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Day 01
Night 1 · Auckland
01
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
Arrive in Auckland
- 1
Aucklandallow an afternoon
Waterfront, and an early night.
Night 1 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$250–NZ$430
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Both Islands · 21 days · 20 nights
21 Day New Zealand Itinerary
The full length of the country, properly
Three weeks is the trip people wish they had booked. There is room for Northland at the start, the West Coast in the middle, and the empty southern shore at the end — with rest days where the driving would otherwise grind.
- Starts
- Auckland
- Finishes
- Christchurch
- Days & nights
- 21 days · 20 nights
- On the road
- 4,100 km · approx. 54 hrs
Major highlights
AucklandAuckland MuseumDevonportWhangārei FallsHole in the Rock cruiseWaitangi Treaty GroundsHokianga · ŌpononiWaipoua Forest
Where you sleep
Auckland (2 nights) · Paihia · Bay of Islands (2 nights) · Auckland (1 night) · Hahei · Cathedral Cove (1 night) · Rotorua (2 nights) · Taupō (2 nights) · Ruapehu · Tongariro (1 night) · Napier (2 nights) · Wellington (1 night) · Blenheim · Marlborough (1 night) · Christchurch (1 night) · Franz Josef (1 night) · Fox Glacier (1 night) · Wānaka (1 night) · Queenstown (1 night)
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Auckland
Paihia · Bay of Islands
Auckland
Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rotorua
Taupō
Ruapehu · Tongariro
Napier
Wellington
Blenheim · Marlborough
Christchurch
Franz Josef
Fox Glacier
Wānaka
Queenstown
The journey, day by day
21 days, one route.
Day 02
Night 2 · Auckland
02
Day 2
Auckland
Auckland
- 1
Auckland Museumallow 2 hours
The Māori and Pacific galleries.
- 2
Devonportallow half a day
Ferry across the harbour, then North Head for the view back.
Night 2 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$470
Day 03
Night 3 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
03
Day 3
230 km · approx. 3.25 hrs driving
Auckland → Whangārei → Paihia
- 1
Whangārei Fallsallow 45 minutes
A twenty-minute loop beside a curtain of water.
Night 3 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 04
Night 4 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
04
Day 4
Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
- 1
Hole in the Rock cruiseallow half a day
Islands, dolphins and open water.
Book the cruise.
- 2
Waitangi Treaty Groundsallow 2–3 hours
Where modern New Zealand was signed into being. Take the guided tour.
Night 4 · Paihia · Bay of Islands
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$540
Day 05
Night 5 · Auckland
05
Day 5
390 km · approx. 5.5 hrs driving
Paihia → Hokianga → Auckland
MorningThe west-coast road, slower and far more beautiful.
- 1
Hokianga · Ōpononiallow 1.5 hours
Giant dunes across the harbour and a village that time forgot.
- 2
Waipoua Forestallow 1 hour
Tāne Mahuta, a 2,000-year-old kauri. Scrub your shoes at the station.
Night 5 · Auckland
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$460
Day 06
Night 6 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
06
Day 6
190 km · approx. 3 hrs driving
Auckland → Hahei
- 1
Hahei · Cathedral Coveallow half a day
Cathedral Cove by boat or on foot, depending on the track status.
- 2
Hot Water Beachallow 1.5 hours
Dig your own hot pool two hours either side of low tide.
Night 6 · Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rough cost · NZ$290–NZ$520
Day 07
Night 7 · Rotorua
07
Day 7
230 km · approx. 3.25 hrs driving
Hahei → Tauranga → Rotorua
- 1
Mount Maunganuiallow 1.5 hours
Climb the Mount for the view along the beach.
Night 7 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 08
Night 8 · Rotorua
08
Day 8
Rotorua — steam and culture
Rotorua
- 1
Geothermal parkallow half a day
One park, unhurried.
- 2
Māori cultural eveningallow evening
The heart of a Rotorua visit.
Book the day before.
Night 8 · Rotorua
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$530
Day 09
Night 9 · Taupō
09
Day 9
300 km · approx. 4.25 hrs driving
Rotorua → Matamata → Waitomo → Taupō
- 1
Hobbitonallow 2.5 hours
Guided tours only.
Book ahead.
- 2
Waitomo Cavesallow 2 hours
Glowworm caves by boat, or black-water rafting if you're game.
Book ahead.
Night 9 · Taupō
Rough cost · NZ$330–NZ$580
Day 10
Night 10 · Taupō
10
Day 10
Taupō & the volcanic plateau
Taupō
- 1
Wai-O-Tapuallow 1.5 hours
Colour you won't believe.
- 2
Huka Fallsallow 45 minutes
Blue water at absurd speed.
Night 10 · Taupō
Rough cost · NZ$270–NZ$470
Day 11
Night 11 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
11
Day 11
100 km · approx. 1.5 hrs driving
Tongariro
Taupō → Tongariro
MorningThe Alpine Crossing if the forecast is kind — 19.4km, seven to eight hours.
- 1
Ruapehu · Tongariroallow full day
The finest day walk in the country, or the chairlift and a valley track instead.
Book the shuttle; there is no return transport otherwise.
Night 11 · Ruapehu · Tongariro
Rough cost · NZ$260–NZ$460
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Day 12
Night 12 · Napier
12
Day 12
240 km · approx. 3.25 hrs driving
Tongariro → Napier
- 1
Napierallow afternoon
An entire town rebuilt in art deco after the 1931 earthquake.
