Christchurch Campervan & Motorhome Hire

Day 1: Collect your van from a depot beside Christchurch Airport, several of which open at 8am, and stock up at a supermarket before heading north on SH1. Allow about 3 hours via Waipara and the coast to Kaikōura, checking NZTA first, as slips and flood repairs can close or slow the highway. Book a holiday park for two nights.

Day 2: Take a whale watching trip in the morning, weather permitting, as sperm whales feed in the deep canyon just offshore. In the afternoon, walk the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway from Point Kean, where fur seals often rest on the rocks, and keep well back from them. Finish with seafood from one of the roadside caravans on the coast.

Day 3: Follow SH1 north along the coast, pulling into the Ohau Point lookout to watch the fur seal colony, then turn inland through Seddon to Blenheim, about 2 hours in total. Spend the afternoon at Marlborough cellar doors with a designated driver, or rent bikes for the vineyard trails. Stay at a holiday park in Blenheim.

Day 4: Drive about 2 hours west to Nelson, stopping in Havelock for green-lipped mussels and at Pelorus Bridge for a short walk through native forest beside the river. Nelson is one of the sunniest spots in the country and has big supermarkets, so restock here. Stay at a holiday park near Tāhunanui Beach.

Day 5: Drive about an hour to Kaiteriteri or Marahau, the gateways to Abel Tasman National Park, as no roads run along its coast. Book a water taxi or guided kayak trip, get dropped at a golden bay and walk a section of the Coast Track to your pick-up point. Base yourself for two nights at Motueka or Kaiteriteri.

Day 6: Take a slower day on Kaiteriteri's beach, or, if you are happy with the van's size, drive the steep, winding Tākaka Hill road to Golden Bay and the clear water of Te Waikoropupū Springs. Do laundry and restock in Motueka this evening, as tomorrow you head inland towards the Nelson Lakes and the West Coast.

Day 7: Drive about 1.5 hours to St Arnaud in Nelson Lakes National Park, on the shore of Lake Rotoiti. Walk out on the jetty for the classic mountain view and take a short forest loop such as the Bellbird Walk. Stay at DOC's lakeside campsite at Kerr Bay or nearby, and keep insect repellent handy for the sandflies.

Day 8: Allow about 3.5 hours through Murchison and the Buller Gorge to Westport, then detour to the Cape Foulwind Walkway to see the fur seal colony at Tauranga Bay. Continue south along the coast road to Punakaiki, where the highway hugs the Tasman Sea. Fill up in Westport, as fuel stops are spread out on this coast.

Day 9: Walk the short loop at the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, ideally near high tide, when the sea surges through the blowholes. Then drive about 1.5 hours south through Greymouth to Hokitika, a small town known for pounamu (greenstone) carving. Watch the sunset over the driftwood on Hokitika Beach and stay at a holiday park in town.

Day 10: Make an early detour inland to Hokitika Gorge, where a swing bridge crosses a milky turquoise river. Then drive about 2 hours south to Franz Josef, watching for one-lane bridges and give way signs on the many river crossings. In the afternoon, soak in the village's hot pools after the long drive.

Day 11: Walk the Franz Josef Glacier Valley track early, checking DOC alerts first, as floods and slips can close it. Drive about 30 minutes to Fox Glacier and walk around Lake Matheson in the late afternoon, when still water can mirror the Southern Alps. For a view of the ice itself, book a scenic flight, which is weather dependent.

Day 12: Allow a full day for the drive over the Haast Pass to Wānaka, about 3.5 hours at the wheel. Stop at Knights Point lookout on the coast, then at Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools walk as the road climbs through beech forest. Top up with fuel where you can and book a Wānaka holiday park for two nights.

Day 13: Spend a slow day in Wānaka, climbing Mount Iron for views over the lake or cycling the lakeside trails, then walk to the much-photographed lone willow at sunset. Use the holiday park's laundry and dump station and restock at the supermarket. Fill the tank tonight, ready for an easy morning drive to Queenstown.

Day 14: Drive to Queenstown via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge, about 1.5 hours, as some hire terms ban the shorter Crown Range Road. Stop in Arrowtown for its gold rush main street and restored Chinese settlement. Stay at a holiday park within walking distance of town for two nights, as central parking is tight for a campervan.

