New Zealand in 3 Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary 🚗⛰️ [2023]

How to Make the Most of New Zealand in Three Weeks

You might have heard a thousand times that three weeks is not enough to see New Zealand. However, you can see a hell of a lot in three weeks if you have a sense of adventure! That’s what this three-week New Zealand itinerary entails with a mix of landscapes, activities and experiences on both the North Island and the South Island. Sure, you’ll be spending some time behind the wheel, but you’ll also be spending time hitting the most popular New Zealand sights and more.

Three weeks (or 21 days) in New Zealand is enough time to experience the wildlife, Maori culture, landscapes and adventure activities this country is famous for. What’s more, three weeks allows you the time to explore the country in a number of ways, whether it’s renting a car or campervan or hopping on a bus with like-minded travellers. All of that and more will be explained in the travel itinerary below!

Alternative New Zealand Three-Week Itineraries

Before we get into this itinerary for three weeks in New Zealand, we thought you might like to know about our other itineraries to compare:

New Zealand Three-Week (21-Day) Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland
Day 2 – Auckland to Hahei
Day 3 – Hahei to Waitomo (via Karangahake Gorge)
Day 4 – Waitomo to Rotorua (via Hobbiton)
Day 5 – Rotorua to Taupo/Tongariro National Park
Day 6 – Taupo/Tongariro National Park
Day 7 – Tongariro National Park to the Ruahine Forest Park
Day 8 – Ruahine Forest Park
Day 9 – Ruahine Forest Park to Wellington
Day 10 – Wellington to Picton
Day 11 – Picton to Nelson
Day 12 – Nelson or the Abel Tasman National Park
Day 13 – Nelson to Punakaiki (via Nelson lakes National Park)
Day 14 – Punakaiki to Franz Josef
Day 15 – Franz Josef to Wanaka
Day 16 – Wanaka to Queenstown
Day 17 – Queenstown or Milford Sound
Day 18 – Queenstown to Mt Cook
Day 19 – Mt Cook
Day 20 – Mt Cook to Geraldine (via Lake Tekapo)
Day 21 – Geraldine to Christchurch

How to Get Around New Zealand in Three Weeks

We’re not going to beat around the bush there is going to be a lot of driving – A LOT. If you can handle it, then get yourself a rental vehicle and continue down to the itinerary below. Otherwise, if driving for almost 21 days does not quite sound like the trip you were imagining, then consider travelling New Zealand by bus. Here are your options when it comes to travelling New Zealand in three weeks:

Rent a car or campervan: The itinerary below begins in Auckland and ends in Christchurch. Because of this, we recommend searching for a car rental company with no or low one-way fees. Get started with planning your vehicle rental in New Zealand with Guide to Renting a Car/Campervan in New Zealand.
National Bus (InterCity): By far the cheapest option for getting around New Zealand is by coach. Get one of these bus travel passes to hit all of the destinations listed below. For more information, see our complete guide to travelling by bus.
Take a hop-on hop-off bus tour: A hop-on hop-off bus is a flexible bus tour where you can hop off the bus at any point on the route and jump back on the bus at a later date. There are three hop-on hop-off bus companies in New Zealand, where their national bus passes have a minimum travel time of around 20 days: Kiwi Experience (check them out on Viator and Tripadvisor), Stray and Flying Kiwi. Find out more about them in What is a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus?
Take an escorted bus tour: All the logistics are done out for you, so all you need to do is enjoy. The following tour companies offer 21-22-day tours around New Zealand following a similar itinerary to what is featured below: Flying Kiwi, Intrepid Travel, Kiwi Experience, G Adventures, AAT Kings, Monograms and Stray Travel. Find out more in The Best National Bus Tours in New Zealand.

There are a few more transport options, which we list in the 10 Best Ways to Travel Around New Zealand.

Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland

Drive Time: 0 Hours

Welcome to New Zealand! Now, we’re guessing you took a long flight to get here and where else to recover than Auckland? Before hitting the road, take some time to explore New Zealand’s largest city otherwise known as the “City of Sails”. It’s also the city of volcanoes, many of which you can explore. Climb Mt Eden for some of the best views of the city, or take a ferry out to Auckland’s youngest volcano, Rangitoto Island. However, if you want to relax after your flight, enjoy the bars and eateries of the city.

Things to Do in Auckland

Walk on the volcanic and wildlife-filled island of Rangitoto Island
Take a whale-watching cruise (more info and book tickets on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook)
See the city from the top of the Sky Tower, the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest building (on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday)
Walk to Mt Eden for more awesome views
Grab some cheap but good eats
Get a taste of the New Zealand nightlife.

