Christchurch to Franz Josef Drive: Best Stops & Itinerary
Planning to drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef, but aren’t sure where to stop along the way?
I’m here to help. I live in the South Island and this is one of my all-time favourite drives!
The best way to get from Christchurch to Franz Josef is to drive via Arthur’s Pass, which takes you from the Canterbury Plains over the Southern Alps to reach the wild West Coast.
Arthur’s Pass is one of the most scenic road trips in New Zealand, with awesome hikes, waterfalls, and scenic lookouts to enjoy.
In this guide, I’m sharing the best stops on the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef, plus what you should know before hitting the road.
FYI: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). I only share products & services I use, love & would recommend to a friend.
Christchurch to Franz Josef drive route map
Where to hire a car or campervan for your road trip
- 🚗 Car hire: I use Discover Cars to compare prices on car rentals in New Zealand. I’m also a big fan of Apex Rentals.
- 🚐 Campervan hire: Motorhome Republic is my go-to resource for comparing prices on campervans in New Zealand. (Side note: this route has so many good campsites along the way and is perfect for a campervan trip!).
Not sure what kind of wheels you’d like? Check out my guide to choosing between a car or campervan in New Zealand.
How long is the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef?
The drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef covers 382 km, and takes about 5 hours and 10 minutes without stopping.
While you could technically drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef in one day, I don’t recommend it.
Instead, take your time and do this drive over 2-3 days so you can enjoy stops along the way.
Hokitika is a great place to stay overnight to break up the drive, or you could even detour up to Punakaiki for 1-2 nights before heading south to Franz Josef.
Christchurch to Franz Josef drive itinerary
Here’s my suggested itinerary for driving from Christchurch to Franz Josef.
Day 1: Christchurch to Hokitika
📍 Key stops: Castle Hill / Kura Tawhiti; Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall; Otira Viaduct Lookout
Day 2: Hokitika to Franz Josef
📍 Key stops: Hokitika Gorge; Okarito (both are worthy detours off the main road)
If you’re keen to know every one of the great stops along this drive, though, then keep reading—below, I’ll list all of my top places to stop along the route.
Best stops on the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef
1. Sheffield Pies
About an hour after leaving Christchurch, you’ll reach my first recommended stop: Sheffield Pies.
No New Zealand road trip is complete without a pie, if you ask me. And the pies here are honestly some of the best in the South Island.
They also make delicious sweet treats that are perfect to take with you for snacks on the road.
2. Castle Hill / Kura Tawhiti
Castle Hill / Kura Tawhiti is easily one of my favourite stops on Arthur’s Pass, and one I don’t think you should miss.
This area is home to very cool rock formations, which you can get up close to along an easy walking track.
3. Cave Stream
If you’re the adventurous type, you might want to put Cave Stream on your list of stops to make.
Cave Stream is—as you might guess from the name—a stream running through a cave.
But the coolest part about it is that you can walk through the stream from one end of the cave to the other! It’s a mini caving adventure that’s so much fun.
Now, you’re going to get wet and cold on this adventure, so you’ll want to dress properly (some wear a wetsuit) and have a change of warm clothes to swap into when you’re done. You should also wear a head torch because it’s quite dark in the cave, and I also recommend sturdy boots or water shoes/sandals with good grip.
Before you visit Cave Stream, you should take some precautions.
Don’t enter the cave if it’s been raining recently or looks like it’s about to rain—this is an activity for dry weather when the river flow is low, best done in summer on a warm day.
Further, DOC doesn’t recommend this adventure for children, as the water can be chest-high in places.
4. Bealey Spur Track
If you’d like to enjoy a day hike along Arthur’s Pass, the Bealey Spur Track would be my top choice.
This track leads you through beech forest up to tussock grasslands and gorgeous views over Arthur’s Pass.
The trail climbs steadily but has a relatively gentle incline compared to many of the other tramping tracks around Arthur’s Pass.
While the full track takes around 5 hours return, I actually like to shorten the hike by turning around at the scenic lookout area instead of continuing all the way up to the hut, which is the official trail end.
Hiking to the lookout should take around 2.5-3 hours return, and I think the views are just as good as doing the whole track.
5. Arthur’s Pass Village
Arthur’s Pass Village is a small settlement that serves as the main “hub” for Arthur’s Pass. It’s a handy place to stop for toilets and the DOC Visitor Centre.
