Two weeks in New Zealand
This itinerary covers both islands, with an internal flight to make the most of your time in New
Zealand. You can also do this trip in reverse, starting in Christchurch and flying up to Rotorua.
Day 1: Arrive into Auckland
Day 2: Day trip to Waiheke Island
Day 3-5: Drive to Rotorua (stay 2 nights)
Day 5: Fly from Rotorua to Christchurch, stay the night
Day 6: Drive (or train) from Christchurch to Hokitika
Day 7: Head to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier
Day 8: Drive to Wanaka
Day 9: To Queenstown
Day 10: Visit Milford Sound
Day 11 & 12: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Day 13: Tekapo
Day 14: Fly out of Christchurch
Day 1: Arrive into Auckland
After a long flight, and sometimes long Customs queues — we take biosecurity seriously — it’s
nice to be able to spend a night in Auckland.
I generally wouldn’t recommend driving on your first day. After a lengthy flight, you’ll want a
shower and a bed. The airport is at least 30 minutes from the centre of the city (more in rush
hour traffic) but even so, I wouldn’t try to stay close to the airport.
There aren’t many options in terms of accommodation, and dining options are even more bleak.
If you head into the city centre, you’ll be able to have a meal at one of the city’s fantastic
restaurants and perhaps head for a drink to toast your arrival.
While Queen Street and much of the CBD is gray and uninspiring, Auckland has some
highlights. I love wandering down Karangahape Road for the shops and character, and
Ponsonby Road for the buzz in the evening. Both streets have many great places to eat.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Climb Mount Eden/Maungawhau for beautiful views of the city.
WHERE TO EAT
•Some of my favourite restaurants are on Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road; try
Otto, Pici, Candela, or Apero.
WHERE TO DRINK
I love going up The Churchill for a gin with a view of the city from the 20th floor
WHERE TO STAY IN AUCKLAND
I highly recommend The Hotel Britomart for a unique place to stay, but there are some other
lovely accommodation options around the city.
Day 2: Day trip to Waiheke Island
For your first full day Waiheke Island is an excellent destination.It’s easy to get there — just
catch a 45 minute ferry from the downtown ferry terminal. I recommend taking the Island
Direct ferry instead of Fullers, as it’s smaller and less hectic onboard, plus you can book a time
slot.
Once on the island, you can opt for a wine tour or catch public buses around the island.
Visit one or two vineyards (there are several clustered together so you can easily walk
between them) and stop for a lavish lunch somewhere.
My personal favourites are Casita Miro and Man O War, but Te Motu and Tantalus also make
good options to visit as they are right next to each other and on the public bus route.
If the weather is on your side, there are lovely walks and beaches to explore around Waiheke
as well.
TAKE A WINERY TOUR
The quickest and easiest way to get around Waiheke’s vineyards is to book a wine tour — you
can compare prices on Viator.
Day 3-5: Drive to Rotorua (stay 2 nights)
3 hours 30 minutes drive
If you can, try and avoid driving around 8am or 3-5pm. Auckland traffic can be a
nightmare, made even worse if you’re just getting used to driving on the left side of the road.
If you plan on visiting Hobbiton, you can go via Matamata and do the movie set tour.
Rotorua itself isn’t the most impressive town. It’s fairly touristy and like a lot of New
Zealand towns doesn’t have a great deal of character. New Zealanders sometimes call it
“Roto-vegas”, which gives you a hint as to how tacky it can be.
What makes Rotorua well worth spending a few days is the impressive geothermal activity in
the area. It’s one of the most unique parts of New Zealand and is also a hub of Maori culture.
On your first evening, you can stroll around Kuirau Park and see your first glimpses of
simmering mud pools and steam vents. It’s free to enter.
Stay for a couple of nights and you can visit one of the geothermal parks, enjoy a Maori
cultural experience, and walk around the Redwoods. Visiting the Redwoods at night is also
a surreal
experience — the Nightlights tree walk leads you along a suspended walkway through an
illuminated forest of mighty trees.
