South Island Family Itinerary: One Week / 7 Days 👪

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Day 1 – Christchurch Airport to Lake Tekapo

Travel time: 2h50mins

With only one week to explore the South Island, unfortunately, you don’t have much time to get yourselves adjusted to the new time zone. Get some tips from the 10 Simple Ways to Get Over Jet Lag to make yourself as fresh as possible for the drive to your first South Island destination, Lake Tekapo.

On your way out of Christchurch, stop by the town of Rakaia for refreshments and to see the giant fish sculpture. Next is Ashburton where the kids can burn off some energy in the Ashburton Domain. You’ll then come across the town of Geraldine with nearby attractions such as horse trekking, alpaca farm tours and the Talbot Scenic Reserve – all ideal for families. Find out more in the 10 Excellent Things to Do in Geraldine.

A traditional Kiwi pie from the Fairlie Bakery is mandatory before you finally arrive in Lake Tekapo where you can soak in the views of the blue lake and Southern Alps or soak in the hot pools of Tekapo Springs. The latter also includes a kiddies’ water play area, as well as large waterslides in summer and ice skating in winter.

Enjoy one night in your Tekapo accommodation (which you’ll need to book early due to the limited choice).

Family Activities in Lake Tekapo

• Have a splash a Tekapo Springs
• Take the kids up the ski fields of Mt Dobson or Roundhill in winter
• Do the easy Lake Tekapo Walkway
• Wow the family with a scenic flight from Tekapo to the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
• Take a pic of the picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue.

For more ideas, check out the 10 Unmissable Things to Do in Lake Tekapo.

Family Accommodation in Lake Tekapo

• Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park
• Peppers Bluewater Resort
• Tekapo Luxury Apartments
• Mantra Lake Tekapo
• Lake Tekapo Village Motel

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Day 2 – Lake Tekapo to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

Travel time: 1h10mins

It’s a short(ish) and scenic drive to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park today as you follow the vibrant turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to a tiny village in the shadows of New Zealand’s tallest mountain.

In Mt Cook Village, you have a selection of stunning short walks to enjoy with the kids, from glacier walks to bush walks. If your budget will allow, jump on an exciting boat tour to see giant icebergs on the Tasman Glacier Lake or take to the skies in a helicopter or ski plane (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook). Whatever you don’t have time for today you can always do tomorrow.

Family Accommodation in Mt Cook

• Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Lodge
• The Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook
• Mt Cook Lodge and Motel
• Aoraki Alpine Chalet
• Aoraki Court Motel

For more details on each recommendation, take a look at the 8 Best Family Accommodations in Mt Cook.

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Day 3 – Explore Aoraki Mt Cook National Park

You don’t have to leave the spectacular scenery of New Zealand’s highest mountains and longest glacier just yet, as you have the whole day to experience Mt Cook as a family. It could be checking out the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre with its 3D dome cinema, walking the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier Lake Track, or one of the below recommendations.

Family Activities in Mt Cook

• See the Tasman Glacier on the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier Lake Track
• Roam around in the forest on the Governors Bush Walk
• Take the skies in a helicopter or ski plane (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook)
• Check out a planetarium and use powerful telescopes on a stargazing tour
• Whiz around a glacier lake with giant icebergs on a boat tour.

For more details on each experience, check out the 7 Things to Do in Mt Cook with Kids.

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Day 4 – Aoraki Mt Cook National Park to Queenstown

Travel time: 3h10mins

Today might be the longest drive on this 2-week South Island family itinerary, but there’s plenty of exciting sights to break up the journey between Mt Cook and Queenstown.

First up is Twizel, which offers plenty of cafes and the Twizel River Trail.

In Omarama, take a 30-minute detour to the Clay Cliffs for its otherworldly formations of pinnacles and narrow ravines. You can also sample part of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail if your kids a really active.

After Omarama is the Lindis Pass, which is often deemed the most beautiful road in New Zealand.

Stop by Cromwell for refreshments including fresh fruit that the town is renowned for. You might also want to try the go-karting at the Highlands Motorsport Park (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor).

As you travel down the Kawarau Gorge towards Queenstown, stop by the Goldfields Mining Centre to pan for gold or jump on Goldfields Jet for an adrenaline-pumping ride down the river. Find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor.

By the time you get to Queenstown, the little ones (and yourself) will probably need a good rest, so check-in at your accommodation. You will experience more of the adventure town tomorrow.

Family Accommodation in Queenstown

• The Rees Hotel
• Heartland Hotel
• Copthorne Hotel
• Pinewood Lodge
• Heritage Queenstown

For more information on each accommodation, check out the 10 Best Family Accommodations in Queenstown.

© Destination Queenstown

Day 5 – Explore Queenstown

Because there’s so much to do in Queenstown, we’ve given you two full days to tick the items off your family bucket list. How about zipping through the trees with Ziptrek Ecotours (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday)? Or what about learning about New Zealand’s unique wildlife at the Kiwi Birdlife Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)? You could also try racing each other on the gravity-fuelled go-karts of The Luge (on Viator and Tripadvisor)!

Family Activities in Queenstown

• Get the adrenaline pumping on an exciting jet boat ride
• Zip through the trees on a zipline tour (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday)
• Learn about New Zealand’s birds at the Kiwi Birdlife Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Watch the sheep being worked on the Walter Peak farm tour (on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday)
• Race each in downhill go-karts at The Luge (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

For more information on each activity, as well as a few more ideas, head to the 10 Things to Do in Queenstown with Kids!

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Day 6 – Explore More of Queenstown or Do a Milford Sound Day Trip

If you’re desperate to see the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, Milford Sound, and its magnificent glacier-carved fiords then today is the day. Due to the 7+-hour drive there and back from Queenstown, we strongly recommend either taking a bus tour or a scenic flight to Milford Sound, which is much more manageable with kids than wearing yourself out with the drive. Check out our recommendations for tours in the 10 Best Milford Sound Tours from Queenstown & Te Anau and 5 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown.

Alternatively, treat the family to another day of fun in Queenstown. For instance, have you taken the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak farm yet? Watch sheepdogs working the sheep, see sheep shearing demonstrations and learn how wool is spun in this family-friendly experience. Find out more about Walter Peak on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday.

For more information on all of the activities mentioned and more, head to the 10 Things to Do in Queenstown with Kids.

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Day 7 – Queenstown to Queenstown Airport

Travel time: 10 minutes

After one week on the South Island, it’s time to wrap up this adventure with any of the activities you might have missed in Queenstown before heading to Queenstown Airport.

Remember to give yourself plenty of time to return your rental vehicle. There are connecting flights between Queenstown, Auckland and Christchurch if you are flying out of Auckland, otherwise, flights to Australia leave from Queenstown.