Best South Island road trip from Picton

After transferring from the North Island via ferry, continue your epic New Zealand adventure with this South Island road trip from Picton. From the Marlborough Sound to Milford Sound and everything in between, this route features all the best destinations, sights and attractions!

Use this 10-day guide when planning your South Island road trip from Picton. It can be modified to suit the number of days you have available and also includes all the best camping spots. Plus, we’ve thrown in a heap of extra information like drive time, distance, the best season to travel and much more!

Want to travel the South Island in comfort? Use Camplify to organise campervan hire in Marlborough.

The ultimate South Island road trip from Picton: 9 stops you can’t miss

Total distance: 2,100 km | Recommended duration: 10 to 21 days | Best time to do the route: December and May | Route Map

1. Picton

Set in the heart of the Marlborough Sounds , the harbour town of Picton is the first port of call for those transferring via ferry on a North to South Island road trip.

One of the best ways to explore the Marlborough Sounds from Picton is to hire a kayak along the shorefront and spend the day paddling around its calm waters. Alternatively, walk all or part of the Queen Charlotte Track around Kenepuru Sounds (at 73km long, it is considered one of New Zealand’s Great Walks).

If you want to take things slow, consider visiting the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum , where you can climb aboard one of Australasia's oldest surviving convict ships. Alternatively, make the 20-minute drive to Blenheim and check out the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre , which hosts a collection of WW1 and WW2 aircraft and artefacts and was created by the production teams behind the Lord of the Rings films.

Food and wine lovers will also want to hire a bicycle and ride the Golden Mile trail that links many of the best seafood restaurants and vineyards in the Marlborough Region.

Stay at the Picton TOP 10 Holiday Park, which offers sealed and grass powered camping sites near the harbour. They’ve got a range of family-friendly facilities, including a spa, kids playground with trampolines, bike hire, swimming pool and much more. We've also got a list of the best Picton campgrounds to choose from!

You can find a heap of South Island road trip ideas on the Camplify blog, including our guide to the best road trips around Marlborough!

2. Nelson

Start with a day trip to nearby Nelson Lakes National Park, which marks the start of the Southern Alps and boasts glaciers, rugged mountains and beech forests. Be sure to grab a photo of the famous Rotoiti Jetty and the Blue Lake (the World's clearest lake!).

Another day can be spent hiking or kayaking around the tropical waters of Abel Tasman National Park, full of popular sights such as Split Apple Rock , Tonga Arches and Wainui Falls.

Stay at the Tahuna Beach Holiday Park next to Tahunanui Beach near Nelson City Centre. Take your pick from over 850 campsites spread across 54 acres of parkland, with beach views and its very own mini-golf course.

3. West Coast

Stop in at Paparoa National Park and stretch your legs on the 20-minute loop walk around the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes. Further down the road is the Hokitika Gorge Scenic Reserve, which has an easy 1-hour walk with a 90m suspension bridge that crosses the blue-green waters of the river below.

Take guided hiking or horseback tours up the icy slopes of Franz Josef Glacier before soaking in the Glacier Hot Pools. Nearby is the easy 1.5-hour loop walk around Lake Matheson , which reflects the towering presence of Aoraki Mount Cook in the distance.

Stay at The Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef township, which offers a bar, restaurant, sauna and spa surrounded by lush green. It’s not hard to see why it’s rated as one of the best campsites in New Zealand.

4. Wanaka

The township of Wanaka is famous for its lakeside setting. When you arrive, spend an afternoon walking or biking around the Lake Wanaka track and finish with some sunset photos of the famous Wanaka Tree.

If you’re travelling in winter, you may want to use Wanaka as a gateway to local ski resorts such as Treble Cone or Cardrona. And in summer, you can’t miss Mount Aspiring National Park, famous for its Blue Pools walking track that takes you over and through the pristine waters of the Makarora River.

Stay at the highly-rated Wanaka Top 10 Holiday Park, which offers awesome amenities including a spa and sauna.

