New Zealand South Island road trip: Our itineraries

Chapter 5 of 5

If you’re lucky enough to be staying for a while on the South Island, you can add in these places that were skipped on the shorter itineraries:

Hanmer Springs

Hanmer Springs is a 90-minute drive from Christchurch and is also on the way to Nelson Lakes (see below). Hanmer Springs is one of New Zealand’s best hot springs. They also have regular events on, such as open-air film screenings, markets and shows throughout the year.

Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes is about a 90-minute drive down from the Marlborough Sounds. Here, you can walk around the lakesides of Rotoiti and Rotoroa (not to be confused with Rotorua on the North Island). There are also a number of hikes in the area if you’re looking for a bigger challenge than a lakeside stroll. For a bucket list attraction, you can splash out on a scenic flight to the clearest lake in the world, Blue Lake.

Oamaru

You can add in Oamaru and the Waitaki district on your way to Dunedin. The scenic route around the Waitaki Valley is beautiful and can be combined with a few hours in the town of Oamaru. Don’t miss the following stops in the Waitaki district:

• Omarama Clay Cliffs
• Moeraki Boulders and Koekohe Beach
• Elephant Rocks at Duntroon (filming location for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)

Highlights of Oamaru itself include:

• Steampunk museum
• Victorian precinct buildings
• Whitestone City
• Whitestone Cheese Co.
• Oamaru Public Gardens (some of the oldest in New Zealand)
• The blue penguin colony

Hopefully, you’re now full of ideas and feeling more prepared for your South Island road trip! Be sure to share your South Island highlights in the comments below.