Pinch our 2 week South Island loop itinerary – See the best of the West Coast and Aoraki Mt Cook
We just got back from a wonderful two week trip around the South Island.
From Christchurch, around the West Coast, over to the Southern Lakes region and then on to Aoraki Mount Cook, it was a whirlwind two weeks… all so we can be better equipped to share our thoughts with you in consultations, blog posts and in our Facebook group.
Because we’ve been fortunate to travel to all of these locations a number of times, our itinerary won’t necessarily match what you’d like to do – but we’ve included a range of popular alternative ideas so you can create a customised itinerary to meet your own needs.
Happy travel planning!
This itinerary was 15 nights/16 days, but could easily be cut down by spending a day less in two locations. We flew from Auckland so arrived rested. If you’re travelling from further afield, please allow extra time in Christchurch at the start to adjust to jet lag and to rest from long-haul travel. You could even shuffle the route to start and end in Queenstown – it’s a great base from which to recover.
2 week South Island loop itinerary
Itinerary overview
| Day | Notes | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly into Christchurch, drive to Hokitika. | Hokitika – Awatuna Sunset Lodge |
| Day 2 | Walk Cesspool Gorge, ARGO ride. | Hokitika – Awatuna Sunset Lodge |
| Day 3 | Drive to Franz Josef, walk Roberts Point Track. | Franz Josef – Rainforest Retreat |
| Day 4 | Scenic heli flight, Westland Wonderland movie, scenic cruise. | Franz Josef – Rainforest Retreat |
| Day 5 | West Coast Wildlife Park, walk Moraine Rainforest Walk (in Fox), continue drive to Wānaka. | Wānaka – Self-contained Airbnb |
| Day 6 | Cinema Paradiso. Drive to Queenstown (via Crown Range). | Queenstown – Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview |
| Day 7 | Skippers Canyon Jet | Queenstown – Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview |
| Day 8 | Scenic heli flight, Kiwi Park, Arrowtown | Queenstown – Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview |
| Day 9 | Drive to Glenorchy, Paradise and Chinaman’s Bluff, walk Glenorchy Walkway, walk Bobs Cove. | Queenstown – Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront |
| Day 10 | Drive to Twizel (via Omarama Clay Cliffs). | Twizel – Mountain Chalets Motel |
| Day 11 | Drive to Aoraki Mount Cook: Walk Tasman Glacier View track. | Lake Pukaki – Lakestone Lodge |
| Day 12 | Drive to Aoraki Mount Cook: Visit information centre, walk Tasman Glacier Jetty track. | Lake Pukaki – Lakestone Lodge |
| Day 13 | Drive to Aoraki Mount Cook: Heli hike, walk Red Tarns. Drive to Lake Tekapo, stargazing tour. | Lake Tekapo – Castle Hall, Discover Tekapo |
| Day 14 | Farm tour, 4WD tour. | Lake Tekapo – Castle Hall, Discover Tekapo |
| Day 15 | Drive to Christchurch. | Christchurch – Bella Vista |
| Day 16 | Historic tram ride, gondola. Fly out of Christchurch. | |
| Day | Notes | Overnight |
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Christchurch to Hokitika
We flew into Christchurch early afternoon, collected our rental car and drove Arthur’s Pass towards the West Coast.
Along the way, you could stop at:
- Sheffield Pies
- Castle Hill
- Arthur’s Pass Village – walk the Devil’s Punchbowl track (approx 50 mins).
Dinner, bed and breakfast: Awatuna Sunset Lodge [discounted].
This lovely little B&B is located right on the coast, and though we love the accommodation itself (with its fluffy towels, comfortable beds and delicious food), it’s the wonderful hosts, Elizabeth and Selwyn that make this little gem shine. Check out our live tour and review.
Day 2: Exploring Hokitika
As we’ve been to Hokitika a number of times, we wanted to check a new (quieter) walk out.
A great under-the-radar walk, Cesspool Gorge is suitable for most fitness levels, and the gorge at the end is beautiful – it’s a great alternative to the Hokitika Gorge!
Alternative things to do in Hokitika:
- Walk Hokitika Gorge
- Feed wild eels or at the National Kiwi Centre
- See local pounamu carvers at work and take a Kiwi souvenir home
- Visit Glow Worm Dell (after dark)
- Make a day trip up to Punakaiki for the Pancake Rocks, Truman Track and/or Pororari River Track, and beyond to Underworld Adventures black water rafting [discounted].
