The Perfect South Island New Zealand Travel Itinerary | Johnny Africa

Here is a map of my itinerary with all the stops, driving directions, and beautiful viewpoints. This is just how I planned my trip and there are a million other ways to see the South Island!

How much time do you need for the New Zealand South Island?

The South Island of New Zealand is absolutely stunning and there is so much to see. There’s something for everyone. When I first started planning my trip to New Zealand’s South Island, I had no idea how much time I’d need. People kept saying things like, “Oh, you’ll never want to leave!” or “You could spend a month there and still not see it all.” Spoiler alert: they were right.

That being said, not everyone has a month to spare. I ended up spending two weeks, and honestly, it felt like the sweet spot—not rushed, but not overly indulgent either. If you’re trying to figure out how long you’ll need, here’s how I broke it down and what I learned along the way.

A Week on the South Island

If you’ve only got a week, you’ll need to be strategic. I’d suggest focusing on just a few areas—Queenstown and Fiordland, for example, or maybe the West Coast and Abel Tasman. When I talked to a traveler who only had seven days, they said they felt like they spent half the trip in the car. Driving distances can be deceptive here because you’ll want to stop every five minutes to snap photos of the ridiculously gorgeous scenery.

Two Weeks on the South Island

This was my itinerary length, and it felt like a happy medium. I flew into Christchurch, explored the Canterbury Plains, drove down to Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook, then made my way to Queenstown and Wanaka before looping back up the West Coast. Along the way, I stopped at the glaciers, Hokitika, and finally ended in Nelson for a taste of wine country.

Having two weeks gave me enough time to settle into each spot, do a few hikes, and not feel like I was constantly packing up my stuff. My favorite memory was sitting on the shore of Lake Pukaki at sunset, watching the mountains turn pink. It’s the kind of moment you can’t rush.

A Month or More

If you’ve got the luxury of a month, then honestly, just go for it. You’ll have time to venture into less-traveled spots like the Catlins or Stewart Island, spend more time in national parks, and maybe even do some multi-day hikes like the Routeburn or Milford Track. I met a couple traveling for six weeks, and their itinerary included things I hadn’t even heard of, like kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds and exploring tiny gold-mining towns on the West Coast.

My Takeaway

If you’re tight on time, a week can work, but expect to make tough choices. Two weeks felt perfect for me—I got to see the highlights without burning out. And if you can swing a month or more? Well, you might as well start planning your second trip, because New Zealand has a way of leaving you wanting more.

How to get around New Zealand for a road trip

Rent a car

Renting a car in New Zealand is a must in my opinion. It’s one of the ultimate road trip countries after all. Having a car will afford you the freedom to go anywhere you want at anytime. Otherwise, you will have to rely entirely on day trips because a lot of the main sights are nowhere close to the towns.

Rent a camper van

Camper vans are extremely popular as a way to see the South island of New Zealand. I lost count as soon as I landed in Queenstown of the amount of camper vans I saw.

I do love how you could just park up to a viewpoint and enjoy a cup of coffee with a view. However, New Zealand is very strict about where you can park your camper van for the night.

There are designated campsites at all the main tourist spots but these book up extremely fast. If you’re traveling during a busy time of year, make sure to book these well in advance otherwise you will not have anywhere to go.

A lot of the camping spots are located outside of the main town which makes it inconvenient to get into town to get food. I guess the whole point of a camper van is to mostly cook your own food but I can’t be bothered with that.

Make sure to fill up your gas

As the south island is quite remote in many parts, make sure to fill up your gas frequently. Often times, you can go stretches of 200km without finding gas stations. For example, if you are visiting Milford Sound from Te Anau, the drive is 120km and there are no gas station in between.

Day trips from Queenstown

If you are traveling solo, with limited time, and do not want to rent a car, then you could feasibly do most of the highlights of the south island directly from Queenstown.

Queenstown is sort of the hub for all the main attractions in the area. It’s possible to do day trips from Queenstown to Milford Sound, Queenstown to Roy’s Peak / Wanaka, and Queenstown to Mount Cook. There are many tour operators operating out of Queenstown that makes this possible.

Of course, I think half the fun of New Zealand’s south island is immersing yourself into the nature and traveling at your own pace but driving by yourself for long periods of time might not be for everyone.

Best time to visit New Zealand’s South Island

Picking when you visit New Zealand is very important depending on what you want to do.

Summer (December to February)

Summer is the most popular time to visit the South Island, thanks to its warm weather and long daylight hours. This is the perfect season for outdoor adventures like hiking in Fiordland National Park, kayaking in Abel Tasman, or lounging on the beaches of the Marlborough Sounds.

The weather is generally sunny, with temperatures ranging between 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F). However, it’s also the busiest time of year, so it’s wise to book accommodations and activities well in advance.

In addition, the rainiest months of the year are in December and January which means you never know what to expect. I visited New Zealand for the entire month of December and it rained about half the time I was here. It’s hard to stick to a plan because you never know when the conditions will be completely rained out.

