New Zealand South Island Self Drive Adventure
Explore the best of the South Island. This loop will take you to the home of NZ Sauvignon Blanc, Blenheim. Experience the pure nature of the Abel Tasman NP. Discover the rugged beauty of the south-west cost and enjoy the majestic Queenstown and Te Anau as well as historic Dunedin.
- Blenheim – For the ‘foodies’! Fantastic wine and gourmet restaurants
- Nelson – Gateway to the ‘Abel Tasman National Park’. Nature Lovers delight!
- Punakaiki – ‘Pancake Rocks’ and ‘Blowholes’.
- Franz Josef/Fox Glacier – Glacier Country and World Heritage Area.
- Queenstown – Jewel of the South Island. Stunning landscapes combined with adventure
- Te Anau – Gateway to stunning Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park.
- Dunedin – The ‘Edinburgh’ of NZ, this quirky city is rich in ‘Scottish’ heritage. Close to rare Wildlife and unique landscapes just a stone throw away.
- Christchurch – A unique destination and evolving city. Combining heritage and regeneration
Depart Christchurch and drive north to the home of Marlborough wine in NZ, Blenheim. Blenheim is located in a wide river valley, which has proven to be perfect for growing grapes – not least of which is the flagship Sauvignon Blanc variety. Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest grape-growing and winemaking region with 65 wineries, 290 grape growers and 4,054 hectares (10,000 acres) in grape production.
Depart Blenheim and travel north to the seaside town of Picton and west along the Queen Charlotte drive to Havelock, skirt the edges of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds to reach Havelock. The scenery is spectacular. You will continue your drive on to Nelson and your stop for two nights. The Nelson region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, three national parks, 300-plus working artists and craftspeople, boutique wineries, fresh local produce and seafood, historical streetscapes, waterfront cafes and restaurants, and a thoroughly relaxed lifestyle.
Nelson, named after Admiral Lord Nelson of Battle of Trafalgar fame, is the main commercial centre for the region, whose main industries are forestry, horticulture, fishing and tourism. Enjoy a day exploring the Abel Tasman National Park that offers a range of activities for all age ranges and fitness levels. Ask about any park activities you would like to book, from Day Cruises to Hikes.
Depart Nelson heading south and comtinue onto Inangahua Junction and continue west through scenic reserves and the earthquake driven landscapes of the Buller Gorge towards Westport. Time permitting, take the detour via a spectacular road hugging the sides of cliffs with mirrors guiding you in some areas to Westport. Westport, with a population of approximately 6000 is the second largest town on the West Coast. This district offers an extensive range of activities for the outdoor enthusiast and the Cape Foulwind seal colony close by.
Drive south along the spectacular coastal State Highway 6 to Punakaiki in Paparoa National Park. Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. The Blowholes operate at high tide and are best on a blustery day when there are big seas. This area is part of Paparoa National Park and offers several short unguided bush walks for visitors.
From Punakaiki travel south along the rugged and awe-inspiring South-West Coast, that offers a multitude of photo stops. Enjoy a stop in Greymouth, the largest township on the West Coast and the commercial heart of the West Coast. Greymouth along with its surrounding rural townships, provides a selection of guided tours and walks, adventure, galleries, craft outlets and cafes. This is the home of Shantytown – a replica pioneering town with a working gold claim, various adventure & activity options including rafting, dolphin watching, underground cave rafting, and the Jade Boulder Gallery where you can watch jade carvers at work.
Travel onwards to Hokitika, Here you can view local fish species at an indoor aquarium or visit the Kiwi House or the local museum, which is an excellent source of social and natural history. Many local artisans work in natural media producing world-class works that visitors can purchase from one of the many art and craft outlets in Hokitika.
Arrive in the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier region. It is an area of mountain peaks, impressive glaciers, tranquil lake, raging rivers, lush rainforest and a magnificent coastline. Stretching 600 km/373 miles in length, the West Coast has either wholly or partially located within its boundaries five of New Zealand’s 13 national parks. Furthermore, the southern West Coast area has been designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its uniqueness and as a ‘special place’ in the world. here are also scenic flights and helicopter excursions for those who wish to view the glaciers from the air – included are opportunities to land on the glaciers. Please ask about these options when booking.
Depart the West Coast and travel through the scenic wilderness of Haast pass with it’s small waterfalls cascading alongside the road and dense bush. Stop along the way to take advantage of many short nature walks and picnic spots – at Makarora you can try the short 20 minute nature walk. Continue beside the twin lakes of Wanaka and Hawea to reach the stunningly beautiful Wanaka. Wanaka township is located beside the crystal-clear waters of New Zealand’s fourth largest lake, Lake Wanaka, reflecting the snow-capped peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park, whose dominant feature is Mt Aspiring, towering above a magnificent glacier-sculpted wilderness.
Continue your journey from Wanaka via the Cardrona Valley through to Queenstown where your will enjoy two nights. Queenstown is snuggled into a picturesque valley beside Lake Wakatipu and with the Remarkables Ranges towering alongside. Known for the wide range of adventure and outdoor activities that make the most of the scenery and the environment, Queenstown also offers a wide range of shopping and dining options in and around the township.
