Top things to do in the South Island

Mountains, glaciers, fiords and turquoise lakes. Take your van across on the ferry from Wellington.
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⛴Ferry from WellingtonAbout 3.5 hours to Picton, and your van comes too.
☀️Best time to goDecember to March for long days. The lupins flower from November to December.
🗓️Allow 4 to 6 weeksDistances are bigger here, and you will want to stop everywhere.
⛺Camp for lessFreedom camp where it is allowed, or stay at low-cost DOC campsites.

Where to go in the South Island

These stops follow a loop from Picton. Each one has a few highlights and a tip for travelling in your van.

Marlborough & Picton Nelson & Abel Tasman West Coast & Glaciers Wānaka Queenstown & Arrowtown Fiordland & Milford Sound Dunedin & the Catlins Lake Tekapo & Aoraki / Mt Cook Christchurch & Akaroa Kaikōura

Bays and green hills of the Marlborough Sounds

Where the ferry arrives

Marlborough & Picton

Sheltered sounds, sunny vineyards and your first taste of the South Island.

  • Queen Charlotte Drive between Picton and Havelock
  • Walk or bike part of the Queen Charlotte Track
  • Wineries around Blenheim, home of Sauvignon Blanc
  • Green-lipped mussels in Havelock

Van tip: You can start exploring the moment you drive off the ferry in Picton.

Golden beach and turquoise water in Abel Tasman National Park

About 2 hours from Picton

Nelson & Abel Tasman

Golden beaches, turquoise water and some of New Zealand’s sunniest weather.

  • Walk or kayak part of the Abel Tasman Coast Track
  • Water taxi from Kaiteriteri or Mārahau
  • Golden Bay and the crystal-clear Te Waikoropupū Springs
  • Nelson’s markets, galleries and the WOW museum

Van tip: Takaka Hill is steep and winding, so go slowly and use a low gear.

Layered Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki on the West Coast

About 3.5 hours from Nelson

West Coast & Glaciers

A wild coast of rainforest, rivers and glaciers.

  • Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki (best at high tide)
  • The turquoise water of Hokitika Gorge
  • Valley walks to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
  • Mountain reflections in Lake Matheson

Van tip: Bring insect repellent. The sandflies love the West Coast, especially at dusk.

The famous willow tree in Lake Wānaka

About 4 hours from Franz Josef

Wānaka

A relaxed lake town with big mountain walks.

  • The famous Wānaka tree in the lake
  • Rocky Mountain walk, or Roys Peak (closed for lambing in October and November)
  • The Blue Pools on the Haast Pass
  • Puzzling World

Van tip: Stop at the Blue Pools and Thunder Creek Falls on your drive over the Haast Pass.

Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu with mountains behind

About 1 hour from Wānaka

Queenstown & Arrowtown

New Zealand’s adventure capital, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.

  • Skyline Gondola and luge
  • Bungy at Kawarau Bridge, a jetboat ride or white-water rafting
  • Arrowtown’s gold-rush main street
  • The lakeside drive to Glenorchy

Van tip: Freedom camping around Queenstown is very limited, so book a campsite.

Mitre Peak reflected in the water at Milford Sound

About 2 hours from Queenstown to Te Anau

Fiordland & Milford Sound

Towering cliffs, waterfalls and deep fiords. The one place most people never forget.

  • A Milford Sound cruise or kayak trip
  • Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel on the Milford Road
  • The Te Anau glowworm caves
  • A day trip to Doubtful Sound from Manapouri

Van tip: There is no fuel between Te Anau and Milford Sound, so fill up in Te Anau.

Nugget Point lighthouse and rocky islets in the Catlins

About 3.5 hours from Queenstown

Dunedin & the Catlins

Wildlife, waterfalls and a wild southern coastline.

  • Albatross and penguins on the Otago Peninsula
  • Nugget Point lighthouse
  • Purakaunui Falls and the petrified forest at Curio Bay
  • Baldwin Street, one of the world’s steepest streets

Van tip: Many Catlins roads are narrow and winding, so take your time.

Lupins flowering beside Lake Tekapo

About 3 hours from Christchurch

Lake Tekapo & Aoraki / Mt Cook

Turquoise lakes, New Zealand’s highest mountain and some of the darkest skies on Earth.

  • Church of the Good Shepherd on the shore of Lake Tekapo
  • Stargazing in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
  • Hooker Valley Track to a glacier lake (about 3 hours return)
  • Turquoise Lake Pukaki, and lupins from November to December

Van tip: Buy food in Twizel or Tekapo, because there is no supermarket at Mt Cook Village.

Wharf and lighthouse-style hut at Akaroa Harbour

About 4.5 hours from Picton

Christchurch & Akaroa

A garden city and a French-style harbour village.

  • Punting on the Avon River and the Botanic Gardens
  • A heritage tram ride and the Cardboard Cathedral
  • Hector’s dolphins on an Akaroa Harbour cruise
  • Views from the Banks Peninsula summit road

Van tip: The road down into Akaroa is steep, so use a low gear.

Fur seals resting on rocks at Kaikōura

About 2 hours from Picton

Kaikōura

Whales, seals and dolphins, with snowy mountains right beside the sea.

  • Whale watching tours (sperm whales can be seen all year)
  • Fur seals on the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway and at Ohau Point
  • Fresh crayfish from the roadside stalls
  • Swimming with dusky dolphins

Van tip: Kaikōura is on the road between Christchurch and Picton, so it makes an easy stop.

Where to stay with your van

🚐

Freedom camping

Your green-certified self-contained van can stay at many free camping spots. Always check local council rules and signs.

🌳

DOC campsites

The Department of Conservation runs low-cost campsites in some of the most beautiful places in the country.

📱

Use a camping app

CamperMate and Rankers show campsites, dump stations, fuel and free spots near you.

Ready for your road trip?

Buy a self-contained campervan in Tauranga with a guaranteed buy-back price, then explore New Zealand for up to 6 months.

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