Two weeks is the sweet spot for a South Island road trip by campervan. Long enough to get off the tourist trail, short enough to stay focused. This itinerary starts in Christchurch and ends in Queenstown – the classic north-to-south route that takes in the best of the South Island without rushing.
It’s written for independent travellers who want a mix of iconic spots and quieter places most tourists skip. Every overnight stop includes free camping options for self-contained vehicles.
Before you go
Download CamperMate and Rankers Camping NZ before you leave home. You’ll use them every day to find freedom camping spots, dump stations, and water refills. Also download offline maps – Google Maps works offline if you pre-download the region, and Maps.me is a solid backup.
Days 1-2: Christchurch
Pick up your van in Christchurch and take a day to get comfortable with it before hitting the road. Christchurch is more interesting than most people expect – the city rebuilt itself after the 2011 earthquake and the result is one of the most architecturally creative city centres in the Southern Hemisphere.
Don’t miss: The Cardboard Cathedral, the Re:START shipping container mall, Hagley Park, and the Botanic Gardens. The weekend market on the Avon River is excellent if you’re arriving on a Saturday.
First night camp: McLeans Island (Waimakariri District) – free, self-contained. About 15 minutes from the city centre.
Days 3-4: Kaikoura
Drive north along the Kaikoura Coast – one of the most dramatic coastal roads in New Zealand, with the Seaward Kaikoura Range dropping almost directly into the Pacific. The drive takes about 2.5 hours but budget a full day.
Kaikoura is famous for whale watching (sperm whales are here year-round) and swimming with dolphins. Book the whale watching tour in advance if you want it – they sell out in peak season. The half-day trip runs about NZ per person.
The town also has a remarkable seafood scene for its size. Get crayfish (lobster) from one of the roadside stalls – it’s much cheaper here than anywhere else in NZ.
Camp: Check CamperMate for current options – Kaikoura has tightened its freedom camping rules in recent years, so verified spots change. There are several DOC sites within 20km.
Days 5-6: Nelson and the Abel Tasman
Continue north to Nelson – the sunniest city in New Zealand and the geographical centre of the country. Nelson is a good base for the Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand’s smallest but most visited national park.
You can’t drive into the Abel Tasman, but you can take a water taxi from Marahau and walk a section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track. Even a half-day walk gives you the turquoise water, granite boulders, and empty beaches the park is famous for. No big crowds if you go early.
Camp: Rabbit Island Recreation Reserve, near Richmond. Free, self-contained, right on the water.
Days 7-8: West Coast – Pancake Rocks and Franz Josef
Head south and cross to the West Coast via the Lewis Pass or Murchison. The West Coast is the least visited part of the South Island and the most dramatic – dense rainforest, empty beaches, and mountains that appear suddenly out of the bush.
Stop at Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki – limestone formations that look exactly like stacked pancakes, with blowholes that shoot sea spray when the swell is right. Free to visit, 15-minute walk from the car park.
Push on to Franz Josef Glacier for the night. The glacier has retreated significantly in recent years but the valley walk is still worth doing. Helicopter flights over the glacier are expensive (NZ+) but genuinely spectacular if it’s in your budget.
Camp: Multiple DOC sites along the West Coast, well signposted. Most are free or NZ-8 per night.
Days 9-10: Haast Pass and Wanaka
The drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka via the Haast Pass is one of the great road trips in New Zealand. The road crosses from rainforest to mountain valley and then opens up into the lakes region – the landscape changes completely every hour.
Stop at Blue Pools near Makarora – an easy 45-minute walk through beech forest to a pair of crystal-clear glacial pools. Cold enough to take your breath away, but people swim in them.
Wanaka is Queenstown’s quieter, more relaxed neighbour. Most travellers end up preferring it. The lake is beautiful, the town is small, and there are fewer bachelor parties. Stay two nights.
Camp: Glendhu Bay Motor Camp – on the lake, stunning views. Paid but worth it (NZ/night). Or freedom camp along the Hawea River road.
Days 11-12: Mount Cook / Aoraki
This is an optional detour but one of the best in New Zealand. From Wanaka, drive around Lake Pukaki to the Mount Cook village at the foot of Aoraki, New Zealand’s highest peak (3,724m).
The Hooker Valley Track is 3 hours return and ends at a glacial lake with icebergs floating in it, directly below the summit of Aoraki. It’s the most spectacular easy walk in the country. No experience required.
Mount Cook village is also one of the best stargazing spots in the Southern Hemisphere – it sits in a dark sky reserve, and on a clear night the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Park the van, turn off the lights, and look up.
Camp: White Horse Hill Campground, DOC – right at the trailhead, NZ/night. Book ahead in peak season.
Days 13-14: Queenstown
End the trip in Queenstown. It’s the most touristy town in New Zealand and also one of the most beautiful – sitting on Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables range directly behind it.
If you’ve budgeted for one adrenaline activity, Queenstown is where to do it. Bungy jumping, skydiving, jet boating, canyon swinging – it’s all here. The original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge bungy (43m) is the most iconic.
For a free alternative: hike the Ben Lomond Track (5-6 hours return) for panoramic views over the whole region. It’s hard work but free and the view from the top is worth every step.
Camp: Queenstown has strict freedom camping rules – use a paid site like the Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park or check CamperMate for current designated areas.
Practical notes
- Best time to go: November to March (NZ summer). Longer days, warmer temperatures, more freedom camping spots open. April-May is quieter and still good. June-August is cold on the West Coast and some mountain roads close.
- Budget: Allow NZ-100/day for food, fuel, and activities. Freedom camping cuts accommodation to near zero. A 14-day van hire from Campervanz Rentals ranges from NZ to NZ depending on the van – check availability for your dates.
- One-way option: We offer one-way rentals – pick up in Christchurch (or Auckland), drop off in Queenstown. No need to backtrack.
- Driving: New Zealand drives on the left. Roads are narrow and winding – allow more time than Google Maps suggests, especially on the West Coast. See our guide to driving in New Zealand for first-timers.
Ready to book?
We operate self-contained campervans and sleepervans out of Christchurch, Auckland and Queenstown. All vehicles are built for off-grid travel – solar, heating, full kitchen, everything included. One-way rentals available so you can do this route without backtracking.
Browse our vans and check availability – or send us a WhatsApp to talk through your dates.
