2 Weeks South Island, New Zealand Itinerary for Solo Travelers

2 Weeks South Island, New Zealand Itinerary Map

2 Weeks South Island, New Zealand Itinerary

Christchurch doesn’t have the beauty it used to have after the earthquake, and even though it’s been a few years, the main parts of the city are still under construction.

There isn’t a whole lot today here, especially when it comes to nature. But since it is one of the big cities on the South Island, with many international flights flying in and out, it is the best place to start your journey on the South Island.

Since there isn’t much to do here, I would recommend you stay only one night here and use your first day on the South Island to familiarize yourself with the customs and culture before you embark on your epic journey through the South Island.

If you wish to rent a car or a campervan, Christchurch is also a good place to do so, but keep in mind that you will have to return your car back in Christchurch. So, be sure to spare some time to drive back from Queenstown. To rent a car in Christchurch, click the link below:

Rent a car in Christchurch

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting from Christchurch to Mt. Cook

To get from Christchurch to Mt. Cook, you can take the 8:30 AM Intercity bus from Christchurch Intercity bus stop to Twizel, which should take you about 5 hours and cost 41 NZD. You can book the Intercity Bus to Twizel here.

You will arrive in Twizel at 1:29 PM, where you can then catch the 2:30 PM Cook Connect bus from Twizel Bus Stop to Mt. Cook. The journey should take about 1 hour and cost 30 NZD. You can book the Cook Connect here.

Mt Cook (1 night)

Along the way from Twizel to Mt. Cook, the Cook Connect shuttle bus should stop at Lake Pukaki for you, which is definitely worth a visit. I can never get bored with the view of the stunningly blue watered lake and the beautiful snowy mountains of New Zealand looming behind.

One of the best things you should do when you arrive in Mt. Cook National Park is to hike the Hooker Valley Track, a 10 km return track that goes through the grassland in Mt. Cook National Park, passing alpine streams and glaciers while Mt. Cook towers over you.

The Hooker Valley Track is very easy, with few ups and downs, and it takes about 3 hours to complete the round trip from Mt. Cook Village to the end of the trail.

You can also take to the sky and fly over Mt. Cook with a Scenic Helicopter Ride Tour that you can book for around $450 USD, and when you are done, you can warm yourself up at The Hermitage Hotel with a nice glass of wine before ending your day.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook?8 Best Things To Do In Lake Tekapo & Mt Cook

Getting from Mt. Cook to Lake Tekapo

To get from Mt. Cook to Lake Tekapo, you can take the 10:30 AM Cook Connect Bus from Mt. Cook to Twizel, where you will then have to wait until 5:00 PM to catch another Cook Connect Shuttle from Twizel to Lake Tekapo.

The whole journey should take around 2 hours, excluding waiting time, and cost about 60 NZD per person. You can book the Cook Connect here.

Lake Tekapo (1 night)

When you think of New Zealand, the image of a pastel blue-colored lake and colorful fields of purple lupins probably comes to mind. That is Lake Tekapo, a small lakeside town by the lake with the same name located near the famous Mt. Cook National Park on the Queenstown to Christchurch main road.

With beautiful mountain vistas, a clear night sky, and its proximity to Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, Lake Tekapo makes for a great one-night stop before we continue our journey.

Since you will only have the evening, I recommend you hit the ground running and go for a walk along the lake and appreciate just how colorful the place is. At night, if the sky is clear, you can go stargazing at the Church of Good Shepherd and take some stunning Milky Way photos.

The next day, we can catch an Intercity Bus to one of my favorite cities in New Zealand: Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting from Lake Tekapo to Queenstown

From Lake Tekapo, you can take the 12:50 PM Intercity Bus from Tekapo Bus Stop to Queenstown, which should take about 4 hours and cost around 55 NZD per person. You can book the Intercity Bus to Queenstown here.

Queenstown (3 nights)

Queenstown is the adventure capital city of the world, and whatever sports and activities the human body can endure, they have probably come up with them here.

Located on the shore of the pristine Lake Wakatipu and sandwiched between mountains on three sides, there is no way in hell you will be able to leave Queenstown without getting your adrenaline pumping.

One of the best viewpoints in Queenstown and one of the best things you can do is to hike up to the Queenstown Hill Viewpoint, where you will be able to see Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu from above, as the stunning face of Mount Aspiring looms behind.

Continue on, and you will be on your way up to the summit of Ben Lomond, which is another hike I recommend you do together with Queenstown Hill. Up there, you will be able to enjoy the stunning view of Queenstown from the Ben Lomond Saddle and the mountains surrounding the city.

