Itinerary: The Beauty of New Zealand in 9 Days

3rd September 2024 No comments Article

Here is the self drive itinerary to the South Island of New Zealand in 9 Days 8 Nights. Do note that for this trip, I decide to fully focus on New Zealand South Island known for snow capped mountains landscape. The South Island of New Zealand usually consists of Christchurch. However, I did not venture into Christchurch as it is located at the northern part of the South Island. Sounds confusing? Here is a map of New Zealand.

Total damage for 9 days road trip inclusive of air fare was Singapore Dollars (SGD)$2898 , or equivalent to around US Dollars (USD)$2,217.

On this trip, the highlight was to relax in the surrounding scenic towns near to Queenstown. That leaves us a night to spend in Wanaka town, also known as the sister town of Queenstown with lakes and many adventure activities to do. Next up, we explore the most Southern tip of New Zealand or in a way, the Southern part which is closer to South Pole. The most extreme end of New Zealand southern part that was once a booming town only to see relatively smaller population in recent years. Here is a detailed itinerary of how you can plan your South Island road trip around New Zealand. If you like Milford Sound which is a top tourist site, then include that in, a one day trip out from Queenstown.

Day 1: Queenstown

1430H: Arrive Queenstown
1510H: Pick up car from airport
1530H: Check in Hotel
1600H: Take a scenic ride in the iconic Skyline Gondola
1630H: 3 Luge rides, each ride around 20 mins. Total: 60 mins.
1730H: Back to Queenstown central
1750H: Sunset, admire lake Wakatipu
1900H: Head to Minus 5º ICE BAR
(Pre-dinner chilly cocktail)
2000H: Eat Fergburger, most famous burger in the world

Day 2: Queenstown-Wanaka- Fox Glacier

0750H: Breakfast
0830H: Take car
0900H: Check out hotel, Queenstown- Puzzling World,Wanaka (70km/ 1hr)
1000H: Arrive Puzzling World,Wanaka
1030H: Depart Puzzling World- Lake Hāwea (14km/ 15min)
1045H: Explore Lake Hāwea
1130H: Lake Hāwea-The Hard Antler Restaurant, Haast town (127km/1hr 45min)
1315H: Arrive The Hard Antler Restaurant, lunch
1415H: Hard Antler Restaurant – Fox Glacier (120km/ 1hr 30 min)
1600H: Arrive Fox Glacier town ; check in hotel

Day 3: Fox Glacier- Wanaka

0820H: To depart hotel, walk there (150m walk/ 2 min)
0830H: Arrive at Fox Glaicer Guiding Building (44 Main Road Fox Glacier)
0850H: Flying Fox Heli-Hike adventure, 3hrs (Pre book online) Cost: NZ655 per pax
1200H: End of trip ,lunch
1300H: Depart Fox Glacier – Wanaka (262km/4hr)
1700H: Arrive Wanaka ; Explore Brownston Food Truck Market (Opens 12pm-9pm), try edible chocolate cup with coffee in it
1740H: Head to #ThatWanakaTree
1800H: Check in hotel

Day 4: Wanaka- Lake Pukaki- Mt Cook- Lake Tekapo

0745H: Meet at Wanaka i-Site.
0800H: Sky Diving session ; 2hr
1000H: End of Sky Diving
1030H: Depart Wanaka- Lindis Pass Viewpoint (80km/1hr)
1130H: Lindis Pass
1200H: Lindis Pass Viewpoint- Clay Cliffs (48km/45 min)
1245H: Clay Cliffs
1315H: Clay Cliffs-High Country Salmon Farm Cafe (32km/30min)
1345H: Lunch at High Country Salmon Farm Cafe
1430H: Cafe- Lake Pukaki Viewpoint (11km/15min)
1445H: Arrive Lake Pukaki Viewpoint
1515H: Lake Pukaki – Hooker valley trek (58km/ 45min)
1600H: Arrive Hooker valley trek, do the Kea Point Track hiking route takes 1hr
1700H: Complete Hike, back at Hooker valley. Hooker Valley- Lake Tekapo (105km/ 1hr 15 min)
1815H: Arrive accommodation in Lake Tekapo

Day 5: Lake Tekapo – Oamaru -Dunedin

0910H: Depart Hotel- Church of the Good Shepherd
0930H: Arrive Church of the Good Shepherd
1000H: Drive to Lake McGregor & then to Lake Alexandrina, this drive is scenic (12km/15min)
1015H: Arrive Lake McGregor viewpoint
1030H: Lake McGregor – Lake Alexandrina (850m/2min)
1040H: Leave Lake Alexandrina -Burkes Pass (33km/ 30 min)
1110H: Have a coffee and take insta-worthy photos at Burkes Pass
1140H: Burkes Pass- Oamaru town (153km/2hr)
1340H: Lunch + Supermarket
1500H: Oamaru- Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony (2km/5min)
1530H: Depart Blue Penguin Colony – Moeraki Boulders Beach (37km/ 30 min)
1600H: Moeraki Boulders Beach
1630H: Shag Point Lookout (53km/ 45min)
1715H: Arrive Shag Point Lookout / Fur seal viewing walk
1735H: Depart Fur seal viewing walk – Dunedin (66km/1hr)
1830H: Arrive Dunedin; check in hotel

Day 6: Dunedin-Bluff – Invercargill

0900H: Explore Dunedin attractions: St Joseph Cathedral, Dunedin Train station & World Steepest Strret: Baldiwn
1030H: Depart Dunedin – Bluff (230km/3hr)
1330H: Lunch at Bluff town ; taste oysters
1430H: Visit Stirling Point
1500H: Stirling Point – Invercargill (30km/25min)
1530H: Arrive Invercargill ; supermarket
1630H: Invercargill Water Tower
1630H: Check in hotel

Day 7: Invercargill – Cromwell

0900H: Visit Queens Park
1000H: Visit Demolition World
1100H: Depart Invercargill – Kawaru Falls (178km/2hr 15 min)
1345H: Arrive Kawaru Falls
1415H: Kawaru Falls-Deer Park Heights Queenstown (6km/5 min)
1420H: Feed the deers from the car
1440H: Deer Park – Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge (22km/20 min)
1500H: Kawarau Bridge -Roaring Meg Power Station Waterfalls (22km/20min)
1520H: Arrive Roaring Meg Power Station Waterfalls
1535H: Roaring Meg – Cormwell (14km/ 15 min)
1550H: Arrive Cromwell, lunch + supermarket
1730H: Check-in hotel

Day 8: Cromwell – Glenorchy- Queenstown

1000H: Depart Hotel , visit Jackson Orchards / Cheeki Cherries
1030H: Depart Cromwell- Glenorchy (105km/ 1hr 30 min)
1200H: Arrive Glenorchy; lunch & explore
1310H: Depart Glenorchy – Shotover Jet Queenstown (50km/50min)
1400H: Arrive Shotover Jet Queenstown
1430H: Shotover Jet Queenstown- Queenstown (5km/10min)
1600H: Check in hotel
1630H: Return car at Queenstown town
Address: 68-70, Stanley Street, Queenstown, New Zealand, 9300
1640H: 5 min walk back to hotel
1730H: Sunset at Queenstown