New Zealand South Island Road Trip: Campervan Tales from Christchurch to Invercargill
Episode 10: A New Zealand South Island Road Trip (with Nettie… and the Sheep)
INTRODUCTION
Set off on an unforgettable road journey across the spectacular South Island of New Zealand, travelling from Christchurch to Invercargill in a characterful vintage campervan. This springtime adventure winds through alpine lakes, dramatic coastlines, welcoming rural towns, and some of the country’s most scenic driving routes. Expect postcard views at Lake Tekapo, world-class wine near Queenstown, legendary pies, wild southern shores, and more woolly sheep than you ever thought possible. Slow travel, big skies, and unforgettable landscapes await.
A New Zealand South Island road trip quickly teaches you two things. First, distances are deceptive. Second, sheep are everywhere. Not just “some sheep”, but rolling, meditative, wool-heavy multitudes—perched on hills, sprinkled across valleys, gazing calmly into the middle distance as if pondering the meaning of life (or at least their next mouthful of grass).
Late September drifted into early October, spring was gently waking up, and we had three weeks to travel from Christchurch to Invercargill in a 1989 Talbot campervan called Nettie. She was elderly, opinionated, and completely unfazed by sheep traffic.
Christchurch: City Beginnings and Pastoral Promises
Christchurch is where English-style gardens meet Kiwi innovation. Leafy avenues, riverside walks, and a quietly confident food and wine scene make it an ideal starting point. After picking up Nettie from a friend and making polite introductions (always wise with vintage campervans), we set off westward—towards our first New Zealand snow and, very quickly, our first flocks of sheep.
Within minutes, the city thinned out and the hills appeared—green, rolling, and dotted like a pointillist painting with wool.
Sheffield: Pies, Pastures and Pauses for Sheep
Sheffield is a small town with a global reputation for pies and a surrounding landscape best described as sheep central.
This was our first proper stop—and an excellent one.
- What we ate:
I opted for the lamb’s fry pie (sautéed lamb’s liver with onions and bacon—deeply traditional and outstanding).
Christine chose the garlic-roasted vegetable pie, proving once again that New Zealand does vegetables every bit as well as meat.
Outside, sheep grazed calmly, entirely unconcerned by their culinary cousins being discussed inside.
Glentunnel, Windwhistle & Pudding Hill: Hills with Woolly Accents
- Glentunnel feels tucked away, surrounded by forest and farmland where sheep stand like living punctuation marks on green sentences.
- Windwhistle (still a favourite name 😀) sits dramatically near the Rakaia Gorge—sheep here appear slightly more rugged, as if aware of the scenery.
- Pudding Hill is more of a poetic pause than a place, with fields rolling softly into the distance.
- Mount Somers offers heritage charm, mountain views, and—yes—more sheep, calmly supervising the landscape.
Every bend in the road revealed another hillside, another valley, another gathering of woolly philosophers staring into the great beyond 🐑.
Lake Tekapo: Blue Water, White Peaks… and Sheep
Lake Tekapo’s colour still feels unreal—milky turquoise water framed by snow-dusted peaks. The Church of the Good Shepherd stands quietly as one of the South Island’s most photographed landmarks.
Even here, sheep complete the picture, grazing peacefully as if they’ve been posed deliberately for postcards.
Wanaka: Lakeside Ease and Grazing Grandeur
Wanaka is effortlessly cool—great cafés, lakeside walks, and a pace that encourages lingering. The surrounding hills seem to roll forever, each one carefully decorated with sheep spaced just far enough apart to look intentional.
If sheep had a retirement plan, Wanaka would be high on the list.
Queenstown: Drama, Wine and a Sheep-Free Moment (Almost)
Queenstown brings the drama—mountains, lake views, and a thriving wine scene.
- Skiing and alpine scenery
- Beautiful parks and long walks
- Proper wine tasting (very proper)
It’s slightly less sheep-dense here, but they’re never far away, watching quietly from the hills as visitors swirl Pinot Noir and admire the view.
Gore: Trout, Rivers and Rural Pride
Gore announces itself with a giant trout statue, which sets the tone nicely. Friendly, down-to-earth, and proudly rural, it sits surrounded by farmland where sheep outnumber people by a margin best not calculated.
The Catlins: Where Sheep Meet the Sea
The Catlins feel wild and elemental.
- Owaka: Small, friendly, and practical.
- Papatowai: Forest-framed and blissfully remote.
- Curio Bay: Fossilised forest, sweeping coastlines, and sheep grazing with ocean views.
- Fortrose: Big skies and tidal flats.
- Waipapa Point: Windswept, dramatic, and unforgettable.
Here, sheep graze as if the crashing Southern Ocean is merely background noise.
Bluff: Fish, Chips and Seagull Negotiations
Bluff delivered what may genuinely be the best fish and chips in New Zealand—crispy, fresh, and eaten under siege from highly organised seagulls.
The sheep, wisely, stayed well clear.
Invercargill: Gardens, Pies and a Woolly Farewell
Invercargill surprised us completely. We stayed ten days, exploring parks, a beautifully serene Japanese Garden, excellent restaurants, and developing a deep appreciation for Fat Bastard Pies.
The town is friendly, relaxed, and surrounded—of course—by more rolling countryside and more sheep. Saying goodbye to Nettie here felt oddly emotional. She’d carried us well, through hills, valleys, and endless wool-lined roads.
Flying Back to Christchurch (with Added Wind)
The flight back north was… energetic. Strong winds, lively turbulence, and a smooth landing that earned a round of quiet gratitude. South Island—magnificent, woolly, and unforgettable. See you soon.
Sip-of-the-Week 🍷
SELAKS THE TASTE COLLECTION – Black Forest Pinot Noir, Marlborough
This Pinot Noir feels right at home in a landscape of rolling hills.
Tasting Notes:
Think Black Forest Cake, but refined—dark cherries and berries upfront, a gentle cocoa note, soft tannins, and a smooth finish. If the cake wore hiking boots and gazed thoughtfully across a valley of sheep, this would be it.
- Style: Juicy, approachable, and dangerously drinkable
- Pair with: Pies, lamb dishes (naturally), or sunset sheep-watching
- Verdict: Affordable, cheerful, and very hard to share
How to Get to Christchurch (Gateway to the Wool)
From the UK & Europe:
Typically via hubs such as Dubai, Singapore, or Doha, connecting through Auckland before flying to Christchurch.
Asia:
Direct flights from Singapore, plus connections via Auckland from other major Asian cities.
From the USA:
Fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Houston to Auckland, then connect to Christchurch.
South Africa:
Usually via Australia (Sydney or Melbourne) or the Middle East, followed by onward travel to Christchurch.
Christchurch International Airport is efficient, welcoming, and just minutes away from roads leading straight into sheep country.
Final Thoughts: A Woolly Kind of Wonderful
A New Zealand South Island road trip isn’t just about destinations—it’s about the spaces between them. The quiet roads. The vast skies. The green hills. And the sheep. Always the sheep. Calm, contemplative, and everywhere, they become part of the rhythm of travel.
From Christchurch to Invercargill, Nettie carried us through a landscape stitched together with wool, wine, and warmth. South Island—you’ve left your mark.
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