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A journey from Picton to Christchurch

This is a spectacularly scenic drive along the Pacific coast of New Zealand’s South Island and a campervan is an excellent way to make this journey. Here, motorists can witness seal colonies, take photos of windswept cliffs and sip wine while relaxing on a stunning beach.

Start the drive in Picton and head south to Blenheim in the Marlborough wine region. Here, visitors can go on a wine tour, take a scenic walk in Wither Hills or play a round of golf. Continue south into North Canterbury and Kaikoura, the whale watching capital of the country.

Kaikoura is nestled between the mountains and the sea, and offshore it is rich in marine life. Whales, dolphins and seals call this area home, and it also attracts plenty of seabirds. It is an animal lover’s dream, where visitors can swim with seals and dolphins or go whale watching. It is also a surfer’s paradise, having great breaks on the reefs and the points.

If time permits, take a side trip off of this route along highway 7 and into the interior to visit Hanmer Springs. This spa resort town is surrounded by magnificent landscapes, which is the perfect setting for lazing around in its hot springs. Afterwards, continue south along the coast towards Christchurch. On this final stretch, stop in Leithfield to relax on a beach and Rangiora to discover lovely heritage buildings.

This journey can also be done in reverse, from Christchurch driving north to Picton. Both of these hubs have a fantastic range of campervans for hire by great suppliers, including Easygo, Hippie Campers, Apollo and Wiendekreisen.