Book This Trip
Compare Rental Cars
A standard rental car is the most budget-friendly option for this South Island route. Compare prices across all major companies.
Compare rental car prices →Book Budget Accommodation
Holiday parks and budget motels are the key to keeping this trip under $3,000. Book early for December-January.
Check Availability →Budget Breakdown
Budget is indicative. Campervan hire can reduce accommodation and food costs significantly — compare campervans.
Day-by-Day Plan
Fly into Christchurch — Explore the City
- Punting on the Avon — relaxing, beautiful, $30-35/adult, kids often free
- Botanic Gardens — free, excellent playground, cafe
- Christchurch Gondola — cable car ride to Port Hills with harbour views ($35/adult, $19/child)
- New Regent Street for dinner — colourful Art Deco street
- Pick up rental car at airport — Christchurch has great car hire competition, book early for best rates
- Christchurch is very driveable — no traffic issues outside peak hours
- New Brighton beach (20min east) has a long pier and free hot pools
Kaikoura — Whale Watch & Seals
- Whale Watch Kaikoura — sperm whale tour ($170/adult, $70/child — budget item but worth it)
- Or: Seal colony walk at Point Kean (free, hundreds of fur seals up close)
- Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway (2.5hr loop, seal colony, dramatic coastline)
- Swim or coastal walk at Kaikoura beach
- Whale Watch is the premium experience — book 4-6 weeks ahead, 90% sighting rate
- If Whale Watch is over budget, the Seal Colony walk is outstanding and free
- Kaikoura Seafood BBQ on the foreshore: crayfish, green-lipped mussels, $20-50/person
Lewis Pass to Hokitika
- Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve — short walks in beech forest (free)
- Springs Junction: Maruia Falls (10min return walk, impressive)
- Arrive Hokitika — sunset at Hokitika Beach (dramatic driftwood art installations)
- This is a long drive day — leave Kaikoura before 9am
- Hokitika Gorge is 30min inland — save it for tomorrow morning before driving south
- Stock up on groceries in Hokitika — Franz Josef is expensive
Hokitika Gorge & Franz Josef
- Hokitika Gorge — early morning for best turquoise water colour (25min, free)
- Drive south along the Coast
- Franz Josef Glacier valley walk — 3km return, free
- Franz Josef Hot Pools evening ($30/adult, $20/child)
- The hot pools after a glacier walk day is a family highlight
- Self-cater dinner in Franz Josef — restaurants are pricey
- Franz Josef village has a small Four Square — limited stock, bring supplies
Haast Pass & Wanaka
- Fox Glacier — Lake Matheson reflection walk (45min return, best before 9am)
- Haast Pass drive — Thunder Creek Falls (10min return walk, free)
- Arrive Wanaka — lake beach and town playground
- Evening: stroll to That Wanaka Tree and lakefront
- Lake Matheson is best in early morning light — try to leave Franz Josef by 7am
- Haast is remote — fill up on fuel at Fox Glacier
- Wanaka lake beach is safe for kids and beautiful for a late afternoon swim
Mt Cook Day Trip
- Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park — Hooker Valley Track (3hr return, glacier lake, swing bridges)
- Mt Cook Village visitor centre
- Lake Pukaki viewpoint — intense turquoise glacial lake with Mt Cook reflection
- Continue to Queenstown via Cromwell and Gibbston Valley (1.5h)
- Hooker Valley Track is suitable for kids 6+ — well-formed, flat, magnificent
- The swing bridges on the Hooker Valley Track are highlights for kids
- Lake Pukaki viewpoint is the most photographed spot in South Island — stop for 20 minutes
Queenstown — Best Value Day
- Skyline Luge — 3+ runs per person ($30-50/person, best family value in Queenstown)
- Queenstown Gardens — free, great playground, disc golf
- Arrowtown day trip (25min) — gold panning $8/person, historic village, river walk
- Frankton foreshore cycle trail (free, flat, 4km lake loop)
- Departure or final night in Queenstown
- Skyline Luge: buy 5-run passes for better value
- Arrowtown has excellent fudge shops and a great playground near the river
- Budget airline flights from Queenstown to Auckland or Wellington for departure
Packing Tips for This Trip
- Reusable water bottles — save money on drinks throughout
- Self-catering supplies for at least half your meals — saves $400+ over 7 days
- Waterproofs — West Coast and Queenstown can be wet
- Layers for Mt Cook — temperature can be 10°C colder than coast
- Sunscreen — Canterbury and Central Otago UV is very high
FAQ
How do we keep costs under $3,000 for a family of 4?
