8-Day New Zealand (South Island Guide)
8-Day New Zealand (South Island Guide)
Travelly Concierge
Lupin season is in 5 months and if you're like anything like me and gorgeous scenery's and the colour purple really set your heart on fire then you really need to save this guide for your next trip to New Zealand (South Island)
Have a look at my blog post (linked below) for a full cost breakdown.
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✈️ DAY 1: Fly Brisbane > Queenstown
🧳 Check-in:
Adventure Queenstown Hostel
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Standard hostel, great communal area, clean and close to everything in Queenstown
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🍽 Dinner:
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🍸 Drink:
Perky's - Floating Bar Queenstown
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360° views, open 7 a week from 12 pm to 11 pm. No reservations are required.
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🚙 DAY 2: Drive Queenstown > Arrowtown (19.4km)
☕️ Breakfast:
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🍽 Lunch:
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🎫 Activity:
Dorothy Browns Arrowtown Cinema
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Watch a movie at Dorothy Brown's. There's even a cute cinema cat that hangs around, make sure you say hey!
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🚙 DAY 3: Drive Queenstown > Lake Hawea (81.2km)
☕️ Breakfast:
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🎫 Activity:
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🍽 Lunch:
Erik's Fish and Chips
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Cheap fish and chips, good portion, go and eat down by the water. You won't be disappointed!
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🧳 Check-in:
The Camp - Lake Hawea Holiday Park
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Stay in the glamping tent, heater is great and there is a fire too. There is also a food truck on site serving up breakfast bagels and coffee.
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🍽 Dinner:
The Cow Pizza & Spaghetti House
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Short 15 minute drive from accomodation, grab a takeaway pizza and head back to accomodation with a bottle of wine.
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🍷🧖🚜 DAY 4: Exploring Lake Hāwea and Wanaka
🍽 Breakfast:
Big Fig Wanaka
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Great cafe and concept of slow food, served fast.
Choose a plate size and they'll fill it with the hot dishes and cold salads you want.
Small $16 / Medium $23 / Big $29
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🍽 Drink/Lunch:
Nanny Goat Vineyard & Cellar Door
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Wine tasting + cheese board experience. Definitely a must-visit. Service is incredible.
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🎫 Activity:
Wānaka Lavender Farm
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Beautiful farm with lavender fields. They even have lavender ice-cream. You have to pay an entry fee to visit the farm.
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🎫 Activity:
LandEscape Wanaka eBikes & Hot Tubs
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One of our favourite experiences. Take a bottle of wine to a hot tub and sit for hours relaxing over the fields. Sunset session from $165 NZD for 2 people. Duration is 4 hours.
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🍽 Dinner:
Hawea Hotel, Eatery & Bar
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🚙 DAY 5: Drive from Lake Hawea > Lake Tekapo (201.7km)
☕️ Breakfast: Bagels and Coffee from The Camp food truck
The Camp - Lake Hawea Holiday Park
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Stay in the glamping tent, heater is great and there is a fire too. There is also a food truck on site serving up breakfast bagels and coffee.
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🍽 Lunch:
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🧳 Check-in:
Lakes Edge Holiday Park
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Communal kitchen, bbq and plenty of chill out spots. There is a lodge available if you want more of hostel vibes and they offer caravan parking too.
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🍽 Dinner:
Ramen Tekapo
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We felt like ramen so we went here - plenty of other options too. But it was cold and this place soothed the soul.
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⛵️🥾 DAY 6: Explore Lake Tekapo
🎫 Activity: Morning walk
The Church of the Good Shepherd
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Walk 25 mins along the lake from your accomodation to this gorgeous church. In lupin season it is a stunning spot for photo's.
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☕️ Breakfast:
Jack Rabbit
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Good coffee (a must!) and heaps of sweets in the cabinet. Also free wifi so we love that.
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Lunch/Dinner: Grab some items from the local supermarket and cook a BBQ at your accomodation. Sit back and eat your meal beside the lake.
🎫 Activity:
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🎫 Activity:
Tekapo Springs
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🚙 DAY 7: Drive from Lake Tekapo > Christchurch (226km)
🧳 Check-in:
The Salisbury
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A very enjoyable stay at The Salisbury, reception is very friendly and rooms are clean and comfortable. There is also Netflix.
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🍽 Lunch/Drink:
Paddy McNaughton's Irish Bar
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Live music, board games, cheesey chips and gravy. They also do pub quiz every Wednesday night from 6:30pm.
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🍽 Dinner:
Little High Eatery
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Trendy food court featuring restaurants, cafes & bars serving international cuisine.
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🎫 Activity:
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq Christchurch
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Honestly there wasn't much to do in Christchurch so we just went bowling. But this place was epic, they have a bar there and also an arcade. Check it out!
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🍿🥾🍝 DAY 8: Explore Christchurch
☕️ Breakfast:
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🎫 Activity:
Lumière Cinemas
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This cinema was amazing, super classy and in the most gorgeous building. There is a bar too. Free parking.
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🍽 Dinner:
ChiChi Kitchen
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We were craving Italian food so we ended up at this little place. Food was good, cherry Bellini's were the best.
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And then the trip was over and we headed back to Brisbane. What an incredible adventure, we can't wait to return and explore more!
For more information on this trip, including a full cost breakdown I have written a blog post here:
If you liked this New Zealand Guide then make sure to check out my other guides here:
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Travelly Concierge
25/195 countries + counting ....
Hey Hey! I'm Elly-Grace, you're go-to for itinerary planning, travel hacks and info on travelling to Greece.
I am based in Brisbane and available for you 24/7.
📧 travellyconcierge@gmail.com
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