7 Days by Campervan from Christchurch: The Mackenzie Country and High Country
Quick summary: A week is the ideal time to see Canterbury’s mountains by campervan or motorhome. This loop heads across the plains to Lake Tekapo, spends two nights beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook, then returns along the foothills on the Inland Scenic Route 72 via Peel Forest, Mount Somers, Methven and the Rakaia Gorge, finishing with a night by quiet Lake Coleridge. It covers around 760 km, with one rest day and several short days.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Trip length | 7 days, 6 nights |
| Start and finish | Christchurch |
| Total distance | Around 760 km |
| Longest day | Day 1, around 225 km |
| Rest day | Day 3, at Aoraki/Mount Cook |
| Highlights | Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Hooker Valley Track, Peel Forest, the Rakaia Gorge, Lake Coleridge |
| Best for | Walkers, photographers and anyone wanting the Southern Alps within Canterbury |
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Day 1: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Distance: around 225 km, about 3 hours.
Collect the vehicle, stock up and drive south-west across the plains via Ashburton, Geraldine and Fairlie, then over Burkes Pass into the Mackenzie Basin.
Experiences: the Church of the Good Shepherd at sunset, and a stargazing tour after dark.
Overnight: Lake Tekapo.
Day 2: Lake Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook
Distance: around 105 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes.
Climb Mount John for the morning view, then drive the length of Lake Pukaki with a pause at Peters Lookout. Once you’ve set up camp, the short Kea Point Track or the Tasman Glacier viewpoint fills the rest of the day.
Overnight: the DOC campground at the start of the Hooker Valley Track.
Day 3: A day at Aoraki/Mount Cook
Distance: no driving.
Walk the Hooker Valley Track early, then choose an afternoon experience: a glacier boat trip among the icebergs of Tasman Lake, a ski-plane flight with a snow landing, or the climb to Sealy Tarns.
Overnight: the DOC campground again.
Day 4: Aoraki/Mount Cook to Geraldine
Distance: around 190 km, about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Drive back along Lake Pukaki and through Tekapo, stopping at the hot pools, then continue down through Fairlie to Geraldine.
Overnight: Geraldine, or Peel Forest just to the north.
Day 5: Geraldine to Methven via Route 72
Distance: around 80 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes, plus a detour to Peel Forest.
Walk among the ancient tōtara of Peel Forest, then follow the Inland Scenic Route 72 along the foothills through Mayfield and Mount Somers to Methven.
Experiences: a Mount Somers walk, or rafting on the Rangitata River.
Overnight: Methven.
Day 6: Methven to Lake Coleridge
Distance: around 50 km, about 50 minutes.
Take a dawn hot-air balloon flight from Methven if conditions allow, then drive to the Rakaia Gorge for the walkway or a jet boat ride. In the afternoon, head up from Windwhistle to Lake Coleridge for a quiet evening by the water and a night under very dark skies.
Overnight: a simple camping area near Lake Coleridge, ideally in a certified self-contained vehicle, or back at the Rakaia Gorge.
Day 7: Lake Coleridge to Christchurch
Distance: around 105 km, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Drive back via Windwhistle and Darfield to Christchurch, returning the vehicle during branch hours.
Does this itinerary suit a large RV?
Yes. The whole route is on sealed roads, and the climbs over Burkes Pass and into the Rakaia Gorge are gentle compared with the alpine passes further west. The main things to plan for are wind in the Mackenzie Basin, limited facilities at the Mount Cook campground and Lake Coleridge, and a full fuel tank before the quieter stretches.
How can you adjust this itinerary?
- Add Timaru: on Day 4, detour via Timaru and the coast for little blue penguins and Caroline Bay. See our Timaru guide.
- Swap Lake Coleridge for Arthur’s Pass: return via State Highway 73 and the high country. See our Arthur’s Pass and Castle Hill guide.
- Continue south: from Twizel, head over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown on a one-way hire. See our 10 days and longer guide.
Where should you stay?
Holiday parks in Tekapo, Geraldine and Methven give full facilities, while the DOC campground at Mount Cook and the camping areas around Lake Coleridge are simpler. Freedom camping is only for certified self-contained vehicles where the Mackenzie, Timaru, Ashburton or Selwyn district council allows it. See our Canterbury freedom camping guide.
Which trip guides does this itinerary use?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A seven-day loop allows a night at Lake Tekapo, two nights at Aoraki/Mount Cook and a scenic return along the foothills, for around 760 km in total.
The Inland Scenic Route 72 along the foothills, via Geraldine, Mount Somers, Methven and the Rakaia Gorge, is a more scenic return than State Highway 1.
Around 190 km via Lake Tekapo and Fairlie, about 2 hours 30 minutes of driving.
The Department of Conservation campground at the start of the Hooker Valley Track, which has simple facilities and no power.
Yes. On the drive from Mount Cook, detour via Timaru and the coast before continuing to Geraldine.