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New Zealand South Island Grand Expedition
A comprehensive 21-day loop starting from Warrington, encompassing the dramatic Fiordland peaks, the wild West Coast glaciers, the golden bay of the north, and the rugged alpine passes of Canterbury.
21days
63stops
2901km
Day 1: Warrington → Gore → Te Anau Lakefront
3h 53min · 314km3 stops
Warrington
09:00 – 11:00
2h 17min · 176km
Gore
12:00 – 14:00
1h 36min · 138km
Te Anau Lakefront
15:00 – 17:00
Day 2: The Divide → Key Summit Walk → Mirror Lakes
1h 8min · 86km3 stops
The Divide
09:00 – 11:00
1h 7min · 85km
Key Summit Walk
12:00 – 14:00
1min · 1.1km
Mirror Lakes
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Te Anau → Cardrona Valley Road → Lake Wanaka
3h 25min · 265km3 stops
Te Anau
09:00 – 11:00
43min · 57km
Cardrona Valley Road
12:00 – 14:00
2h 42min · 208km
Lake Wanaka
15:00 – 17:00
Day 4: Raspberry Creek → Rob Roy Glacier Track → Wanaka Waterfront
1h 9min · 53km3 stops
Raspberry Creek
09:00 – 11:00
1h 8min · 52km
Rob Roy Glacier Track
12:00 – 14:00
1min · 0.1km
Wanaka Waterfront
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Blue Pools → Thunder Creek Falls → Haast
1h 24min · 92km3 stops
Blue Pools
09:00 – 11:00
1h 4min · 73km
Thunder Creek Falls
12:00 – 14:00
20min · 19km
Haast
15:00 – 17:00
Day 6: Ship Creek → Fox Glacier Lookout → Lake Matheson
1h 40min · 129km3 stops
Ship Creek
09:00 – 11:00
13min · 17km
Fox Glacier Lookout
12:00 – 14:00
1h 27min · 112km
Lake Matheson
15:00 – 17:00
Day 7: Franz Josef Glacier → Sentinel Rock Walkway → Franz Josef Village
37min · 31km3 stops
Franz Josef Glacier
09:00 – 11:00
36min · 31km
Sentinel Rock Walkway
12:00 – 14:00
1min · 0.4km
Franz Josef Village
15:00 – 17:00
Day 8: Ross → Hokitika Gorge Walk → Hokitika Beach
2h 7min · 161km3 stops
Ross
09:00 – 11:00
1h 24min · 107km
Hokitika Gorge Walk
12:00 – 14:00
43min · 53km
Hokitika Beach
15:00 – 17:00
Day 9: Pancake Rocks and Blowholes → Truman Track → Westport
1h 16min · 87km3 stops
Pancake Rocks and Blowholes
09:00 – 11:00
1h 13min · 84km
Truman Track
12:00 – 14:00
3min · 2.8km
Westport
15:00 – 17:00
Day 10: Buller Gorge → Takaka Hill Lookout → The Grove Scenic Reserve
3h 23min · 241km3 stops
Buller Gorge
09:00 – 11:00
1h 9min · 82km
Takaka Hill Lookout
12:00 – 14:00
2h 14min · 159km
The Grove Scenic Reserve
15:00 – 17:00
Day 11: Pupu Springs → Wharariki Beach → Takaka
1h 10min · 67km3 stops
Pupu Springs
09:00 – 11:00
16min · 14km
Wharariki Beach
12:00 – 14:00
54min · 53km
Takaka
15:00 – 17:00
Day 12: Pelorus Bridge → Grovetown Lagoon → Blenheim
3h 18min · 219km3 stops
Pelorus Bridge
09:00 – 11:00
2h 38min · 167km
Grovetown Lagoon
12:00 – 14:00
40min · 52km
Blenheim
15:00 – 17:00
Day 13: Ohau Point Seal Colony → Kaikoura Beach → Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
1h 51min · 137km3 stops
Ohau Point Seal Colony
09:00 – 11:00
1h 45min · 133km
Kaikoura Beach
12:00 – 14:00
6min · 4.0km
Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
15:00 – 17:00
Day 14: Kaikoura → Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools → Hanmer Springs Village
2h · 135km3 stops
Kaikoura
09:00 – 11:00
7min · 4.0km
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
12:00 – 14:00
1h 53min · 131km
Hanmer Springs Village
15:00 – 17:00
Day 15: Otira Viaduct Lookout → Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall → Arthur's Pass Village
3h 33min · 268km3 stops
Otira Viaduct Lookout
09:00 – 11:00
3h 24min · 262km
Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall
12:00 – 14:00
9min · 6.0km
Arthur's Pass Village
15:00 – 17:00
Day 16: Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti) → Rakaia Gorge → Methven
1h 46min · 136km3 stops
Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti)
09:00 – 11:00
43min · 54km
Rakaia Gorge
12:00 – 14:00
1h 3min · 82km
Methven
15:00 – 17:00
Day 17: Lake Tekapo → Mount John Observatory → Lake Pukaki
2h 9min · 166km3 stops
Lake Tekapo
09:00 – 11:00
1h 56min · 157km
Mount John Observatory
12:00 – 14:00
13min · 9.2km
Lake Pukaki
15:00 – 17:00
Day 18: Mount Cook Village → Hooker Valley Track → Tasman Glacier Lookout
39min · 45km3 stops
Mount Cook Village
09:00 – 11:00
32min · 41km
Hooker Valley Track
12:00 – 14:00
7min · 3.3km
Tasman Glacier Lookout
15:00 – 17:00
Day 19: High Country Salmon → Elephant Rocks → Oamaru Victorian Precinct
2h 6min · 177km3 stops
High Country Salmon
09:00 – 11:00
55min · 73km
Elephant Rocks
12:00 – 14:00
1h 11min · 104km
Oamaru Victorian Precinct
15:00 – 17:00
Day 20: Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony → Moeraki Boulders → Katiki Point Lighthouse
39min · 40km3 stops
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
09:00 – 11:00
5min · 1.4km
Moeraki Boulders
12:00 – 14:00
34min · 39km
Katiki Point Lighthouse
15:00 – 17:00
Day 21: Shag Point Lookout → Karitane Beach → Warrington
51min · 53km3 stops
Shag Point Lookout
09:00 – 11:00
22min · 20km
Karitane Beach
12:00 – 14:00
29min · 33km
Warrington
15:00 – 17:00
Heads Up
- 1. Verify Haast Pass (SH6) road conditions during heavy rain for potential washouts.
- 2. Book the Rob Roy Glacier shuttle or check Raspberry Creek road access if traveling in a low-clearance vehicle.
- 3. The Grove Scenic Reserve and Wharariki Beach require checking tide times for the best experience.
- 4. Sandfly repellent is essential for all West Coast stops including Ship Creek and Hokitika Gorge.