You’ll want at least one full day to experience one of the parks. I loved Wai O Tapu, which is
where you can see the Champagne Pool, a large turquoise and orange pool, as well as
other technicolor pools. If you go there, you’re already part way to Taupo, so you can scoot
down to the lake after. I stopped at Kerosene Creek on the way, which is a popular spot for
swimming in naturally heated waters (for free).
Huka Falls is an impressive pit stop in Taupo (just be prepared for a busy car park and lots of
people), and I loved stopping in at the nearby Hipapatua Reserve for a swim in the crystal
clear, bright blue river (just follow the road to the swimming hole at the end).
ROTORUA MUST DOS
The one thing you have to do in Rotorua is bathe in thermal waters. Try Secret Spot for a fun
experience, Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools for lakeside pools, or for a free hot lake swim check out the
Tarawera Trail.
WHERE TO EAT IN ROTORUA
ANI’s Gin Bar & Tapas serves uniquely New Zealand food.
WHERE TO STAY IN ROTORUA
Staying in Rotorua vs Taupo: Rotorua is a bit more touristy than Taupo, and Taupo is
quite pretty with its lakeside location. But, a lot of the things to do in Taupo are similar to the
activities in Rotorua. I think you can easily cover Taupo in a day, and don’t need to spend a
night there if you’re short on time.
Something special | A little outside of Rotorua is Oakridge Glamping, if you want something
rustic and close to nature.
Campervan | Orakei Korako offers camping in their carpark for free, if you pay to visit the
park. You can park here overnight and visit the park first thing in the morning.
At the Waikite Valley Hot Pools, a similar deal applies — there is a fee for camping, but this
includes entry to the hot pools and you even get access to the hot pools before they are open to
the general public.
Day 5: Fly from Rotorua to Christchurch, stay the night
1 hour 55 minute flight with Air New Zealand
The most time efficient way to see both islands is to fly from Rotorua to Christchurch. Obviously,
this doesn’t work if you have a campervan. In that case, you should drive down to Wellington
and get the ferry to the South Island.
One internal flight can save you hours of driving though, and with the cost of petrol and the ferry
between the islands, you will end up spending the same amount or less on a flight.
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island. It’s a good place to stop for a night and enjoy
the parks, restaurants, and lively city centre. If you’re visiting New Zealand for the natural
beauty, one afternoon and evening in Christchurch is enough.
Go for a stroll around the city centre, and check out the pastel buildings of New Regent Street,
or jump on the hop on hop off heritage tram. Christchurch has some great street art and a cool
urban vibe.
WHERE TO EAT IN CHRISTCHURCH
• Twenty Seven Steps
• Rollickin’ Gelato — make a late night dessert stop here
• Grizzly Baked Goods — pick up road trip snacks, or just coffee and pastries for your
morning stroll
WHERE TO STAY IN CHRISTCHURCH
Something special | The Observatory Hotel is absolutely stunning, and a top choice if you want
to splurge.
Mid range | Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square is right in the middle of town, on the edge
of Cathedral Square. I’ve stayed here before and loved being so central.
The only thing to note is parking is a nightmare in the middle of the city. I picked up my rental
car after leaving this hotel, so I didn’t have to manage parking, but it did mean going back out to
the airport.
Budget | Last time I was in Christchurch, I stayed at The Bealey Quarter which was perfectly
fine — nothing fancy but everything I needed. I also really liked that I could park for free here
and walk into the centre, which was around 15 minutes.
Day 6: Drive (or train) from Christchurch to Hokitika
3 hour 15 minute drive
From Christchurch, one option you can add to your trip is the Tranzalpine train journey to
Greymouth.
If you enjoy train journeys, this is the best scenic rail trip to take in New Zealand. It’s hard
to beat the epic alpine scenery, and it makes a nice break from driving. You can pick up
another rental car at the Greymouth train station, and then carry on to Hokitika from there.
