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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
62stops
2902km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Te Anau · Fiordland National Park · Wanaka · Haast · Fox Glacier · Franz Josef · Hokitika · Westport · Clifton · Takaka · Blenheim · Kaikoura · Hanmer Springs · Arthur's Pass · Methven · Lake Pukaki · Aoraki / Mount Cook · Oamaru · Moeraki — start and end in Warrington.

DAY01

Warrington → Te Anau

314 km · 3h 53m driving · Overnight in Te Anau Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Warrington· start
  2. 176 km · 2h 17m
  3. 12:00
    Gore
  4. 138 km · 1h 36m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Te Anau Lakefront· overnight
DAY02

The Divide → Mirror Lakes

86 km · 1h 8m driving · Overnight in Mirror Lakes
  1. 09:00
    The Divide· start
  2. 85 km · 1h 7m
  3. 12:0014:00
    ⭐ Key Summit Walk
  4. 1.1 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Mirror Lakes· overnight
DAY03

Te Anau → Lake Wanaka

265 km · 3h 25m driving · Overnight in Lake Wanaka
  1. 09:00
    Te Anau· start
  2. 57 km · 43m
  3. 12:00
    Cardrona Valley Road
  4. 208 km · 2h 42m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Lake Wanaka· overnight
DAY04

Raspberry Creek → Wanaka

53 km · 1h 9m driving · Overnight in Wanaka Waterfront
  1. 09:0011:00
    Raspberry Creek· start
  2. 52 km · 1h 8m
  3. 12:0014:00
    ⭐ Rob Roy Glacier Track
  4. 0.1 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Wanaka Waterfront· overnight
DAY05

Blue Pools → Haast

92 km · 1h 24m driving · Overnight in Haast
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Blue Pools· start
  2. 73 km · 1h 4m
  3. 12:00
    Thunder Creek Falls
  4. 19 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    Haast· overnight
DAY06

Ship Creek → Lake Matheson

129 km · 1h 40m driving · Overnight in Lake Matheson
  1. 09:00
    Ship Creek· start
  2. 17 km · 13m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Fox Glacier Lookout
  4. 112 km · 1h 27m
  5. 15:00
    Lake Matheson· overnight
DAY07

Franz Josef → Sentinel Rock Walkway

31 km · 37m driving · Overnight in Franz Josef Village
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Franz Josef Glacier· start
  2. 31 km · 36m
  3. 12:0014:00
    Sentinel Rock Walkway
  4. 0.4 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Franz Josef Village· overnight
DAY08

Ross → Hokitika

161 km · 2h 7m driving · Overnight in Hokitika Beach
  1. 09:00
    Ross· start
  2. 107 km · 1h 24m
  3. 12:0014:00
    ⭐ Hokitika Gorge Walk
  4. 53 km · 43m
  5. 15:00
    Hokitika Beach· overnight
DAY09

Pancake Rocks and Blowholes → Westport

87 km · 1h 16m driving · Overnight in Westport
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Pancake Rocks and Blowholes· start
  2. 84 km · 1h 13m
  3. 12:0014:00
    Truman Track
  4. 2.8 km · 3m
  5. 15:00
    Westport· overnight
DAY10

Buller Gorge → The Grove Scenic Reserve

241 km · 3h 23m driving · Overnight in The Grove Scenic Reserve
  1. 09:00
    Buller Gorge· start
  2. 82 km · 1h 9m
  3. 12:00
    Takaka Hill Lookout
  4. 159 km · 2h 14m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ The Grove Scenic Reserve· overnight
DAY11

Pupu Springs → Takaka

67 km · 1h 10m driving · Overnight in Takaka
  1. 09:00
    Pupu Springs· start
  2. 14 km · 16m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Wharariki Beach
  4. 53 km · 54m
  5. 15:00
    Takaka· overnight
DAY12

Pelorus Bridge → Blenheim

219 km · 3h 18m driving · Overnight in Blenheim
  1. 09:00
    Pelorus Bridge· start
  2. 167 km · 2h 38m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Grovetown Lagoon
  4. 52 km · 40m
  5. 15:00
    Blenheim· overnight
DAY13

Ohau Point Seal Colony → Kaikoura

137 km · 1h 51m driving · Overnight in Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway
  1. 09:00
    Ohau Point Seal Colony· start
  2. 133 km · 1h 45m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Kaikoura Beach
  4. 4 km · 6m
  5. 15:0017:00
    Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway· overnight
DAY14

Kaikoura → Hanmer Springs

135 km · 2h driving · Overnight in Hanmer Springs Village
  1. 09:00
    Kaikoura· start
  2. 4 km · 7m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
  4. 131 km · 1h 53m
  5. 15:00
    Hanmer Springs Village· overnight
DAY15

Otira Viaduct Lookout → Arthur's Pass

268 km · 3h 33m driving · Overnight in Arthur's Pass Village
  1. 09:00
    Otira Viaduct Lookout· start
  2. 262 km · 3h 24m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall
  4. 6 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Arthur's Pass Village· overnight
DAY16

Castle Hill → Methven

136 km · 1h 46m driving · Overnight in Methven
  1. 09:00
    Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti)· start
  2. 54 km · 43m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Rakaia Gorge
  4. 82 km · 1h 3m
  5. 15:00
    Methven· overnight
DAY17

Lake Tekapo → Lake Pukaki

166 km · 2h 9m driving · Overnight in Lake Pukaki
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Lake Tekapo· start
  2. 157 km · 1h 56m
  3. 12:00
    Mount John Observatory
  4. 9.2 km · 13m
  5. 15:00
    Lake Pukaki· overnight
DAY18

Mount Cook Village → Tasman Glacier Lookout

45 km · 39m driving · Overnight in Tasman Glacier Lookout
  1. 09:00
    Mount Cook Village· start
  2. 41 km · 32m
  3. 12:0014:00
    ⭐ Hooker Valley Track
  4. 3.3 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Tasman Glacier Lookout· overnight
DAY19

High Country Salmon → Oamaru

177 km · 2h 6m driving · Overnight in Oamaru Victorian Precinct
  1. 09:00
    High Country Salmon· start
  2. 73 km · 55m
  3. 12:00
    Elephant Rocks
  4. 104 km · 1h 11m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Oamaru Victorian Precinct· overnight
DAY20

Oamaru → Katiki Point Lighthouse

40 km · 39m driving · Overnight in Katiki Point Lighthouse
  1. 09:00
    Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony· start
  2. 1.4 km · 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Moeraki Boulders
  4. 39 km · 34m
  5. 15:00
    Katiki Point Lighthouse· overnight
DAY21

Shag Point → Warrington

53 km · 51m driving
  1. 09:00
    Shag Point Lookout· start
  2. 20 km · 22m
  3. 12:00
    Karitane Beach
  4. 33 km · 29m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Warrington
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in Te Anau & Wanaka · Nights 1-4
  2. Stay in Glacier Country & West Coast · Nights 5-8
  3. Stay in Takaka & Kaikoura · Nights 10-14
Heads Up
  • Verify Haast Pass (SH6) road conditions during heavy rain for potential washouts.
  • Book the Rob Roy Glacier shuttle or check Raspberry Creek road access if traveling in a low-clearance vehicle.
  • The Grove Scenic Reserve and Wharariki Beach require checking tide times for the best experience.
  • Sandfly repellent is essential for all West Coast stops including Ship Creek and Hokitika Gorge.