Accommodation in Auckland

See our top picks in The 50 Best Accommodations in Auckland. Otherwise, check these out:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Day 2 – Auckland to Hahei

Drive Time: 2h15mins

Now it’s time to hit the road and start travelling New Zealand. First up, head to Hahei in the Coromandel for some of the best beaches on the North Island.

Things to Do in Hahei

Cathedral Cove. Take the easy coastal walk to a beach with white cliffs and a giant archway to walk through. There are also options to visit the beach with activity operators by kayak (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and KKday) or boat (on Viator, Tripadvisor and KKday)
Hot Water Beach. Go to Hot Water Beach at low tide to dig yourself a hot pool in the sand.

Accommodation in Hahei

Check out top Coromandel accommodations in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in the Coromandel and 9 Best Hotels in the Coromandel. Otherwise, here are our top picks in Hahei:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Day 3 – Hahei to Waitomo (via Karangahake Gorge)

Drive Time: 3 hours

Your final destination today is Waitomo, famous for its glowworms and caving activities. Before you get there, don’t miss the Karangahake Gorge, halfway through the drive. There are a number of walking tracks in the area between 45 minutes to 4 hours going through a historic mining area taken back by the forest and the river. Walk through mining tunnels, through native forest, alongside mining relics and to magnificent waterfalls.

Things to Do in Waitomo

After the drive and walking at Karangahake Gorge, you will have time to do one of the short activities in Waitomo. For example:

Do a walking tour of the Ruakuri Cave (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook) or the Waitomo Glowworm Caves (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Do the Ruakuri Bush Walk (45 minutes) at night to see glowworms.

For more inspiration, take a look at the 15 Best Things to Do in Waitomo.

Accommodation in Waitomo

Do you full research on places to stay using the 10 Best Boutique Accommodations in Waitomo or 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Waitomo. Otherwise, here are some quick recommendations:

Day 4 – Waitomo to Rotorua (via Hobbiton)

Drive Time: 1h50min

If you want to do one of the caving activities in Waitomo or didn’t get to do one of the Waitomo activities yesterday, this morning would be a great time to do so! Join one of the caving operators in Waitomo, throw on a sexy wetsuit and tube/abseil/climb your way through the Waitomo Caves – compare all of your options in the 8 Best Waitomo Cave Tours.

Once the adventure is over, it’s time to hit the road to Rotorua. Depending on what you prefer, there are things to do along the way to Rotorua, such as Hobbiton in Matamata, or save some time for more things to do in Rotorua this evening.

Things to Do on the Road to Rotorua

Stop by Otorohanga to see a kiwi bird in the kiwi house or quickly learn a bit of New Zealand history down the Ed Hillary Walkway situated in the centre of Otorohanga
See the Arapuni Swing Bridge, a huge suspension bridge crossing New Zealand’s longest river
Do the Te Waihou Walkway (1h30min or 3 hours walk) to the Putaruru Blue Spring to see some of the purest and clearest water flowing in a stream
Take a detour to Matamata to visit The Hobbiton Movie Set (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor, Klook and KKday). This will add an extra 30 minutes to your drive time.

Things to Do in Rotorua

Relax in a natural geothermal hot pool. There are paid options, such as the Polynesian Spa (more info on Klook, KKday, Viator and Tripadvisor), or go find some of the 5 Free Natural Hot Pools in Rotorua.
See an evening cultural performance at one of the Maori attractions. We list most of the options in the 10 Places to Experience Maori Culture in New Zealand.

For more ideas, check out the 25 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.

Accommodation in Rotorua

See our top recommendations in The 50 Best Accommodations in Rotorua. On the other hand, you’ll probably be happy with any one of these:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Day 5 – Rotorua to Taupo/Tongariro National Park

Drive Time: 1 hour to Taupo or 2h15min to National Park Village

Today, spend some time doing awesome stuff in Rotorua before hitting the road. But why the crazy drive time? Well, if you are into hiking and landscapes, then we suggest that you pass through the town of Taupo and base yourself in the Tongariro National Park so that tomorrow morning, you can tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing or another hike in the national park. However, we know long hikes are not for everyone, so another option is to stay in Taupo which has a huge variety of activities on offer. Find out more about what there is to do in either Taupo or Tongariro National Park in tomorrows section. Before then, you have a day in Rotorua to enjoy before hitting the road!

