What is the best way to see New Zealand South Island?

Driving is one of the best ways to see New Zealand New Zealand's stunning scenery makes for remarkable road trips and traveling by car is convenient and flexible, especially for visiting attractions away from main arterial routes. Many of the best-known national parks are remote, so you'll need a car to explore them.



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Driving is the perfect way to see the scenic South Island, with great roads through the Southern Alps before swinging back north up the Otago coast. Having a car or campervan to get around means you can structure this route as you want with the added bonus of being able to arrive in places earlier than the tour buses!

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If you're in a hurry, the best option is to go by air. However, if you have time, travelling on the inter-island ferry is highly recommended. It's considered to be one of the world's most scenic ferry journeys, spanning 92 kilometres over three hours.

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How long does it take to drive the length of New Zealand? In theory you could drive the North Island from tip to toe in around 14 hours and the South Island in around 12 non-stop.

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Condensing Your Trip Into Less Than Two Weeks You could easily spend longer than two weeks in New Zealand, but that's the minimum amount of time you'll need to explore the country properly. Divide your time evenly between the North and South Island and take into account the days that will be lost to travel.

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The South Island is very different from the North Island. For starters it's larger than the North Island and generally considered more beautiful. It also has gorgeous coastline, though it's best known for the many mountains and fjords that define its inland.

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The best time to visit the South Island of New Zealand is December to February if you're looking to experience outdoor fun in optimum summer weather. The average daily temperature ranges from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit during this time, but bear in mind that the farther south you venture, the cooler lows you may face.

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The best time to visit the South Island of New Zealand is December to February if you're looking to experience outdoor fun in optimum summer weather. The average daily temperature ranges from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit during this time, but bear in mind that the farther south you venture, the cooler lows you may face.

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Driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound is 288 kilometers (179 miles) long and one of the most scenic road trips in New Zealand. It is a must-do experience when visiting the South Island. There is so much to see and do that it can easily be turned into a whole day's journey, which is exactly what we did.

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The two islands are extremely complimentary of each other yet offer very different things. It's a no-brainer that if you are travelling to New Zealand for more than a couple of weeks, you should visit both islands!

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The top 10 best road trips in New Zealand
  • Auckland and the Bay of Islands. ...
  • Mountains and lakes of Canterbury. ...
  • The West Coast. ...
  • The Coromandel. ...
  • Cities of the East Coast. ...
  • Hawke's Bay. Beaches at Cape Kidnappers. ...
  • The Catlins. The famous Nugget Point Lighthouse. ...
  • Nelson and Marlborough. The region is home to magnificent wines.


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Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a transit passenger.

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Is New Zealand expensive to visit? New Zealand isn't cheap! Activities, car rentals and accommodations can really add up, making a trip to New Zealand very expensive. Eating in Aotearoa, whether in restaurants or even buying things from the grocery store, can be pricy as many of their goods are imported.

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