- and much more. Check out our discounts in Hokitika.
Where to eat in Hokitika:
- The Hokitika Sandwich Company
- Stumpers (a great pub, suitable for all ages)
- Korath Thai Cuisine.
Dinner, bed and breakfast: Awatuna Sunset Lodge [discounted].
Day 3: Hokitika to Franz Josef
We moved on nice and early this morning, as we knew we wanted to undertake a fairly big walk in Franz Josef – the Roberts Point Track.
Roberts Point Track is best done in the morning, when you have the best shot at a clear view of the glacier, but the walk and views are great at any time of day, so don’t be put off, if like us, you can only walk it in the afternoon.
The longest swing bridge on the West Coast.- Parts of this track are pretty challenging, but it’s worth the effort.
It’s a challenging and adventurous walk (which is more of a scramble in places), that’s well worth the effort. Just ensure you’re well prepared, comfortable with the level of difficulty, and that you’re back before dark.
The in-and-out track is 13km in total, has an elevation gain of approximately 600m. It took us 6.5 hours but many people manage to walk it faster.
Learn more about our experience on Roberts Point Track.
Pro tip: If you’re not keen for such a big walk, it takes about an hour to get to the second swing bridge which is the longest on the West Coast, and the trail to that point isn’t particularly difficult.
- The cantilevered steps are a highlight of this track.
- Beautiful views out to the valley as we made our way back down.
Overnight: Rainforest Retreat – Retreat Deluxe room [discounted].
Rainforest Retreat is our absolute favourite accommodation in Franz Josef – we don’t stay anywhere else! We love that they have something for all budgets, but if you can afford it, we strongly suggest booking a retreat deluxe cabin. Check out our live Facebook video tour.
Day 4: Franz Josef
Helicopter flights in Franz Josef fly much more frequently in the morning than the afternoon, so, if like us, you plan to take to the air, it’s best to book your flight for the first morning you’re in town.
We flew with Heliservices.NZ [which you can book with your NZTT discount], on their ‘twin glacier’ flight.
We loved flying with them to see both Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, and particularly loved landing right beside the ice-flow!
Find out more about our flight.
After our flight we ducked into the on-site movie theatre to watch Westland Wonderland.
This HELIMAX movie shows off the best of the West Coast, and it’s a great introduction to rural life in Aotearoa New Zealand!
Read our Westland Wonderland review.
In the afternoon, we joined Franz Josef Wilderness Tours [discounted] on their ‘scenic cruise’.
We did their ‘kayak + walk’ and quad bike trip when we were last in town, and we really thought they couldn’t be beat, but we loved our boat trip!
With interesting commentary from our skipper, Joe, stunning scenery, and a spot of fishing, this boat trip is enjoyable and suitable for all ages and abilities.
The weather on the lake is often different to what you’ll find up on the glaciers, so these tours are a great alternative in bad weather (though we recommend them even on a gorgeous day!)
Check out our live Facebook video and review of the Franz Josef Wilderness boat trip.
Alternative things to do in Franz:
- Franz Josef glacier walk ( thoughit doesn’t have great glacier views these days)
- Alex Knob track – a longer walk than Robert’s Point Track, but on a more traditional trail
- Waiho Hot Tubs
- Heli hiking
- Guided nature walks
- and much more. Check out our discounts in Franz and Fox.
Where to eat in Franz:
- Snakebite Brewery
- Monsoon Restaurant + Bar
- Blue Ice.
Overnight: Rainforest Retreat – Retreat Deluxe room [discounted].
Day 5: Franz Josef to Wānaka
We kept this morning as a backup for our heli flight, but thankfully, as we flew the morning before, it wasn’t needed.
Instead we popped into the West Coast Wildlife Park where we did the guided VIP backstage tour. It costs a bit more than the standard entry but it’s well worth it!
Not only will you learn all about tuatara and kiwi, but you’ll get to see tuatara up close – and possibly kiwi hatching too.
- Nathan with a stuffed kiwi. You’ll see live ones too – you just can’t take photos.
- Tuatara, a native reptile.
Over the hill in Fox, we walked the Fox Glacier South Side Walkway/Cycleway, combined with the Moraine Walk.
