Nelson to Christchurch road trip: 7 must-visit spots

The Nelson to Christchurch road trip is a favourite amongst Kiwi’s and international tourists alike. This is largely thanks to vibrant and sunny cities like Nelson and Blenheim that serve as hubs for some of the country’s best art, food and wine. Plus, natural attractions like Nelson Lakes National Park and Abel Tasman National Park offer world-class hiking trails amongst pristine landscapes.

Last updated: October 2024

Use our 7-day Nelson to Christchurch return road trip guide to plan your travels. It can be modified to suit the number of days you have available and includes all the best sightseeing and camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive times, distances, the best season to travel and much more!

Best road trip from Nelson to Christchurch: 7 places you can’t miss

Total Distance: 689km one-way / 1,116km return | Recommended Days: from 6 - 8 days | Best Time to Visit: Between September and May | Route on Google Maps

1. Nelson

Nelson is one of New Zealand’s sunniest and most vibrant cities. Bursting with creative energy, it’s home to some of the best working artists and galleries in the country. It’s also regarded as the Top Cider City in the world by National Geographic, so don’t leave without trying the local brews.

One of the must-see attractions in Nelson is the Classic Car Museum. Check out their collection of more than 150 iconic cars spanning more than 100 years of motoring. Regarded as one of the best private exhibits in the world, you’ll see Renaults from 1908, Triumphs and Cadillacs from the 1950s and more modern Jaguars and Ferraris. A great time regardless of whether or not you’re a motorhead!

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the heart of Nelson, try the Nelson City Top 10 Holiday Park. It’s within easy walking distance of the shops and restaurants and offers unpowered and powered campsites starting at about $50 per night. Facilities include a massive playground for kids, a communal kitchen, a TV room and much more.

2. Nelson Lakes National Park

Drive Time: 1hr | Distance: 82km

Just a one-hour drive south of Nelson Central is the breathtaking Nelson Lakes National Park. Marking the start of the Southern Alps, Nelson Lakes is an ancient landscape carved by glaciers, lakes, beech forests and rugged mountain ranges. With so many sights to see (like Blue Lake - the world’s clearest lake), you could easily spend up to two days here.

If you want to see as much of Nelson Lakes as possible in one day, take the Lake Rotoiti Walkway. This track is 23km if you take the river crossing or 31km if you take the swingbridge and should take anywhere from 7-10 hours. However, you can cut the walk-time in half by taking the water taxi service from one side of the lake to the other. The walk follows the edge of Lake Rotoiti and ends at the famous Lake Rotoiti Jetty.

There are some amazing Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites within Nelson Lakes National Park. For $20 a night you can camp next to the Lake Rotoiti Jetty at Kerr Bay Campsite and you’ll have access to brilliant bathroom and kitchen facilities. If that’s full, try the West Bay Campground for $15 per night.

3. Abel Tasman National Park

Drive Time: 1hr 40min | Distance: 120km

Just a short drive north-west of Nelson Lakes National Park is the similarly spectacular Abel Tasman National Park - New Zealand’s smallest national park. The best part about this tropical paradise is just how easy it is to access sites like Split Apple Rock and the Tonga Arches by land or sea. Try the Wainui Falls Track (3.4km / 1hr 20min return) for an easy walk over a swing bridge to the famous cascading falls.

Just outside of Abel Tasman National Park you’ll find Te Waikoropupū Springs - the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere. You can’t swim in these springs because they hold significant cultural value for the local Maori. However, from the viewing platform, you can watch schools of fish and eel swimming through the crystal clear water below you.

Stay at the Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park if you want to experience beachfront camping. This park offers unpowered and powered sites starting at about $22 per night. Plus, you get access to paid hot showers ($1 for 6 minutes), a TV room, free wifi and much more.

