10-Day West Coast Roadtrip: Christchurch to Queenstown
The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island is a region that shouldn’t be left off your campervan roadtrip list. Ancient rainforests, rugged beaches, and glaciers dot the sparsely-populated landscape here, making drives feel like a living postcard. If you enjoy hiking, driftwood-strewn beaches, and your fish and chips extra fresh, point your Parker Camper west.
A few things to know before you go
Drive to the conditions: South Island highways are scenic, winding, and often feature one-way bridges and sharp bends. Take your time, pull over safely on the side of the road to let traffic pass, and remember: in New Zealand, we drive on the left side of the road.
West Coast rain and road slips (landslides). It rains a lot on the West Coast, so prepare for soggy weather. Inclement weather can sometimes bring flooding or slips (landslides) on major highways. Check NZTA’s Journey Planner regularly for up-to-date highway information and have a backup plan for alternative routes.
West Coast beaches can be dangerous to swim in. There’s a reason they’re usually empty, because they’re not for swimming! Check conditions or with a local i-site before jumping in.
Download your maps offline: Cell phone reception can be spotty through coastal Southland. Download offline Google Maps or go real analogue with a paper one.
Book campsites in advance: The Department of Conservation (DOC) requires online bookings for many popular campsites along this route (including White Horse Hill at Aoraki/Mt Cook and Cascade Creek near Milford Sound).
Respect freedom camping rules: Local bylaws vary by region. Always ensure you are parked in a designated area for self-contained campervans and respect the local environment—leave no trace! Read more about freedom camping here.
Sandflies. The West Coast is prized for its beautiful beaches and lush rainforests, both of which you’ll likely have to yourself—except for the sandflies. These pesky little bugs are super tiny and congregate by the hundreds. You won’t notice their bite, but the itch is ferocious and persistent! Cover yourself with bug spray and take care to keep windows and doors closed when stationary, otherwise, they’ll feast on you while you sleep!
Buller Gorge, on your drive to Westport from Christchurch
After you grab your Parker Camper van in Christchurch, head towards the hills. Or rather, the West Coast via the Lewis Pass. You’ll wind through mountain roads (often snowcapped in the winter!), before making your way down to Reefton, an old mining town experiencing a revitalisation. After a pitstop for lunch, continue your way to Westport for coastal walks, beautiful beaches, and an excellent brewery.
What to do:
Lunch in Reefton. Stop at Dawson’s Hotel for a pint in the sun, or a cosy up by the fireplace. Then, stretch your legs on the Bottled Lightning Powerhouse Walk, a 40-minute loop that trails across the Inangahua River to the remains of a powerhouse that provided the country’s first streetlights in 1888.
Cape Foulwind Walkway: This coastal walk is home to a New Zealand fur seal colony, which you can spot via a viewpoint about 30 minutes into the hike from Tauranga Bay. Start at the bay and finish at the historic lighthouse, taking in the views along the way. 1 hour and 15 minutes of easy walking each way.
Treat yourself to a beer at Shortjaw Brewery located in the heart of Westport. A community hub, the brewery serves up delicious brews alongside food truck eats.
Westport
Day 2: Westport to Karamea
Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Campsite Suggestion:Gentle Annie, in Mokihinui (note, this is south of Karamea but one of NZ’s best campsites and worth travelling back down for. Pizza ovens and wood fired hot tubs—enough said! )
Head north to Karamea, a place that truly feels like it’s the end of the world. It isn’t, but it is the northernmost settlement on the West Coast. A tiny little town with two pubs, a bakery, and coffee shop, it has everything you need. For avid hikers, it’s also the start (or end) point of the Heaphy Track, a New Zealand Great Walk.
What to do:
Do the Charming Creek North Walkwayon your way to Karamea. This two hour one-way walk wanders past a historic bush tramway to mining sites. If you’re staying at Gentle Annie, this is in the same place!
Explore the Ōpārara Arches. These limestone arches are juxtaposed with ancient forests, and the family-friendly walk takes about 30 minutes one way.
Head back the way you came, all the way to Punakaiki, home of the famous Pancake Rocks! While the settlement is small, it’s a worthwhile stop for one of New Zealand’s most interesting geological formations.
What to do:
The Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walkis a must to see the limestone pancake-shaped rock formations up close. When the sea is really pumping, you might even get sprayed by dramatic blowholes! The walk is easy and takes about 30 minutes.
