The Great New Zealand Road Trip

The trip

New Zealand is made for driving: light traffic, roads that drive on the left like ours, and astonishing variety within a few hours. This route links the highlights of both islands at a comfortable pace, with two or three nights in most places so you are not packing every morning.

The route

Start in Auckland and drive south to Rotorua's geothermal parks, past Lake Taupō to Hawke's Bay's vineyards and on to Wellington. Take the ferry across the Cook Strait to Marlborough, then follow the wild West Coast to the glaciers, cross the Haast Pass to Wanaka and Queenstown, with a day trip to Milford Sound. Finish beneath Aoraki/Mount Cook and drive across the plains to Christchurch. Three weeks is ideal.

Day by day

Driving days are kept to about four hours at most, with plenty of places to stop on the way.

1. Days 1-2

   Auckland

   Arrive and recover. The harbour, Waiheke Island's vineyards by ferry and the Auckland Museum.

   Stay Hotel in Auckland

   Travel Airport transfer, about 40 minutes

2. Days 3-4

   Rotorua

   Geysers and mud pools at Te Puia, a Māori cultural evening and the redwood forest walk.

   Stay Hotel or lodge in Rotorua

   Travel Drive, about 3 hours

3. Days 5-6

   Hawke's Bay

   Stop at Huka Falls and Lake Taupō on the way. Art Deco Napier, cellar doors and the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.

   Stay Lodge in Hawke's Bay

   Travel Drive, about 3 hours 30 minutes

4. Days 7-8

   Wellington

   Te Papa museum, the cable car and the capital's excellent coffee and restaurants.

   Stay Hotel in Wellington

   Travel Drive, about 4 hours

5. Days 9-10

   Marlborough

   Ferry through the Marlborough Sounds, then sauvignon blanc tastings around Blenheim.

   Stay Lodge near Blenheim

   Travel Interislander ferry, about 3 hours 30 minutes

6. Days 11-12

   Franz Josef

   The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki on the way down the West Coast. A helicopter flight onto the glacier.

   Stay Hotel in Franz Josef

   Travel Drive, about 6 hours with stops

7. Days 13-14

   Wanaka

   Over the Haast Pass to Lake Wanaka: lake walks, vineyards and the famous lone willow.

   Stay Hotel in Wanaka

   Travel Drive, about 4 hours

8. Days 15-17

   Queenstown

   Lake Wakatipu, Arrowtown, the Gibbston wineries and a full day to Milford Sound by road or scenic flight.

   Stay Hotel or lodge near Queenstown

   Travel Drive, about 1 hour

9. Days 18-19

   Aoraki/Mount Cook

   The Hooker Valley track to the glacier lake, and some of the clearest night skies in the world at Lake Tekapo.

   Stay Hotel at Aoraki/Mount Cook

   Travel Drive, about 3 hours 30 minutes

10. Days 20-21

    Christchurch

    The botanic gardens and rebuilt city centre, then fly home.

    Stay Hotel in Christchurch

    Travel Drive, about 4 hours

When to go

February to April is the sweet spot: settled weather, warm lakes, the grape harvest and fewer visitors after the summer holidays. November and early December are lovely too, with spring flowers and long days. Avoid late December to January if you can; it is the local summer holiday.

Where to stay

From friendly motels to some of the world's great lodges, New Zealand does every style well. Lodges usually include dinner and breakfast. Price bands are a typical night for two sharing; expect more at peak dates.

Featured stay

Rosewood Matakauri

Queenstown, New Zealand

££££

Couples and food lovers who want a calm, beautiful base for the South Island, ideally in autumn or spring.

Matakauri sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu a few minutes from Queenstown, looking straight across the water to the saw-toothed Remarkables. Now run by Rosewood as Rosewood Matakauri, it remains one of New Zealand's great lodges: small, calm, beautifully fed and the perfect base for exploring the South Island at an unhurried pace.

Read our full review →

What it costs

Allow from about £9,500 per person for three weeks with good hotels, a couple of lodge nights, car hire, the ferry and the Milford Sound trip, excluding international flights. With luxury lodges throughout, expect £18,000 or more.

Pace and fitness

Driving is the main activity, broken up with short walks to viewpoints, waterfalls and glaciers. Longer hikes are optional. If you would rather not drive, the same route works with a private driver-guide.

How to book

Our advisors plan this trip end to end: flights, hotels, guides and the small details that make the days easy. Tell us your dates and the style of stay you like, and we will build it around you. Speak to an advisor.