South Island in 14 Days by Campervan: The Complete Loop

Quick summary: Two weeks is the ideal time for a South Island campervan or motorhome loop. This itinerary follows the classic circuit from Christchurch but at a relaxed pace, with extra nights at Aoraki/Mount Cook, in Queenstown and in Fiordland, time for Glenorchy and the Milford Road walks, and a final stretch up the West Coast to the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki before crossing Arthur’s Pass home. It covers around 2,180 km, with several days of little or no driving.

At a glance
Trip length	14 days
Pick up and drop off	Christchurch (loop)
Total distance	Around 2,180 km
Total driving time	Around 30 hours
Longest driving day	Day 14, around 285 km over Arthur’s Pass
Rest or short driving days	Days 3, 6, 8 and 12
Highlights	Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Wānaka, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Haast Pass, the glaciers, Punakaiki, Arthur’s Pass
Best for	Travellers who want the full South Island experience without rushing

Why is 14 days the sweet spot?

Because it turns a road trip into a holiday. With two weeks, you aren’t racing between highlights; you have time to walk the Hooker Valley Track at dawn, take a day trip to Glenorchy, spend a night beside the Milford Road, and wait for the cloud to lift at the glaciers. The extra days also give you flexibility to adjust around the weather, which matters in the mountains and on the West Coast.

Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo

Distance: around 225 km, around 3 hours of driving.

Pick up in Christchurch, stock up and drive south-west via Geraldine and Fairlie to Lake Tekapo.

Experiences: a stargazing tour in the dark sky reserve.

Overnight: Lake Tekapo.

Day 2: Lake Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook

Distance: around 105 km, around 1 hour 20 minutes of driving.

Drive up Mount John, then follow Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook Village. Walk the Kea Point Track in the afternoon.

Overnight: White Horse Hill Campground.

Day 3: A day at Aoraki/Mount Cook

Distance: no driving.

Walk the Hooker Valley Track early, when the light is best and the track is quiet, and visit the Tasman Glacier viewpoint later in the day.

Experiences: a scenic flight with a snow landing, or a Tasman Lake glacier boat trip.

Overnight: White Horse Hill Campground.

Day 4: Aoraki/Mount Cook to Wānaka

Distance: around 210 km, around 2 hours 40 minutes of driving.

Drive via Twizel and Omarama over the Lindis Pass, stopping at the Clay Cliffs and the summit lookout.

Overnight: Wānaka.

Day 5: Wānaka to Queenstown

Distance: around 70 km via the Crown Range, around 1 hour of driving.

Spend the morning in Wānaka, then cross the Crown Range to Arrowtown and Queenstown.

Experiences: jet boating, the gondola and luge, or a Lake Wakatipu cruise on the TSS Earnslaw.

Overnight: Queenstown.

Day 6: Glenorchy day trip

Distance: around 92 km return, around 1 hour 30 minutes of driving.

Drive the lakeside road to Glenorchy, stopping at Bennetts Bluff, and spend the day at the head of Lake Wakatipu.

Experiences: a Dart River jet boat and wilderness tour, a Middle-earth tour or a horse trek.

Overnight: Queenstown or a DOC campsite on the Glenorchy road.

Day 7: Queenstown to Te Anau

Distance: around 170 km, around 2 hours 15 minutes of driving.

Drive south to Te Anau and stock up for Fiordland.

Experiences: the Te Anau glowworm caves.

Overnight: Te Anau.

Day 8: The Milford Road

Distance: around 80 km, around 1 hour 15 minutes of driving.

Drive slowly up the Milford Road, stopping at the Eglinton Valley and Mirror Lakes, and walk to Key Summit from The Divide or to Lake Marian.

Overnight: a DOC campsite in the Eglinton Valley.

Day 9: Milford Sound and back to Te Anau

Distance: around 160 km, around 2 hours 45 minutes of driving.

Arrive at Milford Sound early, ahead of the day-trip coaches, and take a morning cruise or kayak trip, then return to Te Anau.

Overnight: Te Anau.

Day 10: Te Anau to Wānaka

Distance: around 275 km, around 3 hours 40 minutes of driving.

Head north via Kingston and Frankton, then through the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell and along Lake Dunstan to Wānaka.

Experiences: a Gibbston or Bannockburn wine tour, or fruit from the Cromwell stalls in summer.

Overnight: Wānaka or Lake Hāwea.

Day 11: Wānaka to Fox Glacier over the Haast Pass

Distance: around 260 km, around 3 hours 45 minutes of driving.

Follow the lakes to Makarora and the Blue Pools, stop at Fantail and Thunder Creek falls, then continue down to Haast and up the coast to Fox Glacier.

Experiences: sunset at Lake Matheson.

Overnight: Fox Glacier.

Day 12: Fox Glacier to Franz Josef

Distance: around 25 km, around 30 minutes of driving.

Lake Matheson at dawn, then a short drive to Franz Josef.

Experiences: a glacier heli-hike or scenic flight, the glacier hot pools, and the kiwi wildlife centre.

Overnight: Franz Josef.

Day 13: Franz Josef to Punakaiki

Distance: around 220 km, around 3 hours of driving.

Drive north via Ross and Hokitika, with time for Hokitika Gorge or the pounamu galleries, then continue past Greymouth along the Great Coast Road to Punakaiki.

Experiences: the Pancake Rocks and blowholes, ideally around high tide.

Overnight: Punakaiki.

Day 14: Punakaiki to Christchurch over Arthur’s Pass

Distance: around 285 km, around 4 hours of driving.

Return to Greymouth and cross the Southern Alps on Arthur’s Pass, stopping at the Otira Viaduct lookout, Arthur’s Pass village, Castle Hill and Cave Stream, before returning your motorhome in Christchurch.

How can you adjust this itinerary?

To add Kaikōura: start or finish with a detour north to Kaikōura for whale watching, around 180 km from Christchurch each way. See our Marlborough and Kaikōura route.
To add the deep south: from Te Anau, follow the Southland and Catlins route to Dunedin and return to Christchurch along the coast instead of via the West Coast.
To finish elsewhere: drop off in Queenstown after Day 9 and see our one-way trips guide.

What size RV suits a two-week South Island loop?

For a couple, a two-berth campervan with a toilet, or a compact two-berth motorhome with a shower, balances comfort with easy driving on the passes. Families are better served by a four-berth motorhome, as two weeks of rainy days in a cramped vehicle can wear thin.

Which route guides does this itinerary use?

Start this trip from Christchurch

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 14 days enough for the South Island in a motorhome?

Yes. Fourteen days is the ideal length for a South Island loop, allowing time for all the major highlights plus rest days and flexibility around the weather.

How far is a 14-day South Island loop?

This itinerary covers around 2,180 km, or around 30 hours of driving, spread over 14 days with several short or no-driving days.

Should you stay overnight on the Milford Road?

Staying at a DOC campsite in the Eglinton Valley lets you reach Milford Sound early, before the day-trip coaches arrive, and gives you time for walks such as Key Summit and Lake Marian.

Can you add Kaikōura to a 14-day South Island trip?

Yes. Kaikōura is around 180 km north of Christchurch, so you can add it at the start or end of the trip by dropping a day elsewhere, such as the Glenorchy day trip.

Is it worth driving to Punakaiki on a South Island loop?

Yes. The Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki are one of the West Coast’s highlights, and the Great Coast Road to reach them is one of New Zealand’s best coastal drives.

Which days have the least driving on this itinerary?

Day 3 at Aoraki/Mount Cook has no driving, while Days 6, 8 and 12 each involve less than 100 km.