One Week on the South Island of New Zealand: 4 Ways to Plan Your Trip

About These Itineraries

These itineraries can be done all year. The best time to go hiking is spring through fall (September through May) and the best time to go skiing is in the winter (June through August).

Two of these itineraries travel point-to-point between Queenstown and Picton, which is best for those who also plan to include the North Island on their trip to New Zealand.

Each of these itineraries is seven days. If you have more time, take a look at our suggestions for 10 days and two weeks on the South Island.

Top Places to Go on the South Island

One week on the South Island does not give you very much time, but you can visit several essential places. We have visited New Zealand twice, exploring the South Island on both of these trips, and with a short visit to the South Island, here are the top places to visit.

Queenstown: The ‘Adventure Capital of the World,’ this town is home to a long list of thrilling experiences (bungy jumping, jet boat riding, and paragliding, just to name a few), plus a wonderfully long list of restaurants. Even on the fastest of itineraries, it’s worth spending at least 2 days in Queenstown.

Wanaka: Just an hour away from Queenstown, this lovely town has a spectacular setting on Lake Wanaka. Top experiences include hiking, wine tasting, climbing a waterfall, and dining with a view of Lake Wanaka.

Milford Sound: This is one of New Zealand’s top tourist attractions and often called one of the most beautiful places in the world. You can visit the Milford Sound on a day trip from Queenstown or on a more leisurely pace from Te Anau.

Aoraki / Mount Cook: This is the highest mountain in New Zealand. You can hike the trails at the base of the mountain at Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park or on a flightseeing tour from Queenstown, Mount Cook Village, or Franz Josef.

Franz Josef (Glacier Country): This area, which sits on the west coast of the South Island, is a land of lush rainforests, glacier capped mountains, and rugged coastlines. Take a flightseeing tour, land on a glacier, hike around Lake Matheson, go skydiving, and go hiking.

Picton: If you have plans to also visit the North Island, you can fly between the two islands or cross the Cook Strait on the ferry. Picton is home to the ferry port on the South Island. From here, you cross the Cook Strait, ending the voyage in Wellington.

There are many other fantastic places to visit on the South Island, but with a limited amount of time, and if it is your first time in New Zealand, we think it is best to put your time into the places listed above.

With more time on the South Island (10 days or more), you can start to add in destinations such as Doubtful Sound, the Southern Scenic Route, the Marlborough Wine Region, or do one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, such as the Routeburn Track or Abel Tasman Track.

Wanaka (photo taken in April)

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand Itineraries

• Itinerary #1: Queenstown to Christchurch
• Itinerary #2: Queenstown to Picton
• Itinerary #3: Queenstown to Abel Tasman & Picton
• Itinerary #4: Queenstown, Wanaka & the Milford Sound

One Week on the South Island Itinerary #1

Queenstown to Christchurch

This itinerary travels point-to-point from Queenstown to Christchurch. From Queenstown, day trip to the Milford Sound, then spend a few days road tripping to Wanaka, Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, past beautiful Lake Tekapo, ending in Christchurch.

This itinerary moves rather quickly, so you get to see a lot of the South Island, but it doesn’t give you much time to linger anywhere for very long.

There are international airports in both Queenstown and Christchurch, so from these endpoints, it’s easy to travel to your next destination, whether that is home, the North Island, or another place in Oceania.

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand Itinerary #1 Map

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown

Ideally, plan your arrival for the first half of the day. This gives you the afternoon to explore Queenstown. A great starting point for first time visitors is Skyline Queenstown. Ride the gondola to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. Riding the luge is one of the most popular experiences here, but you can also go mountain biking, bungy jumping, ziplining, and paragliding.

The view from Skyline Queenstown

Have dinner in Queenstown. The Stratosfare is located at Skyline Queenstown. In town, we highly recommend Blue Kanu or Nest Kitchen + Bar. Sleep in Queenstown.

Day 2: Queenstown

Spend the day in Queenstown.

For those who are active and adventurous, go bungy jumping, go for a jet boat ride, or go hiking (the Ben Lomond Track and Queenstown Hill Time Walk are great choices).

Jet boat ride on the Shotover River

If you are traveling with kids, go for a jet boat ride, ride the Luge at Skyline Queenstown if you did not do that yesterday, and visit Time Tripper.

For those who want to experience the more chill side of Queenstown, relax in the Onsen Hot Pools, take a boat cruise on Lake Wakatipu, or day trip to Glenorchy or Arrowtown.

Have dinner in Queenstown and sleep in Queenstown.

