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Driving around New Zealand’s South Island is a breeze. New Zealand is a country that is very easy to drive around. In fact when asked to write some travel tips for driving around the South Island I was cruising the roads of the North Island.

A few points to think about when planning your drive is how long you want to spend in the car each day and what attractions you want to see in the towns along the way. Queenstown is the adventure capital of NZ and  experiencing Jet Boating, Bungy Jumping, Skyline Luge or a more relaxing pursuit like a cruise on Lake Wakatipu or a round of golf at Millbrook Resort can easily occupy 2 full days. Beautiful Milford Sound is a must and you can drive to Te Anau and stay the night or make it a day trip from Queenstown. Driving across the Canterbury Plains to the Scottish inspired Dunedin is a picturesque start to exploring Larnoch Castle, Speights Brewery or steaming through the Coal Viaducts on the Taieri Gorge Steam Train. Heading north from Dunedin is the beautiful Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo region which is renowned for its gorgeous scenery. Christchurch is where you can pick up the Tranz Alpine Train Journey across the Southern Alps. A must do for everyone visiting the South Island.

After talking with several Motel Managers on my current trip it would be advisable to pre-book your accommodation due to very limited availability even in the off season. A budget for food would probably be in the vicinity of NZD$100-150 per day per couple. This depends obviously on your food tastes.

When selecting the size of your vehicle, take into account the number and size of your suitcases. A very small car might sound economical but not if you can’t fit your 2-3 medium sized suitcases in them and feel comfortable. Also the cost of fuel ranges from NZD$1.60-$2.05 per litre. Make the most of driving around New Zealand’s South Island by contacting your Personal Travel Manager today for lots of tips and good advice.

Published – TravelManagers Inspired Magazine Autumn 2017