Things to Do in Rotorua

Visit a geothermal park. Geysers, steaming lakes, bubbling mud, silica terraces and so much more can be seen in one of the many geothermal parks of Rotorua
Catch a Maori cultural performance (if you missed doing so yesterday)
Do some adrenaline activities. Zorb your way in a giant hamster ball down a hill (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook), go Luging from the top of the gondola, mountain bike in the Redwood Forest, jet boat or do a freefall experience at the Velocity Valley (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook), and so much more!
See native New Zealand wildlife at Wingspan or Rainbow Springs (on Viator, Tripadvisor and KKday).

Again, we have a lot more recommendations in the 25 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.

Accommodation in Taupo

Get all of our recommendations from the 10 Best Hotels in Taupo and 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Taupo or just take a looksy here:

Budget:

Haka Lodge
Based by the Lake

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Hilton Lake Taupo
Huka Lodge

Accommodation in National Park Village

Budget:

Mid-range:

Day 6 – Taupo/Tongariro National Park

Drive Time: 0

Spend the whole day in Taupo or Tongariro National Park doing awesome activities. There’s no driving to do today other than to your chosen activity. Plus, you can stay in the same accommodation as last night.

Things to Do in Tongariro National Park

Tongariro Alpine Crossing. This is New Zealand’s most popular day hike taking you over the volcanoes of the central North Island. The 8-hour hike is one-way and requires some planning in terms of transport and keeping safe
Ski or snowboard at Whakapapa Ski Field in winter
Choose from other hikes in Tongariro National Park by looking at the 13 Walks Around National Park Village & Whakapapa Village.

Things to Do in Taupo

Take a trip out on New Zealand’s largest lake, whether it’s fishing, kayaking, sailing, cruising or parasailing
Bungy jump over the Waikato River
Do a skydive over Lake Taupo
Go on a white water rafting trip on the Tongariro River (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Walk along the Waikato River to a natural hot pool at Spa Park, then onto Huka Falls.

Get more inspiration from our 20 Best Things to Do in Taupo.

Day 7 – Tongariro National Park to the Ruahine Forest Park

Drive Time: 2 hours

The mission today is to spend some time in the New Zealand wilderness. Ruahine Forest Park is an awesome place to do that and a locals favourite! There are a few different wilderness lodges and camping options in the Ruahine Forest Park, as well as activities from hikes to horse riding to white water rafting.

To break up the journey, stop in Ohakune for a coffee or check out the Mangawhero Walking Track (1-hour loop) to walk in the forests at the base of Mt Ruapehu. Your final destination today will be at one of the accommodation options listed below. You’ll get more time to explore the area or do an activity there tomorrow.

Accommodation in the Ruahine Forest Park

Budget:

River Valley Lodge

Mid-range:

Day 8 – Ruahine Forest Park

Drive Time: 0 Hours

It’s time to relax/go wild in the Ruahine Forest Park! Whatever your bag is, you could do some white water rafting or horse riding at River Valley (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor), horse riding, 4x4ing or claybird shooting at Makoura Lodge, or hiking in the Ruahine Ranges. Alternatively, relax in your farmstay or accommodation to get a taste of Kiwi life.

Things to Do in the Ruahine Forest Park

Go white water rafting on the Rangitikei River
Horse trek through the stunning landscape (find out more and book tickets on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Hike one of many Ruahine tracks listed in the 25 Awesome Hikes Around Palmerston North.

Day 9 – Ruahine Forest Park to Wellington

Drive Time: 3h20mins

Your final destination today is the capital city of New Zealand! However, we recommend breaking up the drive by stopping along the Kapiti Coast, full of beaches and walks to check out! Walk over a sand dune walkway in Queen Elizabeth Park, relax on Peka Peka Beach. How about getting a kite landboarding or kite surfing lesson on Foxton Beach?

Once you reach Wellington you have the evening to enjoy the eateries and nightlife of the capital city!

Accommodation in Wellington

See more stays in The 50 Best Accommodations in Wellington or check out these quick links:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Day 10 – Wellington to Picton

Drive Time: 0 Hours (Ferry Crossing)

Today you have the treat of taking the ferry from the North Island to the South Island! We recommend the sunrise or sunset sailing for the best prices and the best light for a stunning journey across the Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds. Depending on what time your sailing is, you will either have time to do something in Wellington or Picton. Here are some ideas.

Things to Do in Wellington

Visit the Te Papa Museum to learn everything there is to know about New Zealand
Go to Zealandia to see native New Zealand wildlife
Do a Lord of the Rings tour
Tour the city sights of Wellington from the Waterfront to Cuba Street to the Botanic Gardens to Mt Victoria. Find out more in our One Day in Wellington: City Walking Tour Itinerary.

