🇳🇿 New Zealand South Island | 14-Day Epic Road Trip Guide

14 days circling the South Island—glaciers, lakes, starry skies, and penguins. NZ winter? Chilly perfection. ❄️ 🗓 Itinerary Overview Christchurch → Oamaru → Dunedin → Te Anau → Milford Sound → Queenstown → Lake Tekapo → Mt. Cook → Christchurch 📆 Daily Breakdown Day 1: Arrive in Christchurch → pick up rental car + stock supplies 🛒 Day 2: Drive to Oamaru (3.5h) → blue penguin parade at dusk 🐧 Day 3: Coastal drive to Dunedin via: Moeraki Boulders (giant spherical rocks!) Katiki Point (wild yellow-eyed penguins) 👀 Day 4: Dunedin highlights: Sandfly Beach (more penguins!) Craft beer at Emerson’s Brewery 🍻 Day 5-6: Te Anau (serene lakeside sunsets) → Milford Sound (waterfalls + Fiordland penguins!) Day 7-8: Queenstown 🏔️: Airbnb with postcard lake views Fergburger pilgrimage 🍔 Salmon fishing at Hook Wanaka 🎣 Day 9: Lake Tekapo → stop at turquoise Lake Pukaki + Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon sashimi 🍣 Day 10-11: Mt. Cook: Hooker Valley Track hike Tasman Glacier kayaking 🚣 Day 12-13: Christchurch → Botanic Gardens + museum chill time Day 14: Fly home ✈️ 🏆 Top 3 Unforgettable Moments 1️⃣ Penguin encounters (blue + yellow-eyed!) 2️⃣ Queenstown Airbnb’s midnight starscape 🌌 3️⃣ Lake Tekapo & Pukaki’s surreal blue hues 💙 #NZRoadTrip #SouthIsland #WinterInNZ #TravelDiaries #Queenstown #PenguinParade