Both are nice and easy, suitable for most fitness levels and a great insight to our native forest. You’ll also get a decent look at Fox Glacier from a moderate distance.
Learn more about these two walking trails.
We’ve made this trip many times before, so didn’t stop at many places along the way, but on this drive we highly recommend:
- Fox: Lake Matheson (walk to the first lookout on the left (and back to the car the same way – 50 mins), if not all the way around – 1.5 hours – this is a very easy walk) and the Fox Glacier Viewpoint.
- Bruce Bay (just a quick stop in the car).
- Monro Beach (a gentle 1.5 hour walk through beautiful native bush, with the possibility of spotting Fiordland crested penguins!)
- Knights Point Lookout (toilet stop with great views).
- Ships Creek (do the easy beach walk).
- Haast Village (the best place along this route to get something to eat, though we recommend getting food from town before leaving Franz).
- Haast Pass – including Gates of Haast, Thundercreek Falls, Fantail Falls and Wilsons Creek Chasm.
- Blue Pools (a one hour walk, suitable for most fitness levels, to a beautiful pool where swimming is allowed, if you’re brave – it’s always freezing!)
- Lake Hawea and Lake Wānaka (from the car).
This is one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand in terms of hidden gems, so take your time and plan to spend most of the day checking out these stops.
We arrived into Wānaka relatively late, so we spent a relaxed evening at our accommodation.
Overnight: Airbnb – a lovely little self-contained unit in Albert Town, a suburb just outside of central Wānaka.
Day 6: Wānaka to Queenstown
Wānaka
In the morning, we recommend picking up treats from Pembroke Pâtisserie (a must when in town – but get there relatively early in as they often sell out later in the day) and going for a walk to That Wānaka Tree on Lake Wānaka.
Then it was on to one of our favourite little Wānaka stops – Cinema Paradiso!
This quirky little theatre plays all the big blockbuster movies, but with plenty of small-town charm. Order a cookie for half-time and kick back and relax for a few hours.
Other things to do in Wānaka:
- Enjoy one of the many walks in and around town, including Roys Peak, Isthmus Peak and the Rob Roy Glacier Track
- Visit Puzzling World
- Catch a fish at Hooked
- Ride in a jet boat
- Skiing/snowboarding at Cardrona
- and much more. Check out our discounts in Wānaka.
Where to eat in Wānaka:
- Pembroke Pâtisserie (tasty pastries, sausage rolls, coffee etc.)
- Wānaka food truck park (a fun spot outdoors)
- Big Fig (healthy and delicious, home-style food)
- and more.
Driving to Queenstown
There are two main routes to Queenstown;
- the most direct one via the Crown Range
- another via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge.
The Crown Range is our favourite because of the beautiful views, but rented campervans are not insured on this road and it can close due to snow in the wintertime, so check you’re allowed to drive it before setting off.
Driving over the Crown Range, we recommend you stop at:
- Cardrona Distillery
- Bra fence – ladies, bring an old bra from home to add to the collection
- Cardrona Hotel (a lovely old pub).
After arriving into Queenstown late afternoon, we checked out one of the new restaurants and had an early night as we’d been go-go-to to this point.
Overnight: Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview [discounted]. With free parking, a nice big bed and kitchenette facilities, this is an older hotel that offers comfort at a reasonable price. It’s great for families, and we loved that it’s walking distance to town (so there’s no need to find parking there).
Day 7 – 9: Queenstown
Queenstown’s the kind of place that people love or hate – and, though it has its challenges, we love it!
Over three days we checked out a range of activities and restaurants in/around Queenstown, and also took ourselves off on a couple of drives.
These activities included:
- Skippers Canyon Jet [discounted] – A wonderful guided tour, including transport on the historic Skippers Canyon road and an exciting jet boat ride! Learn more.
- A scenic helicopter flight with The Helicopter Line [discounted] – We flew ‘The Grand Circle’ – a magical 30 minute flight including a snow landing. Learn more and watch my live Facebook video.
- Kiwi Park – See native birds, including kiwi, kea, kākā and kererū, and tuatara.
- Lunch at Arrowtown, a cute historic gold mining town.
- A day trip to Glenorchy, Paradise, and towards Chinaman’s Bluff (only go as far as you’re able to in your car/4WD, walking Glenorchy Walkway and Bob’s Cove on the way back. Stop at Mrs Woolleys for something to eat and drink.
