Duration10 days
Total drive1400km
Budget (family 4)$6500–10000
Best forFamilies with kids 5+, those who have done the North Island before
Best seasonNovember–March
TransportRental car or campervan (campervan highly recommended)
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Campervan HIGHLY recommended for this route — saves $800+ on accommodation
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Get Travel Insurance →Budget Breakdown
Accommodation$150–400/night
Activities$150–350/day
Food$80–150/day
Fuel~$400 total (1400km at NZ fuel prices)
Estimated total (family 4)$6500–10000
Budget is indicative. Campervan hire can reduce accommodation and food costs significantly — compare campervans.
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1
Arrive Christchurch — Antarctic Centre
- Pick up rental car/campervan at Christchurch Airport
- International Antarctic Centre (3–4 hours — do this first day, next to airport)
- Botanic Gardens walk
- Dinner in Christchurch CBD
Tips:
- The Antarctic Centre is 500m from the airport — perfect Day 1 activity
- Book penguin feeding time slot in advance
🏕️ Stay: Christchurch
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Day 2
Drive to Kaikoura — Seals & Seafood
- Stop at Waipara wineries (30 mins north of Christchurch) for picnic and vineyard visit
- Arrive Kaikoura — walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway (seals everywhere, free)
- Whale watching cruise (book well ahead — operates year-round)
- Fresh crayfish dinner at Nin's Bin (roadside — the cheapest cray in NZ)
Tips:
- Kaikoura's crayfish (crayfish/rock lobster) from Nin's Bin is iconic — get there early
- Seal colony at the point is free and the seals are very close
🏕️ Stay: Kaikoura
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Day 3
Drive to Nelson via Marlborough
- Morning seal colony walk (free)
- Drive via Blenheim — stop at a Marlborough vineyard (kids can explore while adults taste)
- Arrive Nelson — Nelson Markets (Sat morning, world-class)
- Queens Gardens and Tahuna Beach
Tips:
- Nelson has NZ's most sunshine hours — great beach weather
- Rabbit Island (20 mins) is a hidden gem for a swim
🏕️ Stay: Nelson
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Day 4
Abel Tasman National Park Day
- Water taxi to Split Apple Rock and beach snorkelling ($80/adult, $45/child)
- Kayak tour of Abel Tasman (half-day from Marahau)
- Totaranui Beach picnic (free, remote golden beach)
- Return to Nelson for dinner
Tips:
- Abel Tasman is a MUST — the golden sand beaches are unlike anywhere else in NZ
- Book kayak tours well ahead in January–February
🏕️ Stay: Nelson
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Day 5
West Coast Drive — Pancake Rocks
- Farewell Spit detour (optional, add 1.5h — incredible sandspit at the top of the South Island)
- Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes (free — 30-min walk, spectacular)
- Dolomite Point walk
- Overnight at Punakaiki or push on to Greymouth
Tips:
- Punakaiki blowholes are best at high tide — check tide times before visiting
- The Pancake Rocks are free and spectacular — non-negotiable stop
🏕️ Stay: Punakaiki or Greymouth
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Day 6
West Coast to Glacier Country
- Hokitika Gorge detour (30 mins — stunning turquoise river, suspension bridge)
- Hokitika town (jade/pounamu carving workshops)
- Arrive Franz Josef — evening Glacier Valley Walk (free, 1.5h return)
Tips:
- Hokitika Gorge is one of NZ's most Instagrammed spots — worth the detour
- Franz Josef is tiny — book accommodation well ahead
🏕️ Stay: Franz Josef
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Day 7
Glacier Day
- Glacier helicopter experience ($300–500/person — NOT cheap but extraordinary)
- OR Glacier Valley Walk (free — as close to the ice face as you can get on foot)
- Peter's Pool Walk (mirror reflection of mountains)
- Lake Matheson (Mirror Lake — Mt Cook/Mt Tasman reflection)
Tips:
- Helicopter tours require good weather — have a backup plan
- The Valley Walk to the glacier face is free and still incredible
- Minimum age for helicopter is typically 3
🏕️ Stay: Franz Josef or Fox Glacier
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Day 8
Haast Pass — Most Dramatic Drive in NZ
- Drive Haast Pass — stop at Thunder Creek Falls and Blue Pools (free walkways)
- Arrive Wanaka — Puzzling World
- Lake Wanaka swim (Glendhu Bay)
- Dinner in Wanaka town
Tips:
- Haast Pass is one of the world's great drives — allow 5 hours minimum with stops
- Blue Pools (near Makarora) have crystal-clear water — swim if warm enough
🏕️ Stay: Wanaka
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Day 9
Drive to Queenstown — Adventure Day
- Crown Range road (highest sealed road in NZ — spectacular views, drive slowly)
- Arrive Queenstown
- Skyline Gondola & Luge (afternoon)
- Queenstown waterfront evening and dinner
Tips:
- Crown Range is stunning — stop at the viewpoint at the top
- Book gondola online to save queuing
🏕️ Stay: Queenstown
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Day 10
Final Day — Queenstown Activities + Fly Out
- Jet boat experience (Kawarau or Shotover — book ahead)
- Arrowtown day trip (20 mins — historic gold-rush town, free)
- Return rental car at Queenstown Airport
- Fly home
Tips:
- Return the car with a full tank of fuel — petrol at the airport is overpriced
- Allow 2h before your flight for the airport
🏕️ Stay: Fly out
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Packing Tips for This Trip
- Warm layer for glacier country (Franz Josef can be cold even in summer)
- Sandflies repellent (the West Coast has fierce sandflies — DEET essential)
- Rain jacket (West Coast gets 7m of rain per year)
- Swimwear and quick-dry towel (multiple swimming stops)
- Groceries topped up at major towns (Christchurch, Nelson, Hokitika, Queenstown)
FAQ
Should we do a campervan or rental car for the South Island?
Campervan, if budget allows. The South Island has world-class holiday parks and freedom camping spots. A 6-berth campervan for a family of 4 saves $600–1200 in accommodation over 10 days. Compare campervan prices above.
Is this route suitable for toddlers?
Yes with modifications. Toddlers will love the animals (seals at Kaikoura, Abel Tasman birds), the beaches, and the playgrounds. Skip the helicopter and jet boat if under 3. The driving days are long — break them with short walks and stops.
Can we drive this in winter?
With caution. The Haast Pass and Crown Range can be icy — check road conditions daily at nzta.govt.nz. The West Coast and Westland glaciers are actually spectacular in winter with fresh snow. Carry tyre chains if renting in June–August.
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