Hiking Ben Lomond is a great way to acquaint yourself with the nature around Queenstown, and you will witness just how adventure-oriented this town is as you walk through the thick forest on mountain bike trails, and under all the zip lines and zip line stations.

Once you have hiked Ben Lomond, you can then drive the luge down from Queenstown Hill, which is another fun activity to do in Queenstown.

For the next day, go up 15,000 ft into the sky and get thrown out from a moving airplane with NZONE Skydive, one of the best skydiving experiences you will ever have. The view up there is indescribable.

If the weather is not looking good but you still want to throw yourself off something, bungee jumping is your friend, and there is no better place to do it than here, where the sport originated.

As you can see, there are a ton of things you can do in Queenstown, and we can spend days trying to do them all. But since we have both limited time and budget, it is time to move on to our next destination, Te Anau, where we will be traveling from there to the Milford Sound.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Queenstown?10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown

Getting from Queenstown to Te Anau

Intercity Bus has 3 buses running between Queenstown and Te Anau at 6:55 AM, 10:35 AM, and 4:35 PM every day, leaving from Queenstown Bus Stop, and they will drop you off at Te Anau Bus Stop.

The bus journey from Queenstown to Te Anau will take around 2.5 hours and cost 49 NZD per person. You can book the bus to Te Anau here.

Te Anau and the Milford Sound (2 nights)

One of the reasons why we are visiting Te Anau is because we will use it as a base to explore the beautiful Milford Sound, which is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand.

Milford Sound is one of those places where, if 10 years have passed and you are trying to recall your New Zealand trip that you took 10 years ago, the mental image of your experience with Milford Sound would be the first to come rushing back.

In order to get there, you will have to book the Milford Sound Cruise Tour by GreatSight which includes a transfer between Te Anau and Milford Sound so you don’t have to worry about logistics.

The tour also includes several stops along the scenic Milford Road like Mirror Lakes, Pop’s View Point, 1855 Lookout, and more before you even arrive at the Milford Sound.

Once you arrive, you will be ushered onto a cruise where you will then travel along the stunning fjord, visiting all kinds of beautiful waterfalls and animal colonies. The Milford Sound tour will take the entire day and cost around 126 NZD per person.

Once you get back to Te Anau, it is time to prepare for another adventure. This time, we are going to tackle one of the best Great Walks of New Zealand – the Routeburn Track – in its entirety. So, spend the evening preparing your hiking gear, sleeping bags, and food for 3 days.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Te Anau and the Milford Sound?A Day Trip From Te Anau To The Milford Sound

Getting from Te Anau to the Routeburn Track – The Divide

Tracknet Shuttle Bus runs between Te Anau and the Divide Parking Lot, where the trailhead of the Routeburn Track is located.

They have 3 buses from Te Anau to the Divide leaving at 7:15 AM, 9:45 AM, and 1:25 PM. You can book the Tracknet bus here.

Routeburn Track (2 nights)

The Routeburn Track is a 3-day scenic hiking trail that will take you through some of the most stunning landscapes you will ever see in your life. It is one of the 10 Great Walks in New Zealand, and if you have the time to do only one great walk in New Zealand, make it this one.

This 33 km long hiking trail will take you around the Fjordland National Park on foot, passing through beautiful mountains and pristine lakes on a 3-day adventure. In order to do that, you will need to plan ahead with the transfer, reserve mountain huts, and prepare your gear carefully.

If you want to hike this trail, you are going to have to reserve the mountain huts in advance as they often get booked out quickly. You can reserve the mountain huts here.

Your journey will begin at the Divide, where you can follow the trail to the Key Summit for a stunning viewpoint before hiking down to Lake MacKenzie, where you will be spending your first night. Your first day should take around 5 hours.

On the second day, you will start hiking up and out of the valley onto a trail along the side of a mountain where you will be able to appreciate the stunning Darran Mountain before you arrive at Routeburn Fall Hut in about 5 hours.

Your last day on the Routeburn Track is an easy stroll down to Routeburn Shelter, where the shuttle bus to Queenstown is waiting for you.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Looking for a complete travel guide to the Routeburn Track?The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track

Getting from the Routeburn Track to Queenstown

Tracknet Shuttle Bus also runs between the Routeburn Shelter and Queenstown, which you will need to book in advance to get back to Queenstown. They have two buses running from the Routeburn Shelter to Queenstown at 9:45 AM and 2:15 PM.