There are a few places to stay overnight around Arthur’s Pass Village, and dining options are very limited—that said, if you book well in advance and plan to self-cater, you could consider staying overnight here.
If you do want to stay in Arthur’s Pass Village, the Arthur’s Pass Alpine Motel would be my top choice.
For camping, there’s the Avalanche Creek DOC Campsite right in the village, but I do need to warn you that it can be a noisy spot to camp since it’s right off the road and next to the railway.
6. Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall
The Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in the South Island, and if you make one stop on Arthur’s Pass, I’d say this should be it.
To get to the waterfall, you’ll need to go on a 1-hour return walk that does involve a lot of stairs—you’re gonna get a workout in, that’s for sure!
But it’s worth the effort to see this 131m waterfall, which is truly impressive. The walk is surrounded by lush beech forest and is gorgeous the whole way, and I think the waterfall will be a highlight along your drive.
7. Arthur’s Pass Walking Track
The Arthur’s Pass Walking Track starts from the same carpark as the Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall, and makes for a nice walk if you’re after something mellow.
This trail leads you through dense beech forest and showcases some beautiful alpine scenery.
While the entire walk is 6.8 km and takes between 2.5-3 hours, you can shorten it by simply hiking to the Bridal Veil Falls lookout (about 20 minutes into the trail) and turning around from there.
8. Otira Viaduct Lookout
At the Otira Viaduct Lookout, you’ll find a large parking area with a scenic view over the Otira Viaduct, an impressive road bridge that crosses over a river valley along Arthur’s Pass.
This is also a great spot to sometimes spot kea, New Zealand’s mischievous alpine parrot.
9. Hokitika
Hokitika is a cute West Coast town located right by the sea, and it makes for a great overnight stop along the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef.
Head out to the beach to see the famous Hokitika driftwood sign, pop into the artisan shops, and enjoy a good meal at one of the cafes or restaurants in town. Fat Pipi is popular for pizzas, and I really like Korath Thai.
Whenever I visit here, I always have to get a sandwich from the Hokitika Sandwich Co—they’re fantastic (I usually pick one up in the morning to take on the road for lunch).
I also recommend topping up your fuel tank in Hokitika, and getting any groceries you might need from the New World supermarket. There’s only one small supermarket in Franz Josef, and I always find petrol to be very expensive there, so Hokitika is better for these things.
Where to stay in Hokitika
- Hokitika Fire Station Hotel for a boutique stay
- Hokitika’s Kiwi Holiday Park and Motels for camping and budget-friendly cabins
10. Cesspool Gorge (Arahura River Walk)
With a name like Cesspool Gorge, I know you’re probably thinking, “why on Earth would I stop here”? But let me tell you—the name of this place couldn’t be farther from the truth!
Cesspool Gorge is similar to Hokitika Gorge in that it’s a bush walk leading to a vibrant turquoise river gorge.
The colour of the water needs to be seen to be believed—but my photo above should give you an idea of what it looks like. I have not adjusted the colour, I promise! It really looks like that.
The walk to get to the gorge is about 7km return and relatively flat, but the track is a bit rugged and can get muddy, so wear good boots.
Once you get there, you can brave the swingbridge across the gorge if you’d like—it’s pretty thrilling to cross, as long as you’re not afraid of heights.
The thing I love about Cesspool Gorge is that it’s very much a hidden gem, and it hardly sees any visitors when compared to the Hokitika Gorge. If you’re up for an off-the-beaten-path excursion, I think you’re going to love this adventure.
11. Hokitika Gorge
The Hokitika Gorge is an absolute highlight on the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef.
Getting to the Hokitika Gorge requires a detour from the main road, but it’s well worth it.
At the Hokitika Gorge, you’ll find a gentle loop track that weaves through thick podocarp forest to reach the stunning turquoise-blue waters of the gorge, which is surrounded by pale granite cliffs. The water is so blue that it looks unreal.
If you only have time for one stop between Hokitika and Franz Josef, I’d go here.
12. Ross Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
While the Ross Beach Top 10 Holiday Park might not fit into your trip, I wanted to point it out as one of my favourite places to stay on the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef.
This isn’t an ordinary holiday park. Located right next to a wild driftwood-strewn beach, this property has neat Studio Pods and Geo Glamping Domes, along with nice campsites.
My partner Ty and I loved our stay in the Sunset Studio, which has an outdoor bath that’s perfect for soaking in while looking up at the stars.
