We managed to snag affordable Qantas flights on Trip.com for about S$950 return, thanks to a combination of discounts and offset points. We arrived in Christchurch in the late afternoon (around 5pm), and our return flight was a brutal 5am departure—but honestly, the price made it soooo worth it!

We picked up our rental car from Yes Rentals near Christchurch Airport, using a pre-arranged shuttle to get to the car rental shop. For about seven days, we paid ~S$240 for a hybrid car, which was a great deal. I topped up separately for car insurance, bought together with my travel insurance.

The service was good and reliable, and customer service was decent too. Tip: Take lots of photos of the car upon pickup and before return, just to be safe. I have enough self-awareness to know I'm not a great driver, so I took lots of pictures and videos in 4k to save my backside. I mean, c'mon, I'm an Asian woman. I fit the stereotype.

For our first two nights, we stayed at Hotel Give in Christchurch, paying ~S$154 for a Deluxe Twin Room. The hotel is centrally located right next to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, the Arts Centre and Hagley Park. It has a 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi, and sports clean, modern rooms.

There's also a kitchen for those who enjoy cooking while travelling overseas. I don't cook, but I took a picture for you home chefs out there.

One thing to note: many hotels in New Zealand don’t provide toothbrushes, so remember to pack your own.

After the first night of rest (we reached our hotel relatively late and just knocked out), we started our morning at Antigua Boat Shed Cafe, a charming riverside spot perfect for a leisurely breakfast.

The cafe sits right by the Avon River and has lovely views—there were even ducks swimming around!

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are just a short walk away, and they’re beautiful even in early spring. The air was crisp, some flowers were beginning to bloom, and locals were going for their morning run.

Next, we took a 2.5-hour drive to Kaikoura. It was raining the entire way, so the journey took a bit longer, but the coastal views were still stunning. We stopped a few times at different viewing points to greet the sheep and take in the mountains.

Kaikoura is famous for its marine life, especially New Zealand fur seals, whales and dolphins. The Point Kean Viewpoint and Peninsula Seal Colony are great spots to view seals on the coastline. We didn’t arrive at the ideal time (early morning or late evening is best), but we did manage to spot one lone seal hibernating on the grass, which was a small victory! It gave me a legit jumpscare because I totally missed it just lying there like a blob.

Back in Christchurch, we had dinner at Riverside Market, a seven-day indoor farmers’ market and boutique shopping hub in the heart of the CBD. It’s touristy and a bit pricey, but the food is quite solid with beer, burgers, and a variety of international options. It’s also a lively spot, especially in the evenings, with plenty of tourists.

Oh, we also got to see one of those touristy restaurant-trams!

On the very first night, we also went to A’mano, a pasta spot that stays open late. The pasta here was legitimately amazing, and it was one of my fave meals of the trip.

After checking out from Hotel Give, we set off for the highlight of our trip: Lake Tekapo. Our first stop was at The Phat Duck in Ashburton, a small town about an hour from Christchurch. Ashburton has a surprising amount going on for its size: eclectic cafes and restaurants, craft shops, thrift stores, and even a nationally recognised art gallery and museums. It’s also home to the Trotts Community Garden, which is worth a stroll if you have time.

Next, we stopped at the Geraldine Vintage Car & Machinery Club Museum (open daily 10am–3pm). It’s known as the finest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Inside, you’ll find vintage cars, tractors, and farm machinery.

We spent some time talking to the sweet uncle who mans the stall, and he showed us around the range of rare exhibits, including John Britten’s Campervan, a Harley Davidson hearse, an original Spartan Bi-Plane, a Saunderson & Mill Tractor, and a Fordson Leopard Tractor circa 1930. Some of the items here are genuinely one-of-a-kind and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. I spent a solid 30 minutes fawning over a vintage Ferrari.

After about three hours of driving, we arrived at Lake Tekapo, where we stayed at Lakes Edge Holiday Park for two nights, paying approximately NZ$450 for their Ensuite Cabin.

Lake Tekapo is part of the UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve and is renowned for its striking turquoise waters, dramatic mountain backdrop, and clear night skies. It’s a favourite stop on South Island road trips, and once you see it, you’ll defo understand why.

The ensuite cabin at Lakes Edge Holiday Park is a stand-alone unit with a queen bed and a bunk bed. There was a separate kitchenette (complimentary tea, coffee & milk provided), and a private bathroom.

