If you have an extra week to spare, then you can follow the first itinerary for days 1-8, at which point you will insert the following:
Days 9 and 10: Dunedin
Instead of heading north after Queenstown, it’s time to spend a few days discovering what the south of the South Island has to offer. It’s about 3.5 hours from Queenstown to Dunedin, which is known for its Scottish heritage. Dunedin is a small city, but this makes it perfect for conquering in a short period of time. Here are some of the best things to do in the area:
- Larnach Castle and Gardens
- Dunedin railway station (one of the most photographed buildings in the country)
- Baldwin Street (the steepest street in the southern hemisphere)
- Toitū Otago Settlers Museum
- Tūhura Otago Museum
- Dunedin Botanic Garden
- Signal Hill (panoramic lookout)
- Otago peninsula scenic drive (look out for seals and penguins)
Day 11: Invercargill
Today you’re heading further south, making the 2.5 hour drive to Invercargill. It’s the southernmost city on the island, located in the Southland peninsula. Invercargill is also the gateway to Stewart Island (though you will need extra time if you want to visit the island). Here are some suggestions for your day in Invercargill:
- Queens Park
- Demolition World
- Stirling Point at Bluff (scenic walks and the famous signpost)
- Transport World (largest automotive museum of its kind in the world)
Day 12: Te Anau
In the first itinerary, we recommended a tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound. The luxury of having an extra week for this route means you can skip the long and expensive day trip. Instead, you’ll drive 2 hours from Invercargill to stay overnight in Te Anau, the closest affordable town to Milford Sound.
This way, you can drive to Milford Sound yourself on day 13 (it takes about 2 hours from Te Anau, so make sure you leave plenty of time to get there before your boat tour). There are also tours that leave from Te Anau if you want a break from driving, but the benefit of self-driving is you can choose your scenic stops along the way.
For the rest of your time in Te Anau, you should hit up the following attractions:
- Te Anau Glowworm Caves (a must if you aren’t visiting the Waitomo caves on the North Island)
- Lake Te Anau
- Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
Day 13: Milford Sound
Day 14: Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier
You will again spend the day heading north from Milford Sound, using Fox and Franz Josef glaciers as an overnight stop.
However, you now have the time to add in the north coast of the South Island, before carrying on to the Marlborough Sounds, Kaikoura and Christchurch (as detailed in the 14-day itinerary).
Days 15 and 16: Abel Tasman
It’s another long drive on day 15, as you’ll need to make the 6-hour journey from Franz Josef glacier to Abel Tasman National Park. This national park is small but mighty, offering a mix of relaxing beaches and wilderness walks in the north coast of the South Island.
Motueka, Marahau and Kaiteriteri are some of the popular towns for accommodation options. The area is also famous for the Abel Tasman walk—you won’t have time for the full 3-5 day coastal track, but you can walk a small portion of it.
You can also choose from some of the following to fill your day and a bit in Abel Tasman:
- Golden Bay and Farewell Spit (the longest sand spit in New Zealand)
- Wharariki Beach (famous rock formations and sea lions)
- Te Waikoropupū Springs (New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs)
- Wainui Falls
- Rawhiti Cave
Day 17: Nelson
On your way from Abel Tasman National Park to Picton, stop off in Nelson. It’s only 35 minutes from Abel Tasman, so you can easily fit this stop in! Nelson is known for being one of the sunniest regions in New Zealand, so expect gorgeous weather and scenery. It’s also a creative hub; Nelson has one of the largest number of art galleries and artists in the country. Here’s an idea of things to do in Nelson:
- Tour Pic’s Peanut Butter World
- Nelson Classic Car Museum
- Cable Bay Adventure Park
- The Centre of New Zealand walk at Botanical Hill
- Maitai River
- Nelson art trail
- Tahunanui Beach
Days 18 and 19: Marlborough Sounds
Day 20: Kaikoura
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