4 days in South Island Itinerary
4 days in South Island Itinerary
Created using Inspirock South Island itinerary planner
Start: Auckland
Fly
1
Christchurch
— 1 day
Drive
2
Geraldine
— 1 night
Drive
3
Lake Tekapo
— 1 night
Drive
4
Queenstown
— 1 night
Fly
End: Auckland
Tue, Jan 12 - Fri, Jan 15
Edit
S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
See full calendar
1
day
1
day

Garden City
Recovering from the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 was no easy task, but Christchurch has faced the challenges with aplomb.On the 12th (Tue), get engrossed in the history at Canterbury Museum, then stroll around Christchurch Botanic Gardens, then let the kids burn off some steam at Margaret Mahy Family Playground, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Cardboard Cathedral.
For more things to do, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, read Christchurch day trip planning app.
Auckland to Christchurch is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of bus and ferry; or do a combination of train and ferry. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Auckland in January: highs in Christchurch hover around 26°C, while lows dip to 13°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Tue) to allow time to travel to Geraldine.
Things to do in Christchurch
Find places to stay Jan 12 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
1
night
1
night

Geraldine or Heratini is a town in the Canterbury Region on the South Island of New Zealand. Kick off your visit on the 13th (Wed): examine the collection at The Giant Jersey, then identify plant and animal life at Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve, then see the sky in a new way at Geraldine Observatory, and finally take a peaceful walk through Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve.
To find more things to do, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Geraldine online travel route planner.
You can drive from Christchurch to Geraldine in 2 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Lake Tekapo.
To find more things to do, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Geraldine online travel route planner.
You can drive from Christchurch to Geraldine in 2 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Lake Tekapo.
Things to do in Geraldine
Find places to stay Jan 12 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
See timeline
1
night
1
night
Located in a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, Lake Tekapo offers evenings of stargazing and days of long walks.Kick off your visit on the 14th (Thu): admire all the interesting features of Gem Alpaca Stud, take in the architecture and atmosphere at The Church of the Good Shepherd, then see Off-Road Tours, and finally explore the activities along Lake Tekapo.
For traveler tips, reviews, other places to visit, and tourist information, read our Lake Tekapo trip itinerary site.
Traveling by car from Geraldine to Lake Tekapo takes 1.5 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Queenstown.
Things to do in Lake Tekapo
Side Trip
Find places to stay Jan 13 — 14:
Highlights from your trip
1
night
1
night
©
Shallow Bay
Sheltered in an inlet of Lake Wakatipu, the resort town of Queenstown enjoys a strong reputation for its adventuring and skiing opportunities.On the 15th (Fri), identify plant and animal life at Kiwi Birdlife Park, then have some family-friendly fun at Skyline Queenstown, then relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, and finally get interesting insight from Tours.
To find where to stay, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Queenstown trip planner.
Drive from Lake Tekapo to Queenstown in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Cap off your sightseeing on the 15th (Fri) early enough to travel back home.
Things to do in Queenstown
Find places to stay Jan 14 — 15:
Highlights from your trip
Similar trips
5 days in Geraldine
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Geraldine
8 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Fox Glacier
·
Christchurch
·
Dunedin
8 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch
·
Lake Tekapo
·
Dunedin
8 days in South Island & Wellington
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Queenstown
·
Wellington
8 days in Christchurch, Lake Tekapo & Queenstown
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch
·
Lake Tekapo
·
Queenstown
7 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Te Anau
·
Queenstown
·
Christchurch
5 days in Christchurch
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Orana Wildlife Park
·
Quake City
·
Canterbury Museum
5 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Wanaka
·
Fox Glacier
5 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch
·
Lake Tekapo
·
Wanaka
10 days in New Zealand
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Ashburton
·
Timaru
·
Oamaru
8 days in South Island
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Christchurch
·
Fox Glacier
·
Queenstown
5 days in Christchurch
BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
·
Orana Wildlife Park
·
185 Empty White Chairs - Earthquake Memorial
See more trips
South Island travel guide
Māui's Canoe
The wilder of New Zealand's two main islands, South Island offers a feast of nature in all its glory. Extensive, untouched plains connect alpine landscapes with rugged shorelines, creating a home for an abundance of animals and vegetation, on land and in the rich surrounding waters. Renowned as a window to the natural world before man (something that scores of film directors have tapped into over the years), South Island folds its cities and townships into the surrounding landscape, their populations adding something singular to the mix. On your trip to South Island, you'll witness the awe-inspiring cultural heritage of the Maori, whose art and architecture complements the developments of the colonial legacy. The result is a land of characterful buildings, rolling vineyards, and free-spirited adventure.