Going on a Queenstown to Christchurch road trip allows visitors to see some of the most popular destinations within the South Island of New Zealand. This 8-day itinerary allows you to get the most out of each destination and dive into the highlights, all while tailoring the trip to your own interests and level of adventure.
8-Day Itinerary for a Queenstown to Christchurch road trip
Days 1-3
Queenstown
Day 4
Wanaka
Day 5-6
Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo
Day 7
Mount Sunday and Christchurch
Day 8
Christchurch (optional)
Queenstown (3 Days Minimum)
Queenstown is the most visited town within the South Island of New Zealand and is often used as a hub for adventure, relaxation, and exploration within the island. You can read more about the different things to do within and outside of Queenstown and how you may want to spend your time in the “Adventure Capital of the World”. You can consider doing some of the things outside of town to start off your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip.
Stops on Your Queenstown to Christchurch Road Trip
The Queenstown to Christchurch road trip drive itself is over 6 hours long with no stops and there are some amazing stops between the two. So we might as well make this a multi-day trip that allows you to take advantage of the amazing New Zealand landscapes. (With the suggested itinerary, the full drive time will be at least 9.5 hours).
Wanaka (1 Day + 1 Night)
The drive between Queenstown and Wanaka is just over an hour and can be done with a day trip from Queenstown, if staying in the Queenstown hub is easier for you. However, it is important to note that it is just a short detour on your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip.
One of the big tourist attractions in Wanaka is That Wanaka Tree, a tree that is growing alone on the edge of the lake. During the right season, the water of that lake is high enough to make it look like it is on a small island in the lake. However, during the summer months and when it is particularly dry, the tree appears to be on the shoreline of the lake and anyone can walk right up to the tree.
Doing the Roys Peak Hike on the Queenstown to Christchurch Road Trip
For those who are avid hikers or want an athletic challenge, Roys Peak Summit is an incredibly popular hike. The entire hike is about 10 miles long (16 kilometers) and takes over 5 hours due to its intense elevation gain. The walk itself is not the most interesting and is quite intense, walking steeply uphill for the entire hike. However, at the peak, you will get beautiful views of the valley and lakes below. There are a few different moments towards the top of the hike where you can stop for beautiful views but make sure you go all the way to the top to get the best overarching view.
Many people start the hike a few hours prior to sunrise to watch the sun rise over the whole valley. If this interests you, make sure you check the weather and cloud coverage prior to doing the hike to make sure that you are doing it on a clear day. Otherwise, we recommend arriving at the base of the hike around sunrise to do the hike up to the summit prior to the sun being at its peak. The entire hike is fully exposed to the elements so make sure you are prepared with sun protection. It is not worth doing this hike if the clouds are low or if it is raining.
After the hike, consider spending the rest of the day in Wanaka to help you recover from the hike. Big Fig Wanaka is a delicious casual dining spot with a build-your-own plate concept where each of the dishes looks, tastes, and feels homemade. It’s a great way to recover before continuing on your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip.
Aoraki / Mount Cook (1-2 Days)
The next stop on your Queenstown to Chirstchurch road trip could be to Mount Cook. And while this will be a detour on the direct drive between the two towns, the landscapes and mountains make it absolutely worth it to spend the night here.
Aoraki (in Maori), also known as Mount Cook in English, is the highest peak in New Zealand and is within a beautiful national park of the same name. There are a number of trails and hikes within the park that will allow you to dive deeper into the landscape and give you some amazing views. The most popular trail here is the Hooker Valley Trail to Hooker Lake. (The trail may be impacted by avalanches and weather damage. Be sure to check its status prior to making your plans.)
The trail is relatively flat over the 7 miles (11.5 kilometers) and is mostly on a boardwalk as you make your way to Hooker Lake. At the viewpoint, you will see a lake formed by a glacier that still flows into the lake. You will also have the chance to see Mount Cook towering above everyone if the sky is clear. The whole walk will take around 3 hours of walking.
Some other small hikes to do include the Kea Point Track (1.8 miles/3 kilometers – 1 hour) and a hike to the Tasman Glacier View (.8 miles/1.3 kilometers – 30 minutes).
If you are looking for a longer day hike or a multi-day hike, look to do the Mueller Hut Track, a 6 mile (10 kilometer) hike that leads to a hut, where you can stay overnight if you reserve a spot. Otherwise, it is very doable to do the entire hike in one day. The route to the hut is relatively steep for the full 3 mile climb.
