Day 1 · Date to confirm
Auckland
Stay overnight in
Auckland
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Arrive and rest.
Sample itinerary · 18 days
Fewer bases, longer stays, and time to just sit by a lake.
As produced by the Acrossnz AI itinerary builder
Trip map
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 1 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Auckland
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Arrive and rest.
Day 2 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Bay of Islands
Drive
Auckland → Bay of Islands
Plan for the day
Three nights in Paihia.
Day 3 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Bay of Islands
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Russell and the Treaty Grounds.
Day 4 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Bay of Islands
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Free day.
Day 5 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Rotorua
Drive
Bay of Islands → Rotorua
Plan for the day
Two-day drive via Auckland.
Day 6 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Rotorua
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Gardens and geothermal walks.
Day 7 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Wellington
Drive
Rotorua → Wellington
Plan for the day
Fly or drive.
Day 8 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Wellington
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Museums and harbour.
Day 9 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Nelson
Drive
Wellington → Nelson
Plan for the day
Short flight, three nights.
Day 10 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Nelson
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Gentle Abel Tasman cruise.
Day 11 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Nelson
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Markets and galleries.
Day 12 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Christchurch
Drive
Nelson → Christchurch
Plan for the day
Fly, gardens and tram.
Day 13 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Lake Tekapo
Drive
Christchurch → Lake Tekapo
Plan for the day
Drive inland.
Day 14 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Queenstown
Drive
Lake Tekapo → Queenstown
Plan for the day
Four nights on the lake.
Day 15 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Queenstown
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak.
Day 16 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Queenstown
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Milford by coach and cruise.
Day 17 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Queenstown
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Arrowtown.
Day 18 · Date to confirm
Stay overnight in
Queenstown
Drive
No long drive — staying put
Plan for the day
Fly out.
North & South · 14 days
The highlights of both islands at a sensible pace, flying the long middle section.
Auckland → Rotorua → Taupō → Wellington → Christchurch → Aoraki / Mount Cook → Queenstown
View the full itineraryNorth & South · 12 days
No drive longer than about three hours, with plenty of hands-on stops kids remember.
Auckland → Rotorua → Wellington → Kaikōura → Christchurch
View the full itineraryNorth & South · 10 days
Hawke's Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago — the country's best wine regions.
Napier → Martinborough → Wellington → Blenheim → Queenstown
View the full itinerary