Ultimate 8 Days 7 Nights Self-Drive Itinerary for Exploring New Zealand’s South Island
🕙 Travel Time: February / 8 days 7 nights
💰 Travel Cost: Approximately 30,000 RMB for two people, excluding airfare
📍 Pre-travel Tips:
1️⃣ Overseas Internet: OnePlus/OPPO/Honor/vivo users can directly purchase New Zealand data packages through the built-in Red Tea Mobile International Internet APP, and connect upon arrival
2️⃣ It is recommended to buy full insurance + unlimited mileage when renting a car, which makes it convenient to stop and take photos at any time
3️⃣ The weather changes quickly, so it is recommended to bring a windproof and waterproof jacket
DAY 1 Shanghai ✈️ Auckland ✈️ Queenstown
🏨 Check into the Hilton by the lake, the lake view is very beautiful, highly recommended!
🍽️ Dinner recommendation: Flame Grill & Bar, a popular restaurant in Queenstown, reservation required
🔹 Tips – It is suggested to rent a car in advance and pick it up at Queenstown Airport after landing; if not renting a car, you can buy a Bee Card at the airport visitor center to pay for water taxis or buses.
DAY 2 Queenstown
☕️ Take a water taxi to the city center and ride the cable car, where you can have coffee on the mountain top and overlook the panoramic view of Queenstown
🛍️ The duty-free shops and outdoor gear stores in the city center of Queenstown are great for shopping, Lululemon has a wide range of products
🍽️ Dinner recommendation: Botswana Butchery, excellent steak and lamb chops, reservation required
DAY 3 Queenstown 🚗 Mount Cook
♨️ Must-visit hot springs Onsen, need to book one month in advance
🏨 Drive 3.
5 hours to Mount Cook and check into Hermitage Hotel, with a continuous mountain range outside the window~
🍽️ The dining environment of the hotel’s set meals is better than the buffet, and the dishes also suit my taste more
DAY 4 Mount Cook 🚗 Tekapo
🥾 Ice lake hiking – Hooker Valley Track, easy to walk, round trip less than 1 hour, with a high photo-taking rate
🍣 Pass by a salmon farm, taste super fresh salmon, melts in your mouth, very delicious
🏨 Stay at a homestay by Lake Tekapo, within walking distance to the Church of the Good Shepherd, but unfortunately, stargazing was canceled due to weather conditions
🍽️ Dinner recommendation: Korean fish and chips + passion fruit ice cream
DAY 5 Tekapo 🚗 Wanaka
☕️ Depart for the mountain top at 9:30 am, check-in at Astro Café, which overlooks Lake Tekapo
🏨 Drive 2 hours to Wanaka and stay at Edgewater Resort, open the door to a lakeside lawn
DAY 6 Wanaka 🚗 Te Anau
🍷 Wine tasting experience at Cloudy Bay winery, reservation required
🏨 Head to Te Anau for rest, preparing for the Milford Sound trip
DAY 7 Te Anau 🚗 Milford Sound
🚢 The only fjord landscape not found in China, going on a rainy day allows you to see waterfalls cascading down the mountains.
Going on a sunny day offers a wider view, and if lucky, you may see sea lions and penguins. The tour takes a long time, remember to bring your own snacks
DAY 8 Queenstown ✈️ Auckland ✈️ Shanghai
南島の周遊に参考になる itinerary ですね！特にフ朗ツ・ヨースタシュ国立公園の情報が欲しかったので助かりました。レンタカーの運転は少し緊張しますが、景色が素晴らしいと聞いて期待大です。次回の旅行計画に活用させていただきます！
Das Reiseplanungsguide für Neuseelands Südan岛 ist super praktisch! Besonders die Tipps zur Versicherung und dem WLAN-Paket sind Gold wert. Ich würde das Route noch etwas flexibler gestalten, falls man mal spontan etwas anderes unbedingt sehen will.
Vielen Dank für dein positives Feedback! Es freut mich zu hören, dass dir die Tipps gefallen haben. Wenn du die Route flexibler gestalten möchtest, kannst du einfach einige Tage offen lassen oder Umwege einplanen – so bleibt immer Platz für spontane Abenteuer. Danke nochmals für deine Ideen, die machen den Austausch über Reisen echt spannend!
This itinerary looks perfect for my upcoming trip! I’m especially glad I read your tip about getting the international data package; didn’t know that was an option. Just wondering, did you find the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound as scenic as everyone says?
Absolutely, the drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound is even more breathtaking than most people describe! The towering mountains, pristine lakes, and lush forests make it an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend stopping at Mirror Lakes and the Chasm Walk for photo ops. Enjoy every moment of your trip—New Zealand is absolutely stunning!
أكيد، سأبدأ بالتعليق الآن:
هل من الممكن تعديل جدول الرحلة ليشمل زيارة Queenstown في الأيام الأخيرة؟ يبدو أن هناك الكثير لرؤيته هناك. أيضًا، هل يمكنك إضافة بعض الخيارات للطعام المحلي في كل محطة؟