Where to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown

The stunning drive between Christchurch and Queenstown takes approximately 6 hours, not counting scenic stops or the popular detour to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village. We therefore highly recommend stopping a night (or more) along the way to break up the journey. 

Where you choose to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown depends on what you want to do, how much time you have, and any other restrictions you have to work around (such as accommodation availability). 

There are three main places to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown: 

1. Geraldine
2. Lake Tekapo
3. Aoraki/Mount Cook Village

Read on for an introduction to each destination, including highlights and pros/cons of staying there. 

Where to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown: 

1. Geraldine

Located 1 hour 45 minutes south of Christchurch, Geraldine is a great place to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown. In fact, many visitors choose to bypass Christchurch altogether and spend their first night on the South Island in Geraldine. 

Geraldine is the quintessential small New Zealand farming community, perfect for escaping the tourist crowds and discovering authentic kiwi hospitality. There are enough things to do in Geraldine to fill a day or more. Highlights include: 

• Excellent walks and hikes through the ancient native Peel Forest
• An abundance of locally produced food and drinks, including Barker's of Geraldine products, artisanal cheeses, small-batch botanical gins, and craft beers
• Museums, galleries, and boutique shops in the compact, charming town centre
• Walking trails around town, including the new Geraldine Sculpture Trail
• Adventure sports such as rafting and canyoning in the stunning backcountry nearby

Pros of staying in Geraldine 

There are many pros to staying in Geraldine on your way between Christchurch and Queenstown, including: 

• Lots of accommodation options to suit all budgets, from motels to luxury hotels like The Vicarage Geraldine
• Slower paced town, with less tourist traffic, especially at night
• Excellent restaurants and cafes to sample
• More accommodation availability than Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook Village
• Much lower priced accommodation than the other two towns (standard 4-star accommodation in Mount Cook Village costs significantly more than the luxury 5-star rooms at The Vicarage Geraldine)

Cons of staying in Geraldine 

• Because Geraldine is reasonably close to Christchurch, you might want to stay a night in Mount Cook Village as well if you are hoping to make that detour
• Not as scenic as the other two destinations (though you don't have to drive far inland to see some truly stunning mountain scenery!)

2. Lake Tekapo 

Lake Tekapo is a hugely popular destination, mostly because of the stunning turquoise lake that lends itself to epic photography. However, there are several downsides to staying in Lake Tekapo. In addition, you can see everything in a couple hours, so you don't need to spend the night unless you plan to book a stargazing tour. 

Highlights of Lake Tekapo include: 

• The Church of the Good Shepherd
• Mount John Observatory (with the Astro Cafe at the top serving coffee and lunch)
• Tekapo Springs (in winter, the Tekapo Springs complex also includes tobogganing and an ice skating rink)
• Dark Sky Project - stargazing tours and observatory tours available day and night

Pros of staying in Lake Tekapo 

• Good restaurant selection
• Required if you want to book a nighttime stargazing tour (or try your hand at astrophotography - the Church of the Good Shepherd is a popular place for this!)
• Lots of self-contained holiday home-style accommodation, which works well for families and larger groups

Cons of staying in Lake Tekapo

• Most accommodations require you to stay at least two nights, and unless you're skiing in winter or plan to hike to the top of Mount John, there isn't really enough to do here to fill an entire day
• Accommodation is very expensive - expect to pay $200+ per night for a basic double room with a shared bathroom
• Since Lake Tekapo is so popular, it books out very far in advance, especially over the popular summer months
• Very touristy, with virtually no actual residents

3. Aoraki/Mount Cook Village 

Nestled at the base of New Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook Village is a stunning alpine town that serves as a base for hikes and mountaineering trips within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. There are also two information centres and a dramatic viewpoint over the Tasman Glacier for those who aren't interested in hiking. Highlights include: 

• Tasman Glacier (visit the viewpoint, take a boat tour on the glacier lake, or book a helicopter flight with a glacier landing to walk on the ice)
• Hooker Valley Track (10km return)
• Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre, which has exhibits, artwork, and information about the national park
• Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (featuring a 3D theatre and planetarium plus displays about Sir Edmund Hillary)

Pros of staying in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village 

• There is plenty to do here to fill the day, especially if you want to hike or take the boat tour of the Tasman Glacier lake
• The scenery is stunning

Cons of staying in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village 

• Very limited accommodation options, which means low availability and very expensive
• Food options are also very limited (you might need to bring your own meal provisions, depending on when you stay)
• The access road sometimes closes due to snow during winter

Recommended itineraries for the trip between Christchurch and Queenstown 

To help you decide how to plan the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown, these are five possible itineraries based on where you plan to stay between Christchurch and Queenstown. This gives you an idea of what you can accomplish based on each schedule. 

