SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND (2025) | 15 Beautiful Places To Visit on a South Island Road Trip (+ Tips

What's up guys? We're here on the South Island of New Zealand and in this video we're going to show you all of the highlights that you can't miss on a road trip here. So hope you enjoy it. New Zealand's South Island is the larger of the country's two main islands. The landscape here consists of towering mountains, rugged coastlines, and expansive valleys and has been sculpted over time by powerful geological forces. Being sparsely populated, the South Island offers a remote feel and a chance to truly connect with nature. While it's famous for world class hiking and outdoor adventures, the island also surprises with acclaimed wine regions, charming cities, and fascinating wildlife. In this video we're excited to show you 15 of the most beautiful spots we discovered on our South Island road trip presented in our travel order. Stick around for some helpful travel tips at the end as well. Now let's dive in. We are Zach and Ina. We make helpful videos about destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures. Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island located on the east coast. It serves as an excellent gateway for a road trip thanks to its international airport and numerous car and camper van rental options. However, the city itself is well worth exploring. Discover its charming center with a picturesque river flowing right through it and be sure to visit the vibrant Riverside Market, a bustling hub of food stalls and cafes. Just outside the city, the Christchurch Gondola offers breathtaking panoramas of the urban landscape and beyond. There are also many great hiking trails that start from the top of the gondola, so check those out if you've got time. Located just to the southeast of Christchurch, the Banks Peninsula is a unique landscape that's been shaped by ancient volcanic activity. You'll be impressed by its lush hills, dramatic cliffs, and colorful bays. Akaroa serves as the peninsula's vibrant hub and is nestled within the largest harbor formed by the volcano. This charming town has a distinct French feel thanks to its history as the only French settlement in New Zealand. Beyond its architectural charm, dolphin watching cruises are a major attraction here. The bay is home to the Hector's dolphins, one of the rarest marine dolphin species in the world. In fact, they can only be found in New Zealand's coastal waters. Lake Tekapo is about a four-hour drive to the southwest of Akaroa. This immense turquoise lake is fed by glacial meltwater and framed by towering mountain peaks. The landscape can easily be enjoyed by taking a scenic walk or bike ride along the shores. Don't miss a visit to the Church of the Good Shepherd, which is a popular spot for photographers. The beachfront here is famous for its vibrant lupine flower season, typically from mid-November to late December. And if you're looking for relaxation, we recommend soaking in the hot pools at Tekapo Springs. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park sits about an hour's drive northwest of Lake Tekapo. It's named after New Zealand's highest peak, which forms the centerpiece of the park. The dramatic landscape of tall mountains, glaciers, and turquoise lakes makes it the perfect hiking area. The most popular trail is the Hooker Valley Track, offering stunning views of Aoraki Mount Cook, the Hooker River, and glacial lakes. This hike is good for all skill and fitness levels. Another beautiful but steeper and harder trail is the Sealy Tarns Track, which has the best panoramic vistas. As a bonus, the drive to the park is incredibly scenic. It passes by Lake Pukaki, famed for its intense blue color and numerous freedom camping spots. Check out our full video about this national park, which covers more detailed hiking information, as well as Lake Pukaki. Oamaru is situated on the east coast of the South Island, and is about a two and a half hour drive southeast of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. This interesting Victorian-era town is a great spot to relax on the coast. It's also renowned for having a colony of little blue penguins. These adorable animals return from a day of fishing just before sunset every evening, and make their way ashore in the harbor. While the penguins are a major draw, the east coast offers other worthwhile stops as well. These include the Cape Fur Seals at Bushy Beach, the intriguing Meraki Boulders, or the historic city of Dunedin, making this coastline a great point to break up your South Island journey. Located in the remote southwestern corner of the South Island, Fiordland National Park requires a dedicated journey. Te Anau is a picturesque lake town, which serves as the primary gateway to this dramatic wilderness. The park itself has some incredibly scenic drives, and is known around the world for its breathtaking fjords, with Milford Sound being the most famous one. This fjord is easily accessible with your own vehicle by taking State Highway 94. You can then either walk around to a few viewpoints, or take a boat tour to get closer to the towering waterfalls and iconic Mitre Peak. For a more tranquil experience, check out Doubtful Sound. This requires a boat cruise across Lake Manapouri, which is then followed by