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This South Island Highlights 15 day New Zealand Itinerary will allow you to see the best the South Island has to offer.
South Island Highlights 15 Day New Zealand Itinerary
Most people start their South Island holiday In
Christchurch
.
I'd like to suggest an alternative. How about flying into
Wellington
on the lower North Island! That may sound crazy, but it allows you to catch the
inter island ferry
across to Picton, which is a great way to start your holiday. And it enables you to make the most of your South Island 15 day itinerary. As you approach Picton you travel through the Marlborough Sounds, and you will get a much better look at them from the ferry than you would by road. You then collect your
hire car
from Picton and commence your journey at the top of the South Island, which means you won't need to backtrack over the same ground.
My suggestion for your South Island Highlights 15 day New Zealand itinerary is:
Day 1. Fly to Wellington. Stay in the city or the Oriental Bay area so that you have a short trip to the ferry the next morning.
Day 2. Today your New Zealand itinerary takes you from Wellington to Picton on a morning ferry (about 3-4 hours). Then collect your hire car at Picton and drive to Kaikoura (about 2 hours).
You travel along the coast for most of the journey. The Kaikoura Range comes down to the sea and depending on the time of year there may be plenty of snow still.
Day 3.
Kaikoura is famous for seafood and marine life.
Seal colonies can be viewed close to the township, but perhaps the major attraction are the well run
whale watch Kaikoura
tours. You will gasp at the beauty of these amazing creatures as your tour captain takes you up close. Best to go in the morning before the winds start.
After lunch, head to the lovely alpine village of Hanmer Springs (about 2 hours).
Hanmer Springs is famous for its thermal pools, where you will be able to select from pools of varying temperatures. If you are lucky enough to be there in winter, a covering of snow provides a wonderful contrast as you laze in the warm waters. A lovely clean, alpine resort.
Day 4. Today your New Zealand Itinerary takes you to Christchurch (about 2 hours drive), the South Island's largest city.
Day 5. Explore Christchurch
Christchurch is a thriving, bustling city of some 370,000 people.
The city has a very "English" feel, reflected in the architecture (and the Avon river which runs through the centre of the city).
There is a huge range of
Things to do in Christchurch.
.
The International Antarctic Centre, located at Christchurch airport, provides a wonderful overview of antarctic exploration. If the cold doesn't bother you too much, try the wind chill room. Brrrrr!
Other recommended activities in Christchurch are a tram ride through the city, a punt ride on the Avon, a trip on the gondola (amazing views of the area), and a drive to the quaint, seaside "French" village of Akaroa.
Day 6. Today your New Zealand itinerary takes you from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (about 3 hours). Stay the night (try for a lake view room. The scenery is amazing).
Lake Tekapo is a small resort village located on the shores of one of the most amazing lakes you will ever see. Sediment from nearby glaciers is washed into Lake Tekapo, giving it an unbelievable turquoise colour. The snow capped Southern Alps and Mt Cook seem to hover over the lake. The Church of the Good Shepherd, perhaps one of the most photographed things in New Zealand, sits proudly lakeside.
An alternative to Lake Tekapo would be
Mt Cook.
At 3,754 metres, Aoraki/Mt Cook is New Zealand's highest peak.
The World Heritage listed area is stunningly beautiful. Visitors can enjoy hikes, heli flights, and glacier landings.
Another point of interest is the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre. Sir Edmund is arguably New Zealand's most famous person, and holds legend status in New Zealand.
In 1953, Sir Edmund and Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, were the first documented people to reach the summit of Mt Everest.
The alpine centre includes a 3D movie theatre, planetarium and museum, which documents the history of alpine exploration.
Day 7. Today you drive from Tekapo (or Mt Cook) to Queenstown (3.5 hours), where you spend four nights. Queenstown is one of the highlights of your New Zealand itinerary.
There seems to be an endless supply of
Queenstown activities,
and four days is our recommended minimum time here. Try and book a lake view room if you can.
Days 8 to 10. Explore Queenstown as much or as little as you like. This will give you a chance to relax for a few days, although you should plan a bus trip to Milford Sound on one of these days.
Milford Sound has been referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World, and is New Zealand's number one tourist attraction. If you do one thing in New Zealand, visit Milford Sound. Pictures and words do not do it justice. See it for yourself. The trip to Milford Sound is a big day, and the trip takes about 4 hours each way, so we recommend taking an organised bus tour, rather than driving yourself. The road trip is an experience in itself, with spectacular scenery, and the eerie Homer Tunnel.
In Queenstown itself, you will never be short of things to do. Home to two world class ski areas (Coronet Peak and The Remarkables), Queenstown is a popular winter destination for visitors from around the world.
But it is much more than just a winter destination. Jetboat rides, rafting, hang gliding, and bungy jumping are all available in Queenstown, and although Queenstown is known as the "Adventure Capital" of New Zealand, it is also a place where you can choose to do nothing other than take in the amazing scenery.
Here are a selection of
Queenstown activities.
Also recommended are a cruise on the historic steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, and a trip on the Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak. Both provide a relaxing way to take in the beautiful scenery in Queenstown.
Day 11. Drive from Queenstown to
Wanaka.
Make sure you travel over the Crown Range rather than through Cromwell, as it's shorter and has better scenery (about 1 hour). About 20 kilometres before Wanaka stop off at the old Cardrona Hotel for morning tea or lunch. Stay the night in Wanaka. The scenery is similar to Queenstown, but the town is less hurried. A beautiful spot on the shores of Lake Wanaka. Visit Puzzling World while in Wanaka.
Day 12. Drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef Glacier (about 4 hours).
Spectacular scenery past endless lakes and then to the West Coast which is wild and rugged. Better to stay at Franz Josef rather than Fox Glacier as FJ has more variety in accommodation and places to eat. And you can see the glacier from the centre of the village. New Zealand weather can change quickly, but if the weather and funds allow,
take a helicopter flight
on to the glacier. Unbelievable!
Day 13. Your New Zealand itinerary takes you from Franz Josef to Punakaiki to visit the unusual Pancake Rocks and the blowhole. The west coast scenery is stunning and the views are spectacular. Punakaiki is a small village with a few shops, and although there is not much else there, it does have a beautiful motel called the
to visit Pancake Rocks and the blowhole. The west coast scenery is stunning and the views are spectacular. Punakaiki is a small village with a few shops, and although there is not much else there, it does have a beautiful motel called the
Punakaiki Resort,
which is absolute beachfront. We have stayed there a few times. The rooms look over the ocean and the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows so you can watch the sun setting over the ocean. Beautiful.
Day 14. Today on your New Zealand itinerary you travel from Punakaiki to Greymouth (about 30 minutes). Drop your car off then catch the Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. Along with Milford Sound, this is one of the "must do" things in NZ. The train takes about 4 hours to go from Greymouth on the West Coast to Christchurch on the East Coast, and travels through the alps. Have your camera ready, sit back and enjoy a wine, and watch the world go by. A taste of New Zealand rail travel is a wonderful way to finish your holiday.
Day 15. Fly home.
I hope that you have found this South Island Highlights 15 day New Zealand itinerary helpful. Enjoy your time in New Zealand.
South Island Highlights 15 Day New Zealand Itinerary Route Map
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South Island Highlights 15 Day New Zealand Itinerary-Copyright 2009 New Zealand Travel Showcase
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