- Skippers Canyon Jet.
- Me on the snowy mountains above Queenstown, flying with The Helicopter Line.
- A beautiful Kārearea (NZ falcon) at Kiwi Park.
- The main street of historic Arrowtown.
Alternative activities we recommend in Queenstown:
- TSS Earnslaw (with the BBQ dinner add-on) [promo code NZTT].
- Skyline luge and gondola.
- Deer Park Heights – great for families and animal lovers.
- Sky diving with NZONE [promo code NZTT]
- Bungy jumping – Kawarau Bridge or Nevis
- Shotover Canyon Swing
- and much, much more. Check out our Queenstown deals.
Restaurants to eat at in Queenstown:
- White & Wongs – Our favourite Asian fusion menu in New Zealand. Always good!
- Blue Kanu – Asian and Pasifika fusion.
- Flame – Generous portions and delicious food.
- Sunfire – A new restaurant by the owners of Flame. More refined food – and one of our favourites. The lamb was amazing!
- Botswana Butchery – A very popular steak house.
- Winnies – Delicious pizzas in a lively environment.
- Amisfield – A real treat if you enjoy fine dining. A little outside of Queenstown but close enough to Uber if you’re planning a big night.
Grab and go eateries:
- Fergburger – Great burgers. I always order the ‘sweet Julie’ chicken burger. Some people prefer Devil Burger, but we love Ferg. We also recommend taking your burgers to Perky’s Floating Bar – – a permanently moored boat. You just need to purchase a minimum of one drink per person.
- Fergbaker – Great pies – and honestly, anything by Ferg is good, including the gelato and bar.
- Patagonia – Award-winning ice cream. If it’s windy/cold, sit upstairs to enjoy your ice cream.
- The Remarkable Sweet Shop – Delicious fudge (with free tastings).
- Cookie Time Cookie Bar – A hit with cookie lovers of all ages.
- Sunfire, a new (and delicious) restaurant in Queenstown.
- Enjoying our Fergburgers on Perky’s, the floating bar.
Overnight: Copthorne Hotel & Apartments Queenstown Lakeview [discounted] for another two nights.
Then we transferred to Copthorne Hotel and Resort Queenstown Lakefront [discounted]. This lovely hotel is closer to the city centre and comes with lots of creature comforts. We really enjoyed our stay there.
Day 10: Queenstown to Twizel
Moving on from Queenstown, we drove towards Aoraki Mount Cook, specifically to Twizel, the first location we recommend as a base for the national park.
On the way, you can stop at:
- Cromwell – check out Old Cromwell (a quieter version of Arrowtown), Sanga’s Pies (for some of the best savoury pies in NZ) and Mrs Jones’ Fruit Stall during the summer months (for fresh fruit and real fruit ice creams)
- Lindis Pass – a beautiful alpine pass
- Omarama – visit the Clay Cliffs (you’ll need $5 cash) and get a chicken pie from The Wrinkly Rams
- High Country Salmon – fish for fresh salmon, feed the fish, or pick some up from the shop.
Where to eat in Twizel:
- Breakfast: Poppies Cafe
- Dinner: FishTail (Indian and Nepalise)
Overnight: Mountain Chalets Motel. Cheap and cheerful, this accommodation is comfortable without breaking the bank.
Day 11 & 12: Exploring Aoraki Mount Cook/Lake Pukaki
This morning we got up and drove into Aoraki Mount Cook – a 50 minute drive along the shore of Lake Pukaki.
On the way in, we recommend you stop at:
- New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm (during the season)
- Peter’s Lookout (for beautiful panoramic views).
What we did at Aoraki Mount Cook:
- Heli hiking on the Tasman Glacier [discounted] – check out our flight video and photos.
- Walk Red Tarns (moderately challenging, 1,200 stairs)
- Walk Tasman Glacier View and Tasman Glacier Jetty (both relatively easy, short walks)
- Visit the Mount Cook Information Centre.
- Flying in a helicopter up to the Tasman Glacier – the longest in NZ.
- In an ice cave on the Tasman Glacier.
- Nathan and I in a cave on the Tasman Glacier.
- Nathan looking out from the Tasman Glacier View.
- Walking back down Red Tarns.
Alternative activites:
- Walk the Hooker Valley Track (10km return, suitable for most fitness levels)
- Walk Sealy Tarns (for a more challenging hike, with approximately 2,200 stairs)
- Fly ‘The Ultimate’ with Mt Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters [discounted]
- Join Glacier Explorers on a boat trip.
