7-Day South Island, New Zealand Itinerary
There is no doubt that New Zealand has some of the most iconic and breathtaking mountains in the world and why it draws so many visitors annually. If you are limited on time, here is my guide to seeing the best of the South Island in just 7 days. This itinerary is geared towards travelers that are renting a car and using hotels/airbnb for lodging and are looking for epic hiking and more off the beaten path adventures.
Day 1 - Queenstown
In order to make the most out of your trip, fly into Queenstown which will save you time and prevent you from driving long hours from Christchurch to Otago. Depending on what time your flight lands in Queenstown, I highly recommend going for an easy hike to Bob’s peak and enjoying the lake for a cold plunge on a a nice sunny day! The drive to Bob’s Cove along the Wakatipu is stunning and a typical sunny day in peak summer can be VERY warm making a cold plunge look easy! The onsen pools are a great option if you’re wanting to relax after a long travel day or if it’s raining.
Things to do in Queenstown
Hikes/Treks: Lake Alta Track, Ben Lomond, Bob’s Peak, Queenstown Hill, Moke Lake Loop Track
Walk around the Lake Wakatipu
Enjoy the beaches
Kayak the lake
Shopping
Restaurants
Ferburger for one of the best burgers in New Zealand
Toast & Oak, The Bathhouse, Finz, Ferg’s Bar, Public Kitchen & Bar for oysters, if it’s bluff oysters season you can’t miss out!
Accommodation: Queenstown
Day 2- Milford Sound
Disclaimer: The Milford Sound comes to life with waterfalls on a rainy day. It is one of the wettest areas in New Zealand so chances are high that it will be raining. If it happens to not be raining I highly recommend shifting the itinerary to coordinate with the rain if possible. Most tour boat companies are flexible so just call in advance to switch!
The Milford Sound is one of the most iconic places to visit in New Zealand. The stark mountains and abundance of waterfalls is something I have never witnessed before. I would allot 1-2 days to see this area.
Because the Milford Sound is roughly 3.5 hours from Queenstown be sure to book your boat tour at a time that works with you! I recommend a 11:00 or later time to enjoy the drive LONG out there. You can definitely squeeze a hike in on the same day as your boat tour if you do an earlier tour.
Things to do in Milford
Hikes/Treks: Lake Marian, Key Summit & View of Lake Marian, Gertrude Saddle Route
Boat Tour of the Milford Sound
Accommodation: Te Anau
Day 3- Te Anau & Queenstown
Te Anau is the perfect spot to base yourself while visiting the Milford Sound but there are still some epic things to do in this area. If you haven’t seen glowworm caves yet I highly recommend checking out the Te Anau Glowworm Caves! Otherwise there is a epic small section of the Kepler Track you can spend hiking for the day before heading back towards Queenstown.
Accommodation: Queenstown
Day 4- Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park & Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki & Aoraki / Mount Cook
Disclaimer: there is limited food in the Mount Cook Village so be prepared with hiking snacks ahead of time. Twizel is a good town with a grocery store to stop in prior.
Lake Pukaki will fulfill all your icy blue lake dreams on your way to Aoraki, New Zealand’s tallest peak! The drive to Aoraki is breathtaking and may be the highlight of the day itself. If you have time and want to take a dip in Lake Pukaki, there are a few stops along the route to Aoraki. There are only 5 hikes in the national park but I consider all to be beautiful walks inNew Zealand (sidenote: kiwis consider a hike a “walk” so don’t be fooled!). You can’t go wrong with any option but in my opinion Hooker Valley and Sealy Tarns/Mueller Hut will give you the most jaw-dropping views. Be warned that Hooker Valley can be VERY busy, and I highly recommend planning your hike around sunrise or sunset to avoid the tour bus traffic that tends to be there midday. Sealy Tarns or if you’re feeling up for the challenge Mueller Hut is one of the most stunning views of the glacier wall. I do recommend aiming to do your longer hike the first day so the following day allots you more time in Wanaka.
Accommodation: Mount Cook Village
The Hermitage Hotel is worth the splurge for the stunning views of the mountain range. There is very limited food in the Mount Cook Village but we did enjoy coffee + beer at the Sir Edmund Hillary Cafe (mostly for the views). The Meat pies at the cafe are from a local bakery in Farlie and definitely worth a try!
Day 5- Aoraki & Wanaka
View from the top of Mt. Iron
I recommend rising early to enjoy a sunrise in Aoraki and witness the beautiful alpenglow on the mountains (pending that the weather is perfect with clear skies). After you’ve done your second hike you’ll drive towards your second destination: Wanaka. If you’re interested, there is an incredible lavendar farm as well as a salmon sashimi spot along the route. The salmon is farm raised right in the glacial waters of New Zealand and it’s some of the most buttery, delicious salmon sashimi I have ever had.
Wanaka is a small, scenic town tucked in the mountains with another iconic lake to enjoy. The weather and lake water tends to be warmer than Queenstown as you’ll see heaps of people swimming and enjoying the lake. The first day I recommend laying low and enjoying the town before heading into the mountains for another hike.
Things to do in Wanaka
Hikes/Treks: Mount Iron, Roy’s Peak
Walk around the lake
Wanaka tree
Rent kayaks or boats on the lake
Rent bikes
Accommodation: Wanaka
Day 6- Mount Aspiring National Park
Disclaimer: This park was one of my favorites on the South Island. It does require a decent high clearance car as it’s down a dirt road and there are stream crossings that could be high depending if there was a lot of recent rain. If you’re unsure about the river crossings you can park before then and walk.
The drive to Mount Aspiring was not only stunning but felt like I was uncovering a hidden gem of New Zealand. The end of the dirt road is the raspberry car park which is the start to not only 2 day hikes, but a plethora of backcountry overnight huts and treks. I recommend doing the Rob Roy Glacier Trek and if you have time, walking 2-3km towards the Aspiring Hut to enjoy the Matukituki Valley and the icy blue river that runs through it. If it’s a hot & sunny day it’s perfect for taking a cold plunge in the river. There are 2 iconic spots not too far from the bridge (2-3km) that are perfect for dipping. On your way out of Mount Aspiring you can also check out Wishbone Falls for a quick 10-15 minute hike.
Accommodation: Wanaka
Day 7- Queenstown
Depending on what time your flight is, you may not have much time to do anything this last day but if you happen to have a later flight time I suggest stopping some of the Otago wineries on your way towards Queenstown. The Gibbston wine region between Queenstown and Cromwell is lined with wineries boasting some of the best pinot noir in New Zealand. Among some of my favorites are Kinross, Amisfield, and Mount Difficulty.
Kinross Winery
