LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Southern Exposure
1 MONTH/CHRISTCHURCH TO CHRISTCHURCH
(1-2 weeks minimum travel time)
Expose yourself (in a socially acceptable way) to mountain highs, valley lows, icy vistas and indomitable wilderness on this journey around the deep south. Why flail around the island in a week when you can stretch your environmental enjoyment over a whole month?
The rough-hewn South Island, with its mountainous spine, glaciers and vast fiords, coupled with a quilt of green meadows and an unhurried pace of life, affords a popular, visually inspiring circuit.
From Christchurch travel north up the east coast to the marvellous marine life of Kaikoura and then onto the grape-wreathed vineyards around Blenheim. Swing past Marlborough Sounds to the stunning bays of Abel Tasman National Park before traversing formidable Buller Gorge to reach the rugged west coast at Westport. Heading south on SH6 are the strikingly layered rocks of Punakaiki, the greenstone-polishing town of Hokitika and the magnificent seracs of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier. Further south, over the Haast Pass, are the perpetually active towns of Wanaka and Queenstown.
After heading south, detour off SH6 to Te Anau and then on to the divine Milford Sound. Backtrack via Te Anau to Manapouri to access the fantastically remote Doubtful Sound. Doubling back, the road south ends at low-rise Invercargill, but a secondary road skirts the captivating coastal ecology of The Catlins. Rejoin SH1 and forge north to Scottish-bred Dunedin and the stately limestone of Oamaru before ducking inland on SH83 towards Aoraki/Mt Cook. Continue past the turquoise brilliance of Lake Tekapo back to Christchurch.
If you prefer, do this route in a clockwise direction.
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