1. Driving through in one day 

If you don't stay anywhere between Christchurch and Queenstown, you will spend most of the day driving. This is what that would look like: 

• Head out of Christchurch early to get a head start on the long drive.
• Stop in Geraldine for morning tea or brunch.
• Continue straight through to Lake Tekapo, where you can visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and take in views from the top of Mount John before grabbing lunch
• Unless you want a very long day, you probably won't have time for the side trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook. Instead, continue over the Lindis Pass through to Queenstown, arriving in time for dinner.

2. One night in Geraldine 

Day 1: 

• Make your way down to Geraldine at your leisure - maybe you even fly into Christchurch this morning and head straight there from the airport.
• Spend the afternoon viewing ancient native trees in Peel Forest, strolling around the picturesque town centre, and sampling locally-made products.
• You can also make the scenic drive up the Rangitata Gorge into Mesopotamia Station for stunning mountain views.

Day 2: 

• Get an early start so you can make the most of the sights ahead in the Mackenzie Basin. Grab a coffee to enjoy on the road as you head south.
• Stop in Fairlie to grab one of the famous Fairlie Bakehouse pies for breakfast.
• When you reach Lake Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the views from the top of Mt John. You might want to grab a picnic lunch to enjoy in Mount Cook Village if you plan to make the side trip.
• Continuing on, you can detour to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village (45 minutes each way) to see the Tasman Glacier and enjoy a short walk along the Hooker Valley Track.
• If you didn't make the side trip, stop in Twizel or Omarama for lunch before continuing over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown.

3. One night in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village 

Day 1: 

• Head out of Christchurch early to get a head start on the long drive.
• Stop in Geraldine for morning tea or brunch.
• Continue straight through to Lake Tekapo, where you can visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and take in views from the top of Mount John before grabbing lunch. You may also want to soak in the Tekapo Springs or visit the Dark Sky Project base.
• After lunch, continue to Mount Cook Village.

Day 2: 

• In the morning, you might want to enjoy a scenic helicopter flight with a snow landing or a boat tour on the Tasman Glacier lake.
• Continue exploring the area around Mount Cook at your leisure. You might want to visit the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, explore the two visitor centres, or do a day hike along the Hooker Valley Track.
• Once you get on the road again, stop in Twizel or Omarama for lunch before continuing over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown.

4. One night in Geraldine plus one night in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village 

(This is our recommended itinerary, if you are able to secure a booking in Mount Cook Village.) 

Day 1: 

• Make your way down to Geraldine at your leisure.
• Spend the afternoon viewing ancient native trees in Peel Forest, strolling around the picturesque town centre, and sampling locally-made products.

Day 2: 

• Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in Geraldine - we recommend Barker's Foodstore & Eatery or Verde Geraldine, both of which are right by The Vicarage.
• Spend the morning getting to Lake Tekapo at your leisure. Sample the famous pies at Fairlie Bakehouse and stop at Burkes Pass to see the eclectic American-style historic township.
• Once in Lake Tekapo, visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the views from the top of Mt John. You can also enjoy a leisurely soak in the Tekapo Springs or visit the Dark Sky Project base in town.
• Enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes in Lake Tekapo before hitting the road again.
• Take in the stunning views on the drive over to Aoraki/Mount Cook. In the afternoon, explore the two visitor centres, visit the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, or enjoy a scenic walk up the Hooker Valley.

Day 3: 

• In the morning, you might want to enjoy a scenic helicopter flight with a snow landing or a boat tour on the Tasman Glacier lake.
• Continue exploring the area around Mount Cook at your leisure.
• Stop in Twizel or Omarama for lunch before continuing over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown.

5. Two nights in Lake Tekapo 

(As stated above, the only reason to stay two nights in Lake Tekapo is due to minimum stay restrictions imposed by most accommodation operators. If you choose this itinerary, we recommend making a day trip to Mount Cook Village to maximise your time.) 

Day 1: 

• Head out of Christchurch at your leisure.
• Stop for a while in Geraldine - browse the local shops, galleries, and museums; enjoy a walk through the ancient native Peel Forest; and sample locally made foods and drinks around town.
• Enjoy lunch in Geraldine before continuing on.
• When you arrive in Lake Tekapo, you can visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and take in views from the top of Mount John. You may also want to soak in the Tekapo Springs or visit the Dark Sky Project base.

Day 2: 

• Enjoy a hearty breakfast in Lake Tekapo and stock up on lunch provisions before heading to Mount Cook Village (1 hour 15 minutes each way) for the day.
• While in Mount Cook Village, visit the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, explore the two visitor centres, or do a day hike along the Hooker Valley Track. You might also want to enjoy a scenic helicopter flight with a snow landing or a boat tour on the Tasman Glacier lake.
• Return to Lake Tekapo for dinner. You might also want to enjoy a nighttime stargazing tour with Dark Sky Project.

Day 3: 

• Continue south through the Mackenzie Basin, driving over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown. If you get an early start, you can make it to Queenstown by lunchtime. Otherwise, stop in Omarama or Twizel.

Posted by Michael Barker on February 10, 2025