Spontaneity's great fun, but you also want to make sure you don't miss the best places... or your connecting flight at the other end! To help you out our New Zealand route planner provides some suggestions and directions for getting around our country depending on how long you're staying. There are far too many options and great things to see in NZ to go into detail though so ask us again once you're in our depot and we'll customize a route for you.

Make sure you refer back to the New Zealand map which shows NZ's MUST SEE places as well as many others to stop at and refuel on the way.

 
 

Auckland day/weekend trip

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Time to allow: 1-3 days
Options are:

  • Look around the city then...
  • Head north to Paihia
  • Head west to Piha (don't get confused now)
  • Head east to the Coromandel or Mount Maunganui
  • Don't head South unless you've got more time
 
 

North Island itinerary

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Time to allow: 2-3 weeks
Options are:

  • Start in Auckland then...
  • Head north first towards Paihia
  • Head east first via Coromandel Peninsula
  • Head south first via Waitomo
 
 

Auckland to Christchurch route

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Time to allow: 2-3 weeks

There are a tonne of different routes for going Auckland to Christchurch. It all depends on how many places you want to include - have a look at the NZ Map and treat it like a dot-to-dot! Here's one option:

  • Zig zag your way down the North Island to include the East Cape, Waitomo, New Plymouth, Wellington and everything in between.
  • Catch the InterIslander ferry to Picton and head down the West Coast of the South Island, taking in the Abel Tasman Park through to Queenstown. If you have time you can do the bottom loop including Dunedin, Bluff, and Invercargill.
  • Head up to Christchurch via Moeraki and Lake Tekapo.
 
 

Christchurch day/weekend trip

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Time to allow: 1-3 days
Options are:

  • Look around the city then...
  • Head north to Kaikoura
  • Head west to the West Coast (go figure)
  • Head south-east to Akaroa/Banks Peninsula
  • Head south-west to Mt Cook or the ski-fields
 
 

South Island itinerary

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Time to allow: 2-3 weeks
Options are:

  • Start in Christchurch then...
  • Head north first to Kaikoura and beyond!
  • Head south first towards Dunedin
  • Head west via Arthur's Pass towards the West Coast
 
 

Christchurch to Auckland route

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Time to allow: 2-3 weeks
Options are:

  • See Auckland > Christchurch above, just put it in reverse (the route, not the vehicle!)
  • There are lots more variations, one is to head to the West Coast via Arthur's Pass then travel south. Once you get back to Christchurch, head to the ferry in Picton, cruise to the North Island and do the old zig-zag to Auckland!
 
 

New Zealand itinerary

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Time to allow: 4-6 weeks (or for good!)
Options are:

  • Start in Auckland
  • Start in Christchurch
  • Use the ideas above to make it around NZ and back to "Go"