Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
You'll arrive in Auckland and pick up your rental car at the airport. Spend the day getting to know New Zealand's largest city. Walk through the galleries and museums, or browse the boutiques in the city center. There's plenty to explore nearby if you want to venture out, so this is a good day to get your bearings and plan what you want to do next.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Explore galleries in Auckland
- Visit museums in Auckland
- Browse boutiques in Auckland
- Nearby excursions from Auckland
Landmarks Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart - Day 2
Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
After leaving Auckland, you'll drive north about 150 km to the Coromandel Peninsula and settle into your accommodation for the next two nights. The beaches here are long and fairly undeveloped, so you'll have plenty of room to wander and relax. Later, grab dinner and rest up after your drive.
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration on Coromandel Peninsula
- Water activities
Landmarks Coromandel Peninsula - Day 3
Coromandel Peninsula
You'll head out into the Coromandel Peninsula to experience the volcanic terrain and native rainforests that define this region. The coastline here is dramatic with various bays and sandy stretches. Later in the day, you'll get to Hot Water Beach, where you can dig into the sand and find naturally heated pools from underground springs. It's one of those quirky natural features that makes the area worth visiting.
Optional Activities
- Hiking trails throughout the peninsula
- Visit Hot Water Beach with underground hot springs
- Beach exploration and coastal sightseeing
Landmarks Hot Water Beach Coromandel Peninsula - Day 4
Coromandel to Rotorua
You'll head south through Matamata if you want to stop at the Hobbiton film set, though this is optional. The drive continues another 190 km to Rotorua, where you'll check in for a two-night stay. Rotorua is the thermal heart of New Zealand and a center of Maori culture, so there's a lot to take in when you arrive.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Experience geysers in Rotorua
- View bubbling mud pools in Rotorua
- Explore warm thermal pools in Rotorua
Optional Activities
- Hobbiton film set visit in Matamata
Landmarks Hobbiton Rotorua Geysers 
- Day 5
Rotorua
Spend this day exploring Rotorua's geothermal features. You'll see geysers shooting up from the ground, mud pools bubbling away, and thermal pools in bright colors. The National Kiwi Hatchery Tour shows how over 2,000 kiwi eggs have been hatched here to help save New Zealand's endangered national bird. It's an informative look at conservation work happening in the region.
Included Activities
- National Kiwi Hatchery Tour (English speaking)
Optional Activities
- Explore geysers and hot springs
- Walk around thermal pools
- View mud pools
Landmarks National Kiwi Hatchery - Day 6
Rotorua to Tongariro National Park
You'll drive south about 180 km via Taupo and Huka Falls to reach Tongariro National Park. The falls are impressive and worth stopping for a quick look. Check into your accommodation for the next two nights. This is New Zealand's oldest national park, and you'll get a sense of that history as you settle in.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- View Huka Falls
Landmarks Huka Falls Tongariro National Park - Day 7
Tongariro National Park
Today you can explore Tongariro National Park's volcanic landscape with its three active volcanoes, steep mountain slopes, craters, and emerald lakes surrounded by forests. If you're up for a challenge, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 19 km day hike through this terrain. Otherwise, there are shorter walks and drives to check out the park's features.
Optional Activities
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing (19 km challenging hiking trail)
Landmarks Tongariro National Park - Day 8
Kapiti Coast to Wellington
Start your drive along the Kapiti coast, passing through rural areas on your way to Wellington, New Zealand's capital. In the afternoon, there's an option to stop at Weta Workshop, the workshop behind the props and effects used in The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia films. If you choose to go, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at how they create those effects. Otherwise, you can spend more time exploring Wellington itself.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Weta Workshop (props and effects from The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia)
Landmarks Weta Workshop Wellington - Day 9
Tongariro to Nelson
You'll drive to the ferry terminal and cross Queen Charlotte Sound and Cook Strait to reach Picton on the South Island. The ferry takes about 3.5 hours. After arriving, drive about 130 km via scenic routes to Nelson, your accommodation for the next two nights. Nelson sits in a Mediterranean climate zone and is known for its wineries. It's also the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing Wellington to Picton (persons and vehicle)
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting at local wineries around Nelson
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Sound Cook Strait Picton Abel Tasman National Park - Day 10
Nelson
This is a slower day in Nelson where you can relax or take an excursion to Abel Tasman National Park if you'd like. The park has beautiful beaches, rainforest, and turquoise water. Coastal hiking here offers good views if that interests you. Otherwise, spend time in Nelson itself exploring what's here at a comfortable pace.
Optional Activities
- Abel Tasman National Park excursion
- Coastal hikes in Abel Tasman National Park
- Beach exploration
Landmarks Abel Tasman National Park - Day 11
Marlborough Region to Blenheim
You'll drive through the Marlborough region, and this area is basically where most of New Zealand's wine comes from. The stop in Blenheim lets you walk around the wine country and check out the vineyards scattered across the landscape. The scenery here is nice rolling hills and valleys, so it's a relaxed day compared to some of the more rugged terrain you might see elsewhere.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Winery visits and wine tasting in Marlborough region
Landmarks Marlborough Region Blenheim - Day 12
Kaikoura
You'll drive to Kaikoura, a coastal town backed by the Kaikoura Range with snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps visible. During your time here, you can go out looking for marine life, check out local art galleries, browse craft stores, or walk the Peninsula Walkway. The scenery here is quite dramatic with the mountains coming right down to the ocean.