Three strategies: (1) Self-cater at least breakfast and dinner every day — saves $400-600 over 7 nights. (2) Use holiday parks instead of motels — saves $200-300 total. (3) Choose free activities (glacier walks, seal colonies, gorge walks) over paid ones where the experience is comparable.
Is a rental car cheaper than a campervan for this route?
A rental car plus holiday parks is typically $200-400 cheaper than a comparable campervan over 7 nights, especially in peak season. The campervan advantage is flexibility and eliminating check-in/check-out — worth it for longer trips of 10+ days.
Is the Kaikoura detour worth adding to a Christchurch-Queenstown trip?
Yes — Kaikoura is one of NZ's best wildlife experiences. The seal colony alone justifies the stop. Whale Watch is expensive but extraordinary. The coastal road between Christchurch and Kaikoura is scenic and breaks up what would otherwise be a long inland drive.
Other NZ Family Itineraries
7-Day North Island Family Road Trip
NZ's classic North Island loop — geothermal parks, lakes, and the capital city
View itinerary →10-Day South Island Family Road Trip
NZ's most spectacular drive — glaciers, seals, Alps, and the adventure capital
View itinerary →Queenstown & Wanaka Family Long Weekend
The perfect South Island long weekend — adventure in Queenstown, calm in Wanaka
View itinerary →5-Day Wellington to Nelson Family Road Trip
Two of NZ's most underrated destinations — linked by the spectacular Interislander ferry
View itinerary →4-Day Coromandel Family Road Trip from Auckland
Auckland's backyard — world-class beaches and geothermal wonders in 4 days
View itinerary →3-Day Auckland Family Itinerary
Make the most of Auckland with kids — from the waterfront to volcanic peaks
View itinerary →14-Day Full NZ Family Road Trip
The complete NZ family experience — geothermal parks, alpine lakes, fiords, and farm shows
View itinerary →Bay of Islands & Northland Family Road Trip — 5 Days
The classic Northland loop — dolphins, sand dunes, ancient forests, and Cape Reinga
View itinerary →Rotorua & Taupo Family Road Trip — 5 Days
The best of NZ's volcanic interior — geysers, Maori culture, skydiving lakes, and Hobbiton
View itinerary →Nelson to Queenstown — 9-Day South Island Family Road Trip
Wild beaches, glaciers, gold rush history, and NZ's adventure capital in 9 stunning days
View itinerary →North Island 10-Day Family Road Trip — Auckland to Wellington
The ultimate North Island circuit for families — everything from dolphins to volcanoes to hobbit holes
View itinerary →Rotorua Day Trip from Auckland — 1 Day with Kids
Auckland to Rotorua and back in a day — geysers, mud pools, and the Lady Knox eruption
View itinerary →Queenstown with Kids — Best 1-Day Itinerary
One perfect day in Queenstown — luge, lake views, and gold rush Arrowtown
View itinerary →Christchurch with Kids — 3-Day Family Itinerary
Discover Christchurch's post-quake renaissance — a vibrant, family-friendly city with great beaches nearby
View itinerary →Rotorua Family Weekend — 3 Days
The definitive 3-day Rotorua family itinerary — geysers, glowworms, Hobbiton, and hot pools
View itinerary →Auckland & Northland Family Trip — 5 Days
Auckland city highlights and a Northland road trip in 5 days — perfect for families flying into Auckland
View itinerary →Queenstown & Wanaka Family Trip — 5 Days
5 days in NZ's most scenic corner — Queenstown, Wanaka, Arrowtown, and a day at Mt Cook
View itinerary →