West Coast Highlights: South Island Self-Drive
Duration
7 Days 6 Nights
Destinations
New Zealand, Christchurch, Queenstown
Seven days on the South Island's western flank, at your own pace. The route runs from Christchurch through Arthur's Pass to the West Coast, down through glacier country to the Haast Pass, and into Queenstown for the Milford Sound day and departure. The rental car is collected at Christchurch Airport and returned at Queenstown Airport — a one-way drive that covers the South Island's most varied terrain without retracing any ground. The West Coast gets two nights, which is the right amount of time. Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are 25 kilometres apart; both descend from around 2,700 metres to near sea level through temperate rainforest. The glaciers have retreated substantially in recent decades — the current ice face is accessible by helicopter or guided hike (own expense) — but the valley landscapes and the forest at the glacier's edge are the reason the West Coast deserves more than a single overnight stop. Four activities are included across the seven days: the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch on arrival, Puzzling World at Wānaka on the drive to Queenstown (a surprisingly well-produced attraction worth 90 minutes), the Skyline Gondola in Queenstown, and the Milford Sound fiord cruise with lunch — a 12-hour self-drive day from Queenstown through Fiordland. This is a tour for you if you want the South Island's western arc — the coast, the glaciers, the Haast Pass, and Fiordland — covered properly and at your own speed.
- ◆Self-drive — 6-day rental car with zero or reduced excess liability, Christchurch to Queenstown
- ◆Franz Josef and Fox glaciers — two nights in glacier country on the West Coast
- ◆Puzzling World at Wānaka — optical illusions and a tilted room on the drive south
- ◆Queenstown Skyline Gondola — panoramic views over Lake Wakatipu from Bob's Peak
- ◆Milford Sound — self-drive to Fiordland with fiord cruise and lunch
Day-by-Day
Collect your rental car at Christchurch Airport and drive to your accommodation in the city. The car is included for 6 days with zero or reduced excess liability — confirm the specific excess terms at collection. Christchurch Airport is 10 kilometres from the city centre; the drive in takes 20–25 minutes.
International Antarctic Centre — Included. Adjacent to the airport terminal, this is a substantive museum covering Antarctic exploration from Christchurch's role as a southern gateway city since the Heroic Era expeditions. The live penguin encounter, the Hagglund all-terrain vehicle ride, and the storm simulation room are the three main experiences. Use the admission today on arrival or tomorrow morning before heading west. Allow at least 2 hours.
Christchurch City Centre — The Botanic Gardens and Avon River precinct are within easy reach of most central accommodation. The post-earthquake rebuild has produced some architecturally interesting structures alongside the restored heritage buildings.
Overnight: Christchurch
Meals: Independent.
Included
- check_box6-day rental car hire with zero or reduced excess liability (collected Christchurch, returned Queenstown)
- check_box6 nights accommodation
- check_boxInternational Antarctic Centre admission, Christchurch
- check_boxPuzzling World admission, Wānaka
- check_boxSkyline Gondola ride, Queenstown
- check_boxMilford Sound cruise with lunch
Not Included
- disabled_by_defaultInternational flights
- disabled_by_defaultTravel insurance
- disabled_by_defaultFuel and road tolls
- disabled_by_defaultMeals not specified in the itinerary
- disabled_by_defaultOptional activities and entrance fees
- disabled_by_defaultPersonal expenses, laundry and minibar
