Beauty meets adventure on this 3-week New Zealand road trip!
Itinerary Overview
Looking for an adventure that has something for everyone? This 3-week road trip that explores New Zealand’s South Island has it all! Hiking, glacier walks, canyoning, bungee jumps, white water rafting and views for miles. It can easily be shortened or lengthened and most of the excursions can be adapted to accommodate different comfort and/or fitness levels. I originally crafted this itinerary for a group of 4 in their 30-somethings and it can easily be adapted for a family trip (grandparents & children included) by adding a wine tasting excursion or choose a supported trek that includes bedding, hot showers, and prepared meals.
Detailed Itinerary
Days 1-3:
You’ve arrived in Christchurch! The start and end point of this amazing adventure. You’ll spend a couple nights here getting adjusted to the new time zone. However, there’s plenty to keep you and your group entertained. One option is to pick up your rental car early and head to the quaint town of Akaroa to swim with wild dolphins for a day!
Days 3-5:
Your rested, packed, and in your rental car. Snacks have been acquired and you’re off to Arthur’s Pass Village. For the next few days you’ll be enjoying mountain views, small town vibes, and maybe be visited by New Zealand’s mountain-dwelling parrot, the Kea!
Days 5-7:
Now that you’ve gotten a taste of the New Zealand mountains, you’ll journey over Arthur’s Pass to the west coast of the island. Not only will you find views of the Tasman Sea, you’ll end in the small coastal town of Franz Josef / Waiau where you’ll go on a heli-hike of the Franz-Josef Glacier and maybe be lucky enough to find a few glow worms in the evening.
Days 7-9:
Next up… Wanaka! This small town is an adventure mecca. Here you’ll go on a guided canyoning trip down a nearby waterfall. Never been canyoning before? No worries, there’s trips for all levels – beginners to advanced. Not up for getting wet? Hiking, rock climbing, and, for the game-lover, Puzzling World! Something for everyone is packed in this town.
Days 9-14:
Finally, you’re on your way to explore mountains and waterfalls on the Milford Track! You’ll be spending 6 days in Fiordland National Park, but you’ll not be sitting still! You’ll travel by boat from Te Anau to start your 4-day hut-to-hut walk! If you chose the DIY option, you’ll have shelters to sleep in, stoves to cook-on, and running cold water. If you chose the guided option, your meals will be prepared, your bed will be made, and your showers will be hot. Either way you choose, you’ll be amazed by the scenery and if you’re lucky, you may spend your full second day walking in the rain to find a valley of gushing waterfalls. At the end of the track, you’ll take a ferry across picturesque Milford Sound and grab some lunch while you wait for your bus to take you back to Te Anau.
Days 14-19:
Tired of moving everyday for 2 weeks straight? Great, next stop is Queenstown where you’ll stay put for the next 6 days so you can soak in the vibes of this adventure-focused town. But, what to do for 6 days? There’s plenty! White water rafting, bungee jumping, hiking, luging, parasailing, gondola-riding, or even shopping. Done with adventure? You could also just relax and enjoy the restaurants, people, and views – vacations can be relaxing, too, right?
Days 19-20:
Pack your bags, grab your passport, and drive yourselves back to Christchurch to catch your flight back home. It’s a long drive from Queenstown to Christchurch, but spending the extra time in Queenstown was worth it. Bon voyage!
Ready to Book This Adventure?
Yes, and I’d like some help: Ready to go on this adventure, but don’t have the energy to book it? Inspired by this itinerary and want to customize it, but don’t have the time to research or reconfigure? A little of both? I’ve got ya covered! Click on the button below to get started..
Yes, but I’d like to do book this myself: Great! Here’s some info to get you started:
Planning this itinerary requires a good amount of foresight, organization, and time. To start you need to select your general travel dates. Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, October – April is the best timeframe to plan this itinerary unless you prefer snowy walks and frozen waterfalls.
- Book the Milford Track First: The first thing you need to book is the Milford Track – even before airfare. It’s one of New Zealand’s Great Walks which means it can be booked up to a year in advance through the park service. Booking is available about 6 months before the season begins in October (so plan to start looking in May). Because of their popularity and entrance caps, the Great Walks fill up quickly. If you’re planning on booking through the park service, you have to be on it in order to get a spot. Alternatively, you could book through a guide service which will be way more costly, but does include prepared meals, a warm bed, and hot showers in addition to more availability (due to the high cost).
- Book Airfare Next: Now that you have dates for your Milford Trek, you can calculate your arrival and departure dates out of Christchurch and book airfare.
- Figure Out Mode of Transportation & Book: There are a few options for getting around on this itinerary. Since it’s only 3 weeks, the easiest option is to use a local car rental agency that specializes in renting cars for longer road trips or give Turo a try. You can even book a campervan to save on lodging. If you’re not keen on this type of option, you could consider buying and selling a car. This is a common travel practice for long stays, but for this 3 week itinerary it seems more effort than its worth. Another option is to take busses. While this is a cheaper option for solo travel, it increases the complexity of your trip.
- Book Lodging and Other Excursions: During prime season, hotels and other excursions can also book-up quickly. If you want to leave some room for flexibility, I’d recommend booking your lodging and then only your must-do excursions. For your week in Queenstown, as long as you have lodging, there are many activities that you can just book on the spot.
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