If you can, add some buffer room into your trip so you can have the best moments!

Autumn (March to May)

Autumn is a quieter time to visit, with fewer crowds and pleasant weather. The South Island’s landscapes transform into a tapestry of vibrant reds, oranges, and golds, especially in regions like Central Otago and around Lake Wanaka. Temperatures cool to a comfortable range of 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F), making it ideal for wine tours, scenic drives, and exploring at a relaxed pace.

Winter (June to August)

Winter brings snow to the South Island, transforming it into a haven for skiers and snowboarders. Popular ski resorts like Queenstown, Wanaka, and Mount Hutt come alive, offering world-class slopes and cozy alpine lodges.

The winter scenery is stunning, with snow-capped peaks and frosty mornings. It’s also a great time to visit places like Milford Sound, where fewer tourists mean a more tranquil experience. Temperatures range from -5°C to 10°C (23°F to 50°F).

Spring (September to November)

Spring is a season of renewal and vibrant beauty. Snow still dusts the peaks, but valleys burst into bloom with wildflowers. This is a great time for nature lovers to visit, as waterfalls are at their fullest, and baby wildlife can often be seen. Spring temperatures range from 5°C to 18°C (41°F to 64°F), and crowds are minimal compared to the summer months.

Choosing Your Season

Adventure Seekers: Summer for outdoor activities or winter for skiing and snowboarding.Nature Enthusiasts: Spring for wildflowers or autumn for colorful foliage.Crowd-Free Travel: Autumn and spring offer the best balance of good weather and fewer tourists.

No matter when you visit, the South Island’s diverse beauty and unique experiences ensure it’s a destination that leaves a lasting impression.

How to structure your New Zealand South Island Road trip?

Structuring your New Zealand south island road trip was a question that took me a long time to answer. I did so much research trying to figure out how to organize my trips and which places to stop. Hopefully, all my research will pay off to help you plan your own trip!

The South Island is all about hiking, mountains, beautiful views, and nature. You’ll need a car to travel around the island otherwise you could join tour groups as well.

I wanted to see everything the South Island had to offer and I had the time to do it (almost 3 weeks). Therefore the long and narrow shape of the south island meant it made the most sense to start from the bottom and work my way to the northern tip of the island. This can of course also be done the other way around.

I started my trip in Queenstown, and ended up my trip in Nelson which is at the northern tip of the south island. I did a one way car rental between the two cities and flew back to Auckland from Nelson. While this added an extra 25% to my car rental price, it was well worth it to not have to drive the 12 hour and 1,000km back to Queenstown.

The most beautiful sights on the island are on the western half and the bottom half of the island which made it hard to justify driving back to Queenstown. Otherwise, a loop around the island could make sense (but it doesn’t for me). The main sights in this region are:

QueenstownCentral Otago Wine RegionMilford SoundLake TekapoMount Cook / AoratakiMount Aspiring

Queenstown to Christchurch (and vice versa).

Many people also fly in or out of Christchurch which is half way up the island on the east coast. If you don’t have time for the Abel Tasman and Marlborough wine region in the north, then ending in Christchurch is a logical step. For this trip, you would fly into Queenstown, and out of Christchurch (or vice versa).

You’ll see all the main sights I mentioned in the previous section.

Visiting Franz Josef Glacier

One of the most popular sights in New Zealand has to be the Franz Josef Glacier. This huge glacier mountain is located due west of Mount Cook and reminds me a lot of the El Calafate glacier in Patagonia.

The problem with visiting this glacier is that the roads are not connected between Mount Cook and the Franz Josef Glacier. Mount Cook is perhaps the most famous and most beautiful part of the south island so this is a no brainer no negotiation visit for most people. Even though they are right next to each other, you have to essentially drive all the way around the island to visit due to how the roads are built. It is a 7h drive between these two mountains. Here is what I mean:

As you can see, you’ll have to drive back to Wanaka if you want to visit both places. Personally, it didn’t make sense for me to drive all the way around as we were traveling with a baby and the driving would just be too much. If I had more time and was traveling without a baby, I would probably consider doing this as the west coast of the island is beautiful.

Helicopter visit from Mount Cook to Franz Josef

Nevertheless, if you don’t want to do the drive like me but still want to see the Franz Josef glacier, don’t worry as you can simply take a helicopter to visit! The helicopters leave from Mount Cook Village and stop on the glacier where the views are unforgettable.

There are multiple helicopter packages you can purchase but I thought the basic 30 minute flight that went on the glacier and back was plenty. More details on this later in the post.

Day 1-3: Queenstown

The itinerary first starts in Queenstown, which is the southernmost city of New Zealand with a major airport. Many south island itineraries will start or end in Queenstown. Queenstown came to prominence during the gold rush era of the mid 1800s. It has since become the tourism capital of the South Island and is the gateway to breathtaking hikes and southern hemisphere ski holidays.

