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Ten days is enough for the South Island if you accept one thing: you cannot see all of it. This route picks a loop that takes in the Southern Alps, the fiords and the lakes without putting you in the car for six hours a day.
Fly into Christchurch and out of Queenstown, or the reverse, to avoid backtracking.
Days 1–2: Christchurch and out to the coast
Christchurch is a city visibly rebuilding, and that makes it more interesting than it gets credit for. Walk the riverside, look at the transitional cathedral, and spend an hour in the botanic gardens.
Collect the hire car on day two and head out through the Canterbury Plains. If you have the appetite for it, the coastal detour north towards Kaikōura for whale watching and crayfish is worth a night in its own right.
Days 3–4: Aoraki / Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo
Drive inland to Lake Tekapo, where the water is a turquoise that photographs badly because nobody believes it.
The area is an international dark sky reserve, so stay the night and look up. Then continue to Aoraki / Mount Cook village and walk the Hooker Valley Track, an easy, flat, spectacular three-hour return walk to a glacial lake beneath the country’s highest peak.
Book each stop
South Island towns are small and fill early in summer. Lock in the key nights first:
Days 5–6: Queenstown and Wānaka
Queenstown is the adventure capital and makes no apology for it: bungee, jetboats, paragliding, skydiving, and a gondola with a view over Lake Wakatipu.
If that is not your thing, the Gibbston Valley wineries are a short drive away, and the historic gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown is charming.
Wānaka, an hour north over the Crown Range, is quieter, with the Roys Peak track for anyone willing to climb steadily for several hours in exchange for one of the country’s great views.
Days 7–8: Fiordland and Milford Sound
Base yourself in Te Anau rather than doing Milford as a very long day trip from Queenstown.
The road into Milford is a highlight in itself, through the Homer Tunnel and past waterfalls that appear from nowhere after rain. Take a boat cruise on the sound; the walls rise more than a kilometre straight out of the water.
Doubtful Sound is larger, quieter and reached by a boat-and-bus combination, which makes it a full day but a memorable one. Rain is frequent here and arguably improves the experience.
Days 9–10: the West Coast or back to Christchurch
Two options. Head north up the West Coast to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, then over Arthur’s Pass back to Christchurch, which is scenic but involves long driving days.
Or loop back gently through Central Otago, stopping in Cromwell and Alexandra, and fly out of Queenstown with a spare morning for the lake.
The second is the better trip. The glaciers have retreated substantially and the drive is a commitment.
Practical notes
- Drive on the left, and allow far longer than the map suggests. The roads are winding and often single-lane over bridges.
- Fuel up whenever you can in the south. Stations are sparse between towns.
- Sandflies in Fiordland are relentless. Bring repellent.
- The sun is fierce through thin ozone. Cover up regardless of the temperature.
- Book Milford cruises and popular walks ahead in summer.
- Weather changes fast in the mountains. Carry layers even on short walks.
Frequently asked questions
Is ten days enough?
For this loop, yes. For the whole South Island including the far south and the West Coast, no; that needs two to three weeks.
Car or campervan?
A car with booked accommodation is simpler and often cheaper once you account for campervan hire and site fees. Campervans win on flexibility and on scenery from the window.
Can I do it without driving?
Partly. Intercity coaches and the TranzAlpine train connect the main towns, and tours cover Milford, but you lose a lot of the freedom that makes this trip.
Should I add the North Island?
Not in ten days. Pick one island and do it properly.
Alternative routes
The loop above is the best balance of scenery and driving time, but it is not the only way to spend ten days.
The West Coast version runs Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, down the coast through the glacier towns and over the Haast Pass to Wānaka and Queenstown. It is wetter, wilder and greener, with far fewer people, but the driving days are long and rain is close to guaranteed.
The deep south version adds the Catlins, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula, where you can see albatross, yellow-eyed penguins and sea lions. This is the wildlife route and it is badly underrated.
The northern version takes in Abel Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough for coastal walks, sunshine and wine, and works well if you are arriving by ferry from Wellington rather than flying in.
Eating and stocking up
Outside Queenstown and Christchurch, restaurant options thin out quickly, and several of the places on this route have one café and a pub.
Buy groceries in the larger towns rather than the small ones. Supermarkets in Christchurch, Queenstown, Wānaka and Te Anau are well stocked and considerably cheaper than the general stores in the villages.
Mount Cook village in particular has very limited supplies and the food options are tied to the lodges, so arrive with your own lunch if you plan to walk the Hooker Valley.
New Zealand’s café culture is excellent and the coffee is generally very good, which is a pleasant surprise for anyone expecting otherwise in small towns.