South Island in 7 Days by Campervan: Christchurch to Queenstown
Quick summary: This one-way campervan or motorhome itinerary packs the South Island’s most famous scenery into a single week. From Christchurch you head to the turquoise lakes of the Mackenzie Country and the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook, cross the Lindis Pass to Wānaka, take the Crown Range to Queenstown, then drive the Milford Road to Milford Sound before finishing in Queenstown. It covers around 1,190 km with a mix of big driving days and slower days around the highlights.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Trip length | 7 days |
| Pick up and drop off | Christchurch to Queenstown (one-way) |
| Total distance | Around 1,190 km |
| Total driving time | Around 16–17 hours |
| Longest driving day | Day 6, around 240 km return to Milford Sound |
| Highlights | Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lindis Pass, Wānaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound |
| Best for | First-time visitors with one week who want the South Island’s headline scenery |
Why does this itinerary work so well?
Because it follows the South Island’s most spectacular corridor without ever doubling back, apart from the classic out-and-back to Milford Sound. A one-way trip from Christchurch to Queenstown lets you fly in to one city and out of the other, turning what would be two days of return driving into time at the lakes and mountains. See our guide to one-way trips.
Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Distance: around 225 km, around 3 hours of driving.
Pick up your motorhome in Christchurch, stock up on groceries and head south-west across the Canterbury Plains. Stop for coffee in Geraldine and a pie in Fairlie, then climb over Burkes Pass into the Mackenzie Basin. Arrive at Lake Tekapo in the afternoon and walk to the Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakeshore.
Experiences: a guided stargazing tour in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, or a soak in the hot pools beside the lake.
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 in the morning for the view over Lake Tekapo, then continue to Lake Pukaki, where Aoraki/Mount Cook rises above the far end of the lake. Follow the lake road to Mount Cook Village, stopping at Peters Lookout. In the afternoon, walk the Kea Point Track or the Tasman Glacier viewpoint.
Experiences: a scenic flight with a glacier landing, or a boat trip among the icebergs of Tasman Lake.
Overnight: White Horse Hill Campground or a nearby holiday park.
Day 3: Aoraki/Mount Cook to Wānaka
Distance: around 210 km, around 2 hours 40 minutes of driving.
Start early on the Hooker Valley Track, around 3 hours return, crossing swing bridges to Hooker Lake beneath the mountain. Then drive to Twizel and Omarama, stopping at the Clay Cliffs, and cross the golden tussock of the Lindis Pass to Wānaka.
Experiences: a hot tub soak in Omarama on the way, or an evening walk along Wānaka’s lakefront to see That Wānaka Tree.
Overnight: Wānaka.
Day 4: Wānaka to Queenstown via the Crown Range
Distance: around 70 km, around 1 hour of driving.
A short driving day. Spend the morning in Wānaka, perhaps climbing Mount Iron for the view, then cross the Crown Range Road, one of New Zealand’s highest sealed roads, stopping at the summit lookout. Descend to historic Arrowtown for lunch, then continue to Queenstown. If you’d rather avoid the steep Crown Range, take the longer route via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge instead.
Experiences: jet boating on the Shotover River, the gondola to Bob’s Peak, or bungy at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge.
Overnight: Queenstown.
Day 5: Queenstown to Te Anau
Distance: around 170 km, around 2 hours 15 minutes of driving.
Follow Lake Wakatipu south past Kingston, then cross farmland to Te Anau on the shore of the South Island’s largest lake. Stock up on fuel and supplies in Te Anau: there are no services on the Milford Road.
Experiences: an evening boat trip to the Te Anau glowworm caves.
Overnight: Te Anau.
Day 6: Te Anau to Milford Sound and back
Distance: around 240 km return, around 4 hours of driving.
Set off early along the Milford Road, stopping at the Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Lake Gunn and The Divide. Wait at the lights for the Homer Tunnel, look out for kea, and walk to The Chasm before arriving at Milford Sound.
Experiences: a Milford Sound cruise to the Tasman Sea, past waterfalls and seal colonies, or a guided kayak trip. Return to Te Anau in the afternoon, or stay at a DOC campsite in the Eglinton Valley.
Overnight: Te Anau or the Eglinton Valley.
Day 7: Te Anau to Queenstown
Distance: around 170 km, around 2 hours 15 minutes of driving.
Drive back to Queenstown and drop off your motorhome. If your flight allows, finish with a final experience: a TSS Earnslaw cruise, a Gibbston Valley wine tour, or a walk in the Queenstown Gardens.
How can you adjust this itinerary?
- To add a day: spend a second night at Aoraki/Mount Cook or in Queenstown.
- To skip the Milford drive: take a fly-cruise-fly trip from Queenstown and use the spare day for Glenorchy.
- To reverse it: start in Queenstown and finish in Christchurch; the scenery works just as well in reverse.
- To make it a loop: see our South Island 10-day loop.
Can a first-time RV driver manage this 7-day itinerary?
Yes. The first two days are gentle, on sealed roads with plenty of stops, which gives you time to get used to the vehicle before the Lindis Pass, the Crown Range and the Milford Road. If the Crown Range feels daunting, the route via Cromwell is a gentler alternative.
Which route guides does this itinerary use?
Start this trip from Christchurch
Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch
Frequently Asked Questions
Seven days is enough to see the South Island’s headline scenery between Christchurch and Queenstown, including Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Wānaka and Milford Sound, on a one-way trip. It is not enough for a full island loop.
The route via Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Lindis Pass, Wānaka and the Crown Range is around 610 km, compared with around 480 km on the direct route via Tekapo, Twizel and Cromwell.
It is possible but rushed, as returning to Christchurch adds around 480 km of driving. A one-way trip from Christchurch to Queenstown gives you far more time at the highlights.
Driving lets you stop at the viewpoints and walks on the Milford Road. A fly-cruise-fly tour from Queenstown saves a long return drive and gives a spectacular view from the air.
White Horse Hill Campground, run by the Department of Conservation at the start of the Hooker Valley Track, is the closest option for motorhomes, with holiday parks in Twizel around 65 km away.
Around 1,190 km in total, or around 16 to 17 hours of driving, spread across seven days.