So you’re planning a Christchurch to Queenstown road trip aye? Well, prepare to have your mind blown because this is one hell of a gorgeous drive!
A Christchurch to Queenstown 10 day road trip is the perfect amount of time to see all the magnificent sights on offer.
As a born and bred Kiwi, I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me over 28 years to explore the South Island!
Shame on me… I know.
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So when COVID-19 hit and Nate and I couldn’t adventure anywhere else, we turned to our own back yard. It was time to see the South Island.
A 10 day road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown was the perfect introduction to the South Island!
Am I mad I didn’t go sooner? Absolutely!
But I’m also glad I waited because it’s made me appreciate the beauty of New Zealand so much more. And now I feel like nowhere else in the world can compare.
Before I begin with the road trip itinerary, you might have this question….
Christchurch to Queenstown, or Queenstown to Christchurch?
It doesn’t really matter which one you fly into and which one you fly out of. We did the Christchurch to Queenstown route because we wanted to end the trip with a few relaxing nights at a nice hotel in Queenstown. In my opinion, I feel it got progressively more beautiful as we made our way down from Christchurch towards Queenstown which is why I personally prefer this route.
*If you decide to fly into Queenstown, just do this itinerary in reverse order.
Christchurch to Queenstown 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary
*This itinerary isn’t exactly how we did it. I’ve edited it to how I would have preferred our trip to go after having done it… Hindsight!
Day 1 & 2: Christchurch, Lyttleton & Akaroa
I recommend two nights in Christchurch at least – there’s a lot on offer here!
Christchurch itself is humming with new energy after rebuilding from the tragic earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. Plus there’s beautiful scenic walks, and nearby bays and towns to explore!
What to do in Christchurch
- Riverside Market: Located in the city, this is quite the hip spot for grabbing a bite to eat with friends and checking out a few boutique shops. You’ll be spoilt for choice of delicious foods and treats.
- Take a stroll along New Brighton Pier.
- Sumner Beach: A beautiful beach with a few cafes around.
- Take a drive up to Taylors Mistake and Godley Head Park for stunning views of the surrounding bays and farmland. There’s a lot of scenic walking tracks in this area that are worth doing.
- Take the drive over the hill to Lyttleton and Governors Bay. We had a great dinner at SUPER restaurant in Lyttleton for one of our nights. Great food, great drinks and great ambiance – I highly recommend!
- Meander your way to Akaroa for some more lovely views of the bays and the cute Akaroa Township.
Day 3 & 4: Rakaia Gorge & Lake Tekapo
(From Christchurch, we drove to Timaru to spend a night with friends then went to Tekapo for one night. Timaru is not really a place I would stop at otherwise lol! So instead I have laid out two different options you could choose from)
Option 1: From Christchurch drive to Rakaia (1hr 15mins drive) and do the Rakaia Gorge Walkway scenic track (10.4 km return / 3-4 hours return walk).
This walk looks stunning and I wish we had the time to do this. But I’ve noted it down for next time!
There are a couple of nearby hotel and motel accommodation options. Otherwise there is a doc camping site right on the water and near the start of the walking track. This would be perfect if you are road tripping with a self contained campervan.
So after the walk, spend a night at Rakaia, then head to Lake Tekapo for one night.
Option 2: The second option is to skip Rakaia Gorge altogether and just head straight to Lake Tekapo from Christchurch (3hr drive). I personally wish we had two nights at Lake Tekapo. It’s such a beautiful destination, you will want some time to soak it all in!
Lake Tekapo 
Church of the Good Shepard
What to do in Lake Tekapo
- Picnic on the lakeside: Pack a picnic lunch, bring a good book, and find a nice quiet spot on the edge of the lake.
- Drive along Lilybank Road: Explore Lake Tekapo National Park a little further by driving Lilybank Road. I could spend the whole day meandering along here. We drove this during sunset and it’s one of my favourite memories of our road trip.
- Church of the Good Shepard: Probably the most scenic church you ever will see!
- Star Gazing: Tekapo is one of the world’s recognised ‘Dark Sky’ destinations! There are several star gazing tours available around Lake Tekapo (Mount John Observatory is specifically placed for star gazing), or you can just admire them on your own. Nate woke up at about 3am and walked to the Church to get some starry photos.
- Tekapo Springs: For $27/adult, I found this to be massively overpriced… But people seem to rave about it so I thought I will mention it anyway. We went to the pools at night, hoping to do some star gazing while soaking in the hot pools. That plan failed because the steam from the pools is so thick you can’t see much of the sky anyway haha. It might be a better experience during the day when you can see the view of the lake (but even then the view is limited once you’re in the pools).
- Walks/Hiking: Some popular trails include the Mount John Summit Track and Cowans Hill Walkway. You can find more information about these walks on the New Zealand doc site here.