This will cost you around 45 NZD, and the trip from the Routeburn Shelter to Queenstown will take about 1 hour. You can book the shuttle bus from Routeburn Track to Queenstown here.

Queenstown – Overnight (1 night)

By the time you arrive in Queenstown, it should be dark. Therefore, you will have to spend one more night here before we continue on to our next destination, Lake Wanaka.

Getting from Queenstown to Lake Wanaka

Intercity Bus has one bus running between Wanaka and Queenstown at 8:10 AM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday leaving from Queenstown Intercity Bus Stop and they will drop you off at Wanaka Bus Stop.

The bus will cost you about 33 NZD per person and take you about 2 hours. You can book your Intercity Bus tickets here.

Wanaka (2 nights)

Wanaka is one of those places in New Zealand where you don’t expect much from it, and then it turns out to be one of the prettiest places you have ever visited.

Located on the bank of the pristine Lake Wanaka, Wanaka City offers many great opportunities for us to enjoy the outdoors, from a stroll around Lake Wanaka to a full-on hiking adventure to one of the prettiest viewpoints in New Zealand, Roy’s Peak.

If you are looking for things to do around the lake, you can go on a walk along Lake Wanaka Walkway, spot the lone tree of Wanaka, or you can rent a kayak and visit Ruby Island.

You can also hike up to Mt. Iron for a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains around Wanaka, visit the Puzzling World amusement park, and stroll around the Wanaka Lavender Field.

That should occupy your entire day in Wanaka, which is a great place to end our 2-week journey on the South Island. The next day, head back to Queenstown and spend your last day there before heading back home.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Getting from Lake Wanaka to Queenstown

Intercity Bus has one bus running between Wanaka and Queenstown at 2:40 PM on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, leaving from Wanaka Bus Stop, and they will drop you off at Queenstown Intercity Bus Stop.

The bus will cost you about 33 NZD per person and take you about 2 hours. You can book your Intercity Bus tickets here.

Queenstown – Fly Back Home (1 night)

After spending 2 weeks exploring the South Island, it is time for you to head home. If you book a flight out from Christchurch or Auckland, you can fly domestically from Queenstown straight to these cities. You can spend another night there if you have the time before heading back home.

If you can stay more than 2 weeks, you can also add a trip to Franz Josef Glacier and take the helicopter up to the glacier and go ice-hiking there. Since it takes about 8 hours one-way to get there from Queenstown, it will take you more than 3 days to travel back and forth, hence why I didn’t add Franz Josef onto this itinerary.

But if you have 3 days to spare, I highly recommend you spend those days in Franz Josef. You will not regret it. Even better, if you have one month in New Zealand, I recommend you follow my one-month backpacking itinerary for New Zealand, which includes the North Island as well.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Franz Josef?The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef

When to Visit the South Island, New Zealand?

The best time to visit the South Island, New Zealand is during the shoulder seasons between September to November and March to May, when there will be considerably fewer travelers. During this time, most accommodation will offer discounted prices, making your trip way more cost-effective than the peak season (November to March).

The Great Walks of New Zealand are also opening up during this time, which should allow you to experience one of the best hikes in the world. Just make sure you plan ahead and book everything before, as they get booked out extremely fast.

How to Get to the South Island, New Zealand?

The South Island of New Zealand has two major international airports, but for this itinerary, we will be flying in from Christchurch and flying out from Queenstown.

From the US, there are no direct flights to Christchurch, so you will have to rely on transit flights from airlines like Qantas, which often transit in Fiji and then Auckland. The journey should take about 20 hours.

From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Lufthansa, Qatar, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines. You will then have to transit through their headquarters before another transit in Sydney, sometimes Auckland, in order to get to Christchurch. The flight will take over 24 hours, so gear up and prepare for a long ride.

From Asia, there are several airlines offering various routes from many hub cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Hong Kong that can fly you to Christchurch. Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines are excellent choices for traveling this route, with the fastest flight time being 9 hours and 40 minutes.

To find a cheap flight to New Zealand, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule, so you can compare and pick the best one.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Wellington and Picton?How to Get from Wellington to Picton

How to Get Around the South Island, New Zealand?

By Bus: One of the cheapest ways to get around the South Island is to use its rather good public transportation. For long distances, the Intercity bus is the mode of transportation we will mainly use in this itinerary.

If you wish to travel by Intercity Bus, I recommend you get the Flexipass where you buy hours, and you can travel any route in the country depending on how long the bus is. It is a great way to hop around the country without having to pay a ton of money.