- And much more. Check our Aoraki Mount Cook deals and walk information.
Pro tip: If you’re planning a scenic flight, book it for the earliest possible day/time – that will maximise your chances to rebook if the weather isn’t suitable.
Overnight: Lakestone Lodge [discounted]. One of our favourite accommodations anywhere in New Zealand! Join Mike and the team of boutique accommodation, amazing reviews, incredible food and iconic bath tubs!
We drove in and out from Aoraki Mt Cook to Lakestone Lodge each day – something that we were very happy to do.
Check out our ‘#whereinNewZealand’ feedback, Facebook Live video tour, food photos and more food photos – all from Lakestone.
Day 13 & 14: Lake Tekapo
After spending the morning in Aoraki Mount Cook (which we didn’t originally plan to do, but weather cancellations required another trip in for our heli hike), we drove to Tekapo.
Over 1.5 days in Tekapo, we went:
- On all sorts of adventures with Go Tekapo [discounted]:
- Star gazing – Book the ultimate tour for a touch of luxury under the Milky Way! Check out our photos/review.
- Farm tour – Get a glimpse behind the scenes of a working farm, with plenty of cute farm animals.
- 4WD tour – Explore Mount Hay Station on a private guided 4WD tour.
- Fishing – Join Tim and catch your own freshwater trout and/or salmon in the wild – an amazing experience in an equally spectacular setting!
- Pest control on a Tekapo station.
- Nathan with his first fish of the day!
- Marvelling at the night sky.
Alternative things to do in Tekapo:
- Visit the Tekapo Springs hot pools
- Photograph the Church of the Good Shepherd, the statue beside it and Lake Tekapo
- Check out the Go Tekapo petting zoo with your little ones.
- and much more. Check out our Tekapo deals.
Pro tip: Also book stargazing as early as possible, and plan at least two nights in the region if possible, so you can rebook in the case of bad weather.
Overnight: Castle Hall managed by Discover Tekapo [discounted].
This large holiday home is the perfect base for families and larger groups – or you can book the small cabin also onsite. Discover Tekapo take care of these homes, and many more – perfect if you’d like to relax in the comfort of your own home-away-from-home.
Check out our tour video.
Day 15: Drive to Christchurch
Almost finished with our South Island adventure, it was time to head for Christchurch.
On the way to Christchurch, we recommend stopping at:
- Burke’s Pass – an unexpected, quirky little spot.
- Fairlie Bakehouse – another awesome pie spot – debatably the best in the country!
- Geraldine – check out Barkers for tasty jams, chutneys, sauces and more – all great souvenirs to take home.
Overnight: Bella Vista Christchurch [discounted].
This is a wonderful (and affordable) accommodation option within walking distance of the central city. It has free parking, kitchenette and laundry facilities.
Watch the video tour of our room.
Day 16: Explore Christchurch and head home
Our lucky-last day in the South Island was spent exploring Christchurch before our evening flight.
We checked out:
- The Christchurch Tram – This one was a surprise highlight! With a lovely driver and interesting commentary, it recommend it as a way to aquaint yourself with the city centre – and as it’s hop-on hop-off, you can
- The Christchurch Gondola – Head to the top of the Port Hills for amazing views over Canterbury.
- Riding the historic tram in Christchurch – a real highlight!
- … and the gondola into the Port Hills for amazing views.
Other things to do in Christchurch:
- Visit the Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Centre and/or Orana Wildlife Park – especially if you’re travelling with kids.
- Check out Quake City.
- Walk along the Avon River and through the Botanic Gardens
- and much more. Check out our Christchurch deals.
Places to eat in Christchurch:
- Rollickin Gelato – the best ice cream! Mint choc chip is always a winner there, made with real mint.
- Little High Eatery or Riverside Markets for casual (but delicious) food. This time we checked out Kaiser Brew Garden at the Riverside Markets – it was delicious!
And there you have it, our two week (plus a little) itinerary to help you plan your own South Island adventure.
We hope you have as much fun as we did!
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Many of the activities we completed on this trip were hosted. This allows us to experience tourist activities, accommodations and tours, allowing us to share first-hand knowledge. We are not obligated to share these experiences and are always honest in our thoughts.
