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Destinations > Oceania > New Zealand > Queenstown to Christchurch

One of the most incredible ways to enjoy and experience the South Island is on a road trip that showcases some of the best scenery New Zealand has to offer. After getting your fill of the most iconic location in New Zealand, Milford Sound, and checking out the rest of the Queenstown and Te Anau, you’ll be ready for your road trip to Christchurch.

Just after you leave Queenstown, you’ll reach Cromwell. The drive from Cromwell, in the southern center of the South Island, to Christchurch, on the coast, is a fantastic way to get introduced to the majestic Southern Alps. You'll discover stunning lakes, river gorges, scenic high plains, and mountains – which serve as a background to numerous outdoor adventures along the way.  

This road trip lets you explore New Zealand's sheer natural landscapes, some of the best that you'll ever experience. One of the big attractions of this road trip is the historic Cromwell area. Located on the shores of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell is a modern and beautiful town steeped in history, which stretches back to the 1860's Otago Gold Rush. If you want to explore the Cromwell area, you can rent a bike from Cromwell Heritage Precinct Bike Rentals and enjoy a ride into history through the 55km Lake Dunstan Trail.

For a more profound travel experience on this road trip, it's essential to understand the country's traditions and culture to help you prepare for cultural differences and connect easily with the people you meet along the way. 

Thus, we are recommending this Customs and Culture book about New Zealand, which provides insight into the country's national identity and values including those from native Māori cultural influences. Getting to know New Zealand's cultural traditions and practices is all about the experience, so don't miss it! 

The road trip from Cromwell to Christchurch is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This South Island travel guide will help you make sense of everything to do, see and explore, including the off-the-beaten tracks. 

Roaring Meg New Zealand & the Kawarau Gorge Walk

Like many of the waterways in the area, Roaring Meg Creek played its part in the search for gold in the 1860s. The natural beauty of the rushing waters feeding into the Kawarau River provides a perfect backdrop for visitors to the Kawarau Gorge. The river gorges and streams offer a wide variety of outdoor adventures, including kayaking and riverboarding, as well as more extreme sports like bungee jumping.  If you have plenty of time, you can explore some Kawarau River tours and activities for memorable experiences. 

High Country Salmon

Another great stop on this road trip is the High Country Salmon, a family-owned salmon farm located on the glacial waters of the Mackenzie Country hydro canals, just south of Twizel. Here, you'll have an opportunity to catch your mountain salmon with their "Catch-A-Fish" experience. If you like your fish a little less hands-on, there is always the café, or floating shop, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

If thrilling adventures press all the right buttons for you, don’t miss the Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki day tour, which includes the High Country Salmon "Catch-A-Fish" experience, for a trip of a lifetime!

Lake Pukaki Walks

Just north of the salmon farm, the Lake Pukaki Shoreline Walk is a great way to take in views of the Southern Alps. It's an easy day walk, depending on your skill level, only taking about three and a half hours. The walking route is relatively flat as it follows the western shore of the beautiful glacier lake. However, the path is quite open and sunny, so make sure to bring your sunscreen, hat, and water bottles. The views along the way are similar, so you can hike as long as you like and then return along the same path.

Rated as New Zealand’s #1 short hike, the Hooker Valley Trek, starting at the top of Lake Pukaki at Aoraki / Mount Cook, is the most incredible natural experience that you will have in New Zealand!

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

The trail offers excellent views of Aoraki/Mount Cook, and if Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park was not already in your plans it will definitely be after the hike. The national park covers around 722 square kilometers on the southeastern side of the Southern Alps. Home to many of the highest peaks in New Zealand, the park’s namesake, Aoraki/Mount Cook, is the highest at 3724 meters. The incredible alpine flora and fauna can be enjoyed while you are hiking, mountaineering, or climbing. In the winter, there are great adventures to be had for experienced skiers. 

The park is part of Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, so no matter what time of year you visit, be sure to take advantage of the dark nights for unparalleled views of the night sky that allow you to see more than many other places on earth with just your eyes. If you want to explore the heavens in even more detail, you can take advantage of the planetarium at the Hermitage to get a good grounding of what you’re seeing before heading out to observe the skies.