another cruise through the fjord. Beyond the water, Fiordland boasts incredible multi-day and day hiking trails. Our favorite day hike was the challenging Gertrude Saddle, followed by the picturesque Lake Marion, and the accessible Key Summit Trail. For other things to do in the park, and more details about all of these activities, check out our full Fiordland video. Hello everyone, we hope you've been enjoying this beautiful landscape so far. And if you're planning your New Zealand trip, we've made an interactive travel guide, which will complement everything you're seeing in this video perfectly. We poured our hearts, hours of research, and two months of full-time travel into creating this interactive guide, and it's all available in an easy-to-use app. Think of it as your ultimate road trip companion right there on your phone. It's got everything, the places you can't miss, pre-designed itineraries to save you time, and all the essential links you'll need, making planning a breeze. You can grab it via the QR code on the screen here, or the link in the description below the video. Now let's get back to that amazing scenery of the South Island. Queenstown is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive east of Te Anau. Nestled on the shores of the stunning Lake Wakatipu, and surrounded by dramatic mountains, Queenstown offers a truly breathtaking setting. This vibrant town is famously known as the adventure capital of the world, with activities like bungee jumping, paragliding, and jet boating taking center stage. Beyond the adrenaline experiences, you can also find numerous scenic hiking trails, with the challenging Ben Lomond track being our favorite one. The views from the top were absolutely stunning. There are a few other interesting things to do from the town as well, including a gondola ride that provides easy access for panoramic views, as well as luge rides. If you're looking for a more relaxing option, you can hop on board the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship for a trip around the lake. Queenstown also serves as a fantastic base to explore nearby gems like the historic Arrowtown, which was a gold mining area. Glenorchy is also a popular nearby town, and is the gateway to hiking trails of Mount Aspiring National Park. You can easily spend a week in this area and not get bored. Driving just an hour to the northeast of Queenstown will bring you to Wanaka. This picturesque town has a laid-back vibe and is surrounded by stunning nature. You can relax and take in the views all day at the beaches, but if you want to get more active, then we suggest renting a bike. Our favorite mountain bike trail was the one connecting Lake Hawea to Wanaka. There are also tons of excellent hiking routes in the area, but a major highlight is the Roy's Peak track, offering some of the most breathtaking panoramic views in all of New Zealand. This trail is about 16 kilometers or 10 miles round trip, with a pretty challenging elevation gain. It's a very well-maintained path, and you'll likely come across some peaceful sheep on your way up. Sunrise is the most popular time to do this hike, but sunset is also equally as beautiful in our opinion, and a lot less crowds as well. But if you're going to do it at either time, definitely bring a headlamp because you're going to be walking one way in the dark. Mount Aspiring National Park sprawls across a vast area of the South Island's Southern Alps. This immense park features rugged snow-capped peaks, pristine rivers, and ancient rainforests. While it's often considered one of Wanaka's stunning backyards and a natural gateway, this park is accessible from various points. However, a particularly scenic route is the drive from Wanaka through the park, traversing the dramatic Haast Pass. Along this winding road, you'll encounter some breathtaking waterfalls. The picturesque Fantail Falls and the powerful Thunder Creek Falls are unmissable stops. Continuing north from the Haast region near Mount Aspiring, you'll reach the dramatic West Coast. This area is home to the impressive Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. These glaciers are unique for their remarkably low descent into the surrounding rainforest, as well as their proximity to the Tasman Sea. Some activities in the area include the peaceful walk and iconic reflections at Lake Matheson, the walk to the Franz Josef Glacier Lookout, and scenic helicopter flights. We opted for a 35-minute heli flight. Taking off from the town of Franz Josef, we went soaring over two glaciers and did a short snow landing. This is definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences in New Zealand. Located a scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive northeast of Franz Josef, Hokitika Gorge is known for its vibrant turquoise waters. This makes it a fantastic short stop on your road trip. A well-maintained and easy walking trail loops around the gorge, offering various viewpoints to admire the stunning contrast between the milky blue river, the lush surrounding native bush, and the dramatic rocks. Heading inland from Hokitika Gorge, a detour of about two hours will bring you to the dramatic landscapes of Arthur's Pass National Park. This alpine environment showcases expansive golden-colored valleys that have been carved by glaciers. While it requires deviating