4. Blenheim

Drive Time: 2hr 40min | Distance: 179km

Blenheim sits right in the heart of the Marlborough region, internationally renowned for producing some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Spend a sunny day taking a guided or self-guided bike riding tour through more than 30+ cellar doors. In the evening, head back to town and gorge at the local farm-to-fork restaurants or the Marlborough Farmers Market (every Sunday from 9 am - 12 am).

Whilst in Blenheim, don’t miss the state-of-the-art Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre created by the same team behind Lord of the Rings. The Knights of the Sky exhibit displays Peter Jackson’s private collection of WW1 aircraft and artefacts, including personal items from the Red Baron himself. Similarly, the Dangerous Skies exhibit has been recently updated to bring a range of WW2 warbirds to life through Jackson’s theatrical tricks and techniques.

Camp at the Spring Creek Holiday Park, a quiet and shady park nestled on the edge of a crystal clear creek. It’s only 5 minutes out of town and offers a range of camping options starting at about $40 per night. Plus, there’s a large swimming pool and a pond where you can feed the pet eels!

5. Kaikoura

Drive Time: 1hr 30min | Distance: 128km

Continue your Nelson to Christchurch road trip southward to New Zealand’s whale watching capital - Kaikoura. Situated on the doorstep of the whale highway from Antarctica, you’d be crazy not to stop for a day and take a whale watching tour. Whilst you’re at it, you’re likely to also see the dolphins and fur seals that live in the area year-round.

Back on land, spend a lazy day wandering through the fields of Lavendyl Lavender Farm. After grabbing some lavender-infused gifts, take a self-guided tour around the historic Fyffe House, a pioneer whaling station and the oldest surviving building in the area. Finally, finish the day at Nins Bin takeaway truck and enjoy the best crayfish sandwiches in the country whilst watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Stay at the Alpine Pacific Motels & Holiday Park Kaikoura which offers powered and unpowered campsites at reasonable rates. Plus, you get access to free hot pools, WiFi, high-pressure showers and other fantastic facilities.

6.Christchurch

Drive Time: 2hr 25min | Distance: 180km

You may have reached the end of your Nelson to Christchurch road trip but the fun isn’t over yet! New Zealand’s second-largest city has a lot to offer, from insightful indoor attractions like the Canterbury Museum and the International Antarctic Centre to outstanding outdoor attractions like the Orana Wildlife Park and the Christchurch City Tram Tour.

If you have a day to spare, you must take the opportunity to explore the amazing Arthur’s Pass National Park - the heart of the Southern Alps and the backbone of the South Island. It’s easy to see Arthur’s Pass by road and there’s a heap of short and easy walking tracks that can take anywhere from 10-minutes to 3-hours. However, if you want to take a day off from driving, consider riding the world-famous TranzAlpine Railway, one of the world’s great train journeys.

Camp at the Spencer Beach Holiday Park, a huge campground in the middle of a forested reserve only 500m from the beach and 20 minutes from the airport. The facilities and amenities are clean and modern with camping sites starting at about $18 per night.

7. Hanmer Springs (and back to Nelson)

Drive Time: 5hr 20min | Distance: 427km

If you want to return to Nelson, we suggest taking the interior route rather than returning via the same coastal route.

The best part about the interior route is that you can stop for a few hours or a full day at Hanmer Springs - a water park packed with hot pools, rock spas, water jets, a lazy river, water slides and an activity pool for the kids. Entry starts at about $35 for adults and $20 for kids and there are also great camping options nearby like the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp.

Organise your Nelson to Christchurch road trip with Camplify

Now that you’ve got your Nelson to Christchurch road trip itinerary sorted, it’s time to start organising the finer details that’ll guarantee a great vacation! For starters, check out some more of the best camping grounds in the Nelson region!

Need to arrange campervan hire in Nelson Tasman? Camplify is a platform that allows travellers to quickly search through privately-owned rentals. Simply enter your pickup location and budget and within seconds, you can find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your road trip!

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be New Zealand’s fastest-growing private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• Nationwide AA roadside assistance

• 24/7 customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across New Zealand in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.