4 Days

Highlights

  • Sparkling Glaciers
  • Mt Aspiring National Park
  • The Blue Pools

Proximity

  • by car:

    Start your adventure in Queenstown

  • by car:

    Total trip distance: 350km

Soak up the wonders of nature with this wild-south itinerary. Scroll to discover more.

Journey through a maze of alpine lakes and glittering mountains on this South Island road trip. Start your journey in Queenstown, the adrenaline capital of New Zealand before heading north through stunning National Parks to explore glacier country. 

Day 1: Start in Queenstown

Queenstown
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown Trail, Queenstown

Discover Top Experiences in Queenstown

Find out more

Today's journey starts in the alpine resort town of Queenstown – an exciting and fantastically scenic part of New Zealand. Soak up the alpine views and take some time to enjoy the great outdoors with a day walk, jet boating adventure or scenic gondola ride up Bob’s Peak. In the evening, visit a local restaurant to refuel from the day's adventures. 

Day 2: Explore Wanaka

Wānaka
Winetasting at Rippon Vineyard, Wānaka

Discover top experiences in Wanaka

Find out more

Nestled below towering mountains, Wanaka is the most tranquilly set of the South Island lakes. Meander along lakefront trails, take a gentle bike ride through autumnal scenes and enjoy a wine-tasting at Rippon Vineyard.

For the more adventurous, get your adrenaline rush by heli-biking or climbing the highest waterfall 'feratta'(opens in new window) in the world. We can promise unbeatable views.

Day 3: Mount Aspiring National Park

Wānaka
Blue Pools, Haast Pass, Wānaka
lake-wanaka

Wānaka

Find out more about Mt Aspiring National Park

Discover top experiences in Wanaka

Find out more

A hiker's paradise, Mount Aspiring National Park offers a large number of short walks that are mostly concentrated at the end of the park's access roads. Experience a dreamland of mountains, glaciers, river valleys and Alpine lakes. Take a stroll to the Blue Pools or embark on a multi-day hike on the Routeburn track - accessible from the southern end of the National Park. After this head to the West Coast to enjoy waterfalls and river scenery as you drive through the Haast river valley and Haast Pass.

Day 4: Glacier Country and Mount Cook National Park

West Coast
Franz Josef Glacier, West Coast

Discover experiences in the West Coast

Find out more

Journey north to glacier country, where picturesque mountains and azure lakes will have you reaching for your camera at every turn. While glaciers around the world are retreating, the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers here in New Zealand still flow almost to sea level.

Easy walks to the foot of the glaciers pass along ancient river valleys, and when you stand close to the foot of these glaciers their sheer enormity will leave you humbled. Plan your trip with dedicated glacier guides(opens in new window).

View the Journey Below