Head to the visitors centre and grab a ticket to the Paparoa Experience. This immersive museum helps visitors learn the history of Paparoa National Park, including Māori culture and the geological formations.
Hokitika is known for its rough beaches, pounamu carvings, and the brilliant blue Hokitika Gorge. The little town has lots of little shops for souvenirs, and plenty of pubs and restaurants
What to do:
Walk the Hokitika Gorge, an easy 1.5-hour loop to the brilliant blue pools of the Hokitika Gorge.
Walk along the rugged coastline of Hokitika Beach, steps from downtown.
Enjoy a Fat Pipi’s Pizza,with a glass of their very own red wine. If you’re keen to try a local delicacy, go for the whitebait pizza if it’s in season!
Franz Josef/Waiau and Fox are best known for their glaciers. Franz is a much larger town to Fox (though even calling it a large town is generous!) and is where most tourism outlets are. If you’re after a helicopter flight to the glaciers—this is your stop. Fox is a quaint little spot. The glaciers are receding at an alarming rate due to climate change, but it’s possible to still see them from short hikes on clear days.
Lake Matheson
What to do:
Walk to a viewpoint of Fox Glacier via the South Side walk. It should take about two hours, and there’s a sidetrack that adds on about 30 minutes through a moraine.
On a clear day, it’s possible to see parts of the Franz Josef Glacier via an easy 20-minute walk. For the serious, try Robert’s Point Track, which is an advanced track that hikes closer to the glacier and takes about 5.5 hours return.
Start your day early walking Lake Matheson, which reflects the snowcapped mountains in its serene lake. Best hiked at sunrise, this easy walk takes about 1.5 hours to walk.
Driving south from Fox Glacier will lead you deep into the remote region of the West Coast. The beaches are rugged and wild down here, and the rainforest is especially green and lush. The main town in the area is Haast, but don’t expect much—the beauty of the outdoors is the drawcard here. Head down to Jackson Bay to reach the southern most point of the West Coast, and then camp in the village.
What to do:
Along the drive, pull over at Ship Creek to stretch your legs. There are two little walks here, both with varying views, and give you a great crash course of the diversity of the West Coast.
Walk the Lake Ellerly Trail, which takes around 1-2 hours and curves along a lake cut out by glaciers.
Satiate your appetite at the Craypot, an iconic orange and purple building in Jackson Bay for fresh fish and chips.
Dedicate the day to meandering over Haast Pass, the southern connection point between the West Coast and Otago. The drive itself isn’t long, but you’ll want to stop along the way for the various walks and viewpoints.
What to do:
Roaring Billy Fallsis a worthy stop, taking about a ½ hour return to walk to the epic waterfall.
Check out Fantail Falls, a quick 5 minute walk to another spectacular waterfall.
Park up at Cameron Flat Campsite, which aside from having beautiful views of the Pass, is across the street from the Blue Pools Track. This easy 1.5 hour return walk goes over suspension bridges and through forest, ending at the spectacular glacial fed blue pools (as long as it hasn’t rained recently, otherwise, they’re not that blue!).
The drive is short today, giving you plenty of time to enjoy both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea.
What to do:
For a real leg burner, climb Isthmus Peak, a 5-7 hour return track that leads to sweeping views of Lake Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, as well as the Southern Alps..
Treat yourself to a burger and beer (or kombucha) at b.effect Brewing.
The best way to spend the day? Grab a beach towel and sit by the lake.
Head over the Crown Range to Queenstown, stopping in Arrowtown along the way.
What to do:
Arrowtown is a historic goldmining town now known for its quaint main street, historic walks through gold mines, and excellent dining scene. Walk around the historic Chinese settlement to learn more about the town’s history. Bendix Stables is a great place for dinner, while Blue Door is the place for a nightcap.
Once in Queenstown, head downtown to wander the busy streets, shop, and eat.
Day 10: Queenstown
Spend your last day before your flight enjoying more of Queenstown’s treasures.
What to do:
Take a ride on a vintage steamship on the TSS Eanslaw. Cruise around Lake Whakatipu and enjoy the historic ship and snowcapped views.
Walk the Twelve Mile Delta to Bob’s Cove Track, a 1-2 hour one-way track that follows the shores of Lake Whakatipu, meandering through native bush. The Twelve Mile Delta is also well-known to Lord of the Rings’ fans—it’s the site of Ithilien Camp.
