Day 1 · Date to confirm
Auckland
Stay overnight in
Auckland
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Arrive; Kelly Tarlton's or the zoo.
Sample itinerary · 12 days
Family-friendly North and South
No drive longer than about three hours, with plenty of hands-on stops kids remember.
As produced by the Acrossnz AI itinerary builder
Day by day
Trip map
Where you spend your days
- 1. Auckland1 day
- 2. Rotorua2 days
- 3. Taupō1 day
- 4. Wellington2 days
- 5. Picton1 day
- 6. Kaikōura2 days
- 7. Hanmer Springs1 day
- 8. Christchurch2 days
Not pinned on the map yet: Kaikōura, Hanmer Springs.
This is how your trip looks in the builder. In your own itinerary every box is editable, and you can add, remove or reorder days.
Day 2 · Date to confirm
Rotorua
Stay overnight in
Rotorua
Drive
Auckland → Rotorua
Plan for the day
Drive down, luge rides.
Day 3 · Date to confirm
Rotorua
Stay overnight in
Rotorua
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Te Puia geysers and kiwi house.
Day 4 · Date to confirm
Taupō
Stay overnight in
Taupō
Drive
Rotorua → Taupō
Plan for the day
Huka Falls jet boat.
Day 5 · Date to confirm
Wellington
Stay overnight in
Wellington
Drive
Taupō → Wellington
Plan for the day
Drive south with lunch breaks.
Day 6 · Date to confirm
Wellington
Stay overnight in
Wellington
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Te Papa and Zealandia.
Day 7 · Date to confirm
Picton
Stay overnight in
Picton
Drive
Wellington → Picton
Plan for the day
Ferry across Cook Strait.
Day 8 · Date to confirm
Kaikōura
Stay overnight in
Kaikōura
Drive
Picton → Kaikōura
Plan for the day
Coast road, seal colony at Ōhau Point.
Day 9 · Date to confirm
Kaikōura
Stay overnight in
Kaikōura
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Whale watching (weather permitting).
Day 10 · Date to confirm
Hanmer Springs
Stay overnight in
Hanmer Springs
Drive
Kaikōura → Hanmer Springs
Plan for the day
Hot pools afternoon.
Day 11 · Date to confirm
Christchurch
Stay overnight in
Christchurch
Drive
Hanmer Springs → Christchurch
Plan for the day
Antarctic Centre.
Day 12 · Date to confirm
Christchurch
Stay overnight in
Christchurch
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Fly out.
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