7 day roadtrip through the south island of new zealand
MY FAVORITE south island SPOTS
Bob’s Peak
Milford Sound
Roy’s Peak
Queenstown
We arrived at the Queenstown airport and took the city shuttle ($20 for 2 people) into the downtown area to our Hostel. You do not need a car to get around Queenstown.
Can’t miss:
Quennstown Hill Hike
Bob’s Peak
Queenstown Gardens
Skyline Gondala and Luge – luging was the highlight of QT for us
Fergburger – call ahead
Perky’s Floating Bar – take your Fergburger and eat it there!!
Stay: Haka Lodge Hostel
te anu / milford sound
We took the airport shuttle directly to the Go Rentals depot to pick up our car and head to Te Anu. It was an easy and beautiful 3 hour drive to Te Anu. From Te Anu, it is a more difficualt, but SO beautiful, hour and half drive through the mountains, valleys, and farmland to get to Milford Sound.
*If driving in the winter, like us, I strongly recommend keeping updated with the weather as it would be almost impossible to get through the mountains in the snow.
Can’t miss:
Milford Sound – we did the Southern Discovery Cruise + Kayak
Wanaka
The last leg of our trip was a four hour drive to through the Crown Ridge to Wanaka. If you’re going in the off season, I highly recommend checking the weather before you drive to ensure there is no snow on the Crown Ridge, otherwise take the alternate route.
Can’t miss:
Arrowtown - this is a nice stop for lunch on the drive to Wanaka
Skydive Wanaka – highlight of our whole trip
Roy’s Peak – intense 5hr hike, but worth the view
Wanaka Tree
Blue Pools Track – fun place to swim in the summer
Charlie Brown Crepes
The Coffee Shack
Glendhu Bay
Where to stay: YHA Purple Cow Hostel
It took us an easy 2 hours to get back to the Queenstown airport and drop off our rental car!