Itinerary
- Day 1
Christchurch
You'll arrive in Christchurch and pick up your rental car. Spend the day walking through the city's green spaces and art galleries. The mix of historic and modern architecture gives you plenty to see, so check out museums and wander around different neighborhoods at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stroll through green spaces
- Visit art galleries and museums
- Explore historic architecture and modern buildings
- Day 2
Dunedin
Head south to Oamaru and take time to walk through its well-preserved white sandstone buildings in the Victorian quarter. After that, continue to Dunedin where you'll find impressive Victorian architecture from the gold rush era. Before settling in for the night, stop at Larnach Castle to see this historic site.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Steampunk Museum in Oamaru
- Explore Victorian quarter around Harbour-Tyne Street
- Visit Oamaru harbor to observe little penguins and yellow-eyed penguins
- Visit Larnach Castle with views of Otago Bay
Landmarks Larnach Castle Steampunk Museum - Day 3
Dunedin to Te Anau
This morning you'll drive through hilly farmland via Lumsden toward Te Anau, which sits at the gateway to Fiordland National Park. Once you arrive, there's time to explore the area. If you're interested, you can take a boat tour to the Glowworm Caves before preparing for the Milford Sound adventure ahead.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Boat tour to Glowworm Caves
Landmarks Fiordland National Park Glowworm Caves 
- Day 4
Milford Sound
Today's the big one. You'll experience Fiordland National Park, traveling along the only public land route to Milford Sound. The scenery includes glacier fjords, lush rainforests, snow-capped mountains, and deep valleys. A boat tour or kayak trip gets you close to waterfalls and mist-covered peaks.
Optional Activities
- Boat tour on Milford Sound
- Kayak trip on Milford Sound
Landmarks Milford Sound Fiordland National Park - Day 5
Te Anau to Queenstown
Drive alongside scenic Lake Wakatipu and stop at Devil's Staircase lookout for the views. You'll pass through Gibbston Valley, known for its Pinot Noir wines. By afternoon, you'll arrive in Queenstown, surrounded by dramatic alpine scenery and ready for adventure.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop at Devil's Staircase lookout
Landmarks Lake Wakatipu Gibbston Valley - Day 6
Queenstown
Queenstown gives you options depending on your mood. If you want thrills, try jet boat rides or rafting through the dramatic landscape. Prefer something calmer? Take the gondola up Bob's Peak where you can enjoy panoramic mountain views over lunch or coffee.
Optional Activities
- Jet boat ride
- Rafting
- Gondola ride up Bob's Peak
Landmarks Bob's Peak Skippers Canyon - Day 7
Queenstown to Twizel
Pass through Arrowtown, a restored gold mining town with character, then head toward Lindis Pass. The golden hills offer great photo opportunities on the drive. Stop at the dramatic Clay Cliffs before reaching Twizel, a small town known for world-class gliding operations.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop at Arrowtown
- Stop at Clay Cliffs
Landmarks Arrowtown Lindis Pass Clay Cliffs 
- Day 8
Twizel to Methven/Rakaia
Start early to explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, where over 20 mountain massifs rise above 3,000 meters with extensive snow and ice covering the landscape. Afterward, you'll drive through the farmland of Canterbury Plains heading toward Methven or Rakaia for the night.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Landmarks Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Canterbury Plains - Day 9
Methven/Rakaia to Hokitika
Travel west via Arthur's Pass National Park, crossing the highest and most spectacular pass over the Southern Alps. You'll see impressive engineering like viaducts and waterfalls along the way. The vegetation shifts from beech forests to dense rainforest as you reach Hokitika on the West Coast.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Short hikes along Arthur's Pass National Park
Landmarks Arthur's Pass National Park - Day 10
Hokitika
Hokitika's a former gold rush town from 1860 that's become a cool coastal destination. Walk through the historic buildings and check out galleries specializing in pounamu (jade) jewelry and local artwork. The traditional jade work comes from nearby Arahura River, so there's real craftsmanship to see here.
