Originally Posted by NZ_Flyer

If you are renting a car you may find it better to fly in and out of CHC and rent a car there. You can head south from CHC and do the southern part of the south island (Queenstown etc) and then drive up and do the northern half of the south island before returning to Christchurch to return the car and fly home. Or if you are happy to do a one way rental you could fly direct to Queenstown, pick up a car and head north as far as you like before returning the car to CHC.