The South Island of New Zealand is where the country's most dramatic scenery lives — fjords that plunge from 1,500-metre peaks directly into the sea, glaciers descending through temperate rainforest, the impossibly turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo, and Queenstown's adrenaline-packed mountain setting. For Australians it's a 3-hour flight away, visa-free, English-speaking and NZD gives you good exchange value. The South Island road trip is one of the most accessible great adventures in the world.

The Classic South Island Loop — 10 Days

Start and end: Christchurch (CHC) — this lets you hire a car and do a loop without returning to the same point.

Days 1–2 — Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (3.5 hours): Christchurch has rebuilt beautifully after the 2011 earthquake — the Re:START container mall, Cardboard Cathedral and Botanic Gardens are worth a morning. Then drive south through the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo, famous for its intensely turquoise water (caused by glacial rock flour) and the Church of the Good Shepherd — photographed millions of times and still worth seeing. The lake is in the Aoraki/Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve — the night sky here on a clear night is extraordinary.

Days 3–4 — Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Mackenzie Basin: New Zealand's highest peak at 3,724m dominates the skyline as you drive north from Tekapo. The Hooker Valley Track (3 hours return, well-graded, suitable for all fitness levels) leads to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier with views of Aoraki/Mount Cook's south face. One of the finest walks in New Zealand.

Days 5–7 — Queenstown: New Zealand's adventure capital. Bungee jumping birthplace, skydiving, jet boating, skiing (June–October), hiking and some of New Zealand's best restaurants. The Skyline Gondola and Remarkables mountain range views are free (aside from gondola ticket). Day trip to Arrowtown — a beautifully preserved gold rush town 20 minutes away. Wine lovers: the Gibbston Valley wineries make excellent Central Otago Pinot Noir.

Day 8 — Milford Sound day trip (the best day trip in New Zealand): The 4-hour drive from Queenstown through the Homer Tunnel descends into Milford Sound — arguably the world's most dramatic fjord. A 2-hour cruise (AUD $70–120) goes to the open Tasman Sea and back, passing waterfalls that drop 150m directly into the water. Stays in Milford are limited and expensive — a day trip is the standard approach.

Day 9 — West Coast (Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers): Drive north from Queenstown through Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers. Both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have retreated significantly due to climate change — helicopter flights over the glaciers (AUD $200–300) are now the main way to access them up close. The rainforest setting is unique — temperate rainforest meeting glacial ice.

Day 10 — West Coast to Christchurch (Arthur's Pass): The drive back east via Arthur's Pass through the Southern Alps is spectacular — the Otira Gorge section is particularly dramatic. Stop at Castle Hill limestone formations (spiritual site for local Māori, used in the Chronicles of Narnia films) on the way back to Christchurch.

Car Rental for the South Island

Self-drive is the only practical way to do the South Island properly — public transport is extremely limited outside Queenstown and Christchurch. New Zealand's main rental companies are Jucy, Apex, Go Rentals and Snap Rentals — all reputable and competitive. Compare prices through RentalCars.com for the best all-inclusive pricing. A compact car for 10 days typically costs AUD $400–700 depending on season. Campervans (Jucy, Mighty, Britz) from AUD $80–120/day eliminate accommodation costs entirely — excellent value for budget travellers.

New Zealand South Island Costs

New Zealand is comparable to Australia in cost. Budget campervan traveller: AUD $100–150/day all-in. Mid-range with hotel accommodation: AUD $180–300/day. Key expenses: Milford Sound cruise AUD $70–120, helicopter glacier flight AUD $200–300, Queenstown bungy AUD $200, wine tasting AUD $10–30 per winery. Supermarket groceries are similar to Australian prices.

Vehicle Options and Costs

The South Island road trip debate is campervan versus rental car plus accommodation. The campervan case: freedom to stop wherever you want, accommodation cost folded into the vehicle hire, and access to New Zealand''s excellent Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites (AUD $10-20/night, often in spectacular locations that no hotel can match). The rental car case: more comfortable sleep, more flexibility on accommodation quality, ability to stay in towns with restaurant access. For a 10-14 day trip, a campervan from Jucy, Britz or Wicked Campers (AUD $100-200/day) versus a standard rental car (AUD $40-80/day) plus accommodation (AUD $80-160/night) often works out at similar total cost, with the campervan winning on the flexibility dimension.

The Must-Drive Sections

The road between Queenstown and Milford Sound (SH94, 2.5 hours) passes through Fiordland National Park with views that justify the drive even if Milford Sound is socked in with cloud on arrival -- which it often is, as the Sound receives 9 metres of rain per year. Leave early from Queenstown to reach Milford before the 11am cruise rush. The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka via the Haast Pass (SH6, 4 hours) is the most dramatic road in New Zealand -- the pass cuts through the Southern Alps with waterfalls visible from the road and the transition from West Coast rainforest to Central Otago drylands in under an hour. Fuel up in Fox Glacier before the Haast section -- there are no petrol stations for 145km.

West Coast vs East Coast: South Island Routing

The South Island road trip has two fundamental routing options. The classic "southern loop" starts in Christchurch, goes south through the Mackenzie Country (Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook) to Queenstown, then west to Milford Sound, back through Te Anau and north via the West Coast (Franz Josef, Hokitika, Nelson) to Christchurch or Picton for the ferry. Total driving approximately 1,800-2,000km over 10-14 days at a comfortable pace. The alternative "west coast focus" starts at Nelson (fly in from Auckland), drives south along the West Coast to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, crosses the Haast Pass to Wanaka and Queenstown, and flies home from Queenstown. This covers the West Coast's best features more thoroughly at the expense of the eastern Mackenzie Country. Both routings are excellent; the choice depends on whether you prioritise the extreme scenery of Fiordland and Milford Sound (southern loop) or the dramatic West Coast transition (west coast focus).