Visit the Gondola to Bob’s Peak

The most popular thing to do in Queenstown is probably the gondola ride to Bob’s peak which offers stunning panoramic views of Queenstown and the surrounding valley.

The Gondola is located in the city center with a parking garage on site. The price of a ride in 2025 was $64 NZD for a roundtrip gondola ride (about 10 minutes each way).

Queenstown is absolutely one of the most picturesque cities in New Zealand and probably the world. You can see the various mountain ranges like the Remarkables (more on that later), Lake Wakatipu, and the charming town itself. You can also hike up to Bob’s peak for free which will take 1h.

At the top of the gondola station is a viewing platform where you can take amazing photos while soaking in that crisp New Zealand air. There are also are various gift shops, restaurants, and a bar all equipped with the same stunning views.

The Remarkables mountain range is a jewel in New Zealand’s natural crown, standing proudly on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown. True to its name, this dramatic range is truly remarkable, with rugged peaks that rise sharply into the sky, creating a breathtaking backdrop that captivates visitors year-round.

The Remarkables mountain range is visible from Queenstown and you’ll notice it right away as the large and jagged mountain that rises up 2200m above sea level. While there are larger mountains in on the island, the Remarkables is only a short 20 minute drive from Queenstown.

I visited New Zealand during the summer months so the mountain was in its off season. This meant the roads were completely empty driving up to the top of the mountain. In the winter months, this place is a ski resort that has remarkable (see what I did there?) wintery views. The drive up to the top is about 13km and will take roughly 20-30 minutes alone. Nevertheless, the views are absolutely stunning with multiple viewpoints along the way.

Soak in the views from literally anywhere

Queenstown punches you in the face with its striking beauty the moment you land. Its various mountain ranges surrounding Lake Wakatipu make it just stupid ridiculous in how beautiful it is. As we drove from the airport into town, you couldn’t help but look in all different directions what was on offer.

Just the drive up from the main road to our Airbnb was a sight to behold. I couldn’t help but pull over on the side of the road multiple times just to soak it all in.

Eat at Fergburger

No trip to Queenstown is complete without a visit to the ultra famous Fergburger. Rated as the #1 burger restaurant in the entire world, this place is an institution. It has over 20,000 reviews on Google which is insane for a burger restaurant.

I came here as soon as I landed because I had to see what the hype was about. There is a huge queue but it moves fast and I was able to get my delicious Fergburger within 30 minutes.

The burger was absolutely delicious. While it’s not gourmet by any means, it is probably one of the top burgers I’ve had in my life especially given its price range ($16-17 NZD per burger). I ended up eating here three times during my stay in the Queenstown area.

Walk around the city center of QUeenstown

Queenstown is probably the most European of all the towns in New Zealand with a bustling city enter filled with charming streets and boutique shops. Given how popular Queenstown is with tourists from all over the world, expect plenty of amazing restaurants, cafes, and bars to be had.

Day 3-5: Cromwell and the Otago Wine Region

Next stop on the itinerary is the Central Otago wine region! The Otago and the Marlborough wine regions are probably New Zealand’s most well known wine producing regions. While they do not have a big presence on the international stage (often overshadowed by Australia), New Zealand knows their wines.

Wine aside, this area outside of Queenstown is just absolutely beautiful to visit. If you like visiting wineries with beautiful views as much as me like that of Stellenbosch or the Douro Valley, then the Otago wine region is not to be missed.

You’ll only need a 30 minute drive outside of Queenstown to arrive in the heart of all the wineries. As with other new world wine regions, each winery is equipped with a beautiful estate where you can enjoy wine tastings. You don’t need to make reservations at most places and we simply rocked up to enjoy wine. We did wine tastings in a few wineries while at others, we simply ordered a glass while enjoying the view.

Te Kano

Te Kano is a new winery built just before the start of COVID. It’s located in the beautiful Bannockburn region of the Otago with sweeping views of the valley and the river. Their beautiful estate has a terrace where you can enjoy a wine tasting while soaking in the views.

This was probably one of my favorite wineries in the whole region as the staff were very attentive, the wine was delicious, and the views outstanding.

Domaine Thomson

After visiting Te Kano, we were recommended Domaine Thomson as another winery with beautiful views. It did not disappoint. The owners of this winery also own a winery in the beautiful Burgundy wine region of France.

This place is perfect for enjoying a glass of wine while admiring the beauty of the neighboring region. We elected

Mount Rosa

Mount Rosa is another winery with spectacular views and a beautiful tasting room to enjoy said views.

Dinner at the Stoaker Room

Dinner at the Stoaker Room in the town of Cromwell is a bit of an institution in the Central Otago. This restaurant is famous for their wine barrel smoked meats and my goodness did it hit the spot. After a long day of wine tasting, we enjoyed a meat feast at this restaurant having the most tender lamb and steaks. In fact, we came here twice as it was that good!