5. Queenstown

Follow the shoreline of Lake Wakatipu until you reach Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. This is the perfect place for adrenaline junkies to go jet boating, bungee jumping, skydiving or mountain biking.

For those who prefer to take things a little slower, you might want to ride the Skyline Gondola (the steepest cable car lift in the Southern Hemisphere) to Bob’s Peak for panoramic views over Queenstown and the surrounding Remarkables mountain range.

Afterwards, relax in the Onsen Hot Pools and enjoy a complimentary selection of local refreshments, whilst perched high on the cliffside with scenic views of Shotover Canyon.

The Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde is located close to the city centre and is considered one of the best caravan parks on the South Island.

6. Fiordland

Near the bottom of the South Island is New Zealand’s highest-rated tourist attraction - Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. Nature lovers will want to use the three Great Walk tracks to explore all the fjords, glaciers, cascades and rainforest on offer.

Adventure-seekers might want to see Fiordland from a different perspective, whether that be a ride on the Fiordland Jet , a scuba diving expedition to see the famous black coral or an underground tour of the nearby Te Anau Glowworm Caves.

Stay at the Rainforest Campervan Park, the only campervan park inside of Milford Sound. Nestled in the heart of the world-heritage Fiordlands rainforest, it offers powered sites surrounded by wilderness, wildlife and waterfalls.

Want some more travel inspiration? Check out our Te Anau to Milford Sound road trip!

7. Dunedin

It’s time to explore the east coast of the South Island, home to an array of natural wonders that are more remote and therefore quieter than other parts of New Zealand.

Pass through The Catlins and visit the awe-inspiring Nugget Point Lighthouse , one of the oldest in the country. Trace the coastline northward along the Otago Peninsula, stopping at Lovers Leap for panoramic views over beaches littered with colonies of penguins, fur seals and sea lions.

Pull up stumps in the city of Dunedin , where a blend of Maori and Scottish history has given rise to a city that is strikingly similar to Edinburgh in Scotland. You can learn about the city’s history at Larnach Castle , the only castle in New Zealand and a great spot for high tea.

Stay opposite the beach at Dunedin Holiday Park, conveniently located close to the city centre and the major attractions.

8. Lake Tekapo

Head inland to the rugged Otago and Mackenzie regions, home to the tallest mountain in New Zealand - Aoraki Mount Cook. Park at the Village and take one of the 10 beautiful short walks that trace the base of the mountain and the edge of Lake Pukaki.

Further north is Lake Tekapo , one of the best places in the Southern Hemisphere to go stargazing and observe the Southern Lights (best seen from the nearby Mount John Observatory). Here you’ll also find the quaint Church of the Good Shepherd , one of the most photographed sites in the country.

Stay at the Lake Tekapo Holiday Park, where you can camp lakeside and get access to a heap of awesome facilities including a camp kitchen, TV lounge, free wifi and hot showers.

9. Christchurch

The city of Christchurch will be the final stop on your epic South Island road trip from Picton.

Discover all the local highlights by taking the Christchurch City Tram Tour , which stops close to major attractions like the International Antarctic Centre, Quake City, Canterbury Museum and Christchurch Gondola.

Take a short 2-hour road trip through Arthur’s Pass. This dramatic landscape in the heart of the Southern Alps boasts a range of easy walking tracks that deliver waterfalls, wetlands, forest and stunning mountain views (such as the Devil’s Punchbowl).

Stay at the Christchurch Top 10 Holiday Park, a clean and modern campground located near the city centre. It even features a heated spa to relax after your journey.

And if you’re interested in returning to the town of Picton, it is only a short and scenic four-and-a-half-hour drive along the Canterbury Coast. Check out this Christchurch to Picton road trip for more details!

Hire a van for your South Island road trip from Picton

So, you’re almost set to take on the ultimate South Island road trip from Picton. All that’s left to do is to arrange your wheels (and accommodation)!

Need to arrange

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Simply enter your pickup location, adjust the optional filters and within seconds, you will find the perfect motorhome, caravan or campervan for your South Island road trip from Picton!

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