Day 15: Leave the van parked and explore Queenstown on foot: ride the Skyline Gondola, cruise Lake Wakatipu on the vintage TSS Earnslaw steamship or book a jet boat ride. In the evening, walk the lakefront and the Queenstown Gardens. Restock at a Frankton supermarket before you leave, as prices rise in the smaller towns ahead.

Day 16: Drive about 2.5 hours around Lake Wakatipu through Kingston and Southland farmland to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. Book a holiday park for two nights and confirm tomorrow's Milford Sound cruise. Fill up with fuel and buy food here, as there are no shops or fuel between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

Day 17: Leave early for the Milford Road, stopping at the Mirror Lakes, then cruise Milford Sound / Piopiotahi beneath sheer cliffs and waterfalls. Expect traffic lights at the Homer Tunnel in summer and do not stop in the signposted avalanche zone. The return trip from Te Anau is about 240 km and eight hours with the cruise.

Day 18: Follow the Southern Scenic Route south through Manapōuri and Tuatapere to the coast, restocking in Invercargill, about 3.5 hours of driving in total. Continue to Curio Bay in the Catlins, where a fossilised forest appears on the rock platform at low tide. Watch quietly from a distance in the evening for yellow-eyed penguins coming ashore.

Day 19: Work north-east through the Catlins, with short forest walks to McLean Falls and Purakaunui Falls and the lighthouse lookout at Nugget Point. Some side roads are gravel, so check what your hire terms allow before turning off. Continue to Dunedin, about 2.5 hours of driving in total, and stay at a holiday park near the city.

Day 20: See Dunedin's grand railway station and the Octagon in the morning, then drive about 1.5 hours north, stopping at the round Moeraki Boulders, best at low tide. In Oamaru, wander the whitestone Victorian precinct and, in the evening, watch little penguins come ashore at the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony. Empty the tanks tonight.

Day 21: Leave Oamaru early for the drive of about 3.5 hours to Christchurch, crossing the long bridges over the braided Waitaki, Rangitata and Rakaia rivers. Refuel near the airport and return the van before closing time, as several depots close around 4pm to 4:30pm. Allow time for the inspection and the shuttle to the terminal.

Day 1: Collect your van beside Christchurch Airport and do a big grocery shop before the drive west, as supermarkets thin out once you leave the plains. Spend the afternoon in the Botanic Gardens and along the Avon River, or ride the Christchurch Gondola for views over Lyttelton Harbour. Stay at a holiday park near the airport or city.

Day 2: Head west on SH73 across the Canterbury Plains and over Porters Pass to Kura Tāwhiti/Castle Hill, about 1.5 hours, and walk among its giant limestone boulders. Continue about 45 minutes to Arthur's Pass village. Stay at DOC's Klondyke Corner campsite, 8 km south of the village, booking ahead and checking DOC for any closures.

Day 3: Walk to Devils Punchbowl Falls, a steep climb with more than 400 steps to a platform near the 131 m waterfall, and take valuables with you, as thieves target the car park. Do not feed the kea. Then cross the pass, stop at the Otira Viaduct lookout and descend to Hokitika, about 1.5 hours away.

Day 4: Drive about 40 minutes inland to Hokitika Gorge, where a swing bridge crosses a turquoise river coloured by glacial flour, best seen in the morning light. Back in Hokitika, browse the pounamu (greenstone) carving studios and the driftwood sculptures on the beach. Stay a second night and watch the sun set over the Tasman Sea.

Day 5: Drive about 2 hours south to Franz Josef, crossing many one-lane bridges, and fill up with fuel before you leave Hokitika. In the afternoon, walk the Franz Josef Glacier Valley track, checking DOC alerts first, as floods and slips can close it. Ease the legs afterwards in the village's hot pools and stay nearby.

Day 6: Drive about 30 minutes to Fox Glacier and walk around Lake Matheson in the early morning, when still water can reflect Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. For a closer look at the ice, book a heli-hike or scenic flight, both weather dependent. Stay at Fox Glacier and pack insect repellent, as sandflies are common here.

Day 7: Allow a full day, with about 3.5 hours of driving, to cross the Haast Pass to Wānaka. Stop at Knights Point lookout on the coast, top up with fuel at Haast if you need it, then take the short walks to Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools. Book a Wānaka holiday park for two nights.

