Road trip through New Zealand's South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is the absolute highlight of the journey for many travellers. Here you'll find impressive mountain landscapes, glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, rugged coastlines and some of the most beautiful walking tracks in the world.
From the snow-capped peaks of Aoraki/Mount Cook and the fjords of Milford Sound to the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park. Almost every day you'll be surprised by a completely new landscape.
That enormous variety is exactly what makes a road trip across the South Island so special. With a Campervan you travel at your own pace from highlight to highlight and decide for yourself where to stop to enjoy the view.
Why the South Island is so popular
The South Island is known for its spectacular nature. In relatively short time you travel from rugged mountain passes and glaciers to rainforests, turquoise lakes and impressive fjords.
In addition, the South Island is a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. You'll find countless short walks, multi-day hikes and viewpoints here, each one well worth the effort.
Despite its popularity, the South Island feels surprisingly peaceful in many places. Once you leave the larger towns behind, you'll often drive for hours through pristine nature with only a few sheep for company.
South Island Highlights
The South Island is packed with impressive destinations. These are, in my view, the highlights you shouldn't miss.
Why a Campervan is the best choice
The South Island is the perfect setting for a Campervan road trip.
The distances between highlights are manageable and along the way you constantly come across viewpoints, walks and hidden spots where you'll want to stop spontaneously. With a Campervan you don't need to plan your route rigidly and you decide each day where you'll spend the night.
Moreover, the South Island has an excellent network of holiday parks, DOC campsites, private campgrounds and freedom camping locations for self-contained Campervans. This means you not only enjoy maximum freedom, but often stay in the most beautiful spots right in the heart of nature.
How much time do i need?
Although the South Island appears smaller than you might expect, there is an incredible amount to discover. Precisely because you'll want to stop regularly along the way for walks and viewpoints, time flies by.
The advice is:
- 2 weeks A lovely route past the best-known highlights such as Christchurch, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wanaka and the West Coast.
- 3 weeks Enough time to also add Abel Tasman National Park, Kaikōura, the Marlborough region and multiple walks.
- 4 weeks or longer The ideal travel time to discover the South Island at your leisure, do longer hikes and also include less well-known spots.
Best time to visit
The South Island is beautiful all year round, but most travellers choose the period from October through to April. During these months the days are longer, temperatures are higher and conditions are ideal for walks and outdoor activities. During this period Campervan prices are naturally higher due to the popularity of the travel season.
Winter also has plenty to offer. The snow-capped mountain peaks create spectacular views and it's the perfect period for winter sports. Do bear in mind that some mountain passes can temporarily close due to snowfall and that you may need snow chains on certain routes. Campervan hire prices are very low in winter. This way you can drive the Campervan of your choice on a really tight budget.
Also read
Hire a Campervan in New Zealand
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Queenstown
One of the most popular destinations on New Zealand's South Island is without a doubt Queenstown.
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