I Drove From Christchurch to Queenstown and Here’s Every Stop I Made

The thing about New Zealand is they don’t do subtle very well, just drive from Christchurch to Queenstown and spend 16 days pulling over every hour because something else has caught your eye, and this was actualy one of those road trips that never stopped being awesome. Everywhere you look, there is a snow-capped peak, a turquoise lake, or some ridiculously scenic stretch of empty road that makes you want to pull over and stare for a while. I’ll take you through each of my stops along the route.

This includes Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, and Christchurch, plus stops in Dunedin, Oamaru, Wanaka, and finally Queenstown. The rental car was a white SUV… Which performed well on the mountain roads.

And Thank God for the room!

My Stops on the Drive

Cathedral Square Christchurch

I brought back a pile of random souvenir items and far too many snacks and food items. My day began with a walk through Cathedral Square in Christchurch.

The destroyed cathedral is still here, sitting right in the center of town and serves as a constant reminder of 2011 earthquake.

Christchurch Arts Centre

It’s weird to see something so broken just left in the center of town, but they have decided to leave it up partially as a memorial and it’s quite powerful. Just down from the cathedral you’ll see The Chalice sculpture, a large cone made out of metal that has become an icon of city. I took a seat on one of the benches and watched people pass by, got my bearings, and prepared for the long drive.

Afterward, I stretched my legs at the Arts Centre.

When you walk in from the street, it’s hard not to notice that huge clock tower entrance. People certainly spend entire afternoons here, and I can totally see why: there are some really nice old stone buildings and courtyards that give the entire place a sort of relaxed campus feel.

I didn’t have too much time to really poke around and explore everything thoroughally, but I did get to wander through a couple of quads and pop my head into a few of the galleries.

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Spending time at the Botanic Gardens And yes, I do have to admit I had no intention of spending more than a few minutes in the Botanic Gardens, but as soon as I walked through the gates, I found myself staying there for more than an hour.

And yeah, they’re large enough so you can really get away from the noise of the city for awhile. I came upon the Peacock Fountain and it was doing its full display when I got there, very nice timing.

If you just want to walk around someplace green for a while or need a break from driving, it’s a good place.

Riverside Market Christchurch

On my way out of Christchurch, I stopped off at Riverside Market for lunch.

When I arrived around midday, the main hall was absolutely full. I managed to find a spot at one of the high tables and stood there while eating my poke bowl from one of the stalls.

It’s a good selection here; I noticed fancy cheese counters, fresh seafood, Vietnamese banh mi, etc.

Church of the Good Shepherd

Every seat was taken when I got there around midday, so I ended up eating standing up. This would be a good spot to stock up on food if you’re going on a road trip. After Christchurch, my next major stop was Lake Tekapo.

This is likely New Zealand’s most photogenic building: the Church of the Good Shepherd.

I arrived in the middle of the afternoon, only to find a dozen or so other people walking around snapping photos.

Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue

It is a very small church (a single small stone room) but has a great view of the lake from the window behind the altar. There is also a nice shot through the gate and down the low stone wall outside. You can snag a photo without any other tourists in it if you can manage.

In order Just a short walk from the church is a little bronze statue of a sheep dog sitting on a rock looking out over the lake. The statue is a memorial to the region’s working dogs, and it’s a sweet little tribute if I do say so myself. I went around it a time or two for pictures.

The statue’s actually pretty detailed if you take the time to examine it. It was just me and a couple of other photo-taking folks, but it’ll only take five minutes (unless you happen to be really into dog statues).

Astro Cafe (Mount John)

Go to Mount John for the coffee and the view. And they definitely didn’t disappoint. You have to take a little (though doable) gravel road up there, but it’s worth it.

You eventually arrive at Astro Cafe, which is right beside the university observatory. It has glass walls, so you literally have a view of the lake from all of your seats. I got a muffin and a flat white and settled down for a bit on their outdoor deck.

Lake Tekapo Surrounding

The view from up here is ridiculous, you can see across the entire lake and out into the mountains beyond. Even though the road rattles your rental car a bit, it’s worth the drive up here. As for the lake itself, yes, it’s just as colourful as you’ve seen in pictures, that famous turquoise colour.

It got its colour from glacial flour (which I read on some sign or another) mixed into the water. There was this small footbridge across a section of the lake. I crossed it and then wandered around the edge of the lake a little bit.

Mount Cook Surrounding

In the shallow parts of the lake, you can see down to the bottom and there are literally no rocks hidden in the water: everything is visible. I took probably fifty photos here… Most of them are pretty much the same.