Day 5-8: Te Anau and the Fiordlands National Park

The first stop after Queenstown is to Te Anau, Milford Sound, and the greater Fiordlands National Park. Te Anau is the main town in the southern part of the south island and Milford sound is a small port in the heart of the Fiordland National Park where the famous cruises depart.

The Fiordlands National Park is one of the most beautiful parts of the south island and is also home to numerous Lord of the Rings film locations. I spent 3 nights here but you could easily spend much more especially if you’re keen to do the Kepler Track or Milford track (multi-day hikes).

Drive from Queenstown to Te Anau

Leave early in the morning to get the most of your drive through this absolutely stunning part of the south island. Queenstown to Te Anau is 2 hours but this can easily be extended to 3 hours with the various stops along the way (if not longer).

The drive will pass by the Remarkables mountain range along Lake Wakatipo before driving through other national parks. I love New Zealand’s south island because the landscapes are so diverse from one area to the nex

Te Anau to Milford Sound Drive

Te Anau to Milford Sound is an epic adventure in and of itself. This two hour drive is jam packed with breathtaking views, incredible hikes, and everything in between.

While it takes 1.5 hours on a straight shot, I would allocate at least 3 hours for this drive as you’ll want to stop and take photos at many different spots. I literally couldn’t stop looking around which is probably dangerous considering I was the driver (not recommended!)

You’ll want to make stops along the way in the beautiful Eglinton Valley which is where two mountain ranges converge into a beautiful open field. This stop is located right on the main highway so you can’t miss it.

The next stop is the lupin flowers with a backdrop of the Fiordland mountains. These endemic but famous flowers are located all over New Zealand. They are incredibly photogenic and you’ll get plenty of amazing photos here!

Near to the of the drive, you’ll pass through a one way tunnel that funnels deep through the mountains. As you come out of the tunnel, you’re greeted with the most dramatic and ridiculous views of the towering mountains around you. There’s also numerous waterfalls all around the mountains similar to that of Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland.

As this tunnel is one way, there are often times big traffic jams especially in the early afternoon with all the day trippers coming from Queenstown.

Lake Marion Hike

As I was here for 3 days, I stopped off and did a few different hikes which are highly recommended. The Lake Marion hike is one of the most beautiful and famous hikes in the area. It’s highly recommended on just about every source I read. It’s a 3 hour round trip hike that is mostly through dense forest terrain. It’s not the easiest hike by any means but the views are well worth it.

Sadly, on the day I came, it was rainy and the scenery was non-existent. That’s just the luck of the draw with the climate in the Fiordlands which is the wettest part of New Zealand with over 200 rainy days a year .

Here are the photos if you do make it on a clear sunny day. It’s honestly some of the most epic views you can find in New Zealand!

Key Summit Peak

Another hike that I did in the Milford sound area is the Key Summit Peak. Located nearby to Lake Marion, this hike is much easier (2h round trip) and the views are equally as stunning. Unfortunately again for me, the weather was totally covered in clouds and we could not see anything.

Here is the view on a clear day which would have been epic as you get a 360 degree type of view of all the mountain ranges in the region!

Milford Sound Cruise

Without a doubt, one of the most famous things to do in the Fiordlands National Park (and New Zealand) must be the Milford Sound cruise. Milford sound is located at the end of the epic drive from Te Anau and it’s here that you will park your car and embark on this beautiful cruise.

There are many companies that do this cruise and they all follow the exact same itinerary which is roughly 2 hours sailing through a channel that leads out into the Pacific ocean. The boats are all quite nice but I really liked my boat which was smaller and had a completely open roof deck which allowed for amazing views and photos.

As for the cruise itself, what can I say besides that it is out of this world beautiful? Everywhere you look you’ll see towering mountains coming out of the ocean, many of which have waterfalls.

On a calm day, the cruise will even sail out of the sound and into the Pacific ocean where it’s a straight shot westward towards the Argentine coast. Yes you’re as far south as it gets until South America (more south than Australia, and the Cape Point in South Africa).

The price for this cruise is around $140-170 NZD depending on the company and this does not include transportation. Do not get this cruise confused for the Doubtful sound cruise as that is in a different area of the national park! The Doubtful sound cruise has less people and is a longer cruise that goes through more of the Fiordlands. However, I believe Milford Sound is the most dramatic as far as the sheer rocky cliffs of the Fiords.

Regardless, this was one of the best highlights of the south island and is a must do in my opinion.

Day 8-11: Lake Wanaka and Mount Aspiring National Park

After a few amazing days in the Fiordlands National Park, it was time to go to the next stop which is Lake Wanaka and the Mount Aspiring National Park. You’ll drive back the same way you came through Queenstown so if you had bath weather around Lake Wakatipu, this is hopefully a chance to get a second crack at it.

From Queenstown, the drive north via Cadrona is one of the more scenic drives in New Zealand. The rolling teletubbies style hills on this drive are glorious where you’ll want to stop numerous times all along the road.