Day 3: Milford Sound Day Trip

The Milford Sound is the most popular attraction on the South Island. This experience usually combines a scenic drive from Te Anau to the Milford Sound and then a 1-to-3-hour cruise on the Milford Sound.

On this itinerary, you will day trip to the Milford Sound from Queenstown. It’s a long day but it gives you more free time later this week for Wanaka and Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.

Milford Sound | One Week on the South Island

There are several ways to day trip to the Milford Sound.

If you have a car, you can drive to the Milford Sound to Te Anau and continue on to the Milford Sound. Book a Milford Sound cruise midday and return to Queenstown in the evening. It’s about 4 hours of driving one way (8 hours round trip). This day trip lasts about 12 hours.

If you don’t have a car, or if you just prefer to let someone else handle the 8 hours of driving, book a tour. This tour is one of the highest rated from Queenstown. Or take a premium small group tour from Queenstown. These day trips last about 12 hours.

If the idea of spending 8 hours in a car, bus, or van sounds like torture, you have the option to take a flightseeing tour to the Milford Sound followed by a cruise. You miss the scenic drive from Te Anau to the Milford Sound, but you get to see the Southern Alps and the Milford Sound from the sky, so it is an incredible experience. It’s also the priciest, but it only takes a half a day, so you’ll also have more time in Queenstown.

Tonight, sleep in Queenstown.

Day 4: Wanaka

In the morning, check out of your hotel and drive to Wanaka. There are two driving routes.

Via Crown Range Road: This drive is 70 km and takes an hour. On this drive, you will cross the Crown Range. At the highest point, make a pitstop and enjoy the views from the scenic overlooks. Then, descend to Cardrona, see the bra fence, and continue to Wanaka. This is the most scenic route but it is also the windiest.

Via State Highway 6: This drive is 110 km and takes an hour and a half. It goes through Cromwell and skips the switchbacks and curves of Crown Range Road. This route is not as scenic but it is a better option for those who get car sick.

The view from Crown Range Road

Spend the day in Wanaka. If you are a hiker, take your pick between Roys Peak Track and the Rocky Mountain Track to Diamond Lake. Those looking for even more adventure can do the Wildwire Via Ferrata and climb a waterfall. You can also go wine tasting, see #ThatWanakaTree, go for a cruise on Lake Wanaka, and watch a movie in Cinema Paradiso.

Roy’s Peak Track | One Week on the South Island

For dinner, we recommend Bistro Gentil (wine bar and French food with views of Lake Wanaka) or Big Fig (healthy Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine).

Tonight, sleep in Wanaka.

Day 5: Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

In the morning, check out of your hotel and drive north to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park (205 km, 2.5 hours). The drive along Lake Pukaki is one of the most beautiful and iconic scenic drives on the South Island of New Zealand.

Lake Pukaki

Spend the afternoon hiking the trails in the national park. The Hooker Valley Track is the most famous and gives you awesome views of New Zealand’s tallest mountain. You can also go flightseeing, stargazing, or hike the other shorter trails in the valley.

Hooker Valley Track | One Week on the South Island

Sleep in Mount Cook Village.

Day 6: Aoraki / Mount Cook to Christchurch

Again, it’s time to move on. Check out of your hotel and drive to Christchurch (330 km, 4 hours). On this drive, you’ll repeat the scenic drive along Lake Pukaki. Not long after, you’ll reach Lake Tekapo. This is a great spot to get out of your car, stretch your legs, and capture this stunning blue lake on your camera. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a popular photography spot here. You can also grab a snack or cup of coffee before resuming the drive.

Lake Tekapo

This afternoon and tomorrow, you have the option to spend your time in Christchurch, on the Banks Peninsula, or both.

Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. A series of devastating earthquakes rattled the city in 2010 and 2011, and these events have left their mark on the city. Top experiences here include visiting Quake City (a museum about the earthquakes), Punting on the Avon, and visiting the museums in town.

Christchurch | One Week on the South Island

Banks Peninsula is a small, volcanic peninsula and sitting in the center of this mountainous landscape is Akaroa Harbour and the small town of Akaroa. We recommend Banks Peninsula for those who like scenic drives, wildlife experiences, and the charm of a small, coastal town. For a full list of things to do, plus recommended hotels, take a look at our Guide to Akaroa & the Banks Peninsula.

This afternoon, you can do a few things in Christchurch, have dinner, and then drive to Akaroa and spend the night here. Or, drive straight from Lake Tekapo to Akaroa, have dinner in Akaroa, and spend the night here.

