THE ULTIMATE 3-WEEK SOUTH ISLAND NEW ZEALAND ITINERARY
Ten years ago we boarded our first International flight together on an epic winter holiday to New Zealand’s South Island. Earlier this year, we found ourselves taking that exact flight … but this time as a little family of three!
New Zealand was the perfect first international trip for little Hunter. With its picturesque mountains, beautiful beaches and temperate rainforests, the South Island of New Zealand is a dream destination for nature lovers like us. On top of that, the island is full of family activities from canyoning and dolphin spotting to some of the world’s most incredible hikes.
If you are busy planning your next New Zealand getaway, we are here to convince you why the South Island is the place to go! Here is our guide to have the ultimate three-week road trip!
3-Week South Island New Zealand Itinerary
Day 1 – 4: Christchurch
After a long and tiring day of flying, we arrived in Christchurch and used the next few days to get little Hunter used to the new time zone. We also used the time to get over any jetlag we were experiencing! We stayed in a city Airbnb right next to Hagley Park. The perfect location for families!
We arrived right at the beginning of autumn and loved spending the mornings walking through the park. It was beautiful to see the leaves changing colour. One of our favourite spots to eat was the Little High Eatery. They have super yummy dumplings! The Riverside Market was also great for cookies, while Rollickin Gelato was the best spot for hokey pokey ice cream… a New Zealand favourite!
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Autumn leaves at Hagley Park
Hunter’s first taste of ice-cream
Day 4 – 5: Akaroa
Next, we headed an hour and a half to the coast. Here we spent the afternoon on a dolphin cruise to spot the tiny Hectors Dolphins. They are the smallest dolphins in the world! Hunter loved being on dolphin watch alongside the resident dog that comes on board with the crew to help seek them out.
We stayed the night in a unique hut, called the Matagouri Hut, with the most amazing views. We even had an outdoor bathtub - the perfect way to end our day!
Spotting dolphins
Matagouri Hut bathtub
Day 5 – 6: Farm Stay at Cheviot
New Zealand has a collection of unique and fun places to stay. We came across a beautiful farm stay near Cheviot that we could not miss. We drove an hour north of Christchurch and stayed in a gorgeous bell tent. Tawanui Farm Glamping is a great place to stay if you have kids, centred on a large area of rolling hills, with a beautiful spa to watch the sunset from.
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Day 6 – 7: Twizel
Next, we continued onto another farm stay and drove to Twizel. It is a cute little farm stay that is perfect if you want to stargaze! It is a remote location, and there are several farm animals around that you can feed. There's even another outdoor bathtub to enjoy while you watch the stars.
On the way to Twizel we recommend stopping off at Lake Tekapo to take in the breathtaking views and get a snap of Church of the Good Shepard.
Lake Tekapo
Day 7 – 9: Mount Cook
We spend two nights exploring the beautiful scenery of Mount Cook. We highly recommend staying at The Hermitage Hotel. Every single room has unreal views of Mount Cook, and the hotel is one of our favourites that we have ever stayed at. We also highly recommend doing the Hooker Valley Track, a three-hour hike with stunning natural views.
Hooker Valley Track
Views from The Hermitage Hotel
Day 9 – 11: Wanaka
After all the driving and adventuring spend a few days at Lake Wanaka to unwind. We stayed at a cute Scandinavian inspired Airbnb and spent our days having picnics and chasing ducks at Lake Wanaka.
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Day 11 – 15: Queenstown
There is so much to see and do in Queenstown! We spent four fantastic days here with little Hunter. We stayed at a beautiful A-frame Airbnb close to many of the attractions we wanted to see. We recommend doing the gondola ride and luge rides at Bob’s Peak. Hunter loved the luge! You also get fantastic views of Queenstown up from above. You also definitely cannot miss grabbing a burger from Fergburger!
Hunter’s first Fergburger
Day 15 – 17: Milford Sound
After a few glorious days in Queenstown, we moved on to Milford Sound. We celebrated Jess's birthday here and stayed at a beautiful hotel, Milford Sound Lodge, to celebrate. While here you can not miss going on a Milford Sound Fjord Cruise! We highly recommend this cruise to see the breathtaking views of the New Zealand coastline.
Milford Sound Cruise
Day 17 – 19 Ben Oahu
To experience some of the natural beauty of South Island, we went to Ben Oahu. We stayed at one of the most unique tiny homes we have ever experienced, nestled right in the heart of the Ben Oahu range. We highly recommend the Alpine Cubes Airbnb for its stunning views and wood-fire hot tub!
Day 19 – 21: Christchurch
Finally, we ended our adventures through the South Island with a return to Christchurch to get ready to head back to Perth. We caught up with friends and rested up for the flight back home.
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