There’s no better way to tackle New Zealand than by hitting the road! But we know that coming up with an itinerary can be eWe are super excited to share with you all the tips for a perfect New Zealand road trip – our 3 weeks itinerary! Indeed, there’s no better way to tackle New Zealand than by hitting the road! But we know that coming up with an itinerary can be extremely stressful and time-consuming! Look no further we’ve gathered all the information you need!
First things first
We love road trips, and New Zealand is probably one of the best places to explore in four wheels. However, if driving isn’t your thing, you can decide to catch internal flights and join some tours from your base city! Besides Auckland, you can find airports in the cities of Wellington, Rotorua, Dunedin, Queenstown, and Christchurch.
If you’re keen to hit the road, then the first and most important choice you have to make is either to rent a car or a campervan.
Why renting a car
- You’ll save money on gas and ferry
- It will be easier to go through the amazing but sometimes narrow and in poor conditions roads
- You can stay in marvelous boutique hotels and Airbnbs (most of them with free breakfast and kitchen)
Why renting a Campervan
- It’s cheaper if you consider the money you’ll save on accommodation.
- You have more flexibility in your schedule and itinerary.
- You can embrace the living-on-the-road kind of life.
As much as we would like to experience the freedom of having a house on wheels, one of our favorite parts of traveling is discovering amazing places to stay. From endless conversations at the dinner table with amazing hosts to the feeling of arriving at a boutique hotel room full of little details, we believe that the place you choose to stay can shape your experience and memory of each trip. If you too decide to rent-a-car, you can’t miss our picks for places to stay in each city.
Tips to rent a car and to drive across New Zealand
- Keep your eyes open to the “one-way fee”: You will probably want to pick-up and drop-off your car in different locations and many companies charge a small fortune to do that. Also, these companies tend to avoid sharing details on this fee, so be sure you read the small letters of these contracts.
- If you catch the ferry connecting the two islands, be sure your rent-a-car allows you to take the car with you. Some companies don’t allow commuting between islands and will make you pick up another vehicle when arriving at North/South Island.
- No company will let you drive their cars without insurance. However, they’ll try everything they can to make you buy extra coverage for literally everything that can happen while you’re on the road. Be smart about it, and check whether you need that additional protection. Sneakpeek Tip: if you buy the World Nomads travel insurance (Explorer Plan), it usually covers the rental vehicle insurance excess or the cost of repairing (whichever is less), in case something happens to the vehicle. Be sure you read all the terms and conditions for your case, but we strongly recommend buying this global package plan.
- After comparing various companies, we’ve chosen HITCH Car Rentals and had a great experience. Despite their facilities being a few minutes away from the airports, the shuttle service is very sharp and efficient. Also, and more importantly, their prices are very competitive, the vehicle was in excellent condition, and all the staff members were beyond friendly and helpful. Go for them!
- Don’t underestimate driving time: you’ll probably take longer than you think.
- Be careful with the narrow roads, and slow down to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes, especially if you’re driving a camper van. Be sure to respect the speed limits!
- New Zealanders drive on the left-hand side of the road, so take your time to get used to it.
- Whenever you have access to wifi, download offline maps in Google Maps app. If you’re not sure about which direction to choose, ask for some local’s advice: they usually know better.
ITINERARY
If you’re visiting both islands, it’s only normal to question from which one to start. You’ll probably find out that most international flights arrive at Auckland airport, located on the North Island. Also, another good reason to start in the north is that the further south you travel, the more beautiful New Zealand gets.
NORTH ISLAND - 1 WEEK
You’ll probably arrive in New Zealand at Auckland (1 night) International Airport. Pick up your car/camper van and set everything up to start your journey on the next day. We would recommend staying in Auckland to get a good night of sleep and unwind from the long flights. Check out the best things you can do during your short stay, here.
Coromandel Peninsula (2/3 nights) is a dream. It’s a great way to start your time in New Zealand with plenty of beaches and marvelous walks. Check out what to do here.
Despite being a very touristic town, Rotorua (1/2 nights) is well worth the visit. In this geothermal hot spot, you can enjoy the exceptional parks with its colorful pools, silica terraces, steamy lakes, and spouting geysers! It is also a great place to immerse yourself in the Maori culture or take advantage of the many adventurous activities New Zealand has to offer like mountain biking in Whakarewarewa Forest Track or white water rafting in the Kaituna River. Read all about it here.
If Tongariro Crossing (2/3 nights) is high on your bucket list, you’ll need to plan your adventure. It’s a good idea to spend the night before in one of the nearby towns that often serve as a base for those who want to explore the park, where many shuttle services are available. Ohakune is one of your many options!
Although we’re sure you’re not heading to New Zealand due to its city life, you won’t regret spending some time in Wellington (1/2 nights). It is a delightful and trendy little capital, with an extraordinary energy!
While in the North Island...
Since you’re already there, there are many more places you can check! If we’ve had the time, these would be our top picks:
Bay Of Islands: Breathtaking beaches just 3-hour drive north of Auckland.