from the main coastal route, the rewarding views here are great for those who have time. The park has a network of beautiful hiking trails. One of our favorites was the short walk to Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall, where you could feel the water's mist from the viewpoint. A more challenging hike is the Bealy Spur Track, which offers amazing panoramic views that overlook the valley. When you're in the area, make sure to stop at the mystical boulders of Castle Hill. It's just a 40-minute short loop to walk around these really impressive rocks. Driving north from Arthur's Pass along the west coast, you'll reach the unique coastal settlement of Punakaiki. This place is famous for its extraordinary pancake rocks and blowholes. These fascinating limestone formations have been sculpted over millennia by wind and wave erosion, and are easily viewed by walking a short track that loops around the coastline. Continuing further north brings you to Cape Foulwind and the town of Westport. This area offers rugged coastal beauty as well as a laid-back atmosphere. It's also home to some awesome beachfront freedom camping spots. Abel Tasman National Park is a jewel of the South Island. With golden sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush native forests, this is a place you can't miss. The park is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive to the northeast of Westport. Kiteriteri and Marajo both serve as excellent bases, offering frequent water taxi services that whisk you into various bays within the park. Kiteriteri is the larger of the two and has more amenities. We first experienced Abel Tasman on a guided kayak tour, which took us through tranquil lagoons and up close to the oddly shaped rocks. The next day, we explored the park on foot to see a different perspective of the coastline. There's a great day hike that takes you from Awaroa Bay to the picturesque Medlands Beach in Bark Bay, which is a section of the multi-day Abel Tasman Coast Track. A scenic drive brings you to Marlborough, the biggest wine region in New Zealand. In fact, this area boasts about two-thirds of the country's total vineyard area. At its heart lies the charming town of Renwick, characterized by its vast vineyards stretching across the plains. The best way to immerse yourself in this landscape is undoubtedly with a bike ride. We enjoyed a self-guided wine and bike tour, stopping at numerous vineyards for wine tastings. Before getting out on the bikes, a route map and local recommendations for wineries were provided. After exploring the best of Marlborough, you'll have a couple different options to finish up your South Island road trip. If you're continuing your journey up to the North Island like we did, then we recommend doing the Queen Charlotte Drive. This road will take you through Havelock on your way to Picton. From here, you can then drive your car on a ferry to the North Island. But if you're only exploring the South Island, then you'll likely be returning to Christchurch for your flight out. If that's the case for you, then we recommend making a stop in Kaikoura for a day or two. This coastal town is famed for its whale watching. Now, we'll share a few travel tips for the South Island. First, a fantastic way to experience the South Island is by renting a camper van. The island boasts an abundance of spacious parking areas suitable for camper vans, making driving a breeze. The infrastructure is also exceptionally well catered to camper van travel, with numerous holiday parks to pick from, and lots of designated free camping spots in stunning locations. Just make sure the camper van you rent is certified as self-contained, which means it meets the current requirements for onboard toilet, fresh water, and wastewater storage, as well as rubbish disposal. You should maintain flexibility in your itinerary as much as you can. This is because weather conditions can significantly impact certain activities, particularly hiking. Some trails, such as the Gertrude Saddle Hike in Fiordland National Park, are not permitted or at least strongly discouraged during adverse weather. If you have a few days allocated to a specific area, be prepared to adjust your plans and move activities around to take advantage of favorable weather conditions. Purchasing a local SIM card is definitely recommended. It's easy to do this at the airport, with kiosks readily available upon arrival. We purchased 100 gigabytes of data for under 100 New Zealand dollars. This lasted our entire trip in New Zealand, which was two months long. While mobile network coverage is generally good, it can be limited in some remote areas. Do not rely on campground Wi-Fi, as it's often limited, slow, and sometimes costs extra money to use. Finally, if you're planning your trip to New Zealand, we recommend checking out our interactive travel guide. Within a mobile app, you'll find more tips, the must-see spots, pre-designed itineraries to save you time, and all the essential links you'll need to plan your road trip. Find a link to this guide, as well as other important links, in the description below this video. And don't forget to check out our channel for more New Zealand videos, including region-specific highlights and general experiences of both the North Island and South Island. We'll catch you on the next adventure.