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Autumn Southern Loop Expedition

13days
39stops
1661km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Christchurch · Lake Tekapo · Mount Cook Village · Wanaka · Cardrona · Te Anau · Fiordland National Park · Queenstown · Fox Glacier · Hokitika · Taylorville — start and end in Christchurch.

DAY01

Christchurch → New Brighton Pier

11 km · 22m driving · Overnight in New Brighton Pier
  1. 09:00
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens· start
  2. 1.3 km · 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Riverside Market
  4. 9.4 km · 17m
  5. 15:00
    New Brighton Pier· overnight
DAY02

Church of the Good Shepherd → Tekapo Springs

244 km · 3h 21m driving · Overnight in Tekapo Springs
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Church of the Good Shepherd· start
  2. 234 km · 3h 6m
  3. 12:00
    Mount John Observatory
  4. 10 km · 15m
  5. 15:00
    Tekapo Springs· overnight
DAY03

Peter's Lookout → Tasman Glacier Viewpoint

107 km · 1h 21m driving · Overnight in Tasman Glacier Viewpoint
  1. 09:00
    Peter's Lookout· start
  2. 104 km · 1h 14m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hooker Valley Track
  4. 3.3 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Tasman Glacier Viewpoint· overnight
DAY04

Lindis Pass → Wanaka

217 km · 2h 44m driving · Overnight in Wanaka Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Lindis Pass Summit· start
  2. 132 km · 1h 34m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ That Wanaka Tree
  4. 85 km · 1h 10m
  5. 15:00
    Wanaka Lakefront· overnight
DAY05

Rippon Vineyard → Cardrona

9.7 km · 17m driving · Overnight in Cardrona Hotel
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Rippon Vineyard· start
  2. 3.9 km · 7m
  3. 12:00
    Mount Iron Track
  4. 5.8 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Cardrona Hotel· overnight
DAY06

Arrowtown → Te Anau

73 km · 1h 17m driving · Overnight in Te Anau Glowworm Caves
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Arrowtown Historic District· start
  2. 31 km · 36m
  3. 12:00
    Devil's Staircase Lookout
  4. 42 km · 41m
  5. 15:00
    Te Anau Glowworm Caves· overnight
DAY07

Mirror Lakes → The Chasm

119 km · 1h 47m driving · Overnight in The Chasm
  1. 09:00
    Mirror Lakes· start
  2. 58 km · 46m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Milford Sound Cruise
  4. 61 km · 1h 1m
  5. 15:00
    The Chasm· overnight
DAY08

Skyline Queenstown → Queenstown

279 km · 3h 45m driving · Overnight in Queenstown Gardens
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Skyline Queenstown· start
  2. 278 km · 3h 41m
  3. 12:00
    Fergburger
  4. 0.7 km · 4m
  5. 15:00
    Queenstown Gardens· overnight
DAY09

Glenorchy → Bob's Cove Track

101 km · 1h 48m driving · Overnight in Bob's Cove Track
  1. 09:00
    Glenorchy Wharf· start
  2. 47 km · 51m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Onsen Hot Pools
  4. 53 km · 57m
  5. 15:00
    Bob's Cove Track· overnight
DAY10

Blue Pools Track → Fox Glacier

171 km · 2h 41m driving · long drive · Overnight in Fox Glacier Lookout
  1. 09:00
    Blue Pools Track· start
  2. 152 km · 2h 21m
  3. 12:00
    Thunder Creek Falls
  4. 19 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Fox Glacier Lookout· overnight
DAY11

Lake Matheson → Hokitika

37 km · 42m driving · Overnight in Hokitika Beach
  1. 09:00
    Lake Matheson· start
  2. 5.8 km · 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Franz Josef Glacier Valley
  4. 31 km · 36m
  5. 15:00
    Hokitika Beach· overnight
DAY12

Hokitika → Brunner Mine Site

149 km · 2h 9m driving · Overnight in Brunner Mine Site
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Hokitika Gorge· start
  2. 34 km · 34m
  3. 12:00
    Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
  4. 115 km · 1h 35m
  5. 15:00
    Brunner Mine Site· overnight
DAY13

Arthur's Pass → Christchurch

143 km · 1h 56m driving
  1. 09:00
    Arthur's Pass Village· start
  2. 89 km · 1h 13m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Castle Hill Rocks
  4. 54 km · 43m
  5. 15:00
    Christchurch Transitional Cathedral
Heads Up
  • Day 10: 5h 2m driving — plan rest stops