tourradar.com
10-Day New Zealand Tour Packages
10-Day New Zealand Tour Packages

10-Day New Zealand Tour Packages

4.6 stars on(8,530 reviews)
  • Choose from 50+ New Zealand tours
  • 200+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
  • 24/7 customer support

Insider tips: Recommended 10-day New Zealand tour itineraries

Compiled by

New Zealand travel expert at TourRadar

SteffNew Zealand travel expert at TourRadar

  • 10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown

    Map of Southern Spectacular
    View itinerary
    • Day 1

      Start your South Island adventure in Christchurch.

      Arrive before 4 PM to skip rush hour traffic. Stay near Cathedral Square for easy access to everything. "Wonderful trip, the city's rebuild since the 2011 earthquake is inspiring," one traveler shared. Spend your first evening walking along the Avon River and through the Botanic Gardens.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 2

      Drive to Lake Tekapo through the Canterbury Plains.

      Stop in Geraldine and visit Talbots Forest Cheese. Get there before 11 AM to avoid tour buses. The Church of the Good Shepherd offers great photo opportunities at sunset. Bring warm clothes. The lakes get cold even during summer.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 3

      Head to Oamaru, known for its Victorian buildings.

      Take 2-3 hours to walk through the historic area before going to Dunedin. Visit Larnach Castle first thing at 9 AM when it's quieter.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 4

      Trip to Te Anau takes about 4 hours.

      Break up your drive with stops in small towns like Gore. Try the Waiau River jet boat ride to see the wilderness up close. Book the glowworm cave tour for 7 PM. The caves look best when they're darkest.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 5

      Leave Te Anau by 7 AM for Milford Sound.

      Catch the morning light. Stop at Mirror Lakes and the Homer Tunnel for photos. In Queenstown, pick accommodation near the lake to make getting around easier.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 6

      Drive to Franz Josef, about 6 hours.

      Visit Mrs. Jones' Fruit Stall in Cromwell between 9 AM and 5 PM for fresh fruit. Take a morning helicopter flight at Franz Josef before clouds appear.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 7

      Stop at Monteith's Brewery in Greymouth.

      Take the TranzAlpine train back to Christchurch. Book seats on the right side for mountain views. The train trip takes 4.5 hours through the Southern Alps.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    • Day 8

      Book flights after 10 AM on your last day.

      Avoid rushing. This route hits all the major spots while keeping drive times reasonable. Most drives are 3-4 hours with plenty of stops.

      10 Days in New Zealand South Island, incl. Christchurch and Queenstown
    View itinerary
  • 10 Days in New Zealand, incl. Auckland and Queenstown

    From Auckland to Christchurch, 5 major cities reveal their secrets over 10 days, featuring Rotorua's Te Pā Tū Maori Experience, Queenstown's adventure activities, and Milford Sound's fjords. The tour includes UNESCO Aoraki Mackenzie Reserve stargazing and Waipara Springs wine tasting.

    Map of Contrasts Of New Zealand (End Christchurch)
    View itinerary
    • Days 1-2

      Auckland

      Land in Auckland before 4 PM to settle in on your first evening. The Skybus runs every 15-20 minutes from the airport to downtown. On day two explore the city starting with the All Blacks Experience to learn about rugby culture. Visit Mission Bay in the afternoon when the sunlight makes the harbor views look their best.

      10 Days in New Zealand, incl. Auckland and Queenstown
    • Day 3

      Auckland to Rotorua

      Drive about 2 hours south to the Hobbiton Movie Set. Book the 9 AM tour to beat the crowds and get better photos. After that head to Rotorua for an evening at Te Puia where you'll see Māori culture and the Pohutu Geyser. Bring some extra layers since the geothermal areas get cool after dark.

      10 Days in New Zealand, incl. Auckland and Queenstown
    • Day 4

      Rotorua to Queenstown

      Start at the National Kiwi Hatchery then catch your afternoon flight to Queenstown. You'll have time for lunch at Eat Streat in Rotorua before leaving. Once you arrive in Queenstown take the Skyline Gondola up Bob's Peak to watch the sunset over Lake Wakatipu.

      10 Days in New Zealand, incl. Auckland and Queenstown
    • Day 5

      Milford Sound

      Leave early for your Milford Sound cruise. The drive from Queenstown is about 4 hours through Fiordland National Park. Bring motion sickness medicine for the winding roads and warm clothes since Milford is usually much cooler than Queenstown.

    • Days 6-7

      Queenstown Area

      Spend one full day exploring Queenstown's activities. Visit the Otago wine region on a half-day tour that stops at 3-4 vineyards. The next day drive to Lake Tekapo (3 hours) to see the Dark Sky Reserve at night. Pack warm clothing since temperatures often drop to near freezing.

    • Days 8-10

      Christchurch Region

      Drive to Christchurch (3 hours) and explore the rebuilt city center including the Transitional Cathedral. Visit a Canterbury sheep farm to see local farming and go wine tasting in Waipara Valley just 45 minutes north of the city.

    View itinerary
  • 10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington

    Map of New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound) (12 destinations)
    View itinerary
    • Day 1

      Auckland

      Begin in Auckland with a walk around Viaduct Harbour. It really comes alive at sunset when local restaurants fill up. Take a short 15-minute drive to Mission Bay beach in the afternoon when crowds are thinner. You'll get great photos of Rangitoto Island from the beach.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Day 2

      Coromandel Peninsula

      The 2.5-hour drive from Auckland takes you to Coromandel Peninsula. Visit Hot Water Beach at low tide. Plan to arrive 2 hours before low tide to dig your own natural hot pool. You can rent a spade from nearby shops. Walk 45 minutes to Cathedral Cove but bring good shoes since the track gets slippery in wet weather.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Day 3

      Raglan

      Drive 3 hours to the surf town of Raglan. Visit Bridal Veil Falls on the way. It's just a 10-minute walk from parking to the viewing platform. Take an evening harbor cruise for great photos, particularly in summer when sunset lines up with the harbor entrance.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Day 4

      Hobbiton and Rotorua

      Start your day at Waitomo Caves, a 90-minute drive away. Take the Ruakuri Forest walk before 10am to avoid crowds. Drive 2 hours to Hobbiton but book your tour ahead as they sell out quickly. End your day in Rotorua at the Redwoods Treewalk. Go at dusk to see the forest lit up.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Day 5

      Rotorua

      Spend today exploring Rotorua's geothermal sites. Wear old shoes since the sulphur smell lingers. Book an evening hangi dinner for an authentic Maori experience. Bring warm clothes for outdoor performances, especially in winter.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Days 6-7

      Taupo

      Drive an hour to Taupo. Stop at Huka Falls, just a 5-minute walk from parking. If you're doing the Tongariro Crossing, prepare for a challenging 19.4 km trek. Start around 7am to avoid afternoon weather changes. Pack different layers since mountain weather is unpredictable.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    • Days 8-10

      Wellington

      The 5-hour drive to Wellington offers nice stops in Bulls or Palmerston North. Watch sunset from Mount Victoria Lookout for the best city views. Set aside 3 hours for Te Papa Museum. It's free and includes the impressive Gallipoli exhibition.

      10 Days in New Zealand North Island, incl. Auckland and Wellington
    View itinerary