Hooker Valley Trek

While the mountains on the North Island are lovely, they are often overlooked in favor of the spectacular Southern Alps on the South Island. The Hooker Valley Trek is a great place to start exploring these awe-inspiring peaks. The track through Hooker Valley passes along places sacred to the Māori, and it’s easy to see why they held them in such significance. As the route includes three swing bridges, a head for heights is a good idea on this trek, but the track itself is not that steep and, depending on your fitness level, it is generally a 3-hour hike, returning along the same trail. 

You can also get a tour to do this trek from Queenstown.

Accommodation in Braemar and Braemar Station

On the other side of Lake Pukaki, Braemar Station makes a tremendous overnight stop along your journey. Braemar is a working station, raising sheep, cattle, and deer. They offer visitors self-contained accommodation options in their various cottages that include kitchen and laundry facilities. The cottages themselves provide stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains and are a base for numerous thrilling outdoor activities year-round. There are some other great places to stay nearby such as Mantra Lake Tekapo and Glentanner Park Centre.

Lake Tekapo Stargazing

Heading northeast, a visit to Lake Tekapo is a must. The dazzling lake gets its unique turquoise color from glacial silt, and they provide vistas that are not to be missed. An excellent spot for trout fishing, the lake is said to have been dug out by a legendary Māori explorer, Rākaihautū, with his Polynesian digging stick. The clear skies make this area an excellent place to see the Southern Lights (aurora australis), particularly between April and September. Only a few sights are as awe-inspiring as seeing the aurora australis dancing across the sky in New Zealand's South Island. Take the Southern Skies Stargazing tour to hunt for the aurora australis and see the remarkable natural wonder firsthand. 

Dark Sky Reserve NZ

The Dark Sky Project is an association that works to keep the night skies free of light pollution and perfect for stargazing. The district surrounding Lake Tekapo has been recognized as an International Dark Sky Reserve and is the largest in the world, covering 4367 square kilometers. The project base in the town of Lake Tekapo at the southern end of the lake, offers several tours and experiences to help visitors learn about and experience the night skies. Open Thursday through Monday, they have a range of indoor and outdoor activities for everyone. 

Don’t miss the Dark Sky Experience at Lake Tekapo and learn about the science behind the southern skies from the expert astrophotographers and guides.

Church of the Good Shepherd - Tekapo

Built on the shores of Lake Tekapo in 1935, the Church of the Good Shepherd is wonderfully picturesque. The Anglican church was built to commemorate early settlers. The church is open during daylight hours, except during services, and pictures are not allowed indoors.  The nearby Sheepdog Memorial is another popular stop, commemorating the importance of the New Zealand Collie sheepdog to the people of Mackenzie Country. 

For detailed South Island road trip itinerary planning, you can get the Church of the Good Shepherd Tekapo New Zealand Journal to plan your schedules, scribble notes, and jot down thoughts about your South Island experiences so that you can reflect on them later.

Mount Sunday - New Zealand

Sitting in the middle of a flat river plain, with the Southern Alps in the background, Mount Sunday will seem quite familiar to fans of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Chosen as the site for the filming of Edoras, the home of the Riders of Rohan, the isolated peak is yet another filming site that you don't have to be a fan to appreciate. The area's wild beauty is worth the trip through the tussocks and across the plain to get an up-close look. 

Want to know how Mount Sunday was transformed into Edoras? Take a private tour to Mt. Sunday (Edoras) Lord Of The Rings to find out and discover the natural beauty of the area. 

Rakaia Gorge Walkway

Following the river along the rim of the gorge, the Rakaia Gorge Walkway takes hikers through fantastic geological formations and along a historic ferryman's trail. The relatively easy walk provides amazing views of the river and the mountains it's situated among. The walk starts at the Rakaia Gorge Bridge and takes 3-4 hours returning along the same track. The walkway passes through private property, so be sure to be respectful and stay on the path. 

If you love camping, the Rakaia Gorge Camping Ground nestled into the base of the Rakaia Gorge provides a safe camping experience. It features a space where you can pitch your own tent (check out this lightweight dome tent for 2 people or this Coleman 8-Person Elite Montana Tent), or park your campervan or caravan.