If you want to see the mountain range and glaciers from above, you can look into a helicopter ride that flies over and throughout the national park or one that allows you to land and hike on a glacier itself. We recommend using the Helicopter Line for your helicopter or heli-hike tour. This is something that can also be done on the West Coast of New Zealand from Fox Glacier.
Lake Tekapo (1 Night)
Lake Tekapo is very close to Mount Cook and the logical next stop on your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip. We recommend staying at least one night in the Lake Tekapo area because of the famous night sky here.
Lake Tekapo is a beautiful lake known for its milky, turquoise water, which comes from glacier meltwater and rock particles. The view of the lake is truly special and most people stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd for a beautiful viewpoint. In addition, this viewpoint is also where lupins are planted and you can capture the iconic photographs of the flowers in front of the turquoise water.
Lake Tekapo is also located in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest dark sky preserve in the Southern Hemisphere. These are areas that restrict light pollution to maintain the preservation of the nighttime environment. Because of the lack of light pollution, these are amazing areas to go stargazing. Dark Sky Project has a few different experiences that will give you information about the stars and allow you to see into distant galaxies with high-powered telescopes. You will also get the Māori perspective about the stars and the universe, giving yourself a deeper cultural understanding of the importance of the night sky. For this experience, you will need to reserve your spot in advance and hope that the sky will be clear that evening.
Mount Sunday (A Few Hours)
As you make your way between Lake Tekapo and Christchurch on your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip, consider taking a detour for a small hike at Mount Sunday to take in some more beautiful landscapes.
Mount Sunday is an isolated hill that was chosen as the Edoras settlement in the Lord of the Rings films. Today, you will not see any remnants from the film, but the hike gives you beautiful views of the New Zealand landscape. The hike itself is a moderate 2.2 miles long (3.5 kilometers) and should take around an hour to complete. There are also Lord of the Rings tours that depart from Christchurch and visit this location. The tours give you some background to the filming requirements at the location and give you the opportunity to pose at the different viewpoints with props.
What Is There to Do in Christchurch? (1-2 Days)
And your final stop on your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip is, of course, Christchurch. Christchurch is the second biggest city in New Zealand and the largest in the South Island. This quaint town has a growing commercial city center full of food halls, restaurants, and shops. It includes a cute historic tram that tours around this part of the city. In addition, the city has beautiful green spaces, especially around the river that winds through the city, on which you can take a punt ride (boat on the river) to see the town through a different vantage point.
On your way into Christchurch from your hike on Mount Sunday, consider stopping at Cookie Time. This local cookie company primarily sells in grocery stores but they do have a storefront where you can find their products. If you love cookies and ice cream sandwiches, then it is worth visiting this local establishment.
Understanding the Devastating Earthquake of 2011
New Zealand is located on two tectonic plates, making it susceptible to earthquakes and active land movement. (This is also why the South Island and North Island are so different.) In 2011, Christchurch suffered major damage due to an earthquake. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.2 and killed 185 people. Many buildings were damaged in the earthquake and the aftermath. You can see evidence of the damage and subsequent rebuilding today, which is why so much of the housing and buildings look new.
Here are some other things to do in Christchurch after your Queenstown to Christchurch road trip. The Avon River (Ōtākaro in Maori) winds through the center of Christchurch and is a defining part of the urban experience in the city. There are spots where you will find people feeding the giant eels of the river, especially near the city center. While you shouldn’t swim in this river, you can take a leisure punting ride that will give you a different vantage point of the town. Punting on the Avon is one of the gondola companies that operates on the river. With them, you can purchase a ticket to punt on the river or purchase a combined pass to also take a gondola ride up the mountain right outside of Christchurch or tour the city on the tram.
The Christchurch gondola goes to the Port Hill Summit and gives you a great view of the city and the surrounding bay. To get to the gondola, you will have to drive to the base and purchase a ticket at the entrance. At the gondola summit, you can walk around the grounds of the summit and explore the landscape. There is a small cafe, a souvenir shop, and a little indoor amusement park ride that discusses the history and environment of the region.
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience in Christchurch
Update 54: Taking the Scenic Route from Christchurch to Dunedin in New Zealand
We started our New Zealand road trip with a balance of culture in the South Island cities, from Christchurch to Dunedin, and natural beauty of the Southern Alps.