Talking about New Zealand, I bet we all wanted to visit this most beautiful country on Earth–at least once before we die. Nothing can beat New Zealand’s stunning scenery and landscapes; everything seems perfect here.

Besides being known as a country that offers natural beauty, New Zealand is also known as one of the countries with the best education and healthcare systems. But, in this article, we are talking about none of them.

We will discuss how to plan the best trip to New Zealand, with an itinerary & budgeting for 10 Days & 9 nights on New Zealand South Island. Ready to increase your excitement about this country?

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On the first day of flying to New Zealand, we will fly to Queenstown, a town in New Zealand that offers many exciting activities await you. Travel time from Melbourne, Australia, to Queenstown, New Zealand, took around 10 hours flights.

You will have a transit in Auckland Airport before landing in Queenstown. After arriving in Queenstown, you can rent a car or maybe with a driver to bring you to Te Anau, which is close to your first destination, Fiordland National Park.

After taking some rest on your first day in New Zealand, you will put your step at Fiordland National Park on the second day. For your information, Fiordland National Park is also known as a UNESCO World Heritage site because it is part of Te Wahipounamu.

At Fiordland National Park, you can visit Lake Marian Hike, where you can do short hiking to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand. Spend the rest of the day exploring Lake Marian, and don’t forget to take some photos!

On the last day in the Southland District, you can continue to challenge yourself to have some track at Key Summit Track & Milford Sound. No worries, these tracks aren’t something difficult to do for the beginner. Key Summit Track only takes around 3 hours to return journey. At the same time, Milford Sound can be used as a place to rest after hours of tracking.

After having a great time exploring Fiordland National Park, you are heading back to Queenstown and have something ‘mild’ to spend the day. After arriving in Queenstown, you can do some challenging sports, such as skydiving, jet boat ride, skyline gondola, and many more.

Spend the rest of the day pumping your heartbeat and see the beauty of New Zealand through your eyes.

Before leaving Queenstown and continuing the trip, you can spend some time in Glenorchy, a little town in the north of Queenstown. After strolling around Glenorchy, you can continue the ride to Cromwell before going to Mount Aspiring National Park.

From Cromwell to Mount Aspiring National Park, you only need to travel around 39 km by bus. After arriving at Mount Aspiring, you can explore Rob Roy Glacier Track. No worries, besides its breathtaking scenery and the view, Rob Roy Glacier can be categorized as an easy hike.

After you have spent a day hiking to see the best landscape of New Zealand at Rob Roy Glacier Track, before continuing your journey to Twizel, you can have some rest and rememorize your time in New Zealand at Lake Wanaka & That Wanaka Tree.

You can spend time at Lake Tekapo in New Zealand during your last two days. Lake Tekapo is a place for the Church of the Good Shepherd.

The last day in Twizel can be spent at some famous places around. There are some choices you can choose from, including Lake Pukaki, Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier, and Hooker Valley Track. At the end of the day, you will take a bus to Christchurch before returning home.

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After having a great time in New Zealand, here’s the time you have to go back home and return to your family. Even though Christchurch isn’t as famous as other areas in New Zealand, you can still enjoy the town and stroll around. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs before returning home.

That's a wrap-up for the itinerary & budgeting to New Zealand South Island for 10 days 9 nights. Ready to explore New Zealand for your next holiday trip? Let’s plan your best holiday in New Zealand through Traveloka. Have a great time in New Zealand!