New Zealand Road Trip Highlights: Essential Stops and Route Planning Tips - Part 1
On our recent road trip through New Zealand's South Island in May 2024, we drove from Queenstown to Milford Sound, then to Christchurch. Along the way, we discovered some great spots to eat, interesting sights to see, and local products to check out—some we managed to visit, and others remain on our wishlist for next time.
In Part 1 of this guide, I’m sharing our favorite stops, as well as places we missed but would have loved to visit on our route from Queenstown to Milford Sound, and on to Aoraki/Mount Cook . I hope this guide helps you plan your own epic New Zealand South Island road trip!
Part 1
Route 1: Queenstown to Milford Sound
- Stop 1: Queenstown
- Stop 2: Te Anau
- Stop 3: Milford Sound
Route 2: Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
- Stop 1: Arrowtown
- Wanaka
Stop 2: Aoraki/Mount Cook
Route 1: Queenstown to Milford Sound
Stop 1: Queenstown
Queenstown is quite touristy, with plenty of shops and eateries.
What I Recommend:
Chur Fish and Chips
It’s a short drive from Queenstown, but Chur Fish and Chips is definitely worth the short drive. Their fish and chips are really good!
Bronze Elephant Thai
If you’re missing Asian food, especially Thai, you can check out Bronze Elephant Thai. It’s in a mall basement, not too pricey, and has a great variety of Thai dishes. While I wouldn’t say it’s 100% authentic, the food is cooked by Thai chefs, and it has that genuine Thai flavor.
Wish We Had Time For:
Kiwi Park Queenstown
I was looking forward to seeing a kiwi up close, so this is on my list for next time.
Skyline Queenstown
The luge ride looks like a lot of fun and a great way to see the area.
Ramen Ramen by Tanoshi
This place looked popular and had great reviews. Definitely a spot I wish we’d tried.
Just for Reference:
We also ate at a few places with great reviews like Blue Kanu, Flame Bar, and Botswana Butchery. The food was good but didn’t quite meet my expectations given the price.
P.S. I was feeling quite ill while in Queenstown, so we didn’t get to do everything we wanted to. I saw a doctor who was unfortunately not very helpful (he just prescribed me Strepsils). If you have flu-like symptoms, you might want to head to a pharmacy instead.
Stop 2: Te Anau
During our journey between Queenstown and Milford Sound, we decided to take a break in Te Anau, and it turned out to be a great decision. The drive between these two iconic locations is quite long, and stopping in Te Anau gave us the chance to unwind and recharge. We stayed at the Fiordland Lodge Te Anau, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.
The lodge wasn't too busy during our visit, so we managed to spend some time in the hot tub and sauna - perfect for some much needed relaxation. The restful atmosphere, combined with a delicious dinner included in our stay, made it an unforgettable experience.
While at Te Anua, I highly recommend visiting the Te Anua Bird Sanctuary. We were fortunate to see several Takahe and other bird species that are endemic to New Zealand. The sanctuary is just a short walk from the parking area, and entry was free. If you're interested in learning more about the region, the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre is also nearby.
On your way to Te Anau, you will pass by Garston Hunny Shop - a delightful spot where you can taste honey and learn more about New Zealand's famous Manuka honey.
Unfortunately, the Two Wee Bookshops was closed when we visited in May. However, I did pick up a copy of "The Bookseller at the End of the World" from the Paperplus store in Te Anau. This memoir by Ruth, the bookseller who runs the shop in nearby Manapouri, made for a great read. The bookshop is just a short drive from Te Anau, and I would have loved to visit it in person!
Stop 3: Milford Sound
We decided to stay for 2 nights in Milford Sound, which is a beautifully secluded area. While many travellers opt for a day trip, I feel that a day trip can feel rushed, especially if you are coming from Queenstown, so staying overnight allows you to fully soak in the tranquility. In hindsight though, I think 1 night would have been enough.
