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where to stay, eat, and stop on a south island road trip
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items a kiwi-approved 2026 guide to new zealand's south island. to recreate a similar south island road trip, fly into queenstown and out of christchurch, hitting the following spots during 7 days in new zealand 🇳🇿
Map
Sections
7
queenstown
queenstown to franz josef
franz josef
hokitika
kaikōura
christchurch
queenstown
the adventure capital of new zealand, queenstown is nestled on the edge of lake wakatipu with notable fjords milford and doubtful sound only a day trip away. while in town, put your bravery to the test whether you're bungy jumping or racing past clif...
home to new zealand's tallest bungy at 439 ft, you can jump, swing, catapult, or just watch as a spectator as adrenaline junkies plummet towards the canyon below.
the world's first commercial bungy jumping company founded by alan john "aj" hackett who popularized the extreme sport after jumping from the eiffel tower, you're in good hands with the og jumpers 🤸♀️
the world's first commercial bungy jumping company founded by alan john "aj" hackett who popularized the extreme sport after jumping from the eiffel tower, you're in good hands with the og jumpers 🤸♀️
AJ Hackett Bungy Jumping
the most famous burger in queenstown, prepare to queue to try a juicy bite of this prime new zealand patty roughly double the size of an in-n-out burger 🍔
limited seating exists outside the restaurant, so take your folded brown paper bag to eat at perky’s floating bar down by the wharf
limited seating exists outside the restaurant, so take your folded brown paper bag to eat at perky’s floating bar down by the wharf
Fergburger
bring your fergburger to this floating bar with an open air rooftop and additional outdoor seating around the bow 🛥️
Perky's Floating Bar
fooled once again in oceania by the word “walk,” this is undoubtedly a hike with a 500 m elevation gain over 5km, taking about 1.5 hours to complete at a brisk pace.
ascend the hill overlooking queenstown, weaving through a douglas fir forest and past the basket of dreams spiral sculpture for breathtaking views of the town below and lakes beyond 🥾
ascend the hill overlooking queenstown, weaving through a douglas fir forest and past the basket of dreams spiral sculpture for breathtaking views of the town below and lakes beyond 🥾
Queenstown Hill Walking Track
one of the finest meals you can find in queenstown, rātā's seasonal, locally-sourced south island menus come in à la carte and tasting varieties.
i opted for the heirloom tomato marlborough oysters, kingfish crudo, and truffle pecorino gnocchi 🦪
i opted for the heirloom tomato marlborough oysters, kingfish crudo, and truffle pecorino gnocchi 🦪
Rātā Restaurant
milford sound—more accurately described as a fjord—is a can't miss day trip from queenstown, but driving there will take you more than 4 hours one-way.
instead, shoot over on a breezy 30-minute flight weaving amongst snow-capped mountain peaks. a jaw-droppingly beautiful 2-hour cruise awaits past staggering falls and sheer cliff faces before your return flight to queenstown, making a fly-cruise-fly ...
instead, shoot over on a breezy 30-minute flight weaving amongst snow-capped mountain peaks. a jaw-droppingly beautiful 2-hour cruise awaits past staggering falls and sheer cliff faces before your return flight to queenstown, making a fly-cruise-fly ...
Fly-Cruise-Fly to Milford Sound
a belle epoque coronation bathhouse on the beach, this british cafe serves up bits and bobs perfect for a casual waterfront lunch 👑
The Bathhouse
next to the bathhouse, meander through the queenstown gardens as bikers and runners whiz past while groups play disc golf on the middle of the peninsula. a waterfront path weaves around the perimeter while flower gardens sit elevated and inland 🌹
Queenstown Gardens
ride the skyline gondola on the edge of town for elevated views over queenstown, access to the luge and mountain bike tracks, stargazing at night, or to hike the ben lomond trail.
if you don't feel like paying for a ticket up, the 2.3 mile tiki trail to bob's peak while bring you to the same spot for free, with this steep ascent climbing through the dense forest 🚡
if you don't feel like paying for a ticket up, the 2.3 mile tiki trail to bob's peak while bring you to the same spot for free, with this steep ascent climbing through the dense forest 🚡
Skyline Queenstown
race around two paved luge circuits at the top of the skyline platform. unlike a coaster, you're completely in control of your speed, line, and how sharply you turn into each corner.
assuming you take the gondola up, it's much cheaper to buy a combo ticket which includes a minimum of 3 luge rides. the luge track does not take you all the way down to the bottom of the hill; instead a separate open chair lift carries you back up to...
assuming you take the gondola up, it's much cheaper to buy a combo ticket which includes a minimum of 3 luge rides. the luge track does not take you all the way down to the bottom of the hill; instead a separate open chair lift carries you back up to...
