Driving Route : DHL Lions Series - Ultimate Route
- Overview
- Day 1 : Rotorua to Taupo
- Day 2 : Taupo to Wanganui
- Day 3 : Wanganui to New Plymouth
- Day 4 : New Plymouth to Hamilton
- Day 5 : Hamilton to Raglan
- Day 6 : Hamilton to Napier
- Day 7 : Napier to Masterton
- Day 8 : Masterton to Wellington
- Day 9 : Wellington to Christchurch
- Day 10 : Christchurch to Dunedin
- Day 11 : Dunedin to Invercargill
- Day 12 : Invercargill to Stewart Island
- Day 13 : Invercargill to Queenstown
- Day 14 : Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
- Day 15 : Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Day 16 : Christchurch to Blenheim
- Day 17 : Blenheim to Palmerston North
- Day 18 : Palmerston North to Masterton
- Day 19 : Masterton to Martinborough
- Day 20 : Martinborough to Wellington
- Day 21 : Wellington to Turangi
- Day 22 : Turangi to Auckland
- Day 23 : Auckland to Whangarei
- Day 24 : Whangarei to Dargaville
- Day 25 : Dargaville to Auckland
Featured Tourism Operators
Day 14 : Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.
Travel time | Km | (Miles) | |
---|---|---|---|
Queenstown - Omarama | 2 hrs | 164 | 103 |
Omarama - Twizel | 0.5 hr | 30 | 19 |
Twizel - Mt Cook Village | 0.75 hr | 64 | 40 |
Mt Cook Village - Lake Tekapo | 1.25 hrs | 104 | 65 |
Totals for Day | 4.5 hrs | 362 | 226 |
Queenstown - Omarama
164 km (103 miles)
Approximately 2 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway
The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated and fantastically scenic. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences—gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf.
The vineyards of the Gibbston area are the first temptation on your journey. Then stop and admire the Roaring Meg power station in the Kawarau Gorge.
The restored heart of Cromwell is a treasure for visitors, or take a detour to the old gold workings of Bannockburn. Lake Dunstan is a fine place for a picnic before you launch yourself into the beautiful Lindis Pass—just magic when there's snow around.
You'll know you're in Omarama when you see the giant merino sheep statue. This area's unique geography has made it a magnet for gliding enthusiasts. The northwesterly wind blows steadily to form the famous Northwest Arch, a thermal that can take the glider pilots to 10,000 metres. Scenic soaring can be arranged.
Omarama - Twizel
30 km (19 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway
Omarama's unique geography has made it a magnet for gliding enthusiasts. The northwesterly wind blows steadily to form the famous Northwest Arch, a thermal that can take the glider pilots to 10,000 metres. Scenic soaring can be arranged, golf and fishing are other entertainment options.
The easy drive to Twizel takes you through picturesque sheep farming country fringed with mountain ranges. You could pause to cast a line into the Ahuriri River—famous for sizeable rainbow and brown trout. You can also detour to the fascinating Paritea cliffs, which are constantly being exposed by the active Osler fault line.
Twizel is a well-placed base for mountain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, horse trekking and hiking. It's also a place to spy on the rarest wading bird in the world—the Black Stilt. If you don't have the time to catch your own salmon, the local salmon farm sells it—fresh or smoked.
Twizel - Mt Cook Village
64 km (40 miles)
Approximately 0.75 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway
Twizel is a well-placed base for mountain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, horse trekking and hiking. It's also a place to spy on the rarest wading bird in the world—the Black Stilt. If you don't have the time to catch your own salmon, the local salmon farm sells it—fresh or smoked.
The road to Mt Cook hugs the edge of Lake Pukaki. The exquisite opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension. The landscape is a mixture of high country tussock, farmland and snow-capped mountains.
The Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the highest peak in Australasia (Mt Cook - 3,755 metres). The region attracts mountain climbers, hikers and scenery fanatics.
Heli skiing, heli hiking and aerial sightseeing provide visitors with amazing memories. A variety of walking trails begin in or near Mount Cook Village—most take only a couple of hours. In the bar of the local hotel, huge windows provide a perfect view of Mt Cook.
Mt Cook Village - Lake Tekapo
104 km (65 miles)
Approximately 1.25 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway
The Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the highest peak in Australasia (Mt Cook - 3,755 metres). The region attracts mountain climbers, hikers and scenery fanatics. Heli skiing, heli hiking and aerial sightseeing provide visitors with amazing memories.
A variety of walking trails begin in or near Mount Cook Village—most take only a couple of hours. In the bar of the local hotel, huge windows provide a perfect view of Mt Cook.
The road to Lake Tekapo takes you down the Tasman Valley to beautiful Lake Pukaki. The opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension. At the southern end of the lake you'll turn left and drive through golden tussock land to Lake Tekapo.
The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.
- Overview
- Day 1 : Rotorua to Taupo
- Day 2 : Taupo to Wanganui
- Day 3 : Wanganui to New Plymouth
- Day 4 : New Plymouth to Hamilton
- Day 5 : Hamilton to Raglan
- Day 6 : Hamilton to Napier
- Day 7 : Napier to Masterton
- Day 8 : Masterton to Wellington
- Day 9 : Wellington to Christchurch
- Day 10 : Christchurch to Dunedin
- Day 11 : Dunedin to Invercargill
- Day 12 : Invercargill to Stewart Island
- Day 13 : Invercargill to Queenstown
- Day 14 : Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
- Day 15 : Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Day 16 : Christchurch to Blenheim
- Day 17 : Blenheim to Palmerston North
- Day 18 : Palmerston North to Masterton
- Day 19 : Masterton to Martinborough
- Day 20 : Martinborough to Wellington
- Day 21 : Wellington to Turangi
- Day 22 : Turangi to Auckland
- Day 23 : Auckland to Whangarei
- Day 24 : Whangarei to Dargaville
- Day 25 : Dargaville to Auckland
View more Specialised New Zealand driving routes.
Directory Information
Queenstown:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Omarama, Otago:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours
Waitaki, Otago:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities
Twizel, Canterbury:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Visitor Information
Aoraki/Mt Cook:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information
Lake Tekapo, Canterbury:
Accommodation,
Attractions and Activities,
Tours,
Transport,
Visitor Information