Optional Activities
- Tour of Hokitika town and historic buildings
- Visit galleries specializing in pounamu (jade) jewelry and artwork
- Helicopter flight to Southern Alps to see six glaciers, crystal-clear rivers and alpine landscapes (approximately EUR 380 per person)
Landmarks Arahura River - Day 11
Blenheim
Spend time in the sun-drenched wine region around Blenheim, home to around 40 wineries and the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc. Consider a wine tasting bike tour to sample different vineyards. If you're interested, there's an optional day trip to Kaikoura for whale and dolphin watching.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting during bike tour
- Day trip to Kaikoura for whale and dolphin watching (approximately 120 km south)
Landmarks Blenheim Kaikoura - Day 13
Blenheim to Wellington
Drive along scenic Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton, a winding 35-kilometer route along protected Pelourus Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound. Board the ferry across Cook Strait to reach the North Island and Wellington. Once you arrive, explore the capital's museums and cultural attractions in its trendy neighborhoods.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- Ferry passage from Picton to Wellington (passengers and vehicles)
Optional Activities
- Drive along Queen Charlotte Drive
- Visit Te Papa national museum
- Stroll through Cuba Street with its trendy bars and cafés
Landmarks Queen Charlotte Drive Pelourus Sound Queen Charlotte Sound Te Papa Cuba Street - Day 14
Wellington to Napier
Take the cable car up to Kelburn Lookout if you want city views, or visit Weta Workshop to see movie memorabilia from local film productions. Then drive through the picturesque Manawatu region heading to Napier on Hawkes Bay. This city was rebuilt in Art Deco style after a 1931 earthquake and it's now a popular vacation spot.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Cable car to Kelburn Lookout
- Visit Weta Workshop with collectibles, replicas and movie memorabilia
Landmarks Kelburn Lookout Weta Workshop Manawatu region - Day 15
Napier to Rotorua
Near Hastings, visit Cape Kidnappers to see the world's largest and most accessible gannet colony. Continue to Lake Taupo, formed in a volcanic crater where you can view Maori rock carvings from a boat. Pass Huka Waterfalls along the way before arriving in Rotorua, New Zealand's geothermal heart with geysers and mud holes.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Included Activities
- National Kiwi Hatchery tour (English speaking)
Optional Activities
- Visit Cape Kidnappers to see gannet colony
- Boat trip on Lake Taupo to view Maori rock carvings
Landmarks Cape Kidnappers Lake Taupo Huka Waterfalls National Kiwi Hatchery 
- Day 16
Rotorua to Pauanui
Check out Rotorua's geothermal wonders like Te Puia with its spouting geysers and boiling mud pools, or hike through Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Visit Te Pa Tu Maori Village to learn about traditional Maori life, customs, and culture. Later, head toward the Coromandel Peninsula and Pauanui with optional stops at Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove.
- Accommodation
- Hotel, Hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Te Puia thermal area with geysers and boiling mud pools
- Hike Waimangu Volcanic Valley along crater trails
- Visit Te Pa Tu Maori Village
- Visit Hobbiton movie set (Lord of the Rings and Hobbit location) in Matamata
- Visit Hot Water Beach
- Hike to Cathedral Cove with natural rock arch
- Canoe tour of Coromandel Peninsula from Pauanui
- Coastal hiking trails from Pauanui
Landmarks Te Puia Waimangu Volcanic Valley Te Pa Tu Maori Village Hobbiton Matamata Hot Water Beach Cathedral Cove Coromandel Peninsula - Day 18
Pauanui to Auckland
Stop at Mount Eden/Maungawhau, an extinct volcano offering panoramic city views before heading to Auckland. Explore the city center around Queen Street and the harbor where there are museums, restaurants, and shops to discover. Visit the War Memorial Museum to see one of the world's finest Maori and Polynesian art collections.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Optional Activities
- Stop at Mount Eden/Maungawhau for panoramic views
- Visit War Memorial Museum
- Explore Queen Street and harbor area
Landmarks Mount Eden/Maungawhau War Memorial Museum Queen Street 
- Day 19
Auckland
Your road trip ends today. Return your rental car at Auckland airport or arrange an individual extension if you'd like to stay longer and explore more of New Zealand.