Akaroa, New Zealand

Day 7: Akaroa & the Banks Peninsula

Spend the day on the Banks Peninsula. Take a wildlife cruise to see Hector’s dolphins (the smallest dolphins in the world), go on a scenic drive on Summit Road and/or to Misty Peaks Reserve, and meet the Shamarra Alpacas.

Tonight, sleep in Akaroa or in Christchurch (Christchurch is the better option if you have an early flight tomorrow).

Banks Peninsula | One Week on the South Island

One Week on the South Island Itinerary #2

Queenstown to Picton

This itinerary is very similar to Itinerary #1. The major difference is the endpoint, which is Blenheim/Picton, which sets you up to cross the Cook Strait to the North Island the following day. Since you are traveling farther up the South Island, you’ll have to give up the visit to Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula.

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand Itinerary #2 Map

Days 1 through 5: Queenstown to Aoraki / Mount Cook

These days are identical to days 1 through 5 of Itinerary #1.

Day 6: Aoraki / Mount Cook to Christchurch

Check out of your hotel and drive to Christchurch (330 km, 4 hours). On this drive, you’ll repeat the scenic drive along Lake Pukaki. Not long after, you’ll reach Lake Tekapo. This is a great spot to get out of your car, stretch your legs, and capture this stunning blue lake on your camera. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a popular photography spot here. You can also grab a snack or cup of coffee before resuming the drive.

Spend the afternoon in Christchurch. Top experiences here include visiting Quake City (a museum about the earthquakes), Punting on the Avon, and visiting the museums in town.

Sleep in Christchurch.

Punting on the Avon, Christchurch

Day 7: Drive to Blenheim or Picton

From Christchurch, head north towards Blenheim. It is a 310 km drive to Blenheim which takes about 4 hours. State Highway 1 runs alongside the east coast and on this drive you’ll pass Kaikoura.

Kaikoura Beach | One Week on the South Island

Three species of dolphins are found in the water near Kaikoura, including dusky dolphins, Hector’s dolphins, and common dolphins. Orca can also make an appearance from September to April.

Dolphin Encounter runs tours all year. You can either simply view the dolphins or, for about double the price, swim with dolphins.

Tonight, sleep in Blenheim or Picton. Picton is the location of the ferry port and it is a 25 minute-drive from Blenheim to Picton. We stay in Blenheim, since this small city has a lot of great hotels and restaurants.

In Blenheim, we recommend 14th Lane Urban Hotel and Ellena Court Motel (we have stayed in both of these and had great experiences at both of them). For dinner in Blenheim, we recommend Gramado’s, a Brazilian restaurant that gets rave reviews (try the Brazilian cheese bread and I loved the Feijoada, a Brazilian black bean stew).

One Week on the South Island Itinerary #3

Queenstown to Abel Tasman & Picton

Like Itinerary #2, this itinerary starts in Queenstown and ends in Blenheim/Picton. The big difference here is that you travel along the west side of the South Island, through Glacier Country and Franz Josef. You skip the Milford Sound and Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park but can still see Aoraki / Mount Cook from the sky if you choose to take a helicopter tour from Franz Josef. You also get to spend some time in Abel Tasman National Park.

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand Itinerary #3 Map

Days 1 & 2: Queenstown

Days 1 and 2 are identical to days 1 and 2 of Itinerary #1.

Day 3: Wanaka

In the morning, check out of your hotel and drive to Wanaka. There are two driving routes.

Via Crown Range Road: This drive is 70 km and takes an hour. On this drive, you will cross the Crown Range. At the highest point, make a pitstop and enjoy the views from the scenic overlooks. Then, descend to Cardrona, see the bra fence, and continue to Wanaka. This is the most scenic route but it is also the windiest.

Via State Highway 6: This drive is 110 km and takes an hour and a half. It goes through Cromwell and skips the switchbacks and curves of Crown Range Road. This route is not as scenic but it is a better option for those who get car sick.

Spend the day in Wanaka. If you are a hiker, take your pick between Roy’s Peak Track and the Rocky Mountain Track to Diamond Lake. Those looking for even more adventure can do the Wildwire Via Ferrata and climb a waterfall. You can also go wine tasting, see #ThatWanakaTree, go for a cruise on Lake Wanaka, and watch a movie in Cinema Paradiso.

Tonight, sleep in Wanaka.

View from the Rocky Mountain Track in Wanaka

Day 4: Drive to Glacier Country

From Wanaka, it takes 4 hours to drive the 290 km to Franz Josef. Along the way, there are a few places to pause, enjoy the view, and even do a short hike.