If you choose to drive across from Christchurch, a lot of people like to stop at Castle Hill, which
is a good spot to stretch your legs. But, if you only want to stop in one spot for a walk, I prefer
Arthur’s Pass. Arthur’s Pass is a lush, green, often wet stop with keas calling from the low mists.
I loved the small former tunneller’s cottages that line the road through the pass. There’s a nice
short walk to the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfalls.
The drive down to the West Coast is incredible and throws into sharp relief the differences in
climate between both coasts of the South Island. Leaving the golden, arid plains behind you’ll
find yourself in the thick forests of the West Coast.
Hokitika makes a great place to stop for the night. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a sunset on the
driftwood strewn beach.
A quick note — if there has been heavy rain in the previous day or two, you might want to skip
Hokitika Gorge. The water won’t be bright blue but a raging torrent of brown if this is the case. I
went right after a few days of downpour and it wasn’t worth the detour, as the blue water is what
makes it so special.
Day 7: Head to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier
After visiting the gorge, start making your way down to glacier country.
Most people opt to stay in Franz Josef, as the town is more set up for tourists. There are more
big hotels in Franz, and more options for eating. Fox Glacier is a smaller town, which feels
more like a typical New Zealand village.
No matter where you choose to base yourself, the premier activity here is taking a heli-hike on
one of the glaciers. Both Franz Josef glacier and Fox glacier are equally impressive, and you
can easily see both via short walking tracks. Just check your expectations — there’s a good
chance it will be rainy or cloudy and the glaciers will be hiding from view.
This is the wettest part of the country after all.
Even if you can’t see them, enjoy short walks in the area. The forest here is incredible, rich in
undergrowth and emerald moss. It has a truly enchanted feel, as if nymphs and fairies are
hiding behind every mossy log.
If you have an extra day in glacier country, it’s a slight detour, but I recommend stopping
by Okarito.
It’s one of my favourite places on the West Coast, and it’s hard to explain why. Maybe it’s the
white herons that are cast like ghosts in the dark waters of the lagoon, or the sleepy nature of a
tiny coastal town. I think it has something to do with the wild feeling of the place, which is unique
as it’s one of the only places where the mountains flow to the sea uninterrupted by
human activity.
The Okarito walkway is a stunning walk, and if you loop back along the beach you might
see Hector’s Dolphins. If you have enough time, try kayaking on the lagoon to spot birds.
Don’t miss: The short walk around Lake Matheson is stunning, and there’s a roadside lookout
nearby where you can see Fox Glacier.
Where to stay: If you’re in a campervan, I can recommend either the Orange Sheep
Campervan Park in Franz Josef, for a beautiful spot tucked into the forest, or Gillespies Beach
Campground near Fox Glacier.
Day 8: Drive to Wanaka
4 hours driving from Franz Josef to Wanaka
You could push on to Queenstown, but having done that drive before I don’t recommend it. It’s
a long day and all I remember is arriving into Queenstown tired and miserable.
Stopping 45 minutes short in Wanaka will give you a little more time to enjoy the drive.
The road cuts through Mount Aspiring National park on the way through Haast Pass, with
a number of stunning short walks and lookouts along the way,
Check out the Blue Pools, Fantail Falls, and Wilson’s Creek.
I also love the part of the road where you’re driving along the edge of Lake Wanaka, then take a
left and crest a small hill to be greeted with the sight of Lake Hawea.
Note: You could skip Wanaka if you’re not big on hiking
The main things to do around Wanaka involve walks and hikes, and generally exploring the
outdoors. There are also lake cruises, but you might find that these are a little more impressive
in Queenstown.
If you would prefer to be in a more lively town with more activity options, skip Wanaka and
spend an extra night in Queenstown.
