South Island Loop

The classic South Island circuit from Christchurch through Kaikōura, Marlborough, the West Coast glaciers, Queenstown, the fiords and Aoraki/Mount Cook, returning to Christchurch.

The South Island Loop is the most classic self-drive route in New Zealand, by rental car or campervan. The circuit covers about 2,500 to 3,000 km and starts and ends in Christchurch, and can be driven clockwise or anticlockwise. The northern section follows State Highway 1 to Kaikōura to see sperm whales and fur seals, then passes the Marlborough wine region and Picton. From there, Queen Charlotte Drive leads to Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park. The route then follows the Buller Gorge into the West Coast, past the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Hokitika, to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and Lake Matheson. It crosses Haast Pass to Wānaka, continues on the Crown Range Road to Queenstown, and heads south to Te Anau. From Te Anau, the Milford Road leads to Milford Sound and back. The return journey heads north past Lake Pukaki, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Lake Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve before arriving back in Christchurch. Arthur's Pass can be used as a shortcut across the island. A 14 to 21 day itinerary is recommended. New Zealand drives on the left. Rural areas have many single-lane bridges, tight bends and gravel sections, so actual travel times are much longer than navigation estimates. Fuel stations are scarce on the West Coast and in the fiords, and in winter, mountain passes may require snow chains.

South Island Loop

Along the route