Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo: Full-day scenic drive
Drive across the Southern Alps and stop at five iconic lakes and passes in one full day
This 13-hour guided tour travels from Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, with a live English-speaking guide, pre-packed lunch, snacks and hotel pickup included. The route crosses the Rakaia bridge, passes through Fairlie, climbs the Lindis Pass and descends through the Kawarau Gorge. Children from age 5 are welcome. The journey suits all fitness levels.
Step-by-step itinerary
Christchurch to Queenstown via scenic stops
- Depart Christchurch city
- Cross Rakaia bridge and view farmland
- Stop at Fairlie Bakehouse for pie
- Visit Lake Tekapo and Church of Good Shepherd
- Stop at Lake Pukaki for views
- Explore Aoraki Mt Cook National Park
- Visit High Country Salmon farm
- Drive through Lindis Pass
- Pass Kawarau Gorge and Suspension Bridge
- Arrive in Queenstown
- Mount Sunday passing by
- Lake Tekapo 15m
- Lake Pukaki 10m
- Kawarau Suspension Bridge 5m
What’s included
- Pre-packed lunch and local snacks throughout the day.
- eco-friendly bottled water.
- WiFi and USB charging on board.
- air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter.
- hotel pickup and drop-off in Christchurch.
- live English-speaking guide.
- DOC concession.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Cheeky Kea Tours
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
You leave Christchurch heading south across the Canterbury plains, and the guide points out central city highlights as you cross the braided Rakaia river toward mid-Canterbury's patchwork farms. The route takes you through Fairlie, a farming township where you stop to pick up a pie from the famous Fairlie Bakehouse. The steak and cheese is the guide's personal favourite. From there, Lake Tekapo appears surrounded by the Southern Alps and tussocked landscape. You walk to the Church of the Good Shepherd, one of New Zealand's most photographed locations. Late November through early January, wild lupins line the lakeshore.
After Tekapo, Lake Pukaki's glacier-fed waters shift colour from ice-blue to deep blue depending on the weather, and on clear days Aoraki Mt Cook rises straight from the lake's edge. Once you reach Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, your guide offers two walking options (the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track or the Hooker Valley Track), so you choose based on time and energy. The guide will confirm the collection time at 2:15pm to continue toward Queenstown. If road conditions or other delays have shortened the window, they'll help you pick what fits the remaining time. From Mt Cook, the route climbs the Lindis Pass, one of only three alpine roads through the otherwise impassable Southern Alps, then descends through the Kawarau Gorge past the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and Roaring Meg Lookout before arriving in Queenstown.
You travel in a modern, air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter with WiFi, USB charging at your seat, a pre-packed lunch and local snacks provided throughout the day. Eco-friendly bottled water is supplied. The driver handles all pickups and drop-offs from your Christchurch accommodation, and the Mt Cook to Queenstown leg is operated by a Queenstown partner. Please note that from November 1st onward, the itinerary no longer includes High Country Salmon or Jacksons Orchard. Brief stops at Wānaka and Cardrona replace those stops instead.
Is this one for you?The full 13-hour drive means you sit for most of the day with walking breaks at each stop, so it suits travellers moving from Christchurch to Queenstown who want to see the major alpine lakes and passes without renting a car or arranging separate transport.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What walks can I do at Mt Cook, and how much time do I have there?
At Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, your guide offers the Tasman Glacier Viewpoint Track or the Hooker Valley Track as options. The allocated time may be less than advertised depending on road conditions or delays, so your guide will help you choose the best option on the day and confirm the 2:15pm collection time to continue to Queenstown.
Is lunch included on the Christchurch to Queenstown tour?
Yes, a pre-packed lunch is provided, along with local snacks throughout the day and eco-friendly bottled water.
What is Lake Pukaki like, and why does it look different from other lakes?
Lake Pukaki is a glacier-fed alpine lake whose colour shifts from ice-blue to deep blue depending on the weather. On clear days, Aoraki Mt Cook rises directly from the lake's edge, making it visually distinct from other alpine lakes in the region.
Does the tour stop at Fairlie, and what is there?
Yes, the tour stops in Fairlie, a farming township where you can buy a famous Fairlie Bakehouse pie. The steak and cheese is especially popular. The stop is noted as especially scenic in autumn when trees lining the streets turn orange.
What happens on the Lindis Pass and the Kawarau Gorge?
The Lindis Pass is one of only three alpine roads through the Southern Alps and offers amazing views down through the valleys. The Kawarau Gorge section passes the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and the Roaring Meg Lookout before you arrive in Queenstown.
Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo: Full-day scenic drive
13h · EN
from NZ$ 375 per person
≈ US$ 215 in your currency
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