10 Days and Longer by Campervan from Christchurch: Canterbury in Depth and Beyond
Quick summary: With ten days or more in a campervan or motorhome, you have two choices from Christchurch. Stay within Canterbury and see it in depth, from Banks Peninsula and Kaikōura to the high country and the Mackenzie Basin, or use Christchurch as the starting point for the wider South Island: the West Coast glaciers, Queenstown and Fiordland. This guide covers both, with a full Canterbury plan and links to our sister site’s South Island itineraries.
| Option | Typical length | Finishes in | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury in depth | 10 days | Christchurch | Akaroa, Kaikōura, Hanmer, Arthur’s Pass, Tekapo, Mount Cook |
| South Island loop | 10–14 days | Christchurch | Mackenzie, Queenstown, Milford Sound, the glaciers, Arthur’s Pass |
| One-way to Queenstown | 7–10 days | Queenstown | Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wānaka, Fiordland |
| North across Cook Strait | 2–4 weeks | Auckland or Wellington | Kaikōura, Marlborough, then the North Island |
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What does Canterbury in 10 days look like?
This plan links our short trips into one continuous loop, returning to Christchurch.
| Day | Route | Approximate distance | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christchurch to Akaroa | 85 km | Hilltop view, harbour cruise |
| 2 | Akaroa to Waipara | 145 km | Morning on the harbour, afternoon in the vineyards |
| 3 | Waipara to Kaikōura | 120 km | Gore Bay, the Kaikōura coast |
| 4 | Kaikōura | Minimal | Whale watching, the Peninsula Walkway |
| 5 | Kaikōura to Hanmer Springs | 132 km | The Inland Kaikōura Road, thermal pools |
| 6 | Hanmer Springs to the high country | Around 200 km | Back through Waipara, then west to Castle Hill |
| 7 | Arthur’s Pass and Lake Coleridge | Around 150 km | Devils Punchbowl Falls, then south to the lakes |
| 8 | Lake Coleridge to Lake Tekapo | Around 220 km | The Rakaia Gorge, Route 72, Geraldine, Fairlie |
| 9 | Lake Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook | 105 km | Lake Pukaki, the Hooker Valley Track |
| 10 | Aoraki/Mount Cook to Christchurch | 330 km | A long final drive; or add a night at Geraldine |
Day 10 is long, so if you can, add an eleventh day and break the return at Geraldine or Ashburton.
How can you continue around the South Island?
From Christchurch, the classic South Island loop heads south-west through the Mackenzie Country to Queenstown and Fiordland, then north over the Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers at Franz Josef and Fox, returning over Arthur’s Pass. It takes 10–14 days. Our sister site plans it day by day:
Can you finish in Queenstown instead?
Yes, on a one-way hire. A trip from Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Wānaka covers the South Island’s headline scenery without the return drive, and Queenstown makes it easy to add Milford Sound before you fly out. If you’d rather not drive it at all, Christchurch to Queenstown tours cover the same route by coach with sightseeing stops. See our sister site’s South Island in 7 days itinerary and its guide to one-way trips and relocation deals. One-way trips may carry an extra fee and sometimes a longer minimum hire period, so check when you search.
Can you head north from Christchurch?
Yes. Kaikōura and the Marlborough wine region lead to Picton and the Cook Strait ferry to Wellington. From there, the North Island opens up, with routes through Tongariro, Rotorua and on to Auckland. See our sister site’s Auckland to Christchurch in 21 days itinerary, which works just as well in reverse.
Is a long RV trip from Christchurch tiring?
It needn’t be, if you pace it. Keep most driving days to 150–250 km, build in a rest day every three or four days, and stay at a holiday park every few nights to do laundry, empty tanks and recharge. Longer trips also leave room to wait out bad weather in the mountains, which makes the whole journey more relaxed.
Where should you stay on a long trip?
Mix holiday parks for comfort, DOC campsites for scenery, and, in a certified self-contained vehicle, freedom camping only where it is permitted. See our Canterbury campsites guide and Canterbury freedom camping guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You can see Canterbury in depth, from Akaroa and Kaikōura to Arthur’s Pass, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook, or follow the classic South Island loop via Queenstown and the West Coast.
Yes. One-way hires from Christchurch to Queenstown are common, though they may carry an extra fee and sometimes a longer minimum hire period.
The classic loop through the Mackenzie Country, Queenstown, Fiordland, the West Coast and Arthur’s Pass takes 10–14 days.
Yes. Drive north via Kaikōura and Marlborough to Picton and take the Cook Strait ferry to Wellington. Check that your rental terms allow the crossing.
Keep most days to 150–250 km, with a rest day every three or four days, so the trip stays relaxed.