For more information about Flexipass, please visit the official Intercity Flexipass page here.

By Air: New Zealand, especially the South Island, is pretty remote. If you are planning to travel between big cities like Christchurch and Queenstown to get to remote places, I recommend flying instead, as it is faster and often cheaper than taking the bus.

Air New Zealand and Jetstar often fly these routes directly and daily, with prices ranging from 35 USD to 100 USD, which is quite affordable, all things considered.

By Campervan: One of the most popular ways to get around the South Island is to rent a campervan, which will allow you to travel anywhere you like and save a ton of money on accommodation by allowing you to sleep at campsites around the country. I recommend renting a campervan in Auckland and driving around the country if you have the money.

There are several well-known campervan rental companies that I have seen people driving all over the country, such as Jucy, Spaceships, and Britz, so be sure to check them out when you are in Auckland.

By Car: You can rent a car directly from Christchurch International Airport for only around 60 USD per day, allowing you to drive around the South Island at your own leisure.

If you have the money and you wish to have the freedom to stop whenever you want, and trust me, you will as New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, I recommend you get the car. You can rent a car in Christchurch here.

By Tours: For some places like Milford Sound and Franz Josef Glacier Hike, it is better to go with organized tours instead, as the logistics of visiting these remote places are more accessible if you let the tours organize them for you. For activities, I highly recommend you check Viator.com for cheap deals that you might not get offline.

By Walk: When you arrive in cities and towns in New Zealand, you can expect to walk to most tourist attractions around the city center. New Zealand is known for its abundance of beautiful tracks and trails, and you will find beautiful nature walking trails in just about any city you visit. Plus, they are all free!

How Much Does It Cost to Travel 2 Weeks on the South Island, New Zealand?

With the 2-week itinerary recommended here, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending on this trip as follows:

Accommodation: For 15 days in New Zealand, you will be spending around 431 USD on accommodation.

Food: An average meal in New Zealand costs around $10 USD, so you will be spending around $420 USD on food for 14 days.

Transportation: If you buy the Intercity’s Flexipass, it will cost you 253 NZD for a 30-hour pass, plus 86 NZD for the Routeburn Track transfer, and 70 NZD for the Tekapo – Mt Cook round trip. You can expect to pay around 409 NZD (293.62 USD) for transportation in total.

Activities: These are all optional, but it would be a shame if you didn’t do anything extreme while you are in places like Queenstown. For activities, you can expect to spend around 372 USD (optional), including skydiving (343 NZD/246 USD), Milford Sound tour (126 USD), and other activities.

Total budget for 2 weeks on the South Island, New Zealand: 1,144.62 USD (1,594.87 NZD) or 1,516.62 USD (2,113.20 NZD) including extreme activities.

Which tourist SIM card is best for New Zealand?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in New Zealand without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you’ll be good to go. If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in New Zealand:

Don’t expect much from New Zealand’s WIFI. They are terribly outdated, with some cafes offering free 25 MB and 15-minute time-limited WIFI to their customers. Yes, really!

For a more reliable internet connection, I would recommend that you get yourself a local SIM card, where you will be able to find a 4G connection in all major cities around the country now.

Spark is a recommended carrier with the most coverage around the country. You can buy their prepaid SIM card “Data Lover” package at the airport in Auckland, which comes in 2 price points: 20 NZD for 1 GB (+1 GB for social) and 40 NZD for 4.5 GB (+1 GB for social), both valid for one month.

With Spark, you can top up your data via stores around the country, or you can simply do it online with your credit card. Very easy and convenient.

For more information about SIM cards in New Zealand, visit: New Zealand’s Prepaid Data Sim Card.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It’s FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

What to Pack for the South Island, New Zealand?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to New Zealand:

Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.

Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.

Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).

Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It’s lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.

Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men’s Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.

Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.

Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.

Wool Socks: Don’t forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.

Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker’s towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.

Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.

Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Universal Adapter: You’ll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.

Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for New Zealand? Check out:What to Pack for New Zealand – The Essential Packing List

Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand

I’ve spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand, from the North Island to the South Island, that might help you in your trip planning.

Here’s a selection of articles about New Zealand:

Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here’s a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand

New Zealand has a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever done, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton on the South Island? Here’s How to Get From Wellington to Picton.
Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand’s Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here’s The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
Want to go hiking on a glacier in the Glacier Country of New Zealand? Here is the Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Franz Josef.
Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here’s my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook are some of the most photogenic places to visit in New Zealand, and visiting them together is highly recommended. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook.
Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world’s largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
You can see all my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.