Itinerary
- Day 1
Auckland
After picking up your rental car, you'll drive to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city and where you'll be staying the night. If time allows before checking in, the War Memorial Museum on Pukekawa Hill is worth a quick visit, sitting in the scenic Auckland Domain park with good views across the city.
Optional Activities
- Visit War Memorial Museum on Pukekawa Hill
Landmarks/POIs War Memorial Museum Auckland Domain - Day 2
Auckland to Rotorua
You'll head south through the Waikato region, passing New Zealand's largest river and driving through the historic King Country with its rolling sheep and cattle pastures. Waitomo Glowworm Cave is an optional stop if you want to add it in, then continue on to Rotorua for the night.
Optional Activities
- Visit Waitomo Glowworm Cave
Landmarks/POIs Waitomo Glowworm Cave Waikato River - Day 3
Rotorua to Tongariro
Start the morning exploring Te Puia thermal area with its boiling mud pools and the Pohutu geyser. After that, take a guided National Kiwi Hatchery Tour to learn about New Zealand's national symbol. From there you'll drive through Rotorua's geothermal landscape (you'll notice the distinctive sulfur smell) before heading south toward Lake Taupo and Tongariro National Park.
Included Activities
- Visit Te Puia thermal area with boiling mud pools and Pohutu geyser
- Guided National Kiwi Hatchery Tour
Landmarks/POIs Te Puia Pohutu Geyser National Kiwi Hatchery Whakarewarewa Lake Taupo Tongariro National Park Mount Ruapehu Mount Ngauruhoe Mount Tongariro - Day 4
Tongariro
This day is yours to explore Tongariro National Park at your own pace. The park has waterfalls and hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. If you're an experienced hiker, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing offers a challenging but spectacular full-day hike.
Optional Activities
- Explore park waterfalls on foot
- Hike on park trails of varying lengths
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing day hike
Landmarks/POIs Tongariro National Park Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Day 5
Tongariro to Wellington
You'll drive south along the west coast on the motorway toward Wellington. Near Paraparaumu, Kapiti Island is visible on clear days and now serves as a protected bird sanctuary. You'll arrive in Wellington for the night.
Landmarks/POIs Kapiti Island - Day 6
Wellington to Nelson
The ferry from Wellington to the South Island takes about three hours, traveling through Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel with views of Port Nicholson Bay and surrounding green hills. You'll pass through the Marlborough wine region and the fishing village of Havelock before reaching Nelson, known locally as having the most sunny days in the country.
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing Wellington to Picton (passengers and car)
Landmarks/POIs Queen Charlotte Sound Tory Channel Port Nicholson Bay Havelock Marlborough wine region - Day 7
Nelson to Greymouth
Drive along the scenic west coast toward Greymouth, following Paparoa National Park's borders. Stop at Punakaiki to see the Pancake Rocks, limestone formations shaped by wind, rain and waves into distinctive layered patterns. End the day in Greymouth, the largest town on the west coast and an important fishing port.
Optional Activities
- Visit Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki
Landmarks/POIs Paparoa National Park Pancake Rocks Punakaiki - Day 8
Greymouth to Fox Glacier
You'll head to Hokitika, the center of jade processing, then reach Westland National Park in the afternoon. The Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier are just 25 kilometers apart at the foothills of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Franz Josef viewpoint provides good glacier views on clear days, and you can book a helicopter flight over the glaciers if you want.
Optional Activities
- Helicopter flight over the glaciers
Landmarks/POIs Hokitika Westland National Park Fox Glacier Franz Josef Glacier Mount Cook Mount Tasman - Day 9
Fox Glacier to Queenstown
You'll pass through the wine-growing areas of Chard and Gibbston vineyards during the drive. Stop in Arrowtown, a restored 19th-century gold mining town, then continue to Queenstown, the most visited resort town on the South Island, surrounded by high mountains.
Landmarks/POIs Chard vineyards Gibbston vineyards Arrowtown - Day 10
Queenstown
This day is for exploring Queenstown, the premier resort town with high mountains surrounding it. Adventure activities you can choose from include jet boat trips on the Shot-over or Kawarau River, helicopter flights, a boat trip on the historic steamship Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu, or a gondola ride up Bob's Peak for panoramic mountain views.
Optional Activities
- Jet boat trip on Shot-over River
- Jet boat trip on Kawarau River
- Helicopter flight
- Boat trip on steamship Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu
- Gondola ride up Bob's Peak
Landmarks/POIs Shot-over River Kawarau River Lake Wakatipu Earnslaw Bob's Peak - Day 11
Queenstown to Te Anau
You'll journey through Fiordland National Park, the largest and most scenic national park in New Zealand. After passing Mirror Lakes and Lake Gunn, you'll go through the Homer Tunnel then descend steeply to Milford Sound, a famous 16-kilometer fjord surrounded by glacier fjords, rainforests, and snow-capped mountains. Continue east to Lake Te Anau and the town of Te Anau for the night.
Landmarks/POIs Fiordland National Park Mirror Lakes Lake Gunn Homer Tunnel Milford Sound Lake Te Anau - Day 12
Te Anau to Twizel
Drive north from Te Anau through the Kawarau River gorge to reach Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's third largest lake. Continue north over the Lindis Pass to Twizel, where you'll spend the night.
Landmarks/POIs Kawarau River Lake Wakatipu Lindis Pass - Day 13
Twizel to Christchurch
Head north from Twizel to Mount Cook National Park, where nearly one-third of the area is covered with snow and ice. You'll pass Lake Pukaki with excellent views of New Zealand's highest mountains on clear days, then continue over Burke Pass to Lake Tekapo with its turquoise waters. After passing through Mackenzie Country's grassy plateau, you'll reach the green pastureland around Geraldine and Ashburton before arriving in Christchurch, the garden city.
Landmarks/POIs Mount Cook National Park Lake Pukaki Burke Pass Lake Tekapo Mackenzie Country Geraldine Ashburton - Day 14
Christchurch
Explore Christchurch, a tranquil city known for its green spaces and gardens. Visit Hagley Park and its botanical garden, laid out in 1863, which offers a peaceful space with old trees and well-maintained flowerbeds. After exploring the city, you'll return the rental car to the airport.
Included Activities
- Visit Hagley Park and Botanical Gardens
Optional Activities
- Visit Canterbury Museum
Landmarks/POIs Hagley Park Botanical Gardens Canterbury Museum