Wanaka Town

The drive from Te Anau to Wanaka is about 3h in total. As you approach into town, the surrounding landscape of Wanaka is absolutely stunning. In fact, it might be even more beautiful than Queenstown which already blew me away.

Hiking Roy’s Peak

Roy’s Peak is perhaps the most famous viewpoint in all of New Zealand. Many of the most popular photos you’ll see on Instagram of New Zealand are at the famous Roy’s Peak viewpoint that looks out on Lake Wanaka and the Mount Aspiring National Park.

This famous hike is located just outside of Wanaka and was certainly on the menu for my visit to New Zealand. Many people hike up to Roy’s Peak for the sunrise but in the summer months, this means you’ll need to start your hike at 3am. Loads of people will be joining you on your hike so you can expect to be sharing the mountain with a hundred other people.

The hike up Roy’s Peak is long and tiring. In total, it is about 6-7h return depending on your hiking prowess. It’s a flat path that zig zags around the mountain to the peak at 1600m (a total of 1,200m elevation gain on the hike).

Along the way, you’ll be met with sweeping views of Lake Wanaka and the mountains. The mountain also passes through private farmland which means you’ll also be greeted with endless amounts of New Zealand’s famous sheep which surely makes for nice photo opportunities.

As a Lord of the Rings fan, the Roy’s Peak mountain really screams LOTR scenery to me. The towering green mountainous landscape had me feeling like I should set out on a quest of my own.

The first viewpoint is roughly 8km up and took about 2h. This is the famous Instagram viewpoint that is made famous by everyone and the photo that everyone wants. It is every bit as beautiful as it looks.

From the Instagram viewpoint, it is another 20 minutes walk to the actual summit of Roy’s Peak. The viewpoint from the summit is beautiful but not as all encompassing as the first viewpoint which is why it is so popular.

The hike overall was not technical but physically very tiring just given the elevation you gain. Even worse is that the entire track is not covered which means on a sunny day you will be non-stop sweating as there’s nowhere to hide from the sun. Nevertheless, the end result is absolutely gorgeous and well worth the pain.

Day 11-14: Mount Cook

From Wanaka, the next stop is to continue driving northward to the Mount Cook National Park. Mount Cook, better known as Aoraki in Maori, is the tallest mountain in New Zealand. This mountain is always covered in snow and has the same characteristics as mountains in the Alps with its dramatic and jagged peaks.

The drive from Wanaka to Mount Cook is of course another beautiful drive with numerous potential viewpoints and stops that you’ll want to see. Lake Pukaki is the first major stop you’ll want to make which has Mount Cook visible in the distance.

I immediately noticed how crazy blue the lake was which is due to fine silt particles, or glacial flour, in the water. This is a result of glacial erosion. The silt is so fine it does not settle to the bottom quickly, remaining in suspension in the lake water.

The drive all the way up to Mount Cook is absolutely stunning at every turn. The mountain peak is so perfectly placed along the road it’s hard not to feel like it was fake at times.

Hiking the Hooker Valley Track

The hooker Valley track is without a doubt the most popular hiking trail in all of New Zealand. It’s been made famous throughout the world as an easily accessible and low difficulty hike that lets everyone witness the immense beauty of Mount Cook and Mount Sefton.

Hooker Valley is also the busiest hike that I did in New Zealand. I went around noon which is peak trekking time for this trail since all the day trippers from Queenstown, Wanaka, and Christchurch come in and join on the fun. I saw people at every moment of the hike; there must have been a thousand people walking this. I wasn’t so bothered by this however as I could still enjoy the natural beauty. If you want less people on the track, start early around 9am.

The track itself is long at around 11km return but it has almost no elevation which makes it more of a walk than a hike.

The beginning of this trail starts at the base of Mount Sefton where you’ll have incredible views of the mountain and the glacier lakes. Fun Fact: These glacier lakes have only formed in the last 100 years or so due to the nearby Tasman Glacier melting.

The trail continues on towards Mount Cook where you will see at the very end of the hike. Both mountains are absolutely stunning with their Dolomites style snowy peaks and milky glacial lakes.

A lot of people hate on this track given how touristy and easy it is which I don’t understand. There’s a reason it’s the most popular hike in New Zealand; it’s simply that beautiful. I would definitely not skip the Hooker Valley Track.

Sealy Tarns Viewpoint

For the serious hikers who scoff at the Hooker Valley track, the Sealy Tarns hike otherwise known as Stairway to Heaven is the hike for you. The track departs from the same origin as the Hooker Valley Track but you will go in the opposite direction.

Sealy Tarns is a 5km round trip hike that ascends 550 meters entirely by stairs. At the top awaits the most epic views in the entire park where you both Mount Sefton and Mount Cook will be visible along with the numerous glacial lakes. There’s also a small lake you can swim in!

This hike is no joke and the 2,000+ stairs will surely test your physical endurance, especially on a nice sunny day. You’re essentially climbing the height of two Eiffel towers in the open and exposed sun.