Mount Cook is a long drive from town, but well worth it. I set off early from Tekapo and took in the sunrise over the tussock hills.

Hooker Valley Track

There’s a couple of pull outs along the route where you can stop and admire the scenery; I stopped at one and sipped my coffee as I stared out across the landscape for a while. Aoraki Mount Cook when it appears is pretty striking. It is also the highest mountain in New Zealand.

Again, I stopped to properly admire it (and take some photos), before continuing into the village. After reading that the Hooker Valley Track was supposed to be one of the easier walks in the region, I thought I would give it a go.

It’s easy to find the trailhead.

The trail itself is mostly flat, which is good for me since I’m no serious hiker. There are also some fun swing bridges to cross along the way.

Tasman Glacier

As you continue walking, the views of the river and the valley just get better and better. Because I ran out of time, I only made it to the first bridge before turning around, but even the first half of the track is worth doing if you’re in the area. Just outside the village, a short drive will take you to the viewpoint for the Tasman Glacier.

You pull into a little car park and then head up to the lookout platform on a ten-minute walk. Once you arrive you’re looking over Tasman Lake with giant chunks of ice floating in it and the glacier itself beyond. Mount Cook looms in the background.

Hermitage Hotel Mount Cook

It’s one of those places where You realize how small you are. I sat up there for a while just soaking it all in. Although the wind was freezing I wasn’t really in any hurry to leave.

There is nothing else around so I ended up spending a single night at the Hermitage Hotel.

The rooms have good views (right on the foot of the mountains) and it’s nice enough. I ate at one of their restaurants for dinner; not bad, but not cheap.

Steampunk HQ

I was too exhausted to go elsewhere anyway.

Victorian Precinct Oamaru

The hotel terrace had a nice view of the mountains which turned pink as evening fell. A little bit of a detour, but I wanted to visit the Steampunk HQ I’d heard about. In the middle of town, there’s this area called the Victorian Precinct which has been turned into all sorts of cool things.

Inside the Steampunk HQ, there are loads of steampunk-themed art installations and other weird metal sculptures in an old limestone building. Outside is this giant armoured train sculpture that is both cool and bizarre at the same time. I’m not sure if I really got the theme, but it was fun to wander around for half an hour.

The Victorian Precinct itself is pretty full of old character. Right in the middle there’s a statue on top of a war memorial, and all along the street are old limestone buildings converted into cafes and shops. With its collection of old buildings and charm, Harbour Street really feels like an old town.

Oamaru View Point

I wandered around a bit, stopped for a coffee, and ducked into a bookshop or two. It is a quiet place, but that’s part of the charm. On my way out of Oamaru I headed up to a lookout point high above the town.

From up there you can see the entire harbour and the stretch of coastline heading off in the distance.

Dunedin Railway Station

They have one of those signs with arrows that shows how far it is to all sorts of different cities around the world, which I always think is pretty funny. I spent some time up there breathing the fresh air and taking in the views before continuing on to Dunedin. There are certain buildings where you just want to stop and stare.

Dunedin Railway Station is one of them. It’s covered in detailed arches and stonework both outside and inside where the ticket hall has beautiful old tiles on the walls and floors. I spent a good twenty minutes wandering around snapping pictures of it.

Baldwin Street

If you aren’t catching a train then it’s still worth popping in for a look as it was one of the most photogenic buildings I saw during the entire trip. Of course I had to visit Baldwin Street.

It is supposedly the steepest street in the world, though that sounds more like an opinion than a fact.

I decided to drive to the bottom of the hill, park, and walk all the way to the top. My heart was definitely racing by the time I reached the top. The view looking back down the street is cool, and they have a little monument at the top that confirms that it is indeed the world’s steepest street.

Walking back down was a breeze, but still kind of rough on the knees.

First Church of Otago

From anywhere in central Dunedin, you’ll spot the high spire of the First Church of Otago. I walked up to the entrance and took a few photos of the exterior and the grounds. It’s a handsome old church and looks like a good example of what they do well here.

Stone architecture! You can also find a nice iron gate and welcome sign out front.

Larnach Castle

If you want to enter, there’s a path down the side of the church. I didn’t venture inside, though. Larnach Castle is half an hour outside downtown Dunedin on the Otago Peninsula.

That Wanaka Tree

It’s New Zealand’s only castle, as far as I know, and it sits up high on a hill overlooking the harbour. Driving there is beautiful, you wind your way up and down hills, and then arrive at the castle. I took the tour inside, which was neat…

All sorts of cool old furniture and tales of the people who lived here. But the highlight is to be on the property and look out at the water. It is so worth the drive just for that view.