EveningDinner on the Marine Parade.
Night 12 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 13
Night 13 · Napier
13
Day 13
Hawke's Bay — wine and art deco
Hawke's Bay
- 1
Te Mata Peakallow 1 hour
Drive to the top for the view across the Heretaunga plains.
- 2
Cellar doorsallow half a day
Syrah and chardonnay country. Cycle or hire a driver.
Book a long lunch.
Night 13 · Napier
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$560
Day 14
Night 14 · Wellington
14
Day 14
320 km · approx. 4 hrs driving
Napier → Wellington
- 1
Te Papaallow 2 hours
A good landing after four hours of driving.
Night 14 · Wellington
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$500
Day 15
Night 15 · Blenheim · Marlborough
15
Day 15
30 km · approx. 0.5 hrs driving
Wellington ⇢ Picton → Blenheim
MorningThe ferry through the Sounds. · leave 8:00am sailing
- 1
Blenheim · Marlboroughallow afternoon
Sauvignon blanc where it was invented. Cycle the cellar doors.
Book bikes and a tasting.
Night 15 · Blenheim · Marlborough
Rough cost · NZ$340–NZ$600
Day 16
Night 16 · Christchurch
16
Day 16
320 km · approx. 4.25 hrs driving
Blenheim → Kaikōura → Christchurch
- 1
Kaikōuraallow half a day
Whales, dolphins, and crayfish from a roadside caravan.
Book the whale watch.
Night 16 · Christchurch
Rough cost · NZ$340–NZ$600
Day 17
Night 17 · Franz Josef
17
Day 17
400 km · approx. 5.5 hrs driving
Christchurch → Arthur's Pass → Franz Josef
MorningA long, spectacular crossing. · leave 7:30am
- 1
Arthur's Passallow 1.5 hours
Devils Punchbowl Falls and kea in the car park.
- 2
Hokitika Gorgeallow 1 hour
Unreasonably blue water.
Night 17 · Franz Josef
Rough cost · NZ$290–NZ$520
Day 18
Night 18 · Fox Glacier
18
Day 18
50 km · approx. 0.75 hrs driving
Franz Josef & Fox
Glacier country
- 1
Heli-hikeallow half a day
The only way onto the ice. Take the earliest slot.
Book ahead; weather-dependent.
- 2
Lake Mathesonallow 1.5 hours
Dawn reflection of Aoraki.
Night 18 · Fox Glacier
Rough cost · NZ$400–NZ$850
Day 19
Night 19 · Wānaka
19
Day 19
285 km · approx. 4.5 hrs driving
Fox Glacier → Haast → Wānaka
- 1
Haastallow 45 minutes
Rainforest and river mouths. Fuel here.
- 2
Blue Poolsallow 1 hour
Glacial water through beech forest.
Night 19 · Wānaka
Rough cost · NZ$280–NZ$490
Day 20
Night 20 · Queenstown
20
Day 20
115 km · approx. 2 hrs driving
Wānaka → Queenstown
- 1
Roys Peak or Diamond Lakeallow 1–6 hours
Choose your effort.
- 2
Arrowtownallow 2 hours
Cottages, bakery, autumn gold in April.
Night 20 · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$300–NZ$560
Day 21
21
Day 21
580 km · approx. 8 hrs driving
Queenstown → Milford Sound → Queenstown
- 1
Milford Soundallow full day
The right way to end three weeks.
Book coach and cruise together.
Departs from · Queenstown
Rough cost · NZ$350–NZ$620
What it costs.
approx. NZ$320–NZ$490 per person, per day — around approx. NZ$6,700–NZ$10,300 per person for the whole trip, twin share, mid-range.
- AccommodationNZ$165–NZ$295 per night (twin share, mid-range)
- Rental carNZ$70–NZ$130 per day, or NZ$140–NZ$260 for a campervan
- Ferry with a carNZ$250–NZ$450 for two people plus vehicle
- FuelNZ$700–NZ$880 for the route
- FoodNZ$80–NZ$130 per person, per day
- ActivitiesNZ$1,400–NZ$2,400 per person total
Practical notes.
Best time to go
November to April. Northland stays warm into May.
What to book ahead
Ferry with a vehicle, Hobbiton, Waitomo, Tongariro shuttle, heli-hike, whale watch, Milford.
Longest driving day
Day 5 — the Hokianga and Waipoua route, around 5 hours 30 minutes.
Rental cars
Two separate hires either side of the ferry is usually cheaper than taking one across.
Campervans
This route works well in a van. Use certified self-contained sites and never freedom camp where signs forbid it.
Where to add nights
The Catlins and Dunedin, if you can stretch to 24 days.
Costs
Indicative only — always check current prices before booking.
(Book) — Experiences on this route
Book the experiences along the way.
Tours and activities around Queenstown and this route — check availability with our booking partner.
Powered by our booking partner · Featuring Queenstown, New Zealand — you'll continue browsing on their site.
Where to stay
Find & Book Stays →Things to do on the way
Explore Experiences →Make it yours
✦ Ask Aotearoa →More itineraries.
Sources & useful links
Road conditions, closures and alpine passes change daily. Check the official journey planner on the morning you travel.
Last checked 21 August 2026