As I was climbing with my little baby, I had to call it quits after 1,200 steps shortly after the first major viewpoint. The views were already so beautiful that I was totally content calling it a day and hiking back down.

Mount Cook Helicopter Tour

My goodness, where do I even start?! A New Zealand helicopter tour that lands on a glacier was always on the top of my bucket list. The pictures looked surreal! I’ve been on numerous helicopter flights before in places like Fiji, the Okavango Delta, and Victoria Falls and I’ve loved every minute of it.

The helicopter tour in New Zealand is world famous for its ability to land on the glaciers and allow for a walk in the snow.

Where to take the helicopter tour in New Zealand

There are helicopter tours literally everywhere on the south island. There’s so much stunning scenery that a helicopter is often times the best way to experience the beauty. From Milford Sound, to the Abel Tasman National Park, you’ll find helicopter tours in every national park and town in between.

For the purpose of this trip, I will focus on the helicopter tours specifically from Mount Cook and the area surrounding it.

In this area, you can take a helicopter tour from Mount Cook village, or from Franz Josef town. These helicopter tours will fly by the famous mountains in these New Zealand alps and allow for a stop on a glacier. Mount Cook village and Franz Josef town are only about 50km from each other in distance but they are not connected by road as you’ll have to drive back about 4h through Wanaka to reach one another.

The helicopter tours from Mount Cook Village visit the following depending on the package you book:

Mount CookTasman GlacierFranz Josef GlacierFox GlacierHelicopter landing on the Tasman Glacier

Helicopter tours from Franz Josef village will visit the following:

Franz Josef GlacierFox GlacierMount CookTasman GlacierHelicopter landing on either the Franz Josef or the Fox glacier

As I was staying in Mount Cook village, I was only able to land on the Tasman glacier which is the largest of all the glaciers in New Zealand. The helicopter continues to fly over to Franz Josef and the Fox Glacier but will not land on them.

Price of the Helicopter tours in Mount Cook

There are three companies that do the helicopter tours in the Mount Cook Village

Inflite (Also known as Mount Cook Ski Planes and Helicopters)Southern LakesThe Helicopter Line

All three companies offer similar trips at similar price ranges. Depending on the length of your tour, you can expect to pay more obviously. There are typically three trips these companies offer:

Short flight (20-25 min) which will land on a nearby mountain with panoramic views of the Tasman glacier and Mount Cook. $300-400 NZDMedium flight (40-45min): Will land on the Tasman glacier with a scenic flight all around the glacier and Mount Cook. $500-600 NZDLong flight (55min-1h): Will land on the Tasman glacier and continue on flying over the Franz Josef and Fox glacier. $700-800 NZD

In order to actually land on the glacier from Mount Cook, you’ll need to book a more expensive flight that is longer since the Tasman glacier is a bit further away from the village. The shorter 20-25 min hike will not land on the glacier.

From Franz Josef village, the shorter flights do land on the glacier since it is much closer to the town so you can get away with paying the $300-$400 NZD prices as opposed to the $500-$600 NZD prices on the Mount Cook side.

The Helicopter ride itself

As for the ride itself, I went with the longer and most comprehensive flight with Inflite. I paid roughly $650 NZD for the 55 minute trip that flies around Mount Cook, Tasman Glacier with a landing, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Sadly, the weather on the west coast was not good that day which meant they had to cancel the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier part of the trip (got a partial refund).

The flight is absolutely breathtaking. Flying thousands of meters above sea level and coming right up to Mount Cook and Mount Sefton are absolutely amazing. The landscape is truly out of this world in this part of New Zealand.

After 15 minutes int he air, we approached the Tasman glacier which looked every bit as amazing as advertised. A blanket of snow sandwiched by the sandstone peaks of the mountains around us was a sight to behold.

After landing on the glacier, we walked around for another 15-20 minutes enjoying the views from the mountain around us. I really wish I could just pick up some skis and ski down the perfectly flat snow.

The helicopter pilot was very adept at taking photos of us because he does this multiple times a day which was a perk. You can’t leave the glacier without that iconic photo next to the helicopter.

After our time on the glacier, we took off again and flew right past Mount Cook before landing. If the weather was better, we would have flown further west to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. Nevertheless, the trip was almost 1h in total and worth every penny in my opinion.

Day 14: Driving Through the Arthur’s Pass

Day 13 is mostly driving. From Lake Tekapo to my hotel in Greymouth is 5 hours through the Arthur’s pass. Looking back on it, if I didn’t have a baby at the time of this trip, I would have circled back to Wanaka and onward to the west coast through Franz Josef. This would have been an 8 hour drive but much more manageable without having a baby to worry about.

Nevertheless, the Arthur’s pass is very much worth it for the numerous viewpoints and incredible views that it offers. Sadly, the day I drove through it was completely rained out and I couldn’t see much. From what I did see, it was clear that it would have been incredibly beautiful on a sunny day!

