We spent 25 days on the South Island of New Zealand. Our original plan was two weeks on the south and one week on the north. Once we started outlining our plans, we determined that there was so much to see in three weeks. We also have no idea when we could realistically return, so we wanted to see as much as possible.
We settled on six weeks because we knew we could do a lot and stick within a budget that seemed reasonable for our first stop. That time was split up based on places we wanted to see and ended up with 25 nights on the South Island.
I have included links with more information about specific places if you want to read more.
Our Full South Island Itinerary
Christchurch – 2 nights
Definitely use your full day to explore the Banks Peninsula. The Summit Road here is unforgettable. The city center is great to walk around and find some food and take in the city’s history.
Read more about the Banks Peninsula.
Twizel – 2 nights
It’s all about the lakes and Mt Cook National Park while you are here. Take in lots of the beautiful water color (although you’ll keep finding more and more). Lake Tekapo is the most famous, but there are many in the region with the beautiful colors.
Read more about Mt. Cook National Park.
Dunedin – 3 nights
A college town with hills for days. You’ll get a workout in just walking to the corner store. The world’s steepest residential street, a beautiful city center and lots of gardens make this a great town to wander around for a few days. Also, plan a day trip to the Otago Peninsula to see Albatross, Sea Lions and the only castle in New Zealand.
Catlins Forest – 1 night
There are far less people on the southernmost part of the South Island. There are waterfalls, quiet coasts and beautiful forests to explore. We didn’t want to drive through in a day, so we opted to stop right in the middle of it for the night. Whistling Frog Cafe was a great stop for a night and their food was fantastic.
Invercargill – 1 night
Some people are really interested in trying Bluff Oysters, so this region is great for that. We didn’t love the town and just stopped for a night’s rest.
Te Anau – 2 nights
This small town is located on a beautiful lake. It is a great place to stay if you have the Milford Sound on your list because it’s the closest town with accommodations. There are lots of hikes from that area and great experiences on the water as well.
Read more about the Milford Sound.
Queenstown – 3 nights
This is the best place to be if you are into adrenaline sports. Bungee jumping, sky diving and gliding through the air – you have your choice. We did lots of hiking while there. Queenstown Hill or the area near the Remarkables were great hikes. Arrowtown is another wonderful place to explore for a day. The city center has tons of food and drink options.
Haast – 2 nights
The gateway to the West Coast – this town is very small. Like 2 restaurants small. There are a few holiday parks to stay at and lots of beautiful hikes within an hour. The Munro Beach Walk was our favorite because we were racing against some rain and this was a shorter walk that provided a wonderful path through the forest and out onto a quiet beach.
Punakaiki – 2 nights
This area was breathtaking. Paparoa National Park deserves any time you can give it. The Pancake Rocks are very cool and there are glowworm caves and great hikes. Watching the sun set over the Tasman Sea is unforgettable, but make sure to get out of the way for any Penguins coming to shore at dusk.
Read more about the West Coast.
Kaikoura – 2 nights
We crossed back over the Southern Alps to the other coast. This town has a beautiful backdrop with the mountains dropping right into the ocean. Having at least one day here allows you to do the Peninsula walkway which you can get to on foot from town. Once you’ve finished that, we would both recommend the Strawberry Tree for a happy hour drink.
Renwick – 2 nights
Wine country is a must unless you hate wine. There are lots of vineyards within a few kilometers of Renwick, so it’s a great town to spend some time in.
Takaka – 2 nights
The entire Nelson region is gorgeous. We picked Takaka because it is closer to the north end of the Abel Tasman National Park which is quieter. There is a lot to do in Golden Bay, but it’s quiet and peaceful.
Read more about the Tasman Region.
25 Days on the South Island
What We Would Change
Skip Invercargill…
I would have just skipped it totally and driven on to Te Anau and then allowed myself an extra night in Kaikoura, Takaka or Punakaiki. We thought Bluff would be cool and we just didn’t really love any of it.
Instead of 3 nights in Queenstown…
I would stay in Queenstown for one night and then spend 2 nights in Wanaka. The town is less hectic. You can hike Roy’s Peak if you have time there.
Instead of 2 nights in Haast…
I would just stay one night there and then find a spot north of the glaciers for the second night. The West Coast is absolutely gorgeous and we would have loved to spend a night in Hokitika.
Add time in Abel Tasman…
We didn’t plan out our adventures in advance and missed out on kayaking in Abel Tasman. There is only one company that operates out of the north side of the park. We tried to get a hold of them that day and couldn’t track them down.
Slow Down & Stay Longer
Isn’t that always a desire when you visit someplace beautiful? We focused hard on moving slowly when we could, but spending only a few nights in each place kept us moving quickly. If you have more time, take it.
