$470
Day 07
Night 7 · Franz Josef
07
Day 7
200 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Punakaiki → Hokitika → Franz Josef
- 1
Hokitikaallow 2–3 hours
The gorge, then pounamu carvers in town.
Night 7 · Franz Josef
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 08
Night 8 · Fox Glacier
08
Day 8
50 km · approx. 0.75 hrs driving
Franz Josef & Fox
Glacier country
- 1
Heli-hikeallow half a day
The only way onto the ice now. Weather-dependent, unforgettable.
Book the first slot; later flights cancel more often.
- 2
Lake Mathesonallow 1.5 hours
Dawn reflection of Aoraki, if the air is still.
Night 8 · Fox Glacier
Rough cost · NZ$400–NZ$850
Day 09
Night 9 · Wānaka
09
Day 9
285 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Fox Glacier → Haast → Wānaka
- 1
Haastallow 45 minutes
Fuel and rainforest.
- 2
Blue Poolsallow 1 hour
Twenty minutes of beech forest to glacier-fed water.
Night 9 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$490
Day 10
Night 10 · Queenstown
10
Day 10
115 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Wānaka → Queenstown
- 1
Arrowtownallow 2 hours
Lunch and the old cottages.
- 2
Queenstownallow afternoon
Lakefront, gondola, dinner.
Night 10 · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$560
Day 11
Night 11 · Te Anau
11
Day 11
415 km · approx. 6 hrs driving
Queenstown → Te Anau → Milford Sound → Te Anau
- 1
Milford Soundallow 2 hours
Afternoon cruise, quieter water.
Book ahead.
Night 11 · Te Anau
Rough cost · NZ$330–NZ$580
Day 12
Night 12 · The Catlins
12
Day 12
340 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Te Anau → Invercargill → The Catlins
- 1
Invercargillallow 1 hour
Coffee and fuel at the bottom of the country.
- 2
The Catlinsallow afternoon
Waterfalls, petrified forest and yellow-eyed penguins on empty beaches.
Night 12 · The Catlins
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$430
Day 13
Night 13 · Ōamaru
13
Day 13
300 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
The Catlins → Dunedin → Ōamaru
- 1
Dunedinallow half a day
Scottish stone, a wild peninsula, and albatross at Taiaroa Head.
- 2
Moeraki Bouldersallow 45 minutes
Spherical boulders on the beach — go at low tide.
EveningBlue penguins come ashore at Ōamaru after dusk.
Night 13 · Ōamaru
Rough cost · NZ$290–NZ$520
Day 14
14
Day 14
400 km · approx. 5 hrs driving
Ōamaru → Lake Tekapo → Christchurch
- 1
Lake Tekapoallow 1.5 hours
The stone church and turquoise water, one last time.
EveningReturn the car in Christchurch.
Departs from · Christchurch
Rough cost · NZ$240–NZ$430
What it costs.
approx. NZ$300–NZ$470 per person, per day — around approx. NZ$4,200–NZ$6,500 per person for the whole trip, twin share, mid-range.
- AccommodationNZ$160–NZ$290 per night (twin share, mid-range)
- Rental carNZ$70–NZ$130 per day
- FuelNZ$480–NZ$620 for the route
- FoodNZ$80–NZ$130 per person, per day
- ActivitiesNZ$900–NZ$1,600 per person total
Practical notes.
Best time to go
November to April. October and May are quieter and cheaper, with shorter days.
What to book ahead
Ferry with a vehicle, whale watch, Abel Tasman water taxi, heli-hike, Milford cruise.
Longest driving day
Day 6 — Christchurch to Punakaiki, around 4 hours 30 minutes plus stops.
Wildlife etiquette
Stay 20 metres from seals and sea lions, and never between an animal and the sea.
Where to add a night
Kaikōura, in case the whale watch is cancelled by swell.
Costs
Indicative only — always check current prices before booking.
(Book) — Experiences on this route
Book the experiences along the way.
Tours and activities around Queenstown and this route — check availability with our booking partner.
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Where to stay
Find & Book Stays →Things to do on the way
Explore Experiences →Make it yours
✦ Ask Aotearoa →More itineraries.
Sources & useful links
Road conditions, closures and alpine passes change daily. Check the official journey planner on the morning you travel.
Last checked 21 August 2026