Must See Places from Queenstown to Christchurch

A road trip through the central highlands on the South Island is a romp through the many beauties New Zealand has to offer. Outdoor adventures and majestic vistas will draw you in and make you want to return again and again. 

Christchurch itself offers a wide variety of attractions to visitors. One exciting activity that you must not miss is the 20-minute Christchurch Scenic Helicopter Tour for an aerial view of the city. Learn more about what there is to do in Christchurch in the next article:

• Christchurch and Akaroa

This road trip is so amazing that we recommend taking 2 days to do it:

Day 1:

• Definitely stop at Lake Pukaki and do the Hooker Valley Trek!

• Stop at Lake Tekapo and choose either the Southern Skies Stargazing tour or the Dark Sky Experience.

Day 2:

• Head down the bumpy road to Mount Sunday, it's an amazing nature spot!

• Take an easy hike on the Rakaia Gorge Walkway to see some gorgeous geological formations

For a single day in Christchurch:

• Start out your morning by going punting on the Avon River and seeing the Botanical Gardens

• Then, without a doubt, visit the International Antarctic Center - it really opened our eyes!

We know that these recommendations will provide you with a truly remarkable experience! Enjoy and remember to let us know how your trip goes in the comments section below.

If road trips sound like fun to you, New Zealand’s South Island road trips will take you through some truly iconic areas in the country.

FAQ’s

How much does it cost to rent a car or a campervan in New Zealand?

According to the blog post, the author rented a car from JUCY for NZ$25 per day, which is a very reasonable price. However, the cost of renting a car or a campervan in New Zealand can vary depending on the season, the type of vehicle, the duration of the rental, and the availability. According to Discover Cars, the average price of renting a car in New Zealand is NZ$54 per day, while the average price of renting a campervan is NZ$130 per day. Of course, these prices are only estimates and may change depending on the demand and supply. Therefore, it is advisable to compare different options and book in advance to get the best deal possible.

What are the best places to stay along the Queenstown to Christchurch road trip?

The blog post mentions some of the accommodation options that the author stayed at or recommends, such as the Lake Hawea Hotel in Wanaka, the YHA Mount Cook in Mount Cook Village, and the Peppers Bluewater Resort in Lake Tekapo. However, there are many other places to stay along the route, depending on your budget, preference, and availability. Some of the popular choices include the Kinross Cottages in Gibbston Valley, the Lakestone Lodge in Lake Pukaki, and the Heritage Christchurch in Christchurch. You can also find many campsites, hostels, motels, and Airbnb options along the way.

What are some of the other activities or attractions that are not mentioned in the blog post?

The blog post covers some of the main highlights and attractions of the Queenstown to Christchurch road trip, such as the Skyline Gondola and Luge in Queenstown, the Hooker Valley Track and the Tasman Glacier Lake in Mount Cook National Park, and the Tekapo Springs and the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo. However, there are many other things to see and do along the way, depending on your interests and time. For example, you could visit the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, a historic gold mining town near Queenstown, the Clay Cliffs, a natural wonder of eroded pinnacles near Omarama, or the International Antarctic Centre, a museum and attraction that showcases the life and work in Antarctica, near Christchurch. You could also try some of the adventure activities that New Zealand is famous for, such as bungee jumping, jet boating, skiing, or skydiving.

(1) Queenstown to Christchurch | 15 Best Stops - My Queenstown Diary. https://myqueenstowndiary.com/queenstown-to-christchurch-road-trip/.

(2) Queenstown to Christchurch Road Trip - New Zealand Travel Tips. https://nztraveltips.com/queenstown-to-christchurch/.

(3) Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary - Mighty Campers. https://www.mightycampers.com/nz/en/get-inspired/driving-routes-new-zealand/christchurch-to-queenstown-8-days.

(4) Queenstown to Christchurch Road Trip Itinerary - Finding Alexx. https://findingalexx.com/queenstown-to-christchurch-road-trip-itinerary/.

(5) Road Trip from Queenstown to Christchurch - LazyTrips. https://lazytrips.com/trip/road-trip-from-queenstown-to-christchurch.

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