South Island by the back roads
Route
Distance (KM)
Time
Day 1
Auckland to Taupo
282
4H 5 M
Day 2
Taupo to Wellington
370
5H 10M
Day 3
Wellington to Blenheim, via Picton on interisland Ferry. Suggest a quick look around Wellington in the morning and take an early afternoon Ferry to Picton and short ride to Blenheim
27
3H 20M (Ferry) + 30M
Day 4
Picton to Hanmer Springs via Molesworth Station
195
5H
Day 5
Hanmer Springs to Fairlie via SH 7, SH1, SH73 to lake Lyndon/ Coleridge to Mt Hutt and SH 72 to Fairlie
360
5H 20M
Day 6
Fairlie to Alexandra Via Lake Tekapo and Hakataramea to Kurow, Duntroon and Danseys Pass to Naseby, back road to Wedderburn and SH85 to Alexandra. If time divert to St Bathans
311
5H+
Day 7
Alexandra to Queenstown Via Omakau, Thompson Gorge Road to Bendigo, Wanaka and Crown Range Road
200
3H
Day 8
Queenstown to Queenstown via Coronet Peak and Glenorchy /Kinloch
240
3H
Day 9
Queenstown to Te Anau via If lake levels are high enough, take the early sailing on the Earnslaw Ship to Walter Peak High Country Farm and continue South on Von Road to SH 94 then continue to Milford Sound (take a boat cruise through the Sounds if time allows and return to Te Anau.
355
6H+
Day 10
Te Anau to Haast Via Garston, Nevis, Cromwell
378
5H+
Day 11
Haast to Hanmer Springs SH 6 and SH 7
530
7H
Day 12
Hanmer Springs to Picton via Rainbow Station/ St Arnaud
245
4H+
Day 13
Picton to Whanganui Via Wellington on Interislander Ferry SH1 and SH 3
3H 20M Ferry plus 3H 21 Riding
Day 14
Whanganui to Auckland via SH4
445
5H 40M
Total KMs
3938