Waiheke Island: Go for the food, wine tastings and the beautiful landscapes. Just a 40-minutes ferry away from Auckland.
Piha And Raglan: With beautiful coastlines and astonishing waves, head to these small towns if you’re looking for places to surf, or to just enjoy the chilled out surfer vibe.
Hawkes Bay: Including the region’s capital of art deco architecture, Napier.
Mount Maunganui: When driving to Rotorua, coming from Coromandel, we’ve made a pit stop at this AMAZING beach town. You’ll be impressed by the amount of trendy cafes and cool little spots this small peninsula encompasses, as well as its serious surf energy.
South ISLAND - 2 WEEKs
Catch a ferry from Wellington and arrive in Picton. Two ferry companies operate in the cook strait, making the 3 hours connection between the north and the south islands. We believe both their prices and quality are quite similar, so we would recommend choosing based on the schedule that suits you best. We chose Interislander and we’re not disappointed. Check their website and remember to buy your ticket in advance – you can grab cheaper deals by doing so, and they often sell out!
The Abel Tasman National Park (2/3 nights) is one of our top recommended places to visit while in New Zealand. It requires some planning before arriving, but it lives up the hype! This post can help you organize your days in this marvelous place.
The south island West Coast (1/2 nights) is full of mind-blowing places like the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and two of the most accessible glaciers in the world. During our time in New Zealand, we’ve decided to leave Abel Tasman late in the afternoon and drive to Hokitika, where we’ve spent the night, starting the long drive to Wanaka on the next morning. Because we are lucky enough to have visited an incredible glacier hike while we were in Iceland, we’ve decided to skip this western region and go straight towards our next destination. However, if you have the time, we would recommend to spare a few days exploring this fascinating area.
A visit to the small town of Wanaka (2 nights) must be on your itinerary. If you’re arriving from the West Coast, you’re going to witness one of the most beautiful drives we’ve made during our entire trip! The Haast Pass is breathtaking, and the views of Lake Hawea and Wanaka will leave you overwhelmed. One of the highlights of the whole trip was our stay in Bendigo Cabins – see this post and find out why.
The Mount Cook (2 nights) surrounding area is one of the most visited places in New Zealand, and it’s easy to understand why: the beautiful icy blue lake Pukaki, the alpine views, the unmissable walking trails, and its landscapes are out of this world. Even more, if you are lucky enough to visit it during a sunny day (which we didn’t!) don’t miss the lovely town of Tekapo – you can check out this incredible place to stay nearby.
You may have never heard of this South Island’s little city, but Dunedin (1/2 nights) is getting more and more popular as travelers begin to recognize its charm and coolness. You’ll feel like you woke up in Europe due to its magnificent old buildings and historic houses. Despite having a university town vibe, full of young people and hip cafes to hang out, you can also explore the beautiful nature of the Otago peninsula, with deserted beaches with plenty of animal life. Check out our posts about it!
We were expecting Queenstown (3 nights) to be a very touristic city, with no charisma or appeal. We couldn’t be more wrong. Despite being the most touristic city we have been in New Zealand, it is still pretty easy going comparing other touristic cities in the world. We could easily spend a week there enjoying strolls along the lake, eating way too much at its mouthwatering restaurants, and trying out the epic activities that make Queenstown the adventure capital of the world. It is easily one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever laid our eyes on.
No itinerary would be complete without the glorious Milford Sound. If you have some extra cash to spend, spend it on a scenic flight that will take you to this majestic natural wonder of the world. The drive to get there will take 10 hours roundtrip while the flight trip is about 40 minutes each way. You’ll save a lot of time, unwind from your days on the road, and witness some astonishing views. Once there, the boat cruise is also a must-do to immerse yourself in this remote and rugged beauty. Read our experience here.
While in the South Island...
Since you’re already there, there are many more places you can check! If we’ve had the time, these would be our top picks:
Christchurch: Being the second-largest city in the south island, Christchurch is definitely worth the stop. Remembered by the tragic 2011 earthquake, this city managed to rebuild itself, and it now offers a good chance for you to grab excellent food, admire its broad extent of street art, and check its unique cable cars.
Kaikoura: This seaside town is just 3 hours north from Christchurch. Head to Kaikoura if you love marine life and fresh seafood.
Arthur pass: You’ll find this tiny little village while driving the long road connecting the east and west coast. The drive alone makes it worth the visit to Arthur’s Pass, but allow yourself the time to engage on one of its beautiful walks and get to know the area.
The Catlins: one of those off-beaten-path experiences that you can take while in the country. Its wild and desert landscapes will leave you in awe, and it is the perfect place to enjoy the solitude of nature, meaning that you should also expect many gravel roads, a shortage of petrol stations, and a weak phone signal.
Just a word of advice.
You need to fix some of your links as your Coromandel one goes to Queenstown and some of the others say things like “Read our experience here.” with no link to go to.
Thank you so much for the feedback! It means you actually spend some of your time reading it and we’re really grateful about it! Already corrected everything!