6-Day South Island Itinerary from Christchurch

Ask a Kiwi for the South Island must-sees and you'll get the same four answers: the glaciers, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Aoraki Mt Cook. The catch? They're spread across some of the most dramatic (and winding) roads in the country. The good news: we drive those roads every day, and we know where to stop.

This loop links four of our small-group tours with two free days, starting and finishing in Christchurch. No rental car, no navigating, no arguing over who drives the Haast Pass.

Day 1: Christchurch to Franz Josef

We head west over the Southern Alps through Arthur's Pass, then down to the wild West Coast. Along the way we wander the limestone boulders of Castle Hill, stop above the Otira Viaduct (watch for cheeky kea), break for lunch in Greymouth, explore Hokitika's black sand beach and art shops, and walk through native bush to the turquoise Hokitika Gorge before rolling into Franz Josef. Rail fan? Choose the version including the TranzAlpine Train for the first stretch.

Day 2: Free Day in Franz Josef

This is glacier day. Our picks:

A heli-hike onto Franz Josef Glacier itself. The only way to walk on the ice, and worth every cent if the weather plays nicely.
A scenic flight with a snow landing up top, if you'd rather see the névé from above.
The Glacier Valley Walk for a free, hour-or-so stroll toward the terminal face.
A soak in the glacier hot pools tucked into the rainforest, the perfect finish whatever you did that morning.

Local tip: book flying activities for the morning. If cloud rolls in, you'll have time to rebook in the afternoon.

Day 3: Franz Josef to Queenstown

One of the great drives of New Zealand. We follow the Coast south via mirror-like Lake Matheson, Bruce Bay and the dunes of Ship Creek, then stop for lunch (included) at the Hard Antler in Haast. Over the Haast Pass we walk to Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools, pause above Lake Hāwea, visit the famous Wānaka Tree, and cross the Crown Range into Queenstown.

Day 4: Free Day in Queenstown

Queenstown does adventure and laziness equally well. Ride the gondola for the view over Lake Wakatipu, hop on a jetboat, wander historic Arrowtown, or work your way through a long lunch in the Gibbston wine valley. Yes, you'll queue for a burger at some point. Everyone does.

Day 5: Milford Sound Day Tour

The big one. Our Milford Sound tour was named the #1 activity in New Zealand in Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Awards, and the day earns it. We take the scenic route through Fiordland, stopping in the Eglinton Valley and at Mirror Lakes before the hand-carved Homer Tunnel, then hop aboard a boutique cruise beneath Mitre Peak and waterfalls that don't seem real. Your guide brings the stories; we bring the picnic lunch. Want to skip the drive home? The fly-back option returns you to Queenstown by air.

Day 6: Queenstown to Christchurch via Mt Cook

We save the mountain for last. We head through the Kawarau Gorge and over the Lindis Pass, stopping in Omarama for what we reckon is the best creamy chicken pie in New Zealand. Then it's along the impossibly blue Lake Pukaki to Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, with free time in the national park. Last up: Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd, before arriving back in Christchurch that evening.

Why Let Us Drive This One?

This loop takes in some of the South Island's most demanding roads: Arthur's Pass, the Haast Pass, the Milford Road through the Homer Tunnel and the Lindis Pass. Drive them yourself and you'll be watching hairpin bends, one-lane bridges and the left-hand side of the road instead of the scenery.

Everyone gets the window seat. No designated driver, no missed views, no one-handed photos through the windscreen.
No car to sort. Skip the rental, fuel, insurance and parking.
We plan the timings. Your guide gets you to Milford Sound for your cruise, picks the right moment for Lake Matheson's reflections, and knows where the best pie in the Mackenzie is.
Small groups, real conversations. You'll get to know your guide and fellow travellers over six days, with more time at each stop than a big coach tour and the freedom to pull over for that photo.

Milford Sound is the day most people plan their trip around, and our Milford Sound tour from Queenstown is rated 4.9 from more than 3,500 Tripadvisor reviews, featuring among the top experiences in the South Pacific. Trust us with the must-do, then trust us with the rest of the loop.

Good to Know

Accommodation isn't included on these tours, so book your beds in Franz Josef and Queenstown (three nights) early, especially in summer.
Pack layers. You'll go from rainforest to alpine pass in a single day. A rain jacket is a handy thing to have with you in New Zealand.
Weather wobbles happen. If a flight is cancelled on your free day, our guides can suggest a plan B.