South Island New Zealand

10 Magical days in South Island New Zealand

If I could describe South Island New Zealand in one word, it would be magical. Perhaps this association is due to its connection with the “Lord of The Rings,” but setting that aside, the region is renowned for being one of the cleanest, purest, and most naturally beautiful places in the world.

It took me a long time to visit the South Island New Zealand, as I had already been to the North Island during a gap year. Now, living in Sydney, the South Island is only a 3-hour flight away, so it was very high on the priority list while we are living on this side of the world.

Our itinerary combined a good mix of activity and relaxation. We also had the chance to visit some of the must-see places that are at the top of most people’s lists!

Time of year

We chose to go at the end of January, which in New Zealand is the height of summer. Mainly because we wanted a higher chance of good weather, and one of the main activities we wanted to do was a multi-day independent hike. Summer in the South Island New Zealand is not like summer in Australia. It is still an average of low 20s during the day. We did not get a single day of rain during this time, but I understand this is very unusual! Therefore for a trip where you want sunshine, less chance of rain, good weather for trekking and eating and drinking outside then I recommend the summer, late spring or early autumn is for you.

The other great point about summer is that it doesn’t get dark until after 9pm, this was great for us while doing the Routeburn trek, as we started this slightly later in the day after going on a Milford Sound cruise.

Saying that though, I’ve heard that winter offers a totally different vibe with snow-capped mountains, cozy bars serving mulled wine, breathtaking scenery, and skiing, which sounds equally amazing. However, the treks may be off-limits, especially the multi-day treks (since there’s no ranger during this time, and people go at their own risk, so it’s only for the most experienced). It still sounds like an awesome experience, just a different one.

Itinerary for an unforgettable South Island New Zealand trip

Follow this itinerary or get inspiration if you want to see the Best of South island New Zealand and also incorporate an awe-inspiring multi day trek.

Days 1-3: Queenstown

We flew from Sydney and arrived in Queenstown early afternoon. We picked up a taxi from the airport, and it was a short taxi ride into the town.

Queenstown really is a great place. It does not feel commercialised, as there aren’t any high rises, and therefore it has a small town ski village feel. We found everyone super friendly also! We found that we would go into a shop and be caught up for 30 mins as the staff would just talk to you like your best friends. It seems to incorporate the chilled backpacker vibe, with a high end plus super eco friendly town. 

Stay at The Waterfront in Queenstown

This time round stayed at The Waterfront, which have amazing balcony views of the lake. It is really just beautiful. It is only a 5 minute walk to the Main Town Pier and centre, great location to explore the town.

Must do’s in Queenstown:

Queenstown is a must visit town in South Island New Zealand.

Days 3-5: Routeburn trek (including Milford Sounds visit)

The incredible Routeburn trek still holds a special place in my heart. There’s so much to say about it that I’ve written a separate post. Check it out for a guide on doing the 3-day, 2-night Routeburn trek and visiting Milford Sound here: Ultimate Guide to Routeburn Trek.

Day 5: Back to Queenstown

Back in Queenstown after the trek, I found myself falling even more in love with the town when we stayed at the QT, a fabulous hotel. If you have done a multi-day trek, staying at somewhere a bit of luxury afterwards is a great reward!

Accomodation: QT in Queenstown

This time in Queenstown, we indulged in the exquisite luxury of the QT hotel after two nights in humble huts. The QT is truly a superb hotel in Queenstown, offering a great experience year round. The beautifully decorated rooms with charming balconies have a delightful ski-lodge ambiance, creating a truly enchanting retreat.

At this point we picked up our hire car and started the road trip from Queenstown to Wanaka, through the beautiful Central Otago region. There are many stops on route, we stopped at Cardrona Distillery The Source Gin which is definitely worth a visit!

Once we reached Wanaka, we settled into our accomodation and found the finest bars along the waterfront. Be sure not to overlook the Wanaka tree and make sure to visit Rippon winery for stunning vistas! Continue reading for the top suggestions in Wanaka. We stayed in Lake Wanaka Lodge which was great value for somewhere clean, comfortable and walkable to town. Check out Whare Kae Lodge & Chalet if you are after ultra luxury.

