Most people start their South Island vacation in Christchurch. I would like to suggest an alternative. How about flying to Wellington? That may sound crazy, but it allows you to take the Interislander ferry to Picton, which is a great way to start your holiday. As you approach Picton you travel through the Marlborough Sounds, and you’ll see them much better from the ferry than by road. You then collect your rental car in Picton and begin your journey at the top of the South Island, meaning you won’t have to backtrack over the same terrain.
My suggestion for a 15 day trip is:
Day 1 flight to Wellington. Stay in town or in the Oriental Bay area so you have a short ride to the ferry the next morning.
2. Wellington to Picton by ferry in the morning (about 4 hours). Next, pick up your rental car in Picton and drive to Kaikoura (about 2 hours). You travel along the coast for most of the trip. The Kaikoura Mountain Range reaches all the way to the sea, and depending on the time of year, there can still be a lot of snow.
3. Go whale watching in the morning in Kaikoura before the winds start to blow, then drive to Hanmer Springs (about 2 hours). Visit the Hanmer thermal pools. A lovely clean alpine resort.
4. From Hanmer to Christchurch (about 2 hours)
5.Christchurch
6. Drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (about 3 hours) and spend the night (try to get a room with a lake view. The scenery is amazing).
7. Drive from Tekapo to Queenstown (3.5 hours). Spend four nights in Queenstown. There is so much to do and see, and four days is my recommended minimum time here. Try to book a lake view room if you can.
8 to 10 Stay in Queenstown. This will give you a chance to relax for a few days, although you should plan a bus trip to Milford Sound one of these days (and a bungy if you’re up for it). The drive to Milford Sound is a great day out, but at least someone else is driving. A trip on the former TSS Earnslaw steamboat is also recommended, as is a trip up Bob’s Peak in the gondola.
11. Drive from Queenstown to Wanaka. Be sure to travel via the Crown Range rather than the Cromwell as it is shorter and has better scenery (about 1 hour). About 20 kilometers before Wanaka stop at the old Hotel Cardrona for morning tea or lunch. Spend the night in Wanaka. The landscape is similar to Queenstown, but the city is less rushed. A beautiful place on the shores of Lake Wanaka. Visit Puzzling World while you are in Wanaka.
12. Drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef Glacier (about 4 hours). Spectacular scenery passing endless lakes and then to the wild and rugged west coast. It is better to stay at Franz Josef instead of Fox Glacier as FJ has more variety in lodging and places to eat. And you can see the glacier from the center of town. New Zealand’s weather can change quickly, but weather and funds permitting, take a helicopter flight up to the glacier. Incredible!
13. Drive from Franz Josef to Punakaiki to visit Pancake Rocks and the blowhole. There is not much more than a small town, but there is a motel called Rocks Resort that is on the beachfront. We have stayed there a few times. The rooms face the ocean and the restaurant has floor to ceiling windows so you can watch the sun set over the ocean. Handsome.
14. Drive from Punakaiki to Greymouth (about 30 minutes). Leave your car and then take the Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. Along with Milford Sound, this is one of the “must see” things in New Zealand. The train takes about 4 hours to go from Greymouth on the west coast to Christchurch on the east coast and travels through the Alps. Have your camera ready, sit back and enjoy some wine, and watch the world go by. A taste of New Zealand rail travel is a wonderful way to end your vacation.
15. Fly home.
This itinerary does not take you to Dunedin. My personal opinion is that Dunedin is a bit overrated and there are better things to see in your limited time in the South Island.
I hope this gives you a lot to think about. Enjoy planning your trip to New Zealand.
PS 1. Don’t forget your New Zealand travel insurance.
PS 2 When making your hotel reservations in New Zealand, always try to book a place close to amenities and, if possible, with a view.