Travel from Queenstown to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Fiordland is a World Heritage Area and the largest national park in New Zealand. The Park covers 1.2 million hectares (2.9 million acres) and has natural wilderness on a grand scale, where waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine, forested valleys, and glacier-carved fiords indent its coastal boundaries. Milford Sound provides visitors with an unequalled experience of the natural beauty and wilderness of New Zealand.
Continue your journey east until your reach the historic university town of Dunedin, that is very proud of its Scottish heritage. The Victorian and Edwardian spires and towers of notable neo-Gothic buildings and stately homes punctuate Dunedin’s cityscape. The city centre is compact, with a surprising array of kerbside cafes, high quality local craft, art, jewellery and fashion design outlets. The city is renowned for its proximity to incredible wildlife.
Enjoy a day on the Otago Peninsula. Only a brief drive from the city centre, it is home to a colony of the world’s rarest penguins, the only mainland breeding colony of the royal albatross, rare New Zealand sea lions and the magnificent Larnach Castle.
Depart Dunedin heading north towards your final destination of your New Zealand adventure. We suggest a stop at Moeraki to view the famous “Moeraki Boulders” – best viewed at low tide. Continue to Oamaru and check out the restored whitestone historic precinct with its Victorian shops and eateries. The next major centre is Timaru, known for extensive Edwardian and Victorian architecture. Stop for lunch and enjoy the coastal views from Caroline Bay.
Continue to the Canterbury Plains and over the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers – braided river systems originating from the Southern Alps. A favourite local past-time is to try and hold your breath for the entire length of the Rakaia River Bridge. Continue via Burnham where New Zealand’s main military training camp is through Rolleston and Templeton to reach Christchurch mid-late afternoon.
Christchurch is the South Island’s largest city. It’s a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping and award-winning attractions. The city is constantly evolving and always giving locals and visitors something new to experience and explore.
Arrive in Christchurch or Picton and drive to Blenheim. Blenheim is located in a wide river valley, which has proven to be perfect for growing grapes – not least of which is the flagship Sauvignon Blanc variety. Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest grape-growing and wine making region with 65 wineries.
Depart Blenheim and journey to the Nelson. The city is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, rolling vineyards and golden beaches.
The region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, gateway to three national parks, 300-plus working artists and craftspeople, boutique wineries, fresh local produce and seafood, historical street scapes, waterfront cafes and restaurants, and a thoroughly relaxed lifestyle. Spend the next day at leisure for you to explore the wonderful beaches and national parks. The Abel Tasman National Park is very popular.
Continue through the Victoria Forest Park and along the spectacular west coast to Punakaiki in Paparoa National Park. See Punakaiki’s Pancake Rocks, distinctive geological formations formed over tens of thousands of years of pummeling from the Tasman Sea.
Travel onwards with awe-inspiring coastal scenery to the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier region. It is an area of mountain peaks, impressive glaciers, tranquil lake, raging rivers, lush rainforest and a magnificent coastline.
Punakaiki to Franz Josef Glacier (217km)
Punakaiki to Fox Glacier (240km)
Travel through the scenic wilderness of Haast Pass, stop ping along the way to take advantage of many short nature walks, pass crystal clear Lake Wanaka before continuing to Queenstown.
Queenstown is snuggled into a picturesque valley beside Lake Wakatipu and with the Remarkables Ranges towering alongside. Known for the wide range of adventure and outdoor activities that make the most of the scenery and the environment, Queenstown also offers a wide range of shopping and dining options in and around the township. Spend the next day in
at leisure for you to explore Queenstown and surroundings.
Fox Glacier to Queenstown (350km)
Franz Josef Glacier to Queenstown (391km)
Depart Queenstown and journey through mountains and alongside lakes to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park, a World Heritage Area and the largest national park in New Zealand.
The Park has natural wilderness on a grand scale, where waterfalls tumble hundreds of metres into pristine, forested valleys, and glacier-carved fiords indent its coastal boundaries. Milford Sound provides visitors with an unequalled experience of the natural beauty and wilderness of New Zealand.
Today you will continue onto Dunedin, an historic university town that spreads around a sheltered harbour. The Victorian and Edwardian spires and towers of notable neo-Gothic buildings and stately homes punctuate Dunedin’s cityscape. The city centre is compact, with a surprising array of kerbside cafes, high quality local craft, art, jewellery and fashion design outlets. Don’t miss the nearby Otago Peninsula which is home to rare wildlife including albatross and penguins.
Depart Dunedin and head north to Timaru, Stop and enjoy the coastal views from Caroline Bay before continuing on to Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city and the gateway to the South Island.
Bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, it is situated on the edge of the Canterbury Plains that stretch to the Southern Alps. Christchurch is a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping and award-winning attractions. The city centre is comfortingly compact and the most delightful central feature is the gently winding Avon River.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
- 9 nights accommodation
- 10 Day Hertz Group D Car Hire
- Breakfast; only where specified
- x1 650ml vaccuum insulated powder coated stainless steel ‘Goway’ Drink Bottle with Bamboo Lid (BPA Free)
- x1 Reusable foldup environmentally friendly shopping bag (suitable for carrying wet and dry items)
- Detailed Printed & Digital Day-to-Day itinerary with an integrated app
- 24 hour assistance
- International and domestic flights
- All meals unless otherwise specified
Suitable for ages 18 to 80
This package does not cater for people under 18 years of age. Should you wish to book children, this would become a bespoke itinerary, which we would be happy to create for you, with applicable activities incorporated.
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