Must do’s in Wanaka

• For that quintessential New Zealand wine meets stunning postcard perfect views, head to Rippon winery. This is honestly has to be the most beautiful winery in the world. Make sure to book ahead for the tasting.
• A not to be missed view, spend time skimming stones and taking endless photos of ‘that Wanaka tree’.
• Have a few fresh ginger beers and listen to great live music in the courtyard of Cork bar.
• For views and an awesome higgledy-piggledy bar with a great name head to La La Land.
• For a magical one day trek plan to do Roy Peak.
• Eat at Kika restaurant for beautiful fine dining food. Garden Ramsay also agrees!

If you like wineries check out the Australia wine regions in Mudgee and Hunter Valley.

Days 8-10: Mount Cook South Island New Zealand region

Leaving the iconic views for last, we wrapped up our trip in the breathtaking Mount Cook South Island area. We spent one night in Twizel and another right next to the Mount Cook walking tracks. Keep reading for accommodation details.

Wanaka to Twizel was under 2 hour drive and we made use of this day by visiting the ultra blue Lake Pukaki. I had always wondered if the water was really that blue, and yes on a clear sunny day it truly is! We parked at Alpine Salmon Store, we weren’t so much interested in the Salmon (though I’m sure its extremely fresh) but they had parking and a shop where we got a coffee and ice cream. This spot is a great place to have a lie down on the rocks and soak up some rays (with factor 50+ of course).

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We then headed back to our accomodation for the evening which was Heartland Lodge, a lovely homely B&B with an awesome breakfast.

On the second day in the Mount Cook region, we commenced our journey to our next accomodation in Mount Cook National Park. Our road trip began by passing a lavender farm offering Lavender coffee or ice cream, and enjoying the iconic road and mountain vista at Tapataia Mahaka Peter’s Lookout.

We then continued to our next accomodation, the Hermitage Hotel. This hotel is a big hotel and the rooms are quite basic, but what makes this hotel a stand out is the bar with full glass view and also the location. The location is sat in the national park and only 5 minutes to Mount Cook airport (for scenic flights) and the famous walks.

Glacier landing at Mount Cook

As soon as we checked into our hotel, it was time for a scenic helicopter ride that we had booked for 13:30. We then drove to the tiny Mount Cook airport (pick-up service is also available). We opted for the Tasman Taster experience through Inflite Experiences, and although the check-in process took some time, the opportunity to land at a glacier was truly magical. It’s important to note that you may not be able to sit in the front or next to a window in the helicopter. In our case, the other girl and I had the opportunity to sit in the front as we were the lightest, while the guys had to stay at the back to ensure even weight distribution.

Weather-wise, during the height of summer, it felt a bit chilly on the glacier, but we didn’t need a ski jacket or thick trousers. I was still wearing 3/4 leggings, a t-shirt, shirt, fleece, and a thin scarf, and this was adequate. You are only on the glacier for 5-10 minutes, so it’s not enough time to feel the cold. If you are like me, you will be running around in the snow anyway :).

Hooker Valley Track, one of South Island New Zealand’s best

After landing, we drove straight to the Hooker Valley track, arriving there around 3 pm. The Hooker Valley track is known to offer excellent value. You don’t have to work very hard (the walk is easy) to be rewarded with incredible views. This track should be included in any itinerary for a trip to the South Island of New Zealand.

The day finished with having a drink and dinner at the Hermitage Hotel hotel, and wow that bar has stunning views. We were also extremely fortunate to witness a pink sunset going behind the Mount Cook mountains that evening, what a spectacular day!

The following morning we started our drive to Christchurch airport, stopping at Lake Tekapo on route. This lake is equally as blue, and has a famous Church of the Good Shepherd, which is like something out of a movie. However it was a lot busier than Lake Pukaki, so not really a place that you can chill out.

Our drove continued, with a bit of traffic and some roadworks. However we were lucky enough to be in high spirits dreaming of the magical 10 days we’d had in South Island New Zealand, and wondering when we will get the chance to go back.

To explore amazing destinations in Australia, check out Lord Howe Island and Hike Mount Kosciuszko in Winter.