Explore the mountain ranges and embrace the crisp air of the glaciers on a road trip throughout New Zealand / Aotearoa’s South Island. Known as Te Waipounamu in Te Reo Māori, South Island is home to a plethora of national parks, lakes, mountain peaks, and exciting cities, as well as 9 regions that house Hertz locations. Whether you’re flying to the island and picking up your rental car from the airport, or beginning your journey at one of the regional locations, let your car do the driving and get ready to sit back and relax as you traverse this beautiful part of New Zealand.
Take in the View at Marlborough Sounds
At the very top of South Island lies Marlborough Sounds / TeTauihu-o-te-Waka — over 1,500km of rich New Zealand coastline. A perfect place to begin your road trip, Marlborough Sounds features ancient sunken river valleys awash with the blue of the Pacific Ocean. There are a number of stunning tracks to explore and discover the beauty of South Island’s northern tip of nature, including the Queen Charlotte Track that can be explored in both single or multi-day hikes. With three main bodies of water (Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds) there are plenty of places to kayak around or explore on foot. As well as the option of camping under the stars and experiencing nature come alive around you, there is also waterside accommodation around the secluded bays. Featuring a handful of islands that provide the perfect spot for mid-hike picnics or rejuvenating forest walks, Marlborough Sounds is the perfect introduction to all the picturesque locations on offer on New Zealand’s South Island.
Discover Nature at Hokitika Gorge
Close to South Island’s West Coast sits a gorge almost too good to be true. Only a thirty-minute drive from the centre of the historic town of Hokitika, Hokitika Gorge is filled with stunning turquoise waters that are encased by the vivid green of the native bush that surrounds it. Home to a range of native animals and plants that live in the wild rainforest that leads to the crystal-clear blue of the gorge, Hokitika Gorge is a great option for those both willing to traverse the bush on foot or observe the blue waters from the water’s edge with a picnic. Travellers can also take a tour with Hokitika Gorge Tours to experience first-hand the beauty of the environment and the secrets of the forest, as told by a local. The town of Hokitika is a great place to set up a base for discovering the landscapes that surround it, with art galleries, heritage buildings and plenty of historic walks to help with your exploring. Once an important river port for transporting gold from the West Coast in the 19th century, Hokitika is now a significant hub of art and culture, including the Wildfoods Festival that is held at the end of every summer—a perfect time to visit the South Island.
Walk Under Stars at Mount Cook / Aoraki
South Island is famously home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook / Aoraki. An unmissable experience for travellers road tripping around the island, Mount Cook is an alpine region that boasts almost endless skyscraping peaks, glaciers and snow fields. Despite being home to twenty-three peaks over 3000 metres high, the area around Mount Cook is perfect for exploring in your car, with accessible roads and highways designed to allow anyone to experience the delights of the region. Embrace the dark after sunset and marvel at the magnificent star-filled night sky from the Mount Cook National Park’s International Dark Sky Reserve, the only one of its kind in the country. For accommodation, the Department of Conservation has seventeen huts available to visitors who are willing to hike to reach them, otherwise there are a range of places to stay in Mount Cook Village, like the beautiful Hermitage Hotel or the Lake Ohau Lodge.
Relax in Queenstown
A trip around the South Island wouldn’t be complete without a stop in the stunning Queenstown/Tahuna. From fine dining and wineries to water cruises across Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is the perfect last stop on your travels around South Island. Located in the southern region of South Island, the town combines relaxing nature walks with great food and culture, serving some of the best tastes that South Island has to offer. Whilst the famous Otago Wine Region is an hour drive away from Queenstown’s centre, the iconic Gibbston Valley Winery is only twenty minutes. Visit the winery’s cellar door or indulge in a cheese and wine tasting experience as you enjoy a glass of the venue’s world-famous and award-winning Pinot Noir. Being the perfect way to complete a road trip and take advantage of some of the beloved local eateries, like Lombardi Restaurant and Bar and Nest Kitchen and Bar, you’ll discover how Queenstown is a gem nestled within the South Island’s stunning natural mountain ranges. With two Hertz car rental locations situated in Queenstown, including one at the airport, the convenience of dropping your car off at the end of your journey is the only way to finish off a spectacular trip.
Explore the road that travels through the untouched wilderness of New Zealand’s South Island, and discover the many natural wonders along the way.
