Trip planningBy Clever Tourists · Published
For a New Zealand honeymoon, plan 10 to 14 days on the South Island: fly into Christchurch, drive via Lake Pukaki to Queenstown and Glenorchy, take a day at Milford Sound, then go on to Wanaka and the West Coast. The big costs are the rental car or campervan and a few one-off experiences, and the big decision is how many nights to spend in each place, since driving distances are long. We spent 23 days on the South Island in February and March 2023: Christchurch, Rakaia Gorge, Lake Pukaki, Glenorchy (2 days), Te Anau (3), Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka (2), Haast, Fox Glacier (2), Arthur's Pass and Little River on Banks Peninsula (3). We recommend this route and make no claim that we honeymooned there.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.A honeymoon version of our 23-day loop, cut to about 12 nights: Christchurch 1, Lake Pukaki 1, Glenorchy 2, Te Anau 2, Milford Sound 1 (or a day trip from Te Anau), Queenstown 1, Wanaka 2, Fox Glacier 1, with the return over Arthur's Pass. Our stop-by-stop notes with drive times are in the 23-day South Island itinerary, and a shorter plan is 10 days on the South Island.
What each stop is: Lake Pukaki is the turquoise lake under Aoraki / Mount Cook, with the viewpoints in the Pukaki road trip guide and the Lake Pukaki guide. Glenorchy sits at the head of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 minutes from Queenstown, with the red boatshed and gravel roads toward Paradise: the New Zealand guide. Te Anau is the Fiordland base, and Milford Sound is a glacier-carved fiord reached by a single road that passes the Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel: see the New Zealand guide and Milford Sound cruise prices, DIY vs tour. Wanaka is the quieter lake town with the lone willow in the water, and Fox Glacier has Lake Matheson's mirror view of the Southern Alps.
Seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Our route was late February to mid-March, which is late summer. Summer (December to February) is the busiest and most expensive period, and weather changes by the hour in the mountains. See best time to visit New Zealand for the month-by-month picture and Christmas in New Zealand if you are travelling in December. Book rooms and the Milford Road overnights early in peak weeks, since the distances between the towns leave few alternatives.
The South Island is a drive-it-yourself trip. Roads are narrow, winding and full of one-lane bridges, and most legs take longer than the map suggests. Drive on the left. The UK Foreign Office notes a UK photocard licence is valid for up to 18 months, and says roads can be narrow, winding and hilly. Read driving in New Zealand for US tourists, the tourist driving guide and international driving permits in New Zealand.
For a honeymoon the question is car or campervan: see cruise vs campervan for the trade-offs. If you plan to sleep in a van, read freedom camping rules and fines first. The FCDO also warns that thieves target unattended hire cars and camper vans in tourist areas, so leave nothing in the car, even out of sight.
Our model's typical band for New Zealand is US$60 to $120 per person per day on a budget and US$155 to $200 at mid-range, from published 2025 and 2026 cost guides, not what we spent. The bands assume two people sharing a room, which is the honeymoon case. The rental car or campervan is the biggest cost, with Milford Sound cruises a big one-off. Honeymooners often choose lodge stays above mid-range, and we do not quote lodge or helicopter prices because they change by season. Tipping is not expected in the usual way: tipping in New Zealand. Groceries make self-catered picnics cheap: grocery stores in New Zealand.
Most visitors need an NZeTA and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy: NZeTA and IVL, how to apply and do I need a visa for New Zealand. National park fees for international visitors are changing for 2027: New Zealand national park fees.
The UK Foreign Office notes that weather can quickly become dangerous in coastal and exposed areas, that flooding and landslides can close roads, and that New Zealand is in a major earthquake zone with tsunami risk on coastlines. For remote walks, check with the Department of Conservation or AdventureSmart and leave your itinerary with someone. The emergency number is 111. See also things to know before visiting New Zealand and is New Zealand safe to visit.
Do not try to cover both islands in two weeks. The South Island alone has long drives: Te Anau to Milford Sound is about 120 km and DOC says to allow at least 2 hours 15 minutes of driving without stops. Build rest days at Wanaka or Glenorchy, and consider stopping at the scenic spots between Christchurch and Queenstown, listed in best scenic stops between Christchurch and Queenstown. The Arthur's Pass crossing is a day by itself: Highway 73 guide. For other romantic places on our route, see most romantic destinations.
10 to 14 days on the South Island is enough for Lake Pukaki, Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Wanaka and the West Coast without constant driving. Do not try both islands in two weeks.
Summer, December to February, is the busiest and most expensive period. Our own route was late February to mid-March, which is late summer. See our best-time guide for the month-by-month picture.
Yes, a rental car or campervan is the standard way, since the distances between the towns are long. Drive on the left and allow more time than the map suggests.
Our model's typical band is US$60 to $120 per person per day on a budget and $155 to $200 at mid-range, assuming a shared room. The rental car or campervan is the biggest cost.
Most visitors need an NZeTA and the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. See our how-to-apply guide.
Get our new New Zealand guides and practical tips by email: where to stay, what to eat, what things cost and the rules that catch travelers out.
Free. No spam, only new guides and tips.
Search verified local fleets with low security deposits and exact model delivery on Localrent.
Compare stays in New Zealand and get the best deals on Booking.com.