The cabin also has free-to-air TV and offers gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding mountains. I actually watched some of the most questionable New Zealand TV shows here, including a wack dating show that bared all body parts. I can't unsee it.

The only downside to the rooms is that they’re not very soundproof—if you have noisy neighbours, you’ll hear them. Thankfully, the noisy people only checked in on the day we were checking out, so we had two good nights of rest.

We were also conveniently located right in front of the 24-hour laundromat, which was great for doing a quick wash. It has washing machines, dryers, coin-operated showers, and public toilets. The park also has kitchenette facilities and a chill lounge.

For dinner, we went to Fishtail Authentic Indian & Nepalese Cuisine, and honestly, it was the best Indian food I’ve ever had in my life. We ordered butter chicken, garlic naan, and mango lassi, and everything was phenomenal. FYI, New Zealand doesn’t have a tipping culture, but you can tip around 10% if you’d like.

Lake Tekapo has numerous souvenir shops, although prices are marked up—expect to pay at least NZ$10 more than at the airport. I bought postcards and mailed them home using special stamps unique to Lake Tekapo, dropped into a blue mailbox near the Chinese restaurant. It was a fun and personal touch to end the evening, for sure.

Lake Tekapo has a few small grocery stores, perfect if you feel a bit peckish or want to stock up on snacks. Do note that prices here are marked up quite a bit compared to bigger towns, so grab essentials for a cheaper price in Christchurch if you can, because we hate capitalism!!!!

There’s also a petrol station in Lake Tekapo, convenient if you’re driving around the region. Petrol tends to be slightly more expensive than in Christchurch, so it’s good to fill up before heading out to more remote spots nearby like Mount Cook. We did consider going there, but the weather was so cold that we decided to stay indoors and enjoy the chilly weather instead of braving it.

The next day, we did more touristy shopping before paying a visit to Tekapo Springs. Entry costs NZ$37 for adults and NZ$22 for children, and you can easily spend a few hours here. I recommend buying the tickets on-site as they're a dollar more expensive online.

There are hot pools, steam and sauna rooms, cooler pools, an Aqua Play Area and even a day spa if you’re feeling rich.

The water here is alpine water, sourced from an underground spring near Tekapo. It’s not geothermal, but it’s exceptionally pure, and bathing in it was such an interesting experience. Temperatures range from 28°C to 38.5°C, so you get that lovely contrast between the crisp mountain air and the warm water.

Remember to bring your own towels; otherwise, you’ll have to rent them for NZ$10, which honestly feels like a bit of a scam. Lockers are available on-site for NZ$7.

For dinner, we went to Kohan, a well-known Japanese restaurant located by the lake that's highly rated, although it also has a significant number of negative comments. They’re famous for their sushi, sashimi and teriyaki, which were indeed fresh and satisfying. Like, c'mon, you can't expect Japan-level sushi and sashimi here, and sure, they use fake packet wasabi, but honestly, by NZ's standards, the food here was pretty good.

Lake Tekapo is part of a Dark Sky Reserve, so it’s one of the best places in the world for stargazing. You can either join a guided tour or explore on your own—just drive a short distance from town and look up.

The Church of the Good Shepherd is also a lovely spot at night. You can drive down and walk from the carpark, or cross the MacLaren Footbridge, a 125-metre-long pedestrian bridge near the church. In the summer, the area is surrounded by vibrant purple and pink lupin flowers, making it even more picturesque. We missed it while we were here, but hopefully you'll be luckier.

Our accommodation in Little River was truly unique: The Red Bus. It’s literally an old tourist bus converted into a place to stay, perched on our Airbnb host’s lawn.

The interior had been lovingly refurbished, with a shower inside and a separate toilet. There was a potbelly stove that took us forever to light, but once it got going, it added to the whole rustic vibe.

Toilet pictures for those who are wondering. I definitely held in my pee at night instead of braving the freezing cold air to relieve my bladder.

The shower is small but has a solid heater and strong water pressure.

The bus also had a small pantry area with basic cooking facilities, a fridge, and essentials for making coffee and tea. There were racks to dry laundry (no dryer), and a nice selection of books. There’s no Wi-Fi at the bus, so our evenings were mostly spent reading, watching horses outside, or playing with our host’s two dogs and cat.

Outside, a private patio was surrounded by plum trees that resembled cherry blossoms. When the wind blew, the petals floated everywhere, which was so so pretty! The area we were staying at also had a lot of these plum trees, and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures.