I finally made it to That Wanaka Tree, which is likely New Zealand’s most photographed tree. And once I was there, I knew why: It’s just a single tree growing in the shallow part of the lake, yet for some reason it’s incredibly compelling.

Edgewater Hotel Wanaka

I joined about a dozen others who were walking down to the lakeshore and spending some time attempting to capture a decent photo. Depending on the water level and the lighting conditions, the tree appears quite differently. In the end, I had a lot of fairly similar pictures, but I wasn’t complaining.

In Wanaka, I spent a couple of nights at the Edgewater Hotel. My room was located directly on the lakeshore and featured a balcony with views over the lake. The hotel has a relaxed vibe and a nice timber reception desk that curves around the lobby.

Wanaka Sequoia

In front of the hotel is a pebbly beach where I spent some time skipping rocks and watching as the light changed on the mountains opposite across the lake. It was a solid base from which to explore the area. The final secret is a secret garden with a giant sequoia tree (I discovered it thanks to someone at the hotel who told me about it).

Up some stone steps in the garden, there’s this massive tree that doesn’t belong here. Its trunk is huge, and then when you see how it’s framed by all the clipped hedges around it, it seems even bigger. A cool stop if you like weird trees, just don’t expect much.

Cardrona Hotel

I visited the Cardrona Hotel on my way from Wanaka to Queenstown. This is the classic old pub from the 1860s with its long cream facade that’s been photographed a million times. I popped in here for a beer and some food.

Inside it’s all vintage posters and old wood and has that worn-in character you just can’t fake. I had a burger which was pretty tasty (and massive). It is a good halfway stop between the two towns.

Queenstown Surrounding

I finally arrived in Queenstown and found myself at the finish line. I arrived on a sunny day and the lake water was a blinding shade of turquoise that makes you want to dive into it. I parked by the waterfront and wandered around, taking it all in.

You can see the rocks on the bottom because the shallows are so clear! It’s a busy tourist town, but it still has a nice vibe and the location is impossible to beat.

Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown centers around Lake Wakatipu (the third largest lake in New Zealand). The lake stretches off into the mountains, and there’s a timber jetty that sticks out into the water. I took a walk out to the end of this jetty and spent some time simply sitting down here looking at the lake stretching away from me toward the mountains.

On a clear day, these views are spectacular! I spent a fair bit of time just hanging out here and watching the boats coming and going.

Skyline Gondola Queenstown

One afternoon I rode the Skyline Gondola all the way to the top of Bob’s Peak. It’s located at the base terminal in town and takes only minutes to ascend. From the top, you have a complete panoramic view of the mountains, lake, and Queenstown.

Up there is a viewing deck that everyone crowds onto to take pictures, as well as a restaurant and bar. I got myself a drink, found a seat on the deck, and just sat there for a bit. This really gives you a good look at how everything is laid out up here.

Queenstown Gardens

If you’re looking to get away from the bustle of the town centre, then head to the Queenstown Gardens. The entrance has a map of the walking paths and a welcome sign with an iron gate. I did one of the loops around the peninsula, it was maybe half an hour long and the trail follows along the shore most of the route.

It’s green and quiet and you have some good views back into town.

Fergburger

One thing you have to do when in Queenstown is get a burger from Fergburger. There’s always a line out the front. It’s right in the centre of town.

I couldn’t come here without getting one. After queuing for around 20 minutes I got a Southern Swine burger, sat down on a nearby bench and ate it. The burger was big and messy and lived up to the hype.

Is it the best burger I’ve ever eaten? Probably not, but it’s certainly good and has become something of an icon in Queenstown. It is definitely worth the wait.

Deer Park Heights

The final stop was another working farm, Deer Park Heights, where they have animal encounters and scenic drives. When you pull in, there’s this big green welcome sign, and then you follow the dirt road up to some lookouts that climb pretty high above Queenstown. At one of these lookouts, there were a couple of deer just hanging out looking over Lake Wakatipu.

It seemed an appropriate end to the trip, a peaceful place with a view reminding me of what made it worth all those hours behind the wheel for the past 16 days. In a nutshell, that was my Christchurch to Queenstown road trip. There was a lot of scenery, more than I knew what to do with, way too much coffee, a lot of early mornings, and sixteen days.

If you want to do a similar drive (or even if you don’t), take the time and go out and wander around when something catches your eye, that’s how I had some of the best moments. Are you planning on doing this drive? Have you done it before?

What would you add to the list? I’d love to know.