One of the best perks of staying in Milford Sound is that you can catch the earlier morning cruise before the influx of day-trippers arrive. We took advantage of this and embarked on the Southern Discoveries cruise, which we booked through our hotel. The experience was great, though the weather was cold and rainy during our time in Milford Sound, so really all we did there was the cruise.
We stayed at the Milford Sound Lodge which was nice and cozy. While the booking with the lodge include breakfast and dinner, one thing to note is the limited dining options in the area. I highly recommend bringing your own food from Te Anau or Queesntown, as there aren't many places to eat nearby.
On our way out of Milford Sound, we were lucky enough to spot two Kea at the Homer Tunnel. These alpine parrots are stunning but have sharp beaks - I think it's best not to feed or touch them. In fact, they're known to be strong enough to kill sheep..
A word of caution: Milford Sound, as most of New Zealand, is located in an earthquake-prone area, and while the scenery is breathtaking, I think it's important to be prepared. This article may be of interest to you: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/06/12/best-case-scenario-5-survive-milford-sound-tsunami/
Route 2: Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook
Stop 1: Arrowtown
Just a short, scenic drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown is a charming place to explore. I found the mining history fascinating, especially at the Historic Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, a partially restored village from the 1880s.
The town has a few stores and a museum, but my favourite was Black Teal Bay, which offers botanical products and an excellent selection of books on New Zealand, nature, wellness and gardening. I could have easily spent an afternoon in this cozy shop!
What we missed:
The Royalburn Farm Shop - this was on my list so I'm not sure why we skipped it. It looks like a nice stop if you're into farm shops and local produce.
Wanaka
We did not make it to Wanaka because the road from Arrowtown required snow tires and it was snowing, in May.
I had some spots on my list for Wanaka:
Rippon - for wines
Roys Peak - a hike with breathtaking views. Would probably have been too cold to do that anyway
Revology Concept Store - known for ethically sourced products
Kika - a restaurant with great reviews
Firebird - looks like delicious fried chicken
Shinaburo Korean Eating House - in case I missed Asian food (if you don't get it by now, Asian cuisine is my favorite!)
Stop 2: Aoraki/Mount Cook
There are a few places to check out on the way to Lake Aoraki/Mount Cook:
High Country Salmon - for fresh salmon and sushi
They also have a nice shop selling salmon, kitchenware and other merchandise. You can also feed the salmon for free!
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop - a smaller shop compared to High Country Salmon but with a focused selection of salmon sashimi, fresh salmon and smoked salmon
Jones Family Fruit Stall - initially I thought it might be a tourist trap because of all the tour buses stopping there, but it turned out to be quite a nice stop with a variety of fruits, which they let you sample.
Valli Wine - We didn't have time to stop, but we tried their wine elsewhere and really enjoyed it. I wish we could have visited.
Benjer Drinks Co. - Unfortunately, It was closed when we passed by. I tried their Apple and Boysenberry Juice earlier and loved it - definitely a place I'd stop at if I had another chance.
Clay Cliffs - The weather wasn't great when we were there, so we didn't make this detour.
Tarras Store - this shop was on my list, but somehow we missed it. It looks like a cute little shop though.
To make your trip planning easier, I’ll be sharing a Google map with all the spots I've recommended and the ones we wished we had time for. Stay tuned for that in my next post!
I hope part 1 of this guide to New Zealand's South Island helps you plan an unforgettable road trip! We had an amazing time exploring, and I’m sure you will too. For more tips and recommendations, follow me on Instagram or TikTok @travelandrevel!
I know there are quite a few places we didn't get to see, so I can't personally vouch for them. But if you do visit any of these spots, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you have any other must-visit spots, drop them in the comments as well!
Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll cover the rest of our South Island journey from Aoraki/Mount Cook to Christchurch. Plus, I'll also be sharing our recommendations on New Zealand's North Island from Rotorua to Auckland in a separate blog post.