Day 01
Night 1 · Christchurch
01
Day 1
Arrive in Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch
- 1
Botanic Gardensallow an afternoon
Ease in gently — gardens, a coffee, and the river.
Night 1 · Christchurch
Rough cost · NZ$230–NZ$400
Organised by us · South Island · 10 days
10 Day South Island Road Trip
The full circuit — glaciers, passes, fiords and lakes
Which of our journeys?
Organised end to end by us
Selected journey
10 Day South Island Road Trip
South Island · 10 days · 2,050 km
Christchurch → Arthur's Pass → West Coast → Glaciers → Wānaka → Queenstown → Milford → Tekapo → Christchurch
Rough self-drive cost — planning it yourself
$$ · approx. NZ$310–NZ$470 per person, per day per day · approx. NZ$3,100–NZ$4,700 per person
A guide to what this route costs if you book it yourself. Entirely separate from an organised journey.
Availability · Available for enquiries
Read the full day-by-day itinerary →Christchurch
Punakaiki
Franz Josef
Fox Glacier
Wānaka
Queenstown
Te Anau
Lake Tekapo
Christchurch
Highlights
- Botanic Gardens
- Arthur's Pass
- Punakaiki
- Hokitika
- Franz Josef Glacier valley walk
- Lake Matheson
- Haast
- Blue Pools
Where you stay
- Christchurch1 night
- Punakaiki1 night
- Franz Josef1 night
- Fox Glacier1 night
- Wānaka2 nights
- Queenstown1 night
- Te Anau1 night
- Lake Tekapo1 night
Day by day — what we organise for you
The journey, day by day
10 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Punakaiki
02
Day 2
330 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Christchurch → Arthur's Pass → Punakaiki
MorningOne of the great alpine crossings — by car or on the TranzAlpine train. · leave 8:00am
- 1
Arthur's Passallow 2 hours
Devils Punchbowl Falls is a one-hour return walk. Watch for kea in the car park — they eat rubber.
- 2
Punakaikiallow 1 hour
Pancake Rocks and blowholes, best an hour either side of high tide.
Don't miss
Kea. Keep the car doors shut.
Night 2 · Punakaiki
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$470
Day 03
Night 3 · Franz Josef
03
Day 3
200 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Punakaiki → Hokitika → Franz Josef
- 1
Hokitikaallow 2–3 hours
Pounamu carvers, the driftwood beach sign, and the impossibly blue Hokitika Gorge.
EveningInto Franz Josef; glowworms in the dell after dark, free.
Night 3 · Franz Josef
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 04
Night 4 · Fox Glacier
04
Day 4
50 km · approx. 0.75 hrs driving
Glacier country
Franz Josef & Fox Glacier
MorningHelicopter and glacier walk if it is clear — this is the day to spend the money.
- 1
Franz Josef Glacier valley walkallow 1.5 hours
Free, 90 minutes return, to the terminal-face viewpoint.
- 2
Lake Mathesonallow 1.5 hours
The mirror lake. Go at dawn for the Aoraki reflection, or not at all.
Don't miss
Lake Matheson before 8am.
Night 4 · Fox Glacier
Rough cost · NZ$350–NZ$800
Day 05
Night 5 · Wānaka
05
Day 5
285 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Fox Glacier → Haast → Wānaka
MorningThe wildest stretch of highway in the country.
- 1
Haastallow 45 minutes
Rainforest, river mouths and almost nobody. Fuel here.
- 2
Blue Poolsallow 1 hour
A short walk to glacial water so clear it looks fake.
Night 5 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$480
Day 06
Night 6 · Wānaka
06
Day 6
Wānaka — a day off the road
Wānaka
- 1
Roys Peak or Diamond Lakeallow 1–6 hours
Choose your effort: five hours up, or one hour to a very good view.
- 2
Rippon Vineyardallow 1 hour
Lake, vines and mountains in one frame.
Night 6 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$450
Day 07
Night 7 · Queenstown
07
Day 7
115 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Wānaka → Crown Range → Queenstown
- 1
Arrowtownallow 2 hours
Gold-rush cottages, a good bakery, and autumn colour in April.
- 2
Queenstownallow afternoon
Check in, then the lakefront and the gondola.
Night 7 · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$560
Day 08
Night 8 · Te Anau
08
Day 8
415 km · approx. 6 hrs driving
Queenstown → Te Anau → Milford Sound → Te Anau
- 1
Te Anauallow 1 hour
Lunch by the lake, then the Milford road in the afternoon light.
- 2
Milford Soundallow 2 hours
A late-afternoon cruise leaves the fiord quiet after the coaches.
Book the cruise ahead.
Night 8 · Te Anau
Rough cost · NZ$330–NZ$580
Day 09
Night 9 · Lake Tekapo
09
Day 9
430 km · approx. 5.5 hrs driving
Te Anau → Ōmarama → Lake Tekapo
MorningThe long transfer east — big skies, small towns.
- 1
Ōmaramaallow 1 hour
Clay Cliffs, or the hot tubs if the legs need it.
EveningTekapo hot pools and the dark sky.
Night 9 · Lake Tekapo
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$520
Day 10
10
Day 10
275 km · approx. 3.5 hrs driving
Tekapo → Aoraki lookout → Christchurch
- 1
Lake Pukaki lookoutallow 45 minutes
One last look up the lake at the mountain before turning east.
EveningReturn the car in Christchurch.
Departs from · Christchurch
Rough cost · NZ$220–NZ$400