Day 1: Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland ready to sightsee until you drop. You’ll be getting round via the double-decker Auckland Explorer Bus—the cheapest and easiest way to see as much as possible in one day. The bus drives through the leafy Botanic Gardens and through Parnell village. You’ll set eyes on Mission Bay’s pretty beach promenade, and hop off to get a taste of Māori culture at the Auckland Museum. Spend the afternoon witnessing movie magic at Wētā Workshop Unleashed, an attraction created by the film studio behind Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. At night head to nearby Viaduct Harbor, the city’s buzzing harborside village complex with restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops, and people-watching aplenty to have dinner.
Day 2: Hobbiton & Rotorua
Pick up a rental car in the city and spend your morning driving to Hobbiton, an impressive film set where part of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were made. After your tour at Hobbiton, drive to Rotorua, where you’ll spend the night. From your hotel, take a shuttle Te Pā Tū. In addition to dinner, here you’ll experience a Māori cultural show.
(Te Puia | Credit: baby_666 /Shutterstock)
Day 3: Rotorua
Spend your morning exploring the thermal sights of Te Puia, before heading to Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest and late lunch at nearby Eastwood. While you’re there, pick up some takeaway sandwich to have for dinner, as eating options in Waitomo are limited. Then, drive the two hours to Waitomo, where you’ll overnight.
Day 4: Waitomo Caves & Taupō
You’ll spend the morning with glowworms at the Waitomo Caves. If you’re game, consider adding a white water rafting experience underground too (see Day 4 of the one week experience). Afterwards, drive the two hours to Taupō. For dinner, board Sail Barbary’s boat. Pizza and drinks will be served on the evening tour as you cruise across Lake Taupō to the Māori rock carvings. Overnight in Taupō.
Tongariro National Park | Credit: Flilip Fuxa / Shutterstock
Day 5: Tongariro National Park & Wellington
A five-hour journey will take you around Lake Taupō where there are plenty of stops for photos, before going onwards to the stark beauty of Tongariro National Park. Budget enough time for a quick walk in the park, perhaps to Tawhai Falls, which will take you just 20 minutes. By noon, you’ll reach the mountain town of Ohakune, where you can grab a nice to-go lunch at Birchill Bakehouse. From here, it’s onwards through the heartland’s farming area and you have two options: If it’s summer and the days are long, you can stop off for dinner in Greytown before tackling the winding and steep Remutaka Hills to Wellington. (If you’re travelling in winter, it’s best to skip Greytown and head straight to Wellington before it gets dark.) Or, you can take the less-taxing (but less somewhat less-scenic) route along the Kāpiti Coast. Either way, you’ll end up in Wellington, where it’s best to stay at a hotel in the city center, given their proximity to attractions and the ferry docks.
Day 6: Wellington
In the morning, head straight to Te Papa, which eloquently tells the story of Aotearoa and is a must-visit. After lunch along the wharf, spend the afternoon at Zealandia to see endemic birds and reptiles within this massive fenced predator-free sanctuary. That night, grab dinner on hopping Cuba Street, where you’ll find plenty of different cuisines for a range of budgets.
Marlborough Sounds | Credit: In Luke Lens / Shutterstock
Day 7: Wellington to Picton
Catch an early ferry to Picton. The 3.5-hour ferry ride is one of the most scenic in the world, carrying you through the Marlborough Sounds. Keep an eye out for dolphins and whales as the ferry transports you to the South Island. Drive to Blenheim and freshen up at your hotel. Afterwards, you’ll have enough time to check out a nearby winery or two in the afternoon, before a special occassion dinner at Arbour and a good night’s rest.
Seal at Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway | Credit: Nyker / Shutterstock
Day 8: Christchurch
From Blenheim, it will take you four hours to drive south to Christchurch. Stop for lunch in Kaikōura and to see the seals at play along the Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway (see above). You should arrive in Christchurch by mid-afternoon, which gives you enough time to explore the compact city center, including the remarkable Transitional Cathedral, Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens and Riverside Market, where you can grab dinner. If you’ve still got energy left, grab an ice cream on New Regent Street or a drink at Smash Palace. Spend the night at one of the city’s hotels.
Day 9: Mackenzie Country
Your next city destination, Queenstown is a six-hour road trip drive from Christchurch. While it might be tempting to skip the drive and fly, if you do so, you’ll miss out on the turquoise-blue waters of Lake Tekapo and Pukaki, as well as the sky-high peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook. To split up the drive, spend the night at Lake Tekapo. Visit the Dark Sky Project and take a nighttime stargazing tour to the Mt. John Observatory.
Bungee jumping in Queenstown.
Day 10: Queenstown
In the morning, drive the remaining three hours to Queenstown. Your time here is going to be limited, so shortlist just what adventure you’d like to have. (Jetboating? Bungee jumping? Whitewater rafting? Queenstown is your oyster, but you probably only have time for one major activity.) Or, for something a little more relaxed, take the afternoon cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak or book onto a half-day wine tour with Altitude Tours. For dinner, head to historic Arrowtown, a cute former mining town with buildings that date back to the 1860s.
Day 11: Central Otago
Rise early, your Trail Journeys bus to Cromwell will pick you up before 8am for an e-bike ride near Queenstown. From historic Cromwell, spend half a day cycling along the Lake Dunstan Trail to cute little historic Clyde, where you can enjoy lunch at one of the cafes before perusing the shops and art galleries. You’ll be tired after catching your transfer back to Queenstown, so it’s best to book a relaxing soak at the Onsen Hot Pools, which also offers a shuttle service.
Day 12: Te Anau
Drive to Te Anau, the gateway to the Milford Sound in the morning, then climb abroad a jetboat for a tour of Lake Manapouri with Fiordland Jet. Along with lots of fun spins in the boat, you’ll also get a brief walk along the legendary Kepler Track. Afterward, stop by the Fiordland Cinema for a cocktail, crayfish rolls, and a screening of the 30-minute Ata Whenua film, which will give you a greater context and understanding of Fiordland National Park before you visit.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Day 13: Milford Sound
It’s possible to self-drive to Milford Sound, but it’s best to book with a tour operator, who can help you avoid arriving at stops at the same time as the big tour buses. (Plus that way, you can enjoy the scenery, instead of gripping the steering wheel hard as you navigate what’s considered one of NZ’s most dangerous roads.) Trips & Tramps will take you to Milford and back, with several short hikes along the way. It’ll also arrange your boat cruise (or kayak, upon request) in Milford Sound and provide lunch. You’ll arrive back to Te Anau at 5pm. If it’s summer, enjoy the long days and drive back to Queenstown. (If it’s winter, you may want to consider spending another night in Te Anau, rather than driving the winding road in the dark.)
Day 14: Queenstown & Christchurch
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Queenstown, including a visit to the Kiwi Park where you’re guaranteed to see the country’s most famous bird. Then, fly to Christchurch to connect with your international flight.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
