The South Island: mountains, lakes and long, beautiful roads
The South Island is where most visitors picture New Zealand — the Southern Alps down the spine, glacier country on the west, big skies in the east, and lakes that stop conversation. It is also where the driving gets serious.
What it's known for
- The Southern Alps running the length of the island
- Fiordland, Aoraki/Mount Cook and the Mackenzie's night skies
- Queenstown and Wānaka for adventure, food and winter snow
- Marlborough and Central Otago wine country
- Wild West Coast rainforest, glaciers and empty beaches
- Wildlife: penguins, albatross, seals and dolphins, easily reached
Getting around
- Christchurch and Queenstown are the main airports; Dunedin and Invercargill serve the south
- Picton is the ferry link to the North Island
- Alpine passes can close or require chains in winter
- Distances between the highlights are long — private drivers and transfers remove the strain
Ten days is a realistic minimum for the South Island, and even then you will be choosing between the West Coast and the far south rather than doing both. The scenery encourages stopping, and the roads do not encourage rushing.
The classic loop runs Christchurch, the Mackenzie, Queenstown, Fiordland, then back up the coast or inland through Otago. Every leg of it is worth doing slowly, and every leg is a longer day than the map implies.
We drive these routes year round, including in winter when conditions decide the timing. Whether it's the arrival transfer, a touring day, or a driver for the whole loop, the arrangement is the same: your own vehicle, a local driver and a fixed price.
Towns and cities we drive in South Island
Travelling it without a rental car
Highway 1 Tours & Transfers runs private vehicles with local drivers right across New Zealand — single transfers, full touring days, or a driver who stays with you for the whole trip. You get a fixed price agreed before you travel, no left-hand-side driving to learn, and someone who knows the roads and the weather.
Common questions
Keep exploring
Other services we offer
A private transfer is only part of what we do. The same NZTA-licensed drivers and vehicles cover tours, hourly hire, airport and cruise work, corporate travel and group bookings throughout New Zealand.
Private, luxury & multi-day travel
Private touring, chauffeur hire, honeymoon travel and a driver for your whole New Zealand trip.
Explore private travelArriving in New Zealand
First-time visitor guides to landing at Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and Dunedin.
Read the arrival guidesIsland & region guides
What each part of New Zealand is known for, how long the drives really take, and how to travel it without a rental car.
Explore destinationsVisiting New Zealand
Driving on the left, kilometres to miles, money and tipping, the seasons, and travelling without a rental car.
Read visitor infoAirport shuttle alternative
Private airport transfers instead of a shared shuttle — your group alone, direct to the terminal, price agreed first.
Compare the optionsCity taxi, upgraded
A fixed-price private car instead of the taxi rank — city-by-city guides across New Zealand.
See your citySuburb airport transfers
Local detail on the run to Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington Airport from your own suburb.
Find your suburbPrivate day tours & sightseeing
Keep the same driver for the day and shape the route around what you'd like to see nationwide.
See private toursBy-the-hour driver hire
A driver and vehicle held for a block of time — best when your travel starts and finishes in the same town.
Book hourly hireAirport transfers
Flight-tracked pickups and drop-offs at every main New Zealand airport, door to door.
Airport transfersCruise port transfers & shore days
Met at the terminal in Auckland, Tauranga, Akaroa or Picton — back on board well before all-aboard time.
Cruise transfersSki field transfers
Winter-ready vehicles and alpine drivers for Queenstown, Wānaka, Mt Hutt and Ruapehu — gear included.
Ski transfersCorporate & executive travel
Business accounts, client and staff runs, event movements and consolidated invoicing.
Talk to usGroups, fleets & rental car alternative
Multiple vehicles on one booking for larger parties, or a driven alternative to hiring a car.
Rental car alternativeWhat transfers and taxis cost
Plain answers on what moves the price of an airport run in New Zealand, and how a fixed total compares with a meter.
Fares & costsWeddings, balls & big occasions
Private transport for weddings, school balls, corporate events, funerals, large groups and accessible travel.
Occasion transportConcerts & event transport
Ride there and ride home for the big nights — concerts, festivals and events across New Zealand.
Event transport
Please note: by-the-hour driver hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town. If you're finishing somewhere else, book a private transfer or a day trip so your fare covers the driver's travel.