Getting to New Zealand’s Glaciers by Campervan: Routes In and Out

Quick summary: The glaciers sit on either side of the Southern Alps, and the routes to them are some of the finest campervan drives in New Zealand. From Christchurch, Arthur’s Pass leads to the West Coast, and the Mackenzie Basin leads to Aoraki/Mount Cook. From Queenstown, the Haast Pass leads to Fox and Franz Josef. Greymouth is the closest pickup city to the West Coast glaciers. These guides cover each route for campervan and motorhome travellers.

Starting point	To Franz Josef	To Mount Cook Village	Guide
Christchurch	Around 390 km via Arthur’s Pass	Around 330 km	From Christchurch
Queenstown	Around 355–400 km via the Haast Pass	Around 270 km via the Lindis Pass	From Queenstown
Greymouth	Around 175 km	Around 580 km via Arthur’s Pass and Christchurch	Greymouth pickup
Nelson	Around 460 km via the Buller Gorge	Further via Franz Josef or Christchurch	From Nelson and the north
Mount Cook Village	Around 500 km via Haast	—	Mount Cook to the West Coast

Is there a road from Mount Cook to Franz Josef?

No. Although the two are only around 40 km apart in a straight line, the Southern Alps lie between them and no road crosses. The drive goes south around the mountains via Wānaka and the Haast Pass, around 500 km. See Mount Cook to the West Coast.

Which route into the glaciers suits an RV best?

All the main routes are sealed and suitable for campervans and motorhomes, with steep, winding sections on each pass. Arthur’s Pass has the steepest grades, the Haast Pass is long and remote with few services, and the Mackenzie route is the gentlest. See our guide to driving the West Coast.

For the full overview, see our glaciers by campervan hub.

Frequently Asked Questions