Get Lost in New Zealand's Natural Beauty

Beautiful Aotearoa - we're spoilt when it comes to places to escape in nature, and this blog is an ode to that. Following the coastline of the South Island for most of the way, we'll lead you along some of our favourite New Zealand travel destinations, providing the perfect itinerary for an extended getaway. All you need for this one is good company and your motorhome, so let's hit the road!

This adventure starts in Nelson, and is focused on a round trip of the South Island’s coastline, stopping at some of Aotearoa’s top tourist destinations (though really, where in the South Island isn’t a top tourist destination? We’re spoiled for choice). This is a long haul trip, which we’d recommend allowing about a month for, in order to really make the most of all the beautiful spots along the way. If you don’t have that much time on your hands, you can always pick a section of the trip and go for a few days - whatever suits you best! 

The northern tip of the South Island truly is a beautiful place - boasting plenty of vineyards, breweries, walking tracks, and of course, the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound, you’ll never be short of things to do. It’s best to allow at least a few days to make the most of this beautiful region, in particular all the breathtaking scenery of the Queen Charlotte Sounds. It’s definitely worth booking a scenic boat tour of the area, as on a sunny day the surrounding mountains and crystal clear waters are like something out of a Tolkien novel. There are plenty of opportunities for parking up around this area, so there’ll be no last minute scrambling to organise a place to stay!

You can get the most out of this region by trying not to plan things too much - take each day as it comes and you can plan your itinerary around the weather, and whatever you feel like doing each day! After a few days of doing some leisurely exploring of vineyards and hiking trails, it’s time to head down the West Coast. The West Coast has some epic scenery to keep you entertained on the meandering roads, and when I did this drive I loved being able to stop for an adventure whenever I saw something which caught my eye - and we definitely made some epic memories from it! Stumbling across the glassy water of Lake Mahinapua, which we hadn’t heard of, but were drawn to by the little lane shrouded in a canopy of native trees, is a real trip highlight and a beautiful place to settle in for a morning picnic (or even the night, as it boasts a camping ground!). 

Just a stone's throw from Lake Mahinapua is Hokitika Gorge, which now has a recently completed walking track which loops around the azure blue waters of the river. It’s about an hour long stroll if you’re taking your time, and is a hotspot for native bird watching. The local town of Hokitika also has plenty of cafes to stop for lunch, including a sandwich joint which is always bustling with happy customers due to its delicious fare. It’s best to allow for about a day in this area, before heading further south to the next stop - Lake Matheson. 

This area of the West Coast has plenty to explore, though sadly in recent years changing climates have seen the icy landscapes of Fox Glacier and Franz Josef receding. This is still a wonderful area to spend a couple of nights, as there are plenty of nearby hiking trails, and the Minnehaha walk in Fox Glacier is a beautiful trail to explore at night, as it comes alive with thousands of glow worms. When passing through this area, you simply have to get up early to do the walk around Lake Matheson. There’s a cafe at the beginning of the trail (remember to bring your keep cup!), which makes it ideal to nab a morning flat white before setting off to explore. The whole loop takes a couple of hours, and really is best to do early in the morning, before the wind picks up, and when you can make the most of the picturesque glassy waters which reflect Mt Aoraki like a mirror.

After you’ve had your fill of the beautiful scenery, it’s time to move onto the next portion of the trip! Out of all of my exploring of the South Island, this drive will always be my favourite - the winding route of State Highway 6 along the West Coast and through Mount Aspiring National Park. At every turn in the road you’re met with a new vista which takes your breath away,  bridges which cross the Makarora river and make you gleeful when the road is deserted, and you can pull over to get fresh air and peer over the edges into the water below. This is the point in the road trip where you put on your favourite dreamy album and get completely lost in your surroundings - even just talking about it, I’m itching to get back there as soon as I can. 

Allow at least a day for the drive along State Highway 6 to Wanaka from Lake Matheson, though it only takes about 3 hours, as you’ll be wanting to hop out and explore all the little hikes and scenic spots you find along the way. Lake Wanaka and Hawea are epic places to spend a few days - there are ample walking and mountain biking trails, as well as fantastic cafes and restaurants to fill your time. Lake Wanaka Outlet holiday park is the perfect place to park up, as they have all the facilities you could need (including bathrooms and BBQ), and the views are something out of a fairytale, as the grounds are situated right on Lake Wanaka. The proximity to Lake Wanaka makes kayaking and water sports as easy as pie, as you can roll out of bed and hop straight on the water to start your day. 

My partner and I spent two nights in this area just earlier this year, and wish we could have stayed longer. Although Lake Wanaka is the more famous of the two, and definitely boasts more in terms of delicious food and coffee, we preferred the quiet Lake Hawea, whose views were unbelievable. We loved sitting out at night playing cards, wrapped in blankets with hot chocolates, because the stargazing over the lake was utterly magical. Start each morning with coffees from Big Fig and crepes from Charlie Brown as you walk round Lake Wanaka, and you’ll be smiling all day. 

During your time here, the hike up Roys Peak is a must-do (though it’s best for people who are reasonably fit, so substitute for the gorgeous Rob Roy track if you’re more in the mood for a relaxed stroll - or even better, do both!). When my partner and I did Roys Peak, we started the morning early (with crepes and coffee, of course), making sure that we got to the track by around 7am. Some blogs that I’d read advised starting the hike much earlier so that you can watch the sunset from the top, (we’re talking 3am early), but I love sleep too much and don’t have great balance at the best of times, so a steep up-hill hike in the dark wasn’t on the cards. Instead, my partner and I packed our lunch for the top, and perched with a view to hunker down on filo pastries (me a little shakily, as I’m actually quite scared of heights!). 

The view of the valley from our Onsen Hot Pool.

If you’re doing the South Island, of course Queenstown is on the cards - there’s so much to do, as the adventure capital of New Zealand. Biking, kayaking, wineries (and exploring nearby Arrowtown!) are all affordable activities to fill your days, and horse riding, paddle boarding, and a scenic lake cruise can also be added to the itinerary! And of course, during your time in Queenstown, a holiday favourite is the Onsen Hotpools - although more on the pricey side, (and admittedly, can seem like a bit of a gimmick), but is absolutely fantastic. When I was there, I went with a glass of bubbles (which I promptly knocked over, but luckily the glasses are plastic), and we spent an hour chatting while looking out over the valley - it was absolute heaven.

After spending a few days exploring all Queenstown, mosey on up to Lake Tekapo. There are plenty of places to stop along the way whenever something takes your fancy - the drive is only three hours, but you could always split it up over a couple of days (depending on if you have any little ones in the back nagging about lengthy car rides). On the way to Lake Tekapo you’ll pass the equally beautiful Lake Pukaki, and come close to Ben Ohau, which you should definitely take time to explore and get lost in the beautiful lavender fields...and all this just en route to Lake Tekapo! This drive really does boast some of the most fantastic views in Aotearoa, so make sure you allow at least a day (and if not an overnight stay), to allow you to really appreciate all the natural beauty. 

Once you get to Lake Tekapo, you’re in for a treat. It goes without saying that you have to spend an afternoon exploring the Church of the Good Shepherd, and wandering round the shore of Lake Tekapo. There are plenty of places to stop and settle down for a picnic, and if you’re visiting in the summer months you’ll be able to enjoy the cascade of wild lavender which covers the lakefront in a blanket of purple and heavenly aroma. But of course, people really head to Lake Tekapo for the stargazing, as the area is lauded as one of the best places in the world to view the night sky in all its glory. Depending on the light conditions (which are mainly impacted by the lunar cycle, and how bright the moon is), you can get the opportunity to see the Milky Way on dark nights, and - if you’re really, really lucky - maybe even an Aurora. 

There are plenty of options for stargazing tours, though of course the Darky Sky Project and Tekapo Stargazing are my personal favourite. Tekapo Stargazing will have you relaxing in hot pools underneath the night sky, as your guide teaches you all about the solar system. Although these guided tours are on the pricey side, the experience is one you’ll take with you for a lifetime. Though of course, you don’t need the guided tours to appreciate the beauty of the night sky in Lake Tekapo - its equally fun to run things by your own schedule, and drive out to any scenic spot which takes your fancy and cosy up with a flask of hot chocolate. 

From Lake Tekapo, meander north to Christchurch, which is where I leave you - though of course there’s plenty to explore north of here, if you so choose! Christchurch is a great spot to return your motorhome before catching your flight home, and get a fill of the city. Spend an afternoon venturing around Canterbury Museum and Hagley Park (with an ice cream in hand, of course). If you have time, heading to Mona Vale to have a cider on the river, or cocktails at the speakeasy-style OGB bar in Cathedral Square is an epic way to send off the road trip of a lifetime.