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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
Organised by us · Both Islands · 21 days
21 Day New Zealand Itinerary
The full length of the country, properly
Which of our journeys?
Organised end to end by us
Selected journey
21 Day New Zealand Itinerary
Both Islands · 21 days · 4,100 km
Auckland → Bay of Islands → Coromandel → Rotorua → Tongariro → Hawke's Bay → Wellington ⇢ Marlborough → West Coast → Aoraki → Wānaka → Queenstown → Fiordland → Catlins → Dunedin
Rough self-drive cost — planning it yourself
$$ · approx. NZ$320–NZ$490 per person, per day per day · approx. NZ$6,700–NZ$10,300 per person
A guide to what this route costs if you book it yourself. Entirely separate from an organised journey.
Availability · Available for enquiries
Read the full day-by-day itinerary →Auckland
Paihia · Bay of Islands
Auckland
Hahei · Cathedral Cove
Rotorua
Taupō
Ruapehu · Tongariro
Napier
Wellington
Blenheim · Marlborough
Christchurch
Franz Josef
Fox Glacier
Wānaka
Queenstown
Highlights
- Auckland
- Auckland Museum
- Devonport
- Whangārei Falls
- Hole in the Rock cruise
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Hokianga · Ōpononi
- Waipoua Forest
Where you stay
- Auckland2 nights
- Paihia · Bay of Islands2 nights
- Auckland1 night
- Hahei · Cathedral Cove1 night
- Rotorua2 nights
- Taupō2 nights
- Ruapehu · Tongariro1 night
- Napier2 nights
- Wellington1 night
- Blenheim · Marlborough1 night
- Christchurch1 night
- Franz Josef1 night
- Fox Glacier1 night
- Wānaka1 night
- Queenstown1 night
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Day by day — what we organise for you
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