Wanaka to Milford Sound

Leave beautiful Lake Wanaka south on the Crown Range Road. You'll pass through the village of Cardrona, which is home to one of New Zealand's most popular ski fields.

Crown Terrace has spectacular lookouts over Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

Take a short side trip at Arrow Junction, turn right to Arrowtown, for a look at how life was back then in the immaculately preserved village.

Then head into Queenstown for a wild time doing all kinds of adventure activities and skiing.

Leave Queenstown south on the Kingston Road, SH6, with the Remarkables on your left side and the stunning Lake Wakatipu on your right - a wonderful journey with the road hugging the lake all the way to Kingston.

For a fun side-trip, you can book tickets on the famous Kingston Flyer historic steam train.

Continue south on SH6 to Five Rivers and turn right onto SH97 to Mossburn.

At the junction, turn right onto SH94, the picturesque Te Anau-Mossburn Road.

Drive west through The Key into the lakeside resort town of Te Anau.

Here is a great chance to take a leisurely cruise on the sparkling lake.

Leave Te Anau north for Te Anau Downs driving alongside the lake almost all the way.

The road curves inland along the Eglinton River past the Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat and Cascade Creek at Gunn Lake.

A little further around the road heads into the Homer Tunnel before emerging not far from the paradisiacal Milford Sound with its towering mountain sides. A great place to take a cruise to the mouth of the fiord.

Alexandra to Te Anau (via Queenstown)

After leaving Alexandra head west on SH8, passing through the hydro towns of Clyde and Cromwell. Be sure to check out Old Cromwell Town, the original township that was moved to higher ground so the old town area could be flooded.

Head southwest on SH6 until you come to Arrow Junction. Take a detour by turning right and check out historic Arrowtown, one of the most picturesque towns in the South Island, especially during autumn when its deciduous trees are changing colour.

Back on SH6 you head south past Lakes Hayes and then the Lower Shotover, before the road turns into SH6A and you arrive at the Adventure Capital of New Zealand, Queenstown. There is a myriad of things to do…you can't do them all in one day, so spend a few days here and soak up the atmosphere.

Having had your full of fun and adventure, head north on SH6A until you come to the intersection with SH6, turn right and start south. You'll pass Kingston, which has an historic steam engine railway, then on to Garston, Nokomai, Athol, Parawa, and Five Rivers. Turn right at Five Rivers along SH97 and you soon come to Mossburn.

Drive west through The Key into the lakeside resort town of Te Anau.

Here is a great chance to take a leisurely cruise on the sparkling lake which is the gateway to Fiordland.

It is recommended that you have detailed road maps before departing on your trip