The Most Scenic Drive in New Zealand
The drive from Queenstown to Christchurch can be done in a single day, but that would waste one of New Zealand's most stunning routes. The inland alpine road passes through the Mackenzie Country—a vast basin of golden tussock grassland ringed by the Southern Alps, with glacier-fed lakes of surreal turquoise blue.
Book a one-way Queenstown to Christchurch campervan and take your time on this unforgettable route.
Day 1: Queenstown to Twizel via Lindis Pass (250 km)
Leave Queenstown and drive through the Kawarau Gorge (stop at the historic gold mining town of Cromwell for fruit from the famous roadside stalls). Cross the Lindis Pass (971 m), where the landscape transforms from Central Otago's dry schist rock to the golden tussock grasslands of the Mackenzie.
Twizel is a small town originally built for hydro workers, now a base for exploring the lakes and mountains. It's also the best place to spot black stilts—the world's rarest wading bird with fewer than 170 adults remaining.
Day 2: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Drive the 55 km road along Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook Village. The lake's milky turquoise colour comes from glacier-ground rock flour suspended in the water. On a clear day, Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724 m—NZ's highest peak) is reflected in the lake surface.
Mount Cook Walks
- Hooker Valley Track — 3 hours return, easy. Three swing bridges, glacier views, and a terminal lake with icebergs. One of NZ's best short walks.
- Kea Point — 1 hour return. Views of the Mueller Glacier and surrounding peaks. Look for kea parrots (alpine parrots that love destroying windscreen wipers).
- Tasman Glacier Viewpoint — 40 minutes return. Overlook NZ's longest glacier (23 km) and its terminal lake.
Where to Camp
- White Horse Hill Campground (DOC) — NZ$15/adult. Basic facilities but directly at the start of the Hooker Valley Track. No bookings—first come, first served.
- Glentanner Holiday Park — Powered sites NZ$55/night, on the shore of Lake Pukaki with Mount Cook views. Hot showers, kitchen, laundry.
Day 3: Lake Tekapo — The Stargazing Capital
Continue to Lake Tekapo, part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. On a clear night, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in jaw-dropping detail, with the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds, and zodiacal light all visible to the naked eye.
Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd — NZ's most photographed church, perched on the lakeshore with an altar window framing the mountains. Then soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools (NZ$28) while gazing at the mountains.
For a premium stargazing experience, book a Dark Sky Project tour (from NZ$89) with telescope viewing from the summit of Mount John.
Day 4: Lake Tekapo to Christchurch (230 km)
The final drive crosses the Canterbury Plains through patchwork farmland to Christchurch. Stop at Geraldine for excellent cheese from Talbot Forest Cheese and preserves from Barker's. The Rakaia Gorge viewpoint offers a last mountain vista before the plains flatten out.
Christchurch has reinvented itself after the 2011 earthquakes with innovative architecture, street art, and the Riverside Market—a vibrant food hall on the Avon River.