Day 9: To Queenstown
1 hour drive from Wanaka
On the drive through to Queenstown, you can stop by Cardrona, Arrowtown, or at any of the
wineries in the Kawerau River Gorge.
The wine here is spectacular, but obviously if you’re tasting any of the vintages, don’t drive
afterwards. The vineyards are also great for food.
By the time you arrive into Queenstown, it will probably be time for you to check in and then
you can spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the town or one of the walks nearby.
Day 10: Visit Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a full day trip.
It is strongly recommended to do this on a tour, as it’s a solid 4 hour drive each way.
You could easily spend four days exploring all of the stops along the road to Milford Sound, but
if you just want to get the highlights, a tour is a good way to do it.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about parking at Milford.
Alternatives to Milford Sound:
• Drive to Glenorchy instead.
• Go for a lake cruise on Lake Wakatipu
Day 11 & 12: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
3 hours 30 minutes driving time
It will take the better part of a day to drive to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
from Queenstown. Along the way, stop at Lindis Pass and maybe Omarama Clay Cliffs if you
want to stretch your legs. You’ll want to stop at Lake Pukaki too. This lake is perhaps the most
scenic in the whole South Island.
It’s an impossible, icy blue and the shimmering spire of Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s
highest mountain, rises into the clouds at the far end of the lake. The drive along the edge of
Lake Pukaki and into Mount Cook Village is a stunning stretch of highway.
I highly recommend staying overnight in Mount Cook Village — you should book early to secure
a room. It’s magical staying somewhere so remote and beautiful and waking up to the bowl of
mountains.
You can walk the Hooker Valley Track in the afternoon, or if you prefer to be on the track when
there are fewer people around, set your alarm for early the next morning. If you go early, you
have a good chance of having the hike to yourself.
Catching a glimpse of the highest mountain peak in New Zealand is certainly a highlight of a
road trip around the country.
One thing to note about Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is that it is one of the most
popular places to visit in New Zealand.
This means a couple of things:
isn’t that special, but it’s conveniently located less than an hour from Mount Cook, and
there are great places to eat (check out Mint Folk & Co), petrol stations, and
supermarkets.
• The carparks in Mount Cook are jam packed, especially the carpark at the start of the
Hooker Valley Track. Just be prepared to park on the roadside, or park near the visitor
centre and walk and extra 40 minutes (it’s a nice walk).
• You’ll see people standing in the middle of the road to take photos. Please don’t do this.
I feel like I shouldn’t need to explain that it’s dangerous but… it’s dangerous.
Day 13: Tekapo
1 hour 30 minutes to drive to Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is pretty but quickly seen. You don’t need much time to wander around
the waterfront, and the town itself doesn’t have a lot to keep you there. I honestly find the
lakefront a little scruffy, and there are always a lot of people crowded around the tiny church.
It’s mostly a convenient pit stop on the way to Christchurch.
That said, I love the drive between Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo — you’ll have the Southern
Alps on your left, so on clear days the views on the drive are stunning.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• In the evening, you may want to take a stargazing tour if the weather is on your side.
• Stay the night, and the following morning head up to the Mount Saint John Observatory
to enjoy views and coffee at Astro Cafe (just note it costs $8 to drive up to the
observatory — walking up is free).
WHERE TO STAY IN TEKAPO
Something special: Alpine Lodges have wood-lined interiors, a fireplace and an open-plan
kitchen flooded with natural light. For a cozy stay with stunning views, this spot is hard to beat.
Budget: Haka House Lake Tekapo is located right on the lakefront.
Day 14: Fly out of Christchurch
3 hours driving from Tekapo to Christchurch
Burke’s Pass is a curious place to stop and examine trinkets and signage from days gone by,
while Fairlie is a locally famous road trip stop —you can’t leave town without stopping by the
Fairlie Bakehouse for a pie, a New Zealand favourite.
If you arrive in Christchurch in the late afternoon or evening, you can drop off your hire car and
enjoy a nice meal for your final evening.