Optional Activities
- Marine wildlife spotting tours
- Browse art galleries
- Visit craft stores
- Walk along Peninsula Walkway
Landmarks Kaikoura Peninsula Peninsula Walkway Kaikoura Range Southern Alps - Day 13
Kaikoura to Mount Cook National Park
After leaving Kaikoura, you'll head about 500 km to Mount Cook National Park for a two-night stay. The park covers a massive area with more than a third being snow and ice. Stop at Lake Tekapo along the way to photograph the Southern Alps. This is one of New Zealand's most striking regions, and you'll feel that as soon as you arrive.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Photo stop at Lake Tekapo
Landmarks Mount Cook National Park Lake Tekapo 
- Day 14
Mount Cook National Park
You can take an easy 10 km circular walk through Hooker Valley with views of Mount Cook (Aoraki), or do a boat trip to Tasman Glacier if you prefer a different experience. By evening, head out for stargazing. This area is the world's largest Dark Sky Reserve, so the sky will be incredibly dark and full of stars. It's a quieter way to experience Mount Cook's landscape.
Optional Activities
- Hooker Valley hike (10 km easy circular walk)
- Boat trip to Tasman Glacier
- Stargazing in Dark Sky Reserve
Landmarks Hooker Valley Aoraki (Mount Cook) Tasman Glacier - Day 15
Mount Cook to Queenstown
You'll drive about 265 km to Queenstown, known as the adventure capital, and check in for two nights. The town sits on Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables Range as a backdrop. Choose what appeals to you here. Go for adrenaline activities like jet boat rides or bungy jumping if that's your style, or take a ride on the restored steamship TSS Earnslaw for something more relaxed.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Jet boat rides
- Bungy jumping
- Quad bike tour
- Boat trip on TSS Earnslaw (beautifully restored steamship)
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu The Remarkables Range TSS Earnslaw - Day 16
Queenstown
Spend the day exploring the landscape around Queenstown. Visit local wineries for tastings and picnic options. If adventure appeals, head to Kawarau Gorge for bungy jumping or try some hiking in the alpine areas nearby. There are enough different activities here that you can pick based on what sounds good to you that day.
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting at local wineries
- Picnic at wineries
- Bungy jumping in Kawarau Gorge
- Hiking in alpine nature
Landmarks Kawarau Gorge - Day 17
Queenstown to Te Anau
After leaving Queenstown, you'll drive to Te Anau, which sits at the edge of Fiordland National Park. The park itself has glaciers, dramatic fjords carved into the land, thick rainforests, and mountains with snow on top. From here, you're positioned to explore some of the most notable scenery on the South Island, with options to see Milford Sound and other natural features.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Excursions in Fiordland National Park
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Te Anau - Day 18
Milford Sound
You'll make the roughly 240 km trip to Milford Sound, one of Fiordland's most famous fjords. The fjord stretches 16 km long and covers over 12,000 square kilometers of landscape. Waterfalls drop hundreds of meters down the sides of forest-covered valleys. It's one of the southern hemisphere's most striking natural areas, and the drive to get there is scenic on its own.
Optional Activities
- Milford Sound fjord cruise
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park 
- Day 19
Te Anau to Dunedin
You'll drive from your current location to Dunedin, continuing through the South Island's landscapes. Once you arrive, you'll check into a comfortable hotel and have time to walk around this charming city. Dunedin has character and history, and you'll get a real sense of the place rather than just passing through.
Landmarks Dunedin - Day 20
Dunedin
Head to Dunedin, a charming city with lots of 19th-century Edwardian architecture that's unusual to find in the southern hemisphere. The city sits on Otago Harbour, and the area is known for wildlife. Plan an excursion to see seals, yellow-eyed penguins (which are endangered), cormorants, and albatrosses if wildlife watching interests you.
Optional Activities
- Wildlife spotting tours on Otago Peninsula
- Seal viewing
- Yellow-eyed penguin viewing
- Bird watching (cormorants and albatrosses)
Landmarks Otago Harbour Otago Peninsula - Day 21
Dunedin to Christchurch
The drive from Dunedin to Christchurch follows the coast, and there are good photo stops along the way. You'll pass the Moeraki Boulders, these massive round rock formations sitting right on the beach that are pretty unusual to see. Then you'll continue on to Christchurch, the South Island's largest city. The place is known for its parks and green spaces, particularly Hagley Park in the center with its botanical gardens. It's a good place to spend an evening or longer if you want to walk around and get a feel for the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop at Moeraki Boulders for photos and exploration
- Explore Hagley Park and its botanical gardens
- Stroll through parks and green spaces in Christchurch
Landmarks Moeraki Boulders Hagley Park Christchurch - Day 22
End of Tour
Your road trip ends today. Return your rental car at the agreed location, or arrange an individual extension if you want to stay longer and explore more of New Zealand.
Optional Activities
- Individual extension bookable