Day 8: Take a day off the road in Wānaka, cycling the lakeside trails, climbing Mount Iron or visiting Puzzling World on the edge of town. Photograph the lone willow at sunset, then empty the tanks and restock at the supermarket. Fill the fuel tank tonight for tomorrow's short drive to Queenstown.

Day 9: Drive to Queenstown via Cromwell and the Kawarau Gorge, about 1.5 hours, as the shorter Crown Range Road is banned by some hire companies. Stop at the Kawarau Bridge to watch the bungy jumpers and visit a Gibbston Valley winery. Stay at a holiday park within walking distance of town for two nights.

Day 10: Leave the van at camp and ride the Skyline Gondola, cruise Lake Wakatipu or book a jet boat ride. In the afternoon, drive about 25 minutes to Arrowtown to wander its gold rush main street and restored Chinese settlement, then return for dinner in town. Restock at a Frankton supermarket before heading to Fiordland.

Day 11: Drive about 2.5 hours around Lake Wakatipu through Kingston to Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland. Book a holiday park for three nights and confirm your Milford Sound cruise. Buy food and fill up with fuel in town, as there are no shops or fuel stations on the Milford Road, then take an evening boat trip to the Te Anau glowworm caves.

Day 12: Set off early on the Milford Road, stopping at the Mirror Lakes and The Chasm, then cruise Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. Expect traffic lights and waits of up to 20 minutes at the Homer Tunnel in summer, and never stop in the avalanche zone. The return trip from Te Anau takes about eight hours with the cruise.

Day 13: Rest from driving with a walk along the lakeshore section of the Kepler Track, or visit the bird sanctuary on the edge of town to see takahē, a rare flightless bird. Use the Te Anau dump station and fill the water tank, ready for tomorrow's drop-off. Pack your bags tonight to save time at the depot.

Day 14: Drive about 2.5 hours back to Frankton, near Queenstown Airport, refuelling on the way, and return the van before the depot closes, which is 4:30pm at the thl branch. Brands with a Queenstown depot, such as Britz and Mighty, add a one-way fee and a Queenstown location fee, so check both in your quote before you book.

Day 1: Collect your van near Christchurch Airport and drive about 1.5 hours to Akaroa on SH75, through Little River and over the hill to Barrys Bay, where the road turns steep and twisty. Stop at the top for the view over the old volcanic harbour. Stay two nights at Duvauchelle Holiday Park, run by the city council, or a park in Akaroa.

Day 2: Join a harbour nature cruise to look for Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest marine dolphin, along with fur seals and seabirds under the crater cliffs. In the afternoon, wander Akaroa's French-named streets, walk to the lighthouse and buy local cheese at Barrys Bay. Fill the tank tonight, as tomorrow is the longest drive of the trip.

Day 3: Allow about 4 hours to Lake Tekapo, crossing the Canterbury Plains and climbing through Geraldine and Fairlie into the Mackenzie Basin. Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the turquoise lakeshore. On a clear night, join a stargazing tour in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, and dress warmly, as nights are cold even in summer.

Day 4: Drive about 1.5 hours past Lake Pukaki, stopping at the lookout at its southern end, then follow the lake road into Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Book a site at DOC's White Horse Hill Campground, which has toilets but no power. Walk the short Kea Point track in the evening for views of the mountain and the Mueller Glacier moraine.

Day 5: Walk the Hooker Valley Track early, about 10 km return and 3 hours over swing bridges to the iceberg-dotted Hooker Lake, before the day visitors arrive. Then drive back to Lake Tekapo, about 1.5 hours, and soak at Tekapo Springs. Nor'west winds can gust hard on the Pukaki and Tekapo roads, so slow down in exposed spots.

Day 6: Spend a slow morning by Lake Tekapo, then drive about 1.5 hours to Geraldine, stopping in Fairlie for its well-known bakery. Geraldine is a pretty country town with cafés, galleries and a riverside holiday park. Use the dump station and refill the water tank tonight, ready for the drive back to Christchurch.

Day 7: Drive about 2 hours across the plains to Christchurch, crossing the braided Rangitata and Rakaia rivers. Refuel near the airport and return the van before closing time, as several depots close around 4pm to 4:30pm. With a late flight, spend a few hours in the Botanic Gardens or along the Avon River first.