From Wanaka, head north on State Highway 6. About 30 minutes into the drive you’ll reach The Neck, a narrow strip of land that sits between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. There are two scenic viewpoints here: Lake Hawea Lookout and Lake Wanaka Lookout.

Lake Hawea

Thirty minutes (35 km) north of The Neck is the Blue Pools Track. This 3 km out-and-back hike takes 30 minutes to an hour and takes you to viewpoints of vibrantly blue pools on the Makarora River.

Blue Pools | One Week on the South Island

Continue the scenic drive to Franz Josef. Once in Franz Josef, check into your hotel. If you still have time and energy, you can go on a short hike. For a full list of things to do and where to stay, take a look at our Guide to Glacier Country.

Day 5: Franz Josef & Glacier Country

Spend the day in Glacier Country. The best thing to do here is to take a flightseeing tour, where you get a bird’s eye view of Aoraki / Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. You can add on glacier landings and even go heli-hiking.

One of many spectucular views on the flightseeing tour from Franz Josef

Lake Matheson | One Week on the South Island

More things to do in Glacier Country include the scenic walk around Lake Matheson, hiking to viewpoints of the glaciers, seeing the rarest kiwi at the West Coast Wildlife Centre, and relaxing in the hot pools. Again, get the full list in our Guide to Glacier Country.

Tonight, sleep in Glacier Country.

Day 6: Drive to Abel Tasman National Park

Today, drive to Motueka. This small town is a great place to stay to explore Abel Tasman National Park. To get here, it is a 6-hour drive (465 km) without stops. Like the drive on day 4, today is filled with scenic places to visit along the drive.

Hoktika Gorge

Hoktika Gorge is a short detour off of State Highway 6. You’ll reach this point about 2 hours into the drive from Franz Josef.

This aquamarine gorge is a fantastic hiking and swimming spot on the South Island. A 2 km walking trail loops around the gorge, crossing several suspension bridges along the way. It takes about 45 minutes to do the walk, longer if you pause for a swim.

Hoktika Gorge | One Week on the South Island

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

About an hour and a half drive north of Hoktika Gorge are the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. On this small peninsula sits stacks of limestone rocks, that with a little imagination, looks like stacks of pancakes. This view of the rocks and the coastline is one of our favorite coastal views on the South Island of New Zealand.

To see the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, it is a 1.1 km walking loop that takes about 20 minutes. It is free to visit.

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

Continue the drive to Motueka and check into your hotel. We stayed at the Terraced Chalets and had a wonderful experience but the Abbey Court Motel and the Avalon Manor Motel also get great reviews.

Day 7: Abel Tasman National Park

Spend the day in Abel Tasman National Park. A great way to spend the day here is to do a cruise and hike combo. Learn more in our article How to Spend One Day in Abel Tasman National Park.

Abel Tasman National Park | One Week on the South Island

Tonight, sleep in Motueka (a 180 km, 2.5-hour drive to Picton) or sleep in Havelock, Blenheim, or Picton to have a shorter drive to the ferry port in Picton the following day.

One Week on the South Island Itinerary #4

Queenstown, Wanaka & the Milford Sound

This itinerary starts and ends in Queenstown and it moves slower than the itineraries above. You will visit fewer places but spend more time in each of them. This is a great itinerary for those who want to move at a slower pace and really get to know this one small part of the South Island.

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand Itinerary #4 Map

Day 1: Arrive in Queenstown, drive to Wanaka

On your first day, arrive in Queenstown and drive to Wanaka. There are two driving routes from Queenstown to Wanaka.

Via Crown Range Road: This drive is 70 km and takes an hour. On this drive, you will cross the Crown Range. At the highest point, make a pitstop and enjoy the views from the scenic overlooks. Then, descend to Cardrona, see the bra fence, and continue to Wanaka. This is the most scenic route but it is also the windiest.

Via State Highway 6: This drive is 110 km and takes an hour and a half. It goes through Cromwell and skips the switchbacks and curves of Crown Range Road. This route is not as scenic but it is a better option for those who get car sick.

Once in Wanaka, check into your hotel and have dinner. For hotel and restaurant recommendations, read our Guide to Wanaka.

#ThatWanakaTree | One Week on the South Island

Day 2: Wanaka

Spend the day in Wanaka. If you are a hiker, take your pick between Roy’s Peak Track and the Rocky Mountain Track to Diamond Lake. Those looking for even more adventure can do the Wildwire Via Ferrata and climb a waterfall. You can also go wine tasting, see #ThatWanakaTree, go for a cruise on Lake Wanaka, and watch a movie in Cinema Paradiso.

