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Campervan for This Route
A campervan is ideal for this itinerary — holiday parks are perfectly spaced and you save $800+ on accommodation over 9 nights.
Compare campervan prices →Pre-Book Key Activities
Abel Tasman water taxis, Queenstown activities, and Franz Josef heli-hike all need advance booking in summer.
Book & Save on Activities →Budget Breakdown
Budget is indicative. Campervan hire can reduce accommodation and food costs significantly — compare campervans.
Day-by-Day Plan
Arrive Nelson — Settle In
- Arrive Nelson — pick up campervan or rental
- Nelson city centre: Centre of New Zealand walk (30min, panoramic views)
- Tahunanui Beach playground and swimming
- Nelson markets if Saturday morning
- Tahunanui Beach is one of NZ's best family beaches — safe swimming, huge playground
- Nelson has excellent supermarkets — stock up before heading into remote areas
- Pick up campervan early to maximise the day
Abel Tasman National Park
- Abel Tasman water taxi to Bark Bay or Anchorage Beach
- Swim in the golden sand bays — clearest water in NZ
- Short coastal track walks between bays (30-60min sections)
- Sea kayak option: half-day family kayak tour from Marahau ($75-95/adult)
- Return water taxi to Marahau late afternoon
- Book water taxis with Aquataxi or Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles — 3 weeks ahead in January
- Anchorage is the most sheltered bay and best for kids
- Bring your own snacks — no cafes in the park
- The park track between bays is tidal — check tide times
Nelson Lakes or Drive to Westport
- Murchison stop — good swimming at Buller River confluence in summer
- Buller Gorge drive — dramatic river canyon
- Option: Buller Gorge Swingbridge and flying fox (kids love it, ~$25 each)
- Arrive Westport — Cape Foulwind walkway and seal colony (2hr return, free)
- Buller Gorge is one of NZ's best drives — stop at Hawk's Crag viewpoint
- Cape Foulwind seal colony has hundreds of fur seals — bring binoculars
- Westport is a good fuel and grocery stop before the more remote West Coast
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
- Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes — allow 1 hour (free DoC site)
- Truman Track — 20min return through primeval forest to secret beach
- Dolomite Point lookout
- Afternoon: drive south along the coast to Hokitika (1.5h)
- Hokitika: greenstone carving shops, sunset swim at Hokitika Beach
- Check tide times for blowhole viewing — best at high tide
- Truman Track is magical — huge ancient trees right to the beach edge
- Hokitika has good supermarkets — stock up before Franz Josef
Hokitika Gorge & Franz Josef
- Hokitika Gorge — 25min drive inland, 25min return walk, extraordinary turquoise river (free)
- Lake Ianthe swim stop (calm, free DoC lake, optional)
- Arrive Franz Josef
- Franz Josef Glacier valley walk — 3km return to glacier face viewing area (free)
- Evening: hot pools at Franz Josef Hot Pools ($30/adult, $20/child)
- Hokitika Gorge: go early morning for best turquoise colour (light angle matters)
- The glacier has retreated significantly but the valley walk is still dramatic
- Franz Josef village is small — dinner options limited, book ahead or self-cater
Fox Glacier & Haast Pass
- Fox Glacier walk — shorter than Franz Josef but stunning mountain reflections at Lake Matheson
- Lake Matheson reflection walk (45min return, best light before 9am or near sunset)
- Haast Pass drive — World Heritage wilderness, stunning waterfalls
- Thunder Creek Falls (10min return walk off highway)
- Arrive Wanaka — evening lakefront
- Lake Matheson early morning is one of NZ's iconic shots — Mt Cook reflection
- The Haast Pass road is slow but spectacular — allow extra time
- Wanaka is beautiful for an evening stroll — the lake is the playground
Wanaka Day
- Puzzle World — optical illusions and gravity-defying rooms, kids go wild ($24/adult, $18/child)
- Wanaka lake and town beach swimming
- Roy's Peak walk (only for fit families with kids 10+ — 5hr return, extraordinary views)
- Rippon Vineyard and lawn for younger kids
- That Wanaka Tree — the famous willow in the lake, 10min walk from town
- Puzzle World is genuinely excellent for ages 5-15 — allow 2-3 hours
- Wanaka Beach is calm and safe for toddlers in summer
- Glendhu Bay Camp (20min from town) is the most beautiful holiday park in NZ
Drive to Queenstown
- Crown Range Road — NZ's highest sealed road, extraordinary views (summer only)
- Arrive Queenstown — cable car to Skyline for lunch views
- Skyline Luge — 3 runs each for the family ($30-50/person)
- Queenstown Gardens playground and lakefront
- Evening: Steamer Wharf restaurants
- Crown Range is stunning but take it slow — sharp switchbacks with a campervan
- Skyline Luge is the best family activity in Queenstown — book online to save 15%
- Queenstown parking is difficult in peak season — use the waterfront parking buildings
Queenstown — Last Full Day
- TSS Earnslaw steamship cruise on Lake Wakatipu ($62/adult, $31/child)
- Walter Peak High Country Farm — farm tour and lunch (add-on to Earnslaw, ~$80/adult)
- Arrowtown — 25min drive, gold rush village, Arrow River gold panning ($8/person)
- Queenstown ice rink or mini golf afternoon
- Farewell dinner on the waterfront
- Arrowtown is excellent for kids — gold panning in the river, historic buildings, great ice cream
- TSS Earnslaw + Walter Peak is a highlight — book the morning departure for best light
- Depart Queenstown via Christchurch (4h) or fly out direct
Packing Tips for This Trip
- Warm layer even in summer — West Coast and Queenstown evenings are cool
- Waterproofs for the West Coast — rain likely at some point
- Sandfly repellent — essential at Haast, Glacier Country, and Abel Tasman
- Reef-safe sunscreen for Abel Tasman beach days
- Physical NZ map or downloaded offline — cell coverage patchy on Haast Pass
FAQ
Is this itinerary doable in a regular rental car?
Yes — all roads on this route are sealed and suitable for 2WD vehicles. A campervan is preferred for flexibility but a rental car with motel/holiday park bookings works well. Budget an extra $200-300/night for accommodation vs campervan.
When is the best time to do this route?
December to February is ideal. Abel Tasman is best in January-February for warmest water. The West Coast is rainiest in winter. November is excellent if you want fewer crowds — school holidays haven't started yet.
How do we get from Wellington to Nelson to start?
Two options: (1) Interislander or Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry Wellington to Picton (3.5h, $90-150 per person), then 115km drive to Nelson (1.5h). Or (2) fly Wellington to Nelson direct (45min, ~$120/person). The ferry is spectacular with kids — highly recommended.
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