If you stay here, I highly recommend heading to the beach for sunset to have a driftwood beach bonfire—it’s a magic way to end a long day of driving!
13. Okarito
Okarito is a small settlement located about 30 km north of Franz Josef. It’s a bit out of the way to get to, but it’s worth the effort if you like getting off-the-beaten-track.
At Okarito, you’ll find the Okarito Lagoon, a birdwatcher’s dream spot. You can go kayaking on the lagoon to look for birds and, on a clear day, get incredible views of the Southern Alps from the water.
Another great thing to do here is hike the Okarito Trig Walk, which gives you epic views over the mountains, ocean and lagoon when the skies are clear.
There isn’t much in Okarito besides beautiful nature, but it’s my ideal kind of place, to be honest. I actually prefer staying in Okarito over Franz Josef sometimes. It has a quiet, peaceful atmosphere that I really love, and it’s far less busy than Franz Josef.
Where to stay in Okarito
- Te Wa Whakata for lovely cabins
- The Okarito Community Campground for a friendly and relaxed camping experience near the beach (this is one of my favourite campsites in the South Island!)
14. Otto/MacDonalds campsite and Lake Mapourika
Just before you reach the town of Franz Josef, you’ll pass by Lake Mapourika and the Otto/MacDonalds DOC campsite.
This campsite is a great place to camp if you’re travelling in a campervan, and the lake is a pretty spot.
15. Franz Josef
Now you’ve made it to your destination: Franz Josef!
Franz Josef is one of the two main towns in Glacier Country, with Fox Glacier being the other.
The main draw to both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier is—as you might expect—the opportunity to see the glaciers, which are sadly retreating at a rapid rate.
My favourite part about visiting Franz Josef is actually its abundance of hiking trails. It can rain a lot in this region, but that makes for some lush, gorgeous rainforest scenery—and lacing up your hiking boots and hitting the trails is a great way to experience this place.
What to do in Franz Josef
- Walk to the Franz Josef Glacier View Lookout to see a distant view of the glacier.
- Book a helicopter tour or helihike of Franz Josef Glacier to see the glacier up close.
- Go hiking—Robert’s Point and Alex Knob are two epic (albeit challenging) day hikes in the area. For something short and easy, try the walk to Peter’s Pool.
- Take a cruise or kayak tour on Lake Mapourika.
- Soak in the Waiho Hot Tubs.
- For dining out in Franz Josef, I like Alice May and Monsoon Restaurant.
- Visit nearby Fox Glacier, where you can also go on a Fox Glacier helicopter tour if you’re keen. My favourite thing to do near Fox Glacier is walk to beautiful Lake Matheson.
Where to stay in Franz Josef
- Aspen Court for a comfortable motel stay right in town.
- Legacy Te Waonui Hotel for a luxury stay.
- Rainforest Retreat or Orange Sheep Campervan Park for a campervan site.
Tips for driving from Christchurch to Franz Josef
- Before setting out on your drive, I highly recommend checking the road conditions on NZTA to ensure there are no road closures. Arthur’s Pass can close occasionally if the conditions are unsafe to drive, especially in winter and early spring.
- Allow more time than Google Maps suggests. Even if you’re not planning on any long hikes, this route has lots of scenic lookouts, short walks, detours, and places where you’ll likely want to linger for a while.
- Sandflies can be present all along Arthur’s Pass and on the West Coast. Pack insect repellent and cover up with clothing layers. They can’t catch up to you when you’re walking/hiking, though—just FYI! It’s when you sit still that they’ll get you.
- While there’s a petrol station on Arthur’s Pass, it’s best to fill up your vehicle’s fuel tank in Christchurch before setting out. Hokitika is a good stop for a fuel topup between Christchurch and Franz Josef.
- Supermarkets and shops are limited along the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef. I recommend packing a picnic lunch for your drive over Arthur’s Pass. Hokitika is a good spot to stop for groceries on the way to Franz Josef.
- It can rain a lot around Franz Josef, so be prepared with a good raincoat. I also recommend staying flexible with your plans if possible—it’s not uncommon for glacier helicopter tours to be cancelled when the weather is poor.
Thanks for reading my guide to the drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef!
I truly hope this has helped you plan your trip. As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me—I really love hearing from you!
More South Island itineraries for you
If you’re planning a larger South Island road trip, you might like these itineraries:
