Rotorua: Princes Gate Hotel
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New Zealand road trip itinerary
Our recommended itineraries, including the must-see sites, stays and activities across New Zealand's North and South Islands.
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We’ve got three hand-curated New Zealand road trip itineraries ranging from one to two weeks for the ultimate New Zealand holiday.
From mountains to the coast, skydiving to kayaking and wine tasting to movie locations, these itineraries pack it all into easy-to-navigate trips for first-timers in New Zealand.
Find your ride to take on New Zealand
Searching for trips of just the North or South Island?
- View our recommended North Island road trip itineraries
- View our recommended South Island road trip itineraries
Recommended New Zealand itineraries based on length
1-week New Zealand itinerary: Auckland to Milford Sound
Itinerary overview
- Distance: 2,258km
- Highlights and attractions: Hobbiton Movie Set, Rotorua, Lake Taupo, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Queenstown, Milford Sound
- Landscape: Mountains, glaciers, coastal, lakes
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Distance: 228km Approx. drive time: 2 hours and 50 minutes | Auckland to Rotorua |  |
| Day 2 Distance: 82km Approx. drive time: 1 hour | Rotorua to Taupo |  |
| Day 3 Distance: 371km Approx. drive time: 4 hours and 40 minutes | Taupo to Wellington |  |
| Day 4 Distance: 431km Approx. drive time: 7 hours and 50 minutes (includes 3-hour ferry from North to South Island) | Wellington to Punakaiki |  |
| Day 5 Distance: 503km Approx. drive time: 6.5 hours | Punakaiki to Wanaka |  |
| Day 6 Distance: 68km Approx. drive time: 1 hour | Wanaka to Queenstown |  |
| Day 7 Distance: 575km Approx. drive time: 7.5 hours (if driving yourself) | Milford Sound |  |
Accommodation recommendations
Taupo: Beechtree Motel
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Wellington: Travelodge Hotel Wellington
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Punakaiki: Te Nikau Retreat
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Wanaka: Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka
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Queenstown: DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown
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10-day New Zealand itinerary: Auckland to Milford Sound
Itinerary overview
- Distance: 2,418km
- Highlights and attractions: Bay of Islands, Hobbiton Movie Set, Mount Cook, Franz Josef Glacier, Milford Sound
- Landscape: Islands, coastal, mountains, glaciers, lakes
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Distance: 455km Approx. drive time: 6 hours | Auckland |  |
| Day 2 Distance: 250km Approx. drive time: 2.5 hours | Auckland to Rotorua |  |
| Day 3 Distance: 82km Approx. drive time: 1 hour | Rotorua to Taupo |  |
| Day 4 Distance: 141km Approx. drive time: 2 hours | Taupo to Napier |  |
| Day 5 Distance: 321km Approx. drive time: 4 hours | Napier to Wellington | |
| Day 6 Distance: 439km Approx. drive time: 8 hours and 15 minutes | Wellington to Christchurch |  |
| Day 7 Distance: 380km Approx. drive time: 4 hours and 50 minutes | Christchurch to Franz Josef |  |
| Day 8 Distance: 350km Approx. drive time: 4 hours and 40 minutes | Franz Josef to Queenstown |  |
| Day 9 Distance: 0km Approx. drive time: 0 | Queenstown |  |
| Day 10 Distance: 575km Approx. drive time: 7.5 hours (if driving yourself) | Queenstown to Milford Sound |  |
Accommodation recommendations
Rotorua: Princes Gate Hotel
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Taupo: Beechtree Motel
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Wellington: Travelodge Hotel Wellington
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Queenstown: DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown
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Auckland: Skycity Hotel
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Napier: Pebble Beach Motor Inn
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Christchurch: Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch
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Franz Josef: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
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2-week New Zealand itinerary
Itinerary overview
- Distance: 2,814km
- Highlights and attractions: Coromandel Peninsula, Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Hobbiton Movie Set, Tongariro National Park, Abel Tasman National Park, Franz Josef Glacier, Queenstown, Milford Sound
- Landscape: Coastal, mountains, lakes, glaciers, islands
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
| Day | Itinerary | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Distance: 168km Approx. drive time: 2 hours and 20 minutes | Auckland to Hahei |  |
| Day 2 Distance: 237km Approx. drive time: 2.5 hours | Hahei to Waitomo |  |
| Day 3 Distance: 178km Approx. drive time: 2.5 hours | Waitomo to Rotorua |  |
| Day 4 Distance: 88km Approx. drive time: 1 hour | Rotorua to Taupo |  |
| Day 5 Distance: 60km (if not taking the shuttle) Approx. drive time: 50 minutes | Taupo (Tongariro National Park) |  |
| Day 6 Distance: 331km (372km from Taupo) Approx. drive time: 4 hours (4 hours and 45 minutes from Taupo) | Tongariro National Park (Taupo) to Wellington |  |
| Day 7 Distance: 210km Approx. drive time: 5 hours and 20 minutes | Wellington to Nelson |  |
| Day 8 Distance: 131km Approx. drive time: 2 hours and 10 minutes | Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park) |  |
| Day 9 Distance: 265km Approx. drive time: 3.5 hours | Nelson to Punakaiki |  |
| Day 10 Distance: 217km Approx. drive time: 2 hours and 50 minutes | Punakaiki to Franz Josef |  |
| Day 11 Distance: 286km Approx. drive time: 3 hours and 40 minutes | Franz Josef to Wanaka |  |
| Days 12 and 13 Distance: 68km Approx. drive time: 1 hour | Wanaka to Queenstown |  |
| Day 14 Distance: 575km (if not doing the tour) Approx. drive time: 7.5 hours | Milford Sound |  |
Accommodation recommendations
Rotorua: Princes Gate Hotel
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Taupo: Beechtree Motel
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Wellington: Travelodge Hotel Wellington
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Wanaka: Bella Vista Motel Lake Wanaka
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Queenstown: DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown
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Franz Josef: Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
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Coromandel: Coromandel Top 10 Holiday Park
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Waitomo: Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park
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Tongariro: Chateau Tongariro Hotel
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Nelson: Trailways Hotel Nelson
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Other popular driving routes in New Zealand
North Island: Manawatu Scenic Route (Mangaweka to Ashurst)
- How long is the drive? 94 km
- How long do I need? One to two days including stops for hikes
- Must-sees along the way: Rangiwahia Hut Track, Pohangina Valley, Manawatu River
The route from Mangaweka to Ashurst on New Zealand's North Island takes you past ancient native bushland, gorges, gardens and natural swimming spots. You can be as lazy or as active as you like on this journey. Soak up the views from the car window or park up to tackle hikes like the hilly Rangiwahia Hut Track.
