Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary 13 BEST Places to Stop


Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip (28) Polkadot Passport

Direct route: Christchurch to Queenstown Use this map to spot the highlights and interesting stops along the six-hour drive. All Stops route: This option highlights all stops including some amazing sites that require a bit of extra driving to see. If you do it all, the total drive time will be nearly ten hours.


Queenstown to Christchurch 15 Best Stops My Queenstown Diary

The scenic drive from Queenstown to Christchurch is a whopping 493.5 kilometer-long trip (306.6 miles), filled to the brim with iconic spots like the Gatorade-blue waters of Lake Pukaki, the highest mountain in New Zealand (Mount Cook), and much, much more.


Christchurch to Queenstown road trip 1 week itinerary CK Travels New zealand south island

23 December 2022 New Zealand's South Island is a road tripper's paradise. The drive between Christchurch and Queenstown is one the most scenic and enjoyable drives in the country, and one of the most popular road trips among international visitors.


How to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown South island, New zealand, Road trip

8 Days 600 km Highlights Lake Tekapo stargazing Alpine adventure at Aoraki Mount Cook Queenstown View the route map below Discover the many sides of the South Island on this 8-day campervan itinerary from Christchurch to Queenstown. Explore vibrant Christchurch and experience the wonder of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve in Lake Tekapo.


Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip (30) Polkadot Passport

The Queenstown to Christchurch drive is, without doubt, one of the most incredible quick-drive vacation offerings for visitors to New Zealand. With amazing scenery, adrenaline-inducing adventures, immersive nature and world-renowned Kiwi hospitality, a South Island road trip really is the pinnacle of any trip to Aotearoa.


Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary 13 BEST Places to Stop

Distance: 483 kilometers (300 miles) Time: 6 hours minimum (5 days ideally) Recommended for: Those not visiting the Gibbston Valley while in Queenstown or if you're going to Wanaka after Queenstown. The route via Cromwell is the shortest route possible (not by much) and also drives through the Gibbston Valley (one of my stops).


Christchurch to Queenstown road trip 1 week itinerary CK Travels

Christchurch to Queenstown road trip This short road trip takes you through some of the most beautiful places in New Zealand's South Island, before finishing in spectacular Queenstown. Think deep, blue lakes, rolling countryside, and pretty towns, all with the majestic Southern Alps in the background.


Christchurch to Queenstown road trip 1 week itinerary CK Travels

Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo. Drive time: 2 hours 50 minutes (226 km) Driving from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo is the first part of your road trip. Even though the driving time is under 3 hours, factor in extra travel time for stops along the way. The first place on your itinerary is the Rakaia Gorge, approximately a 1-hour drive from.


Christchurch to Queenstown road trip 1 week itinerary CK Travels

The Christchurch to Queenstown road trip encapsulates the very essence of the South Island's allure, offering travelers the chance to immerse themselves in its diverse and awe-inspiring scenery. Road to Queenstown, New Zealand. From the moment you set off from Christchurch, you'll be entranced by the ever-changing vistas that surround you.


10Day New Zealand South Island Itinerary for an Awesome Road Trip Elysian Moment Personal

February 7, 2022 by Jen Lyons The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island can easily be completed in one day, just under six hours if you don't make any stops. But where's the fun in that!


Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip The Best Places to Stop

The drive from Christchurch to Queenstown is easily one of New Zealand's most epic road trips. While driving between Christchurch and Queenstown, you'll encounter some of the South Island's finest scenery: towering snow-capped mountain ranges, bluer-than-blue glacial lakes, braided rivers, thick beech forests, and golden tussock fields.


The Christchurch to Queenstown Drive New Zealand's best road trip

Table of Contents How long does it take to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown? Queenstown and Christchurch are about 300 miles (480km) apart. Driving, this should take 6 to 7 hours. However, there is lots to do on a drive between Christchurch and Queenstown.


Christchurch to Queenstown A 7 Day road trip Lake Pukaki, NZ

55 kms (34 miles) 50 minutes. Arrowtown. Arrowtown to Queenstown. 20 kms (12 miles) 21 minutes. Queenstown. Estimates only; times will vary based on traffic and road conditions. If you were to do this drive non-stop, it would take about six hours to complete the journey.


Queenstown to Christchurch 15 Best Stops My Queenstown Diary

Akaroa Take a 1 and a half hour drive out of Christchurch and visit Akaroa - a small town with charming colonial architecture remnant of the French and British settlers who founded the area. You can take a harbour nature cruise, go kayaking or swim with dolphins!


The Christchurch to Queenstown Drive New Zealand's best road trip

This Christchurch to Queenstown road trip itinerary takes in the absolute highlights of New Zealand's South Island, the turquoise lakes, towering snow-covered mountains and fields of vibrant purple lupin. These are views that New Zealand is famous for and the places that everyone, tourist or local, must visit in New Zealand.


Christchurch to Queenstown Road Trip Itinerary (3, 5, or 7 days)

A non-stop drive from Christchurch to Queenstown is 481.8km, and should take just under 6 hours to complete. Of course, driving for 6 hours straight is unsafe and with so many amazing places to stop along the way, there's no excuse not to turn this drive into a full-blown, 5-day road trip covering 647km of road.