11-Day South Island, New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary ๐
๐ญWHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR TRIP
New Zealand is broken up into two amazing islands. The North Island (Te Ika-a-Mฤui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu). You will most likely fly into Auckland (North Island) before getting a connecting flight to Christchurch in South Island. There is lots to explore in North Island but the South Island is more known for its extreme natural beauty (which is why we decided to spend our full 11 days here). However, you can explore the North Island first and even take a ferry to South Island which can transport vehicles.
While exploring New Zealand, we loved learning more about theย Mฤori -- the indigenous people and culture of New Zealand. While exploring many of the popular sights (like Milford Sound) you'll have the amazing opportunity to learn more about the significance of these places and learn the origin stories. Yes, even the sand flies (Te Namu) have an important purpose on the island.
We visited New Zealand at the end of December which is the beginning of high-season summer (hello Southern Hemisphere)! We had amazing weather the entire time and think summer was an amazing time to visit. You could definitely replicate this itinerary in the spring or fall, so let's dive in!
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
๐ Rent a camper van / car
Exploring New Zealand via a camper van was such an amazing experience. There are amazing camp sites with amenities and bathrooms that made van life easy. We rented through Escape Rentals and loved their team and van options. However, if living in a van isn't your speed, we still HIGHLY recommend renting a car for this trip. It will be almost impossible to see all these places without one.