Skyline Luge
situated next to the gondola base station, ice bar is one of three chilly drinking experiences around queenstown, including below zero and minus 5°. don a parka, gloves, and select your drink package from signature cocktails and mocktails to premium ...
Queenstown Ice Bar
while walking here is unadvisable considering it's uphill the whole way when coming from town, nest is your ideal upscale dinner with a view in queenstown. gaze out at the lake and mountains beyond through the floor-to-ceiling windows, curl up next t...
NEST
a floating sauna right on the lakefront, watershed is best experienced as an early morning endeavor—since booking a sunrise time slot may mean your “shared sauna” ends up being completely private!
ideal for solo travelers (especially considering the onsen hot pools down the road won't let you book for 1), heat up in the soothing sauna before taking a cold plunge dip in the fresh lake water ♨️
ideal for solo travelers (especially considering the onsen hot pools down the road won't let you book for 1), heat up in the soothing sauna before taking a cold plunge dip in the fresh lake water ♨️
Watershed Saunas
queenstown to franz josef
driving from queenstown to franz josef in a day is quite the endeavor, meaning this 5+ hour leg requires a significant amount of stops to keep things interesting. pass by arrowtown, wānaka, haast, and a few other natural standouts on your way up nort...
dig into homemade kiwi classics like a steak and cheese pie for breakfast at the no-reservation bakehouse situated on the lush ayrburn winery estate 🥧
The Bakehouse at Ayrburn
the remnants of a historic gold mining town with period architecture to match the era live on in arrowtown, a quick stop on your journey north only 5 minutes down the road from ayrburn 🌟
buckingham street is the main commercial stretch with the arr...
Arrowtown
the most lavender i've ever laid eyes on, frolic through rows and rows of this purple flower on the wānaka lavender farm. aside from lavender, the grounds boast a diverse garden, plenty of farm animals, an outdoor tea patio, and a gift shop with all ...
Wānaka Lavender Farm
a quick pitstop on your journey north, this lone tree emerging from lake wānaka has become a social media star as the de facto symbol of town. snap your own shot of this natural landmark before continuing on
Wānaka Tree
while cruising up state highway 6 through haast pass, two scenic falls make an excellent driving break considering they're both right off the road with convenient free car parks. the first is fantail falls when coming up from the south, a wider and m...
Fantail Falls
10 minutes up the road is thunder creek falls, a more powerful concentrated stream with a gorgeous glacial riverbed. post up on a rock here and enjoy a quick grab-and-go lunch or snack break during your long drive day 💧
Thunder Creek Falls
a penguin breeding ground from july to november, transition from lush rainforest to a rocky coastal beach on this 3.2 mile trail. cross a suspension bridge and a few boardwalks on your way to the sand, with the entire out-and-back route taking about ...
Monro Beach Walk
catch mirror reflections of aoraki (aka mount cook) on this calm glacial lake, best viewed during the serene sunset. once again walking through a rainforest, it's a quick 20 minutes to the viewing platform, although you can continue around the whole ...
Lake Matheson
franz josef
a can't miss stop on the south island, you have to visit glacier country. whether the fox or franz josef glacier is calling your name, the spectacular scale of these u-shaped valleys carved by centuries of moving ice are one of the most unique, yet a...
a cultural activity where you get to create a wearable souvenir to take home, head to the home of eccentric jan to carve a piece of jade (aka greenstone) into a personalized pounamu. whether you're looking to shape a necklace, bracelet, or key chain,...
Jade Carving at Te Koha Gallery
with a somewhat off-putting name, this coffee café is the coziest in town with outdoor fire pits to warm up by during a quick brekkie. this is truly a farm-to-table operation, as i learned when my sweet waitress apologized that the eggs “fresh off th...
Full Of Beans
my top new zealand activity, board a chopper and fly up to the franz josef glacier. a 2-hour hike through hardened ice ensues where your guide will be carving away with a pick axe as you climb ice mounds, scoot through tunnels, and sip on fresh glaci...
Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike
hokitika
a quaint beach town with an annual driftwood competition, this west coast destination is ideal for breaking up a drive around the island. with significantly more commercial development than true pitstops like haast, there's enough going on with diffe...
a quaint coastal beach town, hokitika is an ideal place to spend the night when breaking up a roadtrip crossing over between the west and east coasts through lewis pass.
hokitika is much more developed than haast which was another stopover destination i considered, plus if you visit in january you can catch the week-long driftwood and sand sculpture art exhibition
hokitika is much more developed than haast which was another stopover destination i considered, plus if you visit in january you can catch the week-long driftwood and sand sculpture art exhibition
Hokitika
a casual whole-pie spot, enjoy fat pipi's pizza in their large outdoor dining garden or carry your box out to the beach to dig in on the sand.
the cajun supreme was recommended by another traveler, while i went with the bbq chicken 🍕
the cajun supreme was recommended by another traveler, while i went with the bbq chicken 🍕
Fat Pipi Pizza
directly across the road from shining star accommodations, keep your flashlight down and voice low as you enter this secluded home of glow worms.
the bioluminescent larvae of a native gnat, a quick jaunt through the dark will bring you to the rounde...
Glow Worm Dell
glacier freeze gatorade irl, this is a can't miss detour 30 minutes outside of hokitika. about an hour walk roundtrip, wind around the 1.4 mile loop trail and across two suspension bridges while taking in the beauty of this milky turquoise water—just...
Hokitika Gorge
kaikōura
an eastern coastal town with abundant marine life, kaikōura is the place to visit if you're seeking ethical wild animal encounters. from dolphins and fur seals to albatrosses and whales, this protected marine reserve is THE place to observe and swim ...
a choose-your-own-adventure three course menu, dine at the lush hapuku lodge outside town where vegetables and herbs come straight from the onsite garden as other produce is sourced from local growers. watch the chefs hard at work in the open kitchen...
Hapuku Tree House Restaurant
swim with hundreds of wild dusky dolphins in the open ocean in one of the coolest marine encounters i've ever had. after getting suited up you'll board the boat—which can also be booked as a spectator—before heading out to locate the pod. up to five ...
Dolphin Encounter
an infamous roadside bbq trailer, the showstoppers are undoubtedly grilled crayfish the size of lobsters, but you can also try pāua—or abalone—fritters. if dining alone, half a crayfish is more than enough food and they can even cut the full-sized gu...
Kaikōura Seafood BBQ Kiosk
two words: baby. seals. with pups born around november and december, this rocky coastal walk was absolutely teeming with furry babies as far as the eye could see. unlike a traditional trail, the intertidal peninsula is largely unbounded so you can wa...
Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway
christchurch
the biggest city on the south island, christchurch was rocked by a catastrophic earthquake a decade ago that still shapes the city to this day. while i only spent a few hours here prior to heading north, it's the primary hub for flying between the is...
sit down for a spot of tea in the mayfair hotel's majestic café, a plush velvet spot that's particularly ideal if you get caught in the rain 🫖
Majestic at Mayfair
have your lunch delivered through pneumatic pipes via pressurized air in a tube personalized with your name and order. pop the top off and twist the silver cylinder to reveal bites like fries inside! 🍟
C1 Espresso
where to stay on the south island
budget accommodations were my best friend during a south island stay where i heavily prioritized spending on experiences. i'd crash and immediately pass out as soon as i got to my accommodations anyways, but nevertheless these were all clean, quaint ...
a hostel chain represented across the north and south islands, haka house is your run-of-the-mill pod accommodation. in queenstown there are two locations and i'd highly recommend the lakefront option considering you have a much nicer view and are on...
Haka House Lakefront
part camper van parking, part cabin b&b, my little lodge delivered exactly what it needed to as a private budget accommodation with a snow-capped mountain backdrop 🏔️
Top 10 Franz Josef Holiday Park
the most serene budget accommodations i've stayed in to date, arrive at a quaint log cabin mere steps from the beach where alpaca and rabbits roam around the pasture at sunset. even better, the hokitika glow worm dell is directly across the road as t...
Shining Star Beachfront Accommodation
set directly off the main road a quick 3-minute drive into town, this central stay positions you equally between the dolphin encounter headquarters and peninsula highlights like kaikōura seafood bbq. i was pleasantly surprised by the ocean view from ...
Kaikoura Seaside Lodge