There are also plenty of amazing hikes to do in the Arthur’s pass but I didn’t have time for this unfortunately. Arthur’s Pass is also one of those places that is best appreciated while driving.

Day 15: Driving along the West Coast

I stayed the night at Paroa Hotel in Greymouth on the West Coast as a way to break up the drive. The following day, we resumed our drive towards the Abel Tasman park by driving along the west coast.

I must concede that this was probably the biggest surprise of our trip. This coastal drive is absolutely stunning. Lush green mountains on one side followed by clear blue water on the other side made for an unforgettable drive where we had to pull over constantly. It was much prettier than the Great Ocean Road in Australia which we drove only a month prior.

Make sure to stop at the pancake rocks which are exactly as they sound.

Day 15-18: Abel Tasman National Park

Stay in Motueka

From Greymouth, the next stop is in Motueka which is a charming little town just at the base of the Abel Tasman National Park. From here, it is a short 15 minute drive to the park where you can experience its beautiful beaches and hiking. The town is also equipped with plenty of delicious restaurants and cafes.

We had originally booked to stay in Nelson, a much larger city about 40 minutes from Motueka but if the Abel Tasman National Park is your priority, it makes much more sense to stay in Motueka in my opinion.

Wharariki Beach

From Motueka, it is 1.5h to the most famous beach in all of New Zealand. I’m talking about non other than the beach made popular by Microsoft Windows! The photo that we all recognize of the woman running along the beach next to two rock arches in the ocean is in the Wharariki beach!

It’s easy to visit and is open for everyone. You will have to walk about 20 minutes across beautiful farmland full of sheep and cows to get there, but it’s all well worth it in the end.

Abel Tasman National Park hiking

Abel Tasman National Park is famous for its multi day hikes. Many hikers traverse the entirety of the park over the course of a few days. The entire loop is somewhere around 50-60km with multiple campsites all around.

If you don’t have 4-5 nights for this, don’t worry as you can get a taste of the park just as easily during the day. The best way to see Abel Tasman for the day is via sea shuttles. These boats are essentially ferry shuttles that take you from one beach to another.

From the beach, you can start the hikes through the Abel Tasman as the tracks hug the coastline. You’ll hike through the mountains to the next beach where you can choose to board the boat or keep going onward to the next beach.

We started our hiking and stopped at the famous Awaroa beach which gives off Whitsunday vibes with its sandbanks that are visible during low tide. The boat ride from the port at Kaiteriteri to Awaroa is about 1 hour.

From Awaroa beach, we had a quick coffee and lunch at the Awaroa lodge which is completely open for hikers as well as for those that want to pay up to stay somewhere nice in the park. From this lodge, we hiked around 10km from beach to beach before reaching the pickup point for the ferry at Medlands beach to the south. This hike was relatively easy with max elevation being around 150m.

The views are out of this world though and the Abel Tasman National Park is very special. Sadly, the weather wasn’t great when I visited but I know it would have been special if the sun came out (Which seemed to be the theme of our trip that we always missed the sun).

Day 18-20: Marlborough Wine Region

The Marlborough wine region is the final stop on my New Zealand south island itinerary. This wine region is located about 2 hours away from the Nelson area and is well worth the visit for wine enthusiasts. Having already visited the Central Otago wine region at the beginning of the trip, adding Marlborough might have been overkill.

Both wine regions of New Zealand’s south island are beautiful, although neither match that of my favorite in Stellenbosch, South Africa. If I had to pick one of the two to visit, I would probably take Marlborough just because it’s easier to travel around given how small the wine region is.

I found the Marlborough wine region, which specializes in white wines and specifically Savignon Blanc, to be very beautiful and impressive. It’s a much smaller wine region that centers around the town of Blenheim. Most of the wineries are within 15 minutes from Blenheim which means you can really see a lot of wineries in little time. Here are a few of the wineries I went to:

Spy Valley Wine

Spy Valley was the first stop on our Marlborough wine tasting adventure. With a beautiful property and tasting room, the wine tasting was superb. I thought the views from their cellar of the surrounding mountains was one of the best.

At Spy Valley Winery, the Cellar Door provides an intimate and welcoming environment where visitors can sample a selection of their award-winning wines. Spy Valley is celebrated for its Sauvignon Blanc, a hallmark of Marlborough, offering vibrant flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, and herbaceous notes.

Wither Hills

I came to Wither Hills for lunch and the meal was absolutely delicious. With stunning views to complement the meal, this is definitely one of the top wineries to add to your list. We shared the steak and lamb loin which were both cooked to perfection. The wine pours here are of German size which meant I didn’t even need more than a glass.

Saint Clair Vineyard

Saint Clair Vineyard, located in the heart of Marlborough, New Zealand, offers a quintessential wine-tasting experience that highlights the region’s world-renowned Sauvignon Blanc and other premium varietals. Established in 1994 by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, Saint Clair has earned a stellar reputation for producing award-winning wines that capture the unique terroir of Marlborough.

