Lake Tekapo is definitely worth a vist and would recommend you go. Both, Mt Cook and Tekapo is worth the visit! If you got the time - I would recommend the walk/hike to Hooker Lake. Best way to see the lake and the surrounding area is by hiking up to Mt John, which is the little mountain on the leftern shoreside.
- Purakaunui Falls Walk.
- The Lost Gypsy Gallery.
- Purakaunui Falls.
- Owaka Museum and Catlins Information Centre.
- Matai Falls Walk.
- Florence Hill Lookout.
- Cannibal Bay.
- Catlins Horse Riding.
InterCity® operates daily buses from Queenstown to Tekapo and the journey will take approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes. Buses to Tekapo will depart from Athol Street, in the middle of the car park, Queenstown, and arrive in Tekapo beside the Lake Tekapo Tavern, SH 8.
55 km drive from Tekapo along the edge of Lake Pukaki will see you arrive at Mount Cook Village framed by rugged, stunning mountain scapes with 140 peaks that are 2000metres high and located in the World Heritage site Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Aoraki Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest peak at 3754 metres.
Milford Sound is 288km from Queenstown (4 hours 15 minutes) and 121km from Te Anau (2 hours 15 minutes). Choosing to drive to Milford Sound by car in your own time can be a rewarding experience, but there are risks involved. It's important to plan your drive to Milford Sound carefully.
InterCity® operates daily buses from Mt Cook to Queenstown and will take approximately 4 hours. Buses to Queenstown depart from the Aoraki Lobby, Hermitage Hotel, Mt Cook and arrive in Queenstown in the carpark on Athol Street.
South Island estimated travel time:The distance between Picton at the top of the South Island and Invercargill at the very bottom is 895 km and driving non-stop will take close to two days, no small feat. We recommend dedicating 7 days to 2 weeks in the South Island.
The journey from Queenstown to Dunedin takes approximately 4 hours 30 minutes with regular breaks along the way. Buses leave Queenstown from the carpark on Athol Street, and arrive in Dunedin at the InterCity bus stop at 331 Moray Place, Platform K, Outside Countdown Supermarket.
1Queenstown to Dunedin (283kms – 3 hours 29 mins)
Dunedin tap water is safe to drink.
The last Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill train service, the daily "Southerner" over the South island's Main South Line, was withdrawn in 2004. Nowadays, anyone wishing to reach these towns must endure a long bus journey from Christchurch.
Check out the top experiences in Queenstown and Wanaka.
- Queenstown Skyline, Queenstown. By Skyline.
- Coronet Peak, Queenstown. By NZSki.
- Roy's Peak, Wanaka. By Miles Holden.
- Picturesque Arrowtown, Queenstown.
- Onsen Hot Pools, Queenstown.
- Rippon Vineyard, Wanaka.
- Road to Glenorchy, Queenstown.
- Bungy, Queenstown.
InterCity operates a regular bus from Queenstown to Wanaka. The InterCity bus leaves Queenstown at Athol Street and arrives in Wanaka at the Log Cabin on the Lakefront, 100 Ardmore Street. Your journey will take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
