What would be an example itinerary between Auckland and Wellington?

A practical 7-day route from Auckland to Wellington covers New Zealand's key North Island destinations. The journey starts in Auckland before moving to Rotorua for two nights at Distinction Rotorua where travelers can explore geothermal sites and Maori traditions. The route continues to Lake Taupo for water activities then to Tongariro National Park with a stay at Powderhorn Chateau. The trip ends in Wellington where guests often stay at Naumi Wellington. Key stops include the Hobbiton Movie Set traditional hangi feasts and glowworm cave explorations. A recent TourRadar traveler shared: "The adventures immersion of Maori culture and friendships formed were all more than I could've asked for."

What meals are typically included in Auckland to Wellington tours?

Tour packages usually cover daily breakfast and select dinners with special focus on cultural meals like the Maori hangi dinner in Rotorua. AAT Kings tours provide 7 breakfasts and 1 feature dinner while G Adventures includes 6 breakfasts and 1 dinner in their package. According to a TourRadar traveler: "The included hangi dinner was a fantastic cultural experience with amazing food."

What are the most popular activities included in Auckland to Wellington tours?

Standard tour packages cover visits to the Hobbiton Movie Set traditional Maori hangi dinners Te Puia geothermal valley Huka Falls and guided tours of Auckland and Wellington. Extra activities available for booking include bungy jumping in Taupo white water rafting in Rotorua and tours of the Weta Workshop in Wellington. A TourRadar traveler noted: "The Te Puia geothermal experience and cultural show in Rotorua was definitely a highlight of the trip."

What type of accommodation can I expect on these tours?

Tours typically use a mix of 3-4 star properties ranging from established hotel chains to local motels and hostels. Common options include the Holiday Inn Express in Auckland and Ibis in Rotorua. A TourRadar traveler shared: "The accommodation ranged from comfortable hotels to basic hostels with the Copthorne Resort in Bay of Islands being particularly nice."

How much driving time should I expect between destinations?

The full route from Auckland to Wellington covers 650km/400 miles with daily drives split into manageable 2-4 hour segments. The Auckland to Rotorua stretch takes about 3 hours while the Rotorua to Taupo portion runs roughly 1.5 hours. TourRadar travelers note: "The drives were scenic and comfortable with regular breaks at interesting locations."

What's the average price range for an Auckland to Wellington tour?

Tour costs range from USD 1300-4500 based on duration and what's included. Budget-conscious travelers can book G Adventures' 7-day tour starting at USD 1299. More detailed experiences like AAT Kings' Northern Spotlight tour cost around USD 3275. These prices typically cover lodging transport select meals and main activities.

Auckland to Wellington Tours

Find adventures that start in Auckland and then finish in Wellington. Trips from Auckland to Wellington are most popular in February, with the most tours doing this route then.

10 best Auckland to Wellington tour packages

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Explorer
Premium New Zealand North Island
5.0 (3 traveler reviews)
"We thoroughly enjoyed our time in New Zealand. We are grateful to Runty for his leadership skills, friendliness and professional guiding."
John, traveled in November
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro National Park,Ohakune,Wellington+2 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Premium
From
US$5,040per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Best of New Zealand: Mountain Biking & Black-Sand Beaches
4.8 (15 traveler reviews)
"you get an awesome time !!"
Jan, traveled in July
Duration
21 days
Destinations
Auckland, Raglan, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington,Abel Tasman National Park,Westport,Franz Josef,Queenstown,Te Anau,Christchurch,Kaikoura+7 more
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From $4,099
US$3,074per person
Price based on Shared Room
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$9 Day \'Pukeko\' North Island Select Tour Tour$
$9 Day \'Pukeko\' North Island Select Tour - 6 destinations$
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Explorer
9 Day 'Pukeko' North Island Select Tour
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Auckland, Rotorua, Lake Aniwhenua, Taupo,Tongariro National Park,Wellington+2 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Stray Travel
10% Off
From $2,252
US$2,027per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
New Zealand North Island: Haka & Hot Springs
4.5 (8 traveler reviews)
"Awesome experience, gave us a good taste of the north island. Definitely recommend taking the 'Rock the Boat' optional and doing the night kayaking."
Katherine, traveled in July
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Auckland, Whangarei, Paihia, Bay of Islands, Waitomo,Rotorua,Taupo,Tongariro National Park,Wellington+4 more
Age Range
Ages 18-32
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Topdeck
10% Off
From
US$1,999per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Northern Crossing - Small Group Tour
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"The group was warm and inclusive, and we enjoyed the rest of the activities very much."
Katie, traveled in October
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Auckland, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington
Age Range
Ages 18-45
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Kiwi Experience
20% Off
From $1,213
US$971per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
New Zealand Northern Trail (Southbound) (8 destinations)
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Auckland, Coromandel, Raglan, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo,Tongariro National Park,Wellington+2 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Intrepid Travel
20% Off
From $4,160
US$3,328per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
North Island Explorer - 11 days
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Auckland, Russell, Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Whitianga,Rotorua,Napier,Wellington+3 more
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
On The Go Tours
20% Off
From
US$5,465per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Explorer
Northern Spotlight (2025/2026)
4.8 (4 traveler reviews)
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Auckland, Waiheke Island, Bay of Islands, Waitangi,Russell,Whangarei,Rotorua,Te Puia,Taupo,Wellington+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
AAT Kings
15% Off
From $3,399
US$2,889per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
North Island - Hop-On-Hop-Off bus pass
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Auckland, Coromandel, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington
Age Range
Ages 18-35
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Kiwi Experience
20% Off
From $390
US$312per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
7-Day Northern Explorer - North Island Tour
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Wellington
Age Range
Ages 18+
Country Region
New Zealand NorthlandNew Zealand North Island+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Kirra Tours
20% Off
From
US$2,308per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Our most booked and loved tours
Best Seller
In-depth Cultural
New Zealand: Best of the North Island
4.4 (22 traveler reviews)
"Our mandatory fun activities were incredible and pushed me to do things I wouldn't otherwise (surfing)."
Felicia, traveled in December
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Auckland, Raglan, Rotorua, Tongariro National Park,Wellington+1 more
Age Range
Ages 18-39
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
G Adventures
25% Off
From $1,279
US$959per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Highlights in New Zealand North Island Escorted Coach Tour
4.0 (1 traveler review)
"Hotels could have been better. Tour guide, driver and sights weee excellent."
Larry, traveled in January
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Auckland, Bay of Islands, Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo,Wellington+1 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Agate Travel
25% Off
From
US$4,119per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Active
NZ Adventure North
4.8 (5 traveler reviews)
"100% would recommend!"
Amelia, traveled in November
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington
Age Range
Ages 18-45
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
INTRO Travel
25% Off
From
US$1,449per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Explorer
Iconic North (3 destinations)
3.0 (2 traveler reviews)
"The Northern discovery tour was informative and fun."
Marigold, traveled in February
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
Trafalgar
10% Off
From $3,050
US$2,745per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Active
NZ Intro North
4.8 (12 traveler reviews)
"loved all the places and was nice being able to add on what you wanted to do around the included experiences 😀"
Nicole, traveled in July
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington
Age Range
Ages 18-45
Country Region
New Zealand North Island
Operated in
English
Operator
INTRO Travel
10% Off
From
US$1,519per person
Price based on Shared Room
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