South Island: The Great Alpine Highway (Christchurch to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass)
- How long is the drive? 245 km
- How long do I need? Three days
- Must-sees along the way: Christchurch, Arthur's Pass National Park, Greymouth
This 245-kilometre route snakes its way from coast to coast on New Zealand's South Island, taking you through national parks, past mirror-like lakes and via extensive forests.
Take a break to go punting on the Avon River in Canterbury and don't miss Arthur's Pass National Park, a mesh of shingle-filled riverbeds and vast beech forests.
North Island: The Forgotten World Highway (Taumarunui to Stratford)
- How long is the drive? 150 km
- How long do I need? Three days
- Must-sees along the way: Taumarunui, Mount Damper Falls, Whangamomona, Stratford
On the map, the line of this road looks like it's been drawn with a shaky hand. It stretches for 150 kilometres between Taumarunui and Stratford in the heart of New Zealand's North Island.
Die-hard road trippers will love the fact that this route follows the colonial bridle paths of the 19th century. It's rugged, twisty and often described as a "natural roller-coaster" of a road.
New Zealand overview
- Weather: Weather varies across the two islands with the north of the North Island experiencing a subtropical climate and the South Island having proper winters that reach as cold as -10°C inland. Most of the population and sites are along the coasts which means that temperatures are mild (15°C average for the North Island and 9°C for the South Island). There is a lot of sunshine and moderate rainfall.
- Best time to visit: Opt to travel around New Zealand during summer. (December to February) for sightseeing as the weather is warm.
- Recommended vehicle type: Economy or mid-sized/sedan (recommended for winter)
Car hire deals in New Zealand
Deal
Campervan hire from $5/day
Available on select routes, dates and locations in Australia, including Darwin, Alice Springs, Cairns and Brisbane, and New Zealand.
Deal
Up to 10% off base rate
Available on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday pick up dates until 11 December 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 20% off Australia and New Zealand rentals
Available on 2+ days rentals until 11 December 2021 when you book 21 days in advance. Destinations include Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 14% off New Zealand campervan hires
Available on select rental dates in 2021 with Britz, Apollo, Cheapa and more. Destinations include Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
New Zealand: 7-day South Island campervan getaway from $469
Available from 28 February - 31 March 2022 in Queenstown. T&Cs apply.
Deal
7-day Auckland campervan escape from $539
Available from 1-31 March 2022 with Britz HiTop campervan. T&Cs apply.
Deal
New Zealand campervan rentals from $16/day
Available on rentals until December 2021. Sample rate is for a station wagon with Travellers Autobarn.
Code
Get 5% off New Zealand campervan hires with code
Available on rentals until March 2022 with Cheapa Campa, Star RV and Hippie Camper. Must book 180+ days prior. Destinations included Auckland, Christchurch and more. T&Cs apply.
Code
Extra 5% off Hippie Camper rentals in New Zealand
Available on campervan rentals until 31 March 2022 when you book 180 days in advance. Destinations include Auckland and Christchurch. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 20% off Australia and New Zealand car hires
Available on select rental dates until December 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
New Zealand campervan hires from NZD$29/day
Available on rentals until December 2021. Destinations include Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Minimum of 5 rental days required. Sample rate is for a Cabana.
Deal
Up to 10% off 3+ day rentals
Available on rentals until 11 December 2021 across Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Auckland car hires from $20
Available on select rental dates in 2021 with Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt and more.
Code
Up to 15% off New Zealand car hires
Available on rentals until 31 August 2021. Destinations includes Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 15% off prestige car rentals
Available on rentals until 11 December 2021 across Australia and New Zealand including Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Auckland and more. Minimum of 5 days rental required. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Up to 15% off 5+ days rentals
Available on rentals until 11 December 2021 across Australia and New Zealand. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Get $200 hotel voucher on car hires
Receive an exclusive $200 accommodation credit voucher when you book an intermediate class or higher vehicles for 3+ nights. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
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