A few things to note, though: BUGS. SPIDERS. HUGE MOSQUITOES. FLIES. Also, you can’t lock the door from the inside, which might make some people uneasy.

We spent both nights having dinner at Little River Inn, which is only a three-minute drive from the Red Bus, but note that it's a dark area without streetlights if you're heading out at night. It’s pretty much the only place to eat in the area, and they close at 9pm.

It’s got that classic country pub vibe, and we loved it. We had beer, board games, and the best fish and chips I’ve ever had.

Little River is just a 30-minute drive from Akaroa, a charming French heritage town known for its picturesque harbour, French-inspired cuisine, and unique architecture. We came here for a leisurely day of cafe-hopping and touristy wandering.

We had fantastic fudge brownies and hot chocolate, visited the Akaroa Lighthouse, and enjoyed a relaxed picnic with views of the harbour.

Akaroa is also the site of a fatal and tragic plane crash. There's a small sign commemorating this mounted on one of the buildings. 

There’s also an alpaca farm, but you have to book a tour in advance. We didn’t, and by the time we arrived, the last tour had just set off. We were told we couldn’t see the alpacas because … capitalism. Thankfully, we spotted some alpacas on the drive down and managed to snap a few quick photos—they were ridiculously cute and dumb-looking, and I say this with so much endearment.

The drive itself is scenic, winding through hills and farmlands, and well worth the trip even if you don’t do any activities! We actually spotted some lupins during the drive too!

We had a 5am flight the next day, so this day was all about slowly making our way back to Christchurch. 

On the way, we stopped at Lyttelton, a small port town, for pizza at Arbour Woodfired Pizza and Bar. It was seriously good—exactly the comfort food we needed before the long night ahead.

One of my friends even bought a HUGE BOOK here, because why not (and because Qantas offers 30kg baggage allowance).

We also stopped by the Barnett Park Cave, which we completely underestimated. The nearest car park is a 30-minute walk to the cave; we parked even further away, which took 1.5 hours one way. The sun was out, but the wind was so intense I felt like I was fighting it with my forehead.

The hike goes along the hill range, right beside fields of sheep. Thankfully, a kind local pointed us in the right direction. We didn’t make it all the way due to time constraints, but it’s something I’d return to do properly next time. No, I'm kidding. I hate hiking, but you can attempt this in my stead.

For our final night, we stayed at Lylo Christchurch, which is just a 10-minute walk from the airport. It’s modern, clean, and very practical, with options for pods or private rooms.

We booked a Twin Private Room with Ensuite for about S$50 per night for two people. The room was compact but comfortable, with hot showers and a TV with channels that I binge-watched.

The highlight is their massive Parklife Hangout area, which is perfect if you’ve got time to kill before a flight. There are plenty of power points, strong Wi-Fi, and comfy spots to sit and get work done. We didn’t actually sleep—we just hung out here catching up on work.

You can also cook up a meal because there's a full kitchen there for your use, along with fridges to store your ingredients.

For our final dinner in Christchurch, we ate near the airport for convenience. There are numerous options available, although most are fast-food establishments.

Driving: Driving in New Zealand is generally straightforward, with well-maintained roads. But in more remote areas, expect narrow, winding roads where local drivers tend to go a bit faster than the speed limit. If you’re a tourist or just not comfortable keeping up, simply signal and let them pass—drivers here are polite and well-mannered, UNLIKE drivers in Singapore. In towns, the speed limit can drop as low as 40 km/h, so be sure to keep an eye out for signs.

Pretrol: The average petrol price in Christchurch is around NZ$2.49 per litre, though prices can vary daily. In smaller towns like Lake Tekapo, prices tend to be slightly higher. A good hack is to use the Gaspy app, which displays real-time fuel prices in various locations.

Cashless payment: Cards are widely accepted, but it’s handy to have some cash for smaller cafes, parking meters, or rural shops.

This 6-day road trip through Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Little River and Akaroa was everything I’d hoped for as it included scenic drives, unique stays, incredible food, and those wide, cinematic New Zealand landscapes that look like my Windows screensaver. We actually covered quite a bit of ground without feeling rushed, and the mix of nature, small towns, and relaxed city moments made it the perfect itinerary for a first-timer. I already can’t wait to go back and explore more in the future, though I may skip the Barnett cave the next time.

Thanks for reading, and see you next post!