Day 5: Lake Pukaki & Mount Cook Village
(We didn’t spend a night in Lake Pukaki or Mount Cook Village. We only drove through for the day. But I really wish we did spend a night in this area because it is breath taking and there are several things to do in Mount Cook Village)
So from Lake Tekapo take the drive to Lake Pukaki and then meander up along Lake Pukaki on Mount Cook Road (A little over a 1 hour drive with no stops). This road is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives (in my personal opinion – which I’m sure many will agree with).
On this drive you’ll get incredible views of Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook, and the surrounding mountain ranges. There’s many areas to pull over for photos and picnics along the way.
Mount Cook Road will bring you all the way to Mount Cook Village which is where I suggest to spend a night. There are a couple of hotels to choose from here.
In Mount Cook Village there are several things to do:
- The Hooker Valley walk which is an easy grade 10km return (3 hour) walk.
- Tasman Glacier Lake: Tasman Glacier is New Zealand’s longest glacier and it’s only a short 1 hour return walk from Mount Cook Village!
- Star gazing!
Day 6 & 7: Wānaka
Drive from Mount Cook Village to Wānaka (2 hours 20min drive). Wānaka is a beautiful little town and deserves at the least a one night stay. Definitely two nights if you have the time and you wish to do the Roys Peak hike.
Spend time wandering around the town, looking in the shops and dining at the local cafes and restaurants.
What to do in Wānaka
- Hangout on the shores of Lake Wānaka and soak in the scenery. Be sure to visit the famous Wānaka Tree! The most famous tree in New Zealand, if not the world.
- Hike Roys Peak: For the best views of Mount Aspiring and Lake Wānaka head up to Roys Peak! You’ll need a decent amount of time for this as the track is 16km return (5-6 hours).
- Rippon Winery: Head to the Rippon Winery Cellar Door for wine tasting with a view!
Day 8, 9 & 10: Arrowtown, Queenstown, & Glenorchy
During the drive from Wānaka to Queenstown you’ll pass through Arrowtown; one of New Zealand’s most picturesque towns! This old gold mining town is well worth a stop for brunch or lunch. And since it’s only a 20min drive from Queenstown, you can always come back for dinner if you end up loving it so much (we did).
Congratulations! You’ve made it to Queenstown!
Three days here will fly by especially if you’re after a bit of an adrenalin rush… This is the adventure capital of New Zealand after all!
Scenic flight with Glenorchy Air 
The plane for the 40min scenic flight
Along the drive to Glenorchy 
The famous red shed in Glenorchy 
Onsen hotpools
Here’s what to do in Queenstown:
- Onsen hot pools: This Instagram hotspot is even more beautiful in real life!
- A scenic flight: Take a scenic flight over the alps, or if your budget can spare, you can fly all the way to Milford Sound. We took a flight with Glenorchy Air and highly recommend them.
- Take a scenic drive to Glenorchy: About an hour away is the stunning little village of Glenorchy. And the drive to get there is just as fab as the destination. I 100% recommend this road trip and make sure you get to the little red boat shed.
- Hit the slopes: You’re spoilt for choice…. Coronet Peak, Cardrona, The Remarkables, Treble Cone. Take your pick!
- Adrenalin Activities: Queenstown is the home of the first Bungee Jump in the world, but it doesn’t stop there. You’ve got sky diving, jet boating, the Nevis Swing, the Canyon Swing just to name a few!
- Wineries: You can hire a bike and do the winery bike trail or simply self drive it.
Queenstown has a fair few wineries; known for some of the best Pinot Noir made in New Zealand! Here’s a full list with a couple of breweries thrown in there for good measure. - Enjoy the restaurants and bars! Queenstown has a great nightlife scene with restaurants to suit all budgets and all tastes. Do a bit of a foodie crawl and try it all.
So that wraps up this Christchurch to Queenstown 10 day road trip! Whatever you do along this drive, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. The scenery is astounding the whole way down and leaves you feeling enriched by the time you leave (though the pockets will be lighter for sure haha).
Enjoy your trip!
Feel free to comment with any other stops or activities that you recommend 🙂
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4 Comments
You can combine star gazing and hot springs at Tekapo. My partner and I did this, an hour with a telescope and hot chocolates then an hour in the hot pools lounging in hammocks watching the stars til the moon rose in the early hours.
Yes I saw that! Glad to hear you had an amazing experience 🙂
What an amazing country!. Hope to visit your country someday, the countryside is beautiful, some places are similar to my native Ireland… ..yes, you have better beaches and weather.
Cheers Hannah!.
Agreed! There are definitely some similarities to Ireland 🙂 I loved Ireland – everyone was so welcoming!