WHAT TO SEE - WINE COUNTRY
The best way to see New Zealand is to drive, you can hire a car or Campervan and drive on many of the amazing scenic roads. Where to start? We have driven from Auckland to Queenstown, but also from Christchurch to further south. To cross from North to South Island you need to catch the ferry from Wellington to Picton across the Cook Strait, this takes about 3 hours. You can buy food and drink on-board and the last 30 minutes of the ferry ride is the most picturesque. A little note, you cannot take your hire care across on the ferry.
In the northern part of the south island are the stunning Marlborough Sounds. Once in Picton you have two options you can drive along the coast of the sounds, a striking trip to Nelson, or you can make the short trip down to Blenheim and enjoy many of the famous wineries that surround. I would recommend heading west through the centre of the South Island and drive down the Western Coast. Along your drive west a nice place to stop is Lake Rotaroa, a glassy lake with mountains in the background and a prehistoric fern forest to the side.
THE WEST COAST
Head south-west to Punakaiki where you can see the famous Pancake Rocks. Continue south to Hokitika and go for a walk across Hokitika Gorge. You may want to stop and stay overnight at Franz Joseph Glacier, where you can walk up to the glacier itself. This small town offers alpine style pubs and restaurants and their famous hot springs baths, nearby is Fox Glacier
HAAST AND WANAKA
The next stage of the drive is our favourite, driving through the Haast pass, through exquisite forest and gorges. In the distance is Mount Aspiring, you can take an unsealed road of the main track to get a closer look at this mountain. Make your way south past lakes Wanaka and Hawaea, vast turquoise blue bodies of water. This road will lead you into Wanaka, an upmarket town with cafes, boutiques and restaurants lining the lake itself.
ARROWTOWN
Drive to Arrowtown, the best time of year to see this beautiful historic gem is in Autumn when the trees that line the mountains that surround, turn orange, yellow and red. Arrowtown is a great place to have a meal, stay overnight or buy some local souvenirs. Being an old gold mining town, there are tours you can do to see how these prospectors lived and search for gold.
QUEENSTOWN
Is spectacular, with many foreigners enjoying both the summer and winter sports, this hive of activity is nestled on a beautiful lake with a mountainous backdrop. The small city centre offers many great restaurants. A favourite is the famous Fergburger where you most likely will have to cue for the best burger in town. Some local activities are taking the cable cart or Gondola up to see the Queenstown skyline. Once here you can enjoy a meal or coffee, or for the mountaineering enthusiasts you can start walking up the famous Ben Lomonds track. Walking the track will take you to a vantage point that allows you to see all of Queenstown from above. The walk takes about 2.5 hours each way and is very steep in parts. On your way down from the Gondola you can take the Luge which is a go cart style ride that meanders down the mountain. Close to Queenstown is the popular destination, Glenorchy where much of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy was filmed. You can venture further south to the breathtaking Milford Sounds and take a cruise around the sounds.
LAKE TEKAPO AND PUKAKI
Heading back up north through Tiwzel, drive up to Lake Pukaki and on to Lake Tekapo, these natural beauties will take your breath away, the blue mineralised glacial water glows beneath the mountain backdrop. Stop or stay at Lake Tekapo and enjoy some local fresh smoked salmon.
Also worth a mention is the hot springs at Hamner in the centre of the south island, a popular destination during cooler months, you can stay nearby and enjoy the natural volcanic springs and relax.
WHERE TO STAY
There are a few options of where to stay on your road trip. Each larger town may have a hotel or cabins available. In Queenstown and Wanaka there are many luxurious homes for rent such as our favourite the Villa Bel Lago in Franktown (next to Queenstown) see image below. Another smart option is called ‘book a batch’ a local website that offers accommodation similar to Airbnb. You can stay in quaint places off the beaten track.
