4-6 Weeks
“I want to see it all”!
1 Auckland
2 Northland
3 The Coromandel Peninsula
4 Tauranga
5 Hobbiton (Matamata)
6 Rotorua
7 Taupo
8 Tongariro Crossing
9a Castlepoint
9b Kapiti Coast
10 Wellington
11 Picton
12 Nelson
13 Golden Bay & The Abel Tasman
14 West Coast
15 Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
16 Wanaka
17 Te Anau
18 Queenstown
19 Mt Cook
20 Lake Tekapo
21 Akaroa
22 Christchurch
This route misses Kaikoura on the East Coast, which is the best place in NZ for whale watching tours. If you want to do this, then do a 2-day trip from Christchurch at the end. This route also misses Dunedin. Dunedin is known for it’s historical buildings and the harsh landscape on the Otago Peninsula (which is also filled with wildlife). To add Dunedin into the itinerary, squeeze it between Queenstown and Mt Cook. You’ll want to allow a few days as the travel days will be long.
3-4 Weeks
“Show me the best”
1 Auckland
3 Rotorua
4a Taupo
4b Tongariro Crossing
5 Wellington
6 Nelson
7 Golden Bay & The Abel Tasman
8 Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
9 Wanaka
10 Te Anau
11 Queenstown
12 Lake Tekapo
13 Christchurch
1-2 Weeks
“In the deep South”
1 Christchurch
2 Arthurs Pass
3 West Coast
4 Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers
5 Wanaka
6 Te Anau
7 Queenstown
8 Mt Cook
9 Lake Tekapo