The South Island of New Zealand is a beautiful place to explore and there is no better way to do this than on a road-trip.
But, as it is home to a spectacular landscape of lakes, glaciers and mountains, as well as thrilling, high-adrenaline, bucket-list adventure activities, it can be difficult to know where to go.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
In this post, we’ll showcase the best roads for driving on the South Island. If you add these suggestions to your itinerary, you’ll soon understand why Te Waipounamu is such a magnificent, world-class destination to travel through.
Most visitors to the South Island eventually end up at Queenstown, the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’. One of the best ways to get there is via Dunedin on the route that takes you along State Highway 6 and State Highway 8.
Along this course, your Dunedin to Queenstown road trip itinerary can take you through the fascinating gold rush town of Arrowtown, the stunning Kawarau Gorge and the shimmering Lake Waihola, to name just a few places.
Overall, this route could take anywhere between half a day and a week, depending on where you want to go.
You could well suffer from sensory overload if you make your way on the 118-km stretch of Milford Road that takes you from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
This famous scenic route takes you along a stunning alpine highway that passes through the heart of Fiordland National Park. Along the way, you’ll be able to visit impressive sites like Pop’s View, Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley and Lake Marian, which are not to be missed.
This is another trip you should take the time to savour, so consider staying at the Milford Sound Lodge for a night or two. Be sure to go on an iconic Milford Sound Cruise when you arrive at the destination, which has been called the unofficial eighth wonder of the world.
Separating Queenstown and Wanaka, The Crown Range is the highest main road in New Zealand.
Overall, this drive takes an hour to get between the two towns and climbs to an elevation of 1120 metres above sea level.
In the summer you’ll be able to drive it with pretty much any type of vehicle, while in the winter you are more likely to need a 4WD like the Haval H6GT and snow chains, due to the strong chance of snow on the road.
Whenever you decide to go, you can check out spectacular viewpoints like the iconic ‘Bra Fence’ and the stately Cardrona Hotel.
Undoubtedly, Arthurs’ Pass is New Zealand’s most famous mountain pass. So, if you have the chance to complete this epic journey that takes you all the way from the west coast to the east, you should embrace it with open arms.
Taking you through the breathtaking Southern Alps, you’ll be able to visit Arthur’s Pass Village, which is one of the country’s highest settlements. You can also check out the thunderous Devil’s Punchbowl Falls – make sure you have your camera ready – as well as several outstanding lookout points.
Overall, the route from Christchurch to Hokitika covers 248 km, although much of it is not on Arthur’s Pass. For this reason, many people complete it in just one day.
The Lewis Pass tends to run under the radar when it comes to road trip suggestions. However, it is a route you should consider exploring.
Taking you from Canterbury, all the way over to the West Coast, it is one of a trio of road passes on Te Waipounamu that traverse the Southern Alps. The aforementioned Arthur’s Pass and Haast Pass are the others.
If you are into hiking, this is an especially good route to take, as you’ll be able to venture along several exceptional trails. These include the Lewis Tops Track, which is a three-hour loop through breathtaking scenery and the wonderful Lake Daniell Track, which showcases the sparkling waterway in a similar timeframe.
If you are travelling with children, the Alpine Nature Walk is a more manageable option. It only takes 20 minutes but provides a nice opportunity to stretch your legs within a landscape that will lift your soul.
Arguably, the drive from Cromwell to Mackenzie Country along Lindis Pass is one of the most underrated of all road trips you can do in New Zealand. Usually, that is because most people are in too much of a hurry to get to Mount Cook National Park or Lake Tekapo to actually enjoy the breathtaking scenery of this mountain pass.
If you have time on your hands, it’s a good idea to attempt this drive in a more leisurely fashion because there are plenty of notable sites to take in.
The main highlight, of course, is the Lindis Pass lookout, which showcases terrific views out towards the Southern Alps. However, you should also make a point of stopping off at the stunning Omarama Clay Cliffs, while the Ahuriri Bridge Campsite is full of wonderful Lupins between November and December.
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