Yealand Winery

Yealand winery is probably one of the most stunning and definitely the largest winery I’ve ever seen. With 1,000 hectares on their property alone, it’s a literal city. The vineyards extend out as far as the eye can see.

In fact, the property is so large that they have a driving path around the estate which takes 20 minutes to see. The vineyards extend even to the sea which affords you stunning views.

Day by Day New Zealand South Island Itinerary

I hope you enjoyed my trip to New Zealand and that it helped inspire your own trip. Here is the day by day summary of my trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown, straight to FergburgersDay 2: Full day in Queenstown and around the areaDay 3: Wine tasting in Central OtagoDay 4: One more day in Central Otago wine regionDay 5: Central Otago to Te Anau (Fiordlands)Day 6: Full day hiking in Fiordlands National ParkDay 7: Milford Sound CruiseDay 8: Te Anau to Lake WanakaDay 9: Full day in Lake WanakaDay 10: Roy’s Peak hikeDay 11: Lake Wanaka to Mount Cook (hike the Hooker Valley)Day 12: Full day Mount Cook (Sealy Tarns) Day 13: Full day Mount Cook / Lake TekapoDay 14: Driving from Lake Tekapo to Greymouth via Arthur’s PassDay 15: Drive along the West Coast and to MotuekaDay 16: Full day Abel Tasman National ParkDay 17: Abel Tasman National ParkDay 18: Motueka to Blenheim (Marlborough Wine region)Day 19: Full day Marlborough Wine RegionDay 20: Fly home

How I would plan this trip again

After completing the trip, I would probably restructure it in this way if I could do it all over again. I would shorten the amount of time in the Central Otago to just a day trip from Queenstown.

I would also stay in the Mount Cook area instead of Lake Tekapo as I didn’t find Lake Tekapo to be as amazing as I had hoped.

I would also drive along the west coast to Franz Josef and the Fox glaciers instead of through the Arthur’s Pass. This would mean I would have to stay the night around Franz Josef. My itinerary would then look something like this:

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown, straight to FergburgersDay 2: Full day in Queenstown and around the areaDay 3: Wine tasting in Central Otago day tripDay 4: Queenstown to Te Anau (Fiordlands)Day 5: Full day hiking in Fiordlands National ParkDay 6: Milford Sound CruiseDay 7: Te Anau to Lake WanakaDay 8: Full day in Lake WanakaDay 9: Roy’s Peak hikeDay 10: Lake Wanaka to Mount Cook (hike the Hooker Valley)Day 11: Full day Mount Cook (Sealy Tarns) Day 12: Full day Mount Cook / Lake TekapoDay 13: Mount Cook to Franz Josef Glacier (6h driving)Day 14: Full day in Franz Josef Glacier areaDay 15: Drive along the West Coast and to MotuekaDay 16: Full day Abel Tasman National ParkDay 17: Abel Tasman National ParkDay 18: Motueka to Blenheim (Marlborough Wine region)Day 19: Full day Marlborough Wine RegionDay 20: Fly home

Two week itinerary for New Zealand south island

As my trip was about 3 weeks, how would I plan a two week New Zealand south island trip?

I would probably just skip the northern parts which include the Abel Tasman National Park and the Marlborough wine region. A lot of the best highlights of the south island are on the bottom half of the island so I would spend my energy there.

I would probably fly into Queenstown and out of Christchurch or vice versa. The itinerary would look something like this:

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown, straight to FergburgersDay 2: Full day in Queenstown and around the areaDay 3: Wine tasting in Central Otago day tripDay 4: Queenstown to Te Anau (Fiordlands)Day 5: Full day hiking in Fiordlands National ParkDay 6: Milford Sound CruiseDay 7: Te Anau to Lake WanakaDay 8: Full day in Lake WanakaDay 9: Roy’s Peak hikeDay 10: Lake Wanaka to Mount Cook (hike the Hooker Valley)Day 11: Full day Mount Cook (Sealy Tarns) Day 12: Full day Mount Cook / Lake TekapoDay 13: Mount Cook to Franz Josef Glacier (6h driving)Day 14: Full day in Franz Josef Glacier area Day 15: Drive from Franz Josef to Christchurch via the west coast and Arthur’s Pass

One week itinerary for New Zealand south island

If you have one week in the south island, I would probably just focus on staying somewhere like Queenstown or Lake Wanaka and doing day trips. From Queenstown, you’re 3 hours to Milford sound and just under 4 hours to Mount Cook. You could feasible start very early in the day and visit these places without much issue.

Alternatively, you could stay in two different places to break it up.

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown, do Bob’s Peak and visit the Remarkables Day 2: Full day trip to Milford Sound through Te Anau, start early to get one hike in as well as the cruiseDay 3: Queenstown to Lake Wanaka Day 4: Roy’s Peak hikeDay 5: Mount Cook day tripDay 6: Mount Cook day tripDay 7: Back to Queenstown or to Christchurch for the flight out