Tonight, sleep in Wanaka.

Day 3: Wanaka to Te Anau

Today, drive to Te Anau. It takes 3 hours to drive the 230 km between Wanaka and Te Anau. However, it is a gorgeous drive.

You have the option to do something in Wanaka in the morning (if you are an avid hiker, I recommend doing a second hike in Wanaka) and drive to Te Anau in the afternoon. Alternatively, you can do the drive in the morning and once in Te Anau, visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves.

Tonight, sleep in Te Anau. Recommended hotels include Annies on Milford (we stayed here and it’s one of the highest rated properties in town), Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments, and Bob & Maxine Backpackers. For dinner, we recommend Redcliff Restaurant & Bar.

Day 4: Milford Sound

Since you are staying in Te Anau, you have plenty of time for the scenic drive to the Milford Sound, a longer Milford Sound cruise, and the option to add on the Key Summit hike.

For full details on how to plan your day, check out our Guide to the Milford Sound.

Tonight, sleep in Te Anau. Have dinner at Ditto, Sandfly Café, or the MacKinnon Room.

Milford Sound | One Week on the South Island

Key Summit Hike | One Week on the South Island

Day 5: Queenstown

In the morning, drive to Queenstown (170 km, 2 hours). Spend the rest of the day in Queenstown.

Devil’s Staircase, on the drive along Lake Wakatipu, on the way to Queenstown

Visiting Skyline Queenstown is a great thing to do on your first day here. The views are amazing and there’s lots to do to keep you busy, such as the Luge, mountain biking, hiking, bungy jumping, ziplining, and paragliding. If you are traveling with kids, you could spend all day here.

In the evening, have dinner in town. You will sleep in Queenstown for the rest of this itinerary.

Days 6 & 7: Queenstown

This itinerary ends with two full days in Queenstown. There are a lot of different ways to plan your time, depending on your interests. From thrilling activities like bungy jumping and jet boat riding, to more chill experiences such as wine tasting and visiting a natural hot pool, you have tons of options (see the full list in our Queenstown Bucket List).

To help you plan your time, take a look at our Queenstown Itinerary, which lists multiple ways to plan your days, including great day trip options.

Dinner at Nest Kitchen + Bar in Queenstown

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit the South Island?

The South Island can be visited all year.

Summer (December through February) is generally the best time to be here, with warmer, drier weather. However, it is also the busiest time of year to be here.

In autumn (March through May), temperatures cool off, as do the crowds, but rain chances increase. Fall colors make an appearance.

In the winter (June, July, and August), many alpine trails close once the snow begins to fall. This is the best time to visit the South Island if you plan to go skiing.

And finally, in the spring (September through November), temperatures warm up and flowers begin to bloom. In late spring, rainfall goes down but crowds start to rise.

Why is the South Island so popular?

With its mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, and rugged coastal scenery, the South Island is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the world. These dramatic landscapes were used as filming locations for a long list of movies, include the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Bungy jumping and jet boat riding also got their start on the South Island.

Is 7 days enough time for the South Island of New Zealand?

7 days gives you just enough time to visit a few of the South Island’s most popular spots, including Queenstown, Wanaka, Aoraki / Mount Cook, and the Milford Sound. This is just enough time to explore a small part the South Island. For those who want to road trip from the top to the bottom of the South Island, plan on spending a minimum of two weeks here.

If you have any questions about how to spend one week on the South Island of New Zealand, let us know in the comment section below and we’ll be happy to help!

More Information for Your Trip to New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIP: With 3 weeks in New Zealand, visit the highlights on a road trip to the North Island and South Island. If you have less time, you can shorten this itinerary by spending 2 weeks on the South Island.

SOUTH ISLAND: On the South Island of New Zealand, visit Milford Sound, spend a few days in Wanaka, hike the Routeburn Track, drive the Southern Scenic Route, visit the Marlborough Wine Region, spend a day in Christchurch, and visit Franz Josef and Glacier Country. For the full list, read our article Best Things to Do on the South Island.

QUEENSTOWN: Learn more about what there is to see and do in our article Best Things to Do in Queenstown and how to plan your time with our Queenstown Itinerary.

NORTH ISLAND: Top experiences on the North Island include the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (one of the best day hikes in the world), spending a day or two in Auckland, visiting Waiheke Island on a day trip from Auckland, touring Hobbiton, a visit to Taupō, and seeing the glowworms and blackwater rafting in the Waitomo Caves. For the full list, read our article about the Best Things to Do on the North Island.

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