Don’t like these? Get more ideas from the 25 Best Things to Do in Wellington.

Things to Do in Picton

Take a mail boat cruise out onto the waters of the Marlborough Sounds (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Go dolphin swimming (on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook)
Mountain bike the Link Pathway
Visit one of the Marlborough Sound resorts like Lochmara, for walks, wildlife and relaxation
Kayak around the harbour (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Take a tour of the wine region and do some wine-tasting (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

Accommodation in Picton

If everything goes to plan and you do not miss your ferry then these are some excellent accommodation options in Picton, if not in the 10 Best Hotels in Picton or 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Picton, then here:

Budget:

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Luxury:

Day 11 – Picton to Nelson

Drive Time: 1h50mins

Do one of the activities that you missed in Picton yesterday or hit the road to Nelson. Stop by Havelock to take a boat cruise out into the Marlborough Sounds or join a kayaking tour down the Pelorus River one of The Hobbit filming locations. Then you will reach New Zealand’s sunniest city, Nelson, where you will have more opportunities to do some of the following activities.

Things to Do in Nelson

Walk to the Centre of New Zealand
Step back in time at Founders Park
See where the One Ring was made at the Jens Hansen Ringmaker store
Treat yourself to local Nelson cuisine
Go on a winery crawl or a craft beer crawl.

We elaborate on all those experiences and more in the 20 Best Things to Do in Nelson.

Accommodation in Nelson

Pick out your favourites from our 10 Best Hotels in Nelson and 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Nelson or simply book a stay to one of the following:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Delorenzo Studio Apartments
Boutique Hotel Warwick House

Luxury:

Grand Arden Nelson Monaco
Joya Garden & Villa Studios

Day 12 – Nelson or the Abel Tasman National Park

Drive Time: 0-1 hour

Nelson is the gateway to three national parks on the South Island. One of which is the Abel Tasman National Park, full of pristine golden sand beaches backed with lush forests. Tours operate from Nelson daily taking you into the Abel Tasman National Park via Kaiteriteri. Either drive to Kaiteriteri yourself (1 hour one way) for maximum flexibility or take one of the shuttle services. In Kaiteriteri, you have a great deal of Abel Tasman options from kayaking tours, water taxis to hikes, or boat tours.

Things to Do in the Abel Tasman National Park

Take a water taxi to do a day hike of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track – one of New Zealand’s Great Walks with Wilsons Abel Tasman
Or kayak in the Abel Tasman National Park with Wilsons
Take a boat tour to explore the bays and beaches of Abel Tasman
Board a sailing trip into the national park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Do some mountain biking in Kaiteriteri, Nelson or in the Abel Tasman National Park.

And that’s not all! Check out the 11 Best Things to Do in the Abel Tasman National Park for more ideas.

New Zealand in Three Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary

Day 13 – Nelson to Punakaiki (via Nelson lakes National Park)

Drive Time: 3h45min

There’s a fair bit of driving to do today but the beautiful views of the Buller Gorge help pass the time quickly. There are a few quaint towns to stop by for a coffee, such as Murchison. However, to really make the most of the drive we suggest taking a detour into the Nelson Lakes National Park to see the beautiful Lake Rotoroa or Lake Rotoiti. Both are very similar in terms of views and short walks available so take your pick! This will add on an extra 20 minutes onto your drive time, but they are simply too good to miss.

Once you arrive in Punakaiki, you have a lot of options, but don’t miss the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes for their impressive and bizarre rock formations.

Things to Do in Punakaiki

Do the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Walk
Visit the Punakaiki Cavern
Sample the Paparoa Track, one of the New Zealand Great Walks
Kayak on the Pororari River
Check out the stunning overhang and waterfall onto the beach on the Truman Track.

Check out how to do all of these things and more in the 9 Best Things to Do in Punakaiki and 10 Best Things to Do in Paparoa National Park.

Accommodation in Punakaiki

Budget:

Te Nikau Retreat
Punakaiki Beach Hostel

Mid-range:

Punakaiki Beachfront Motels
Punakaiki Beach Camp

Luxury:

Tasman Sea Retreat
Punakaiki Resort

Day 14 – Punakaiki to Franz Josef

Drive Time: 3 Hours

Head to the Glacier Country with one of the worlds most accessible glaciers! Franz Josef is your opportunity to walk on, crawl inside, fly over, skydive over or walk up to a glacier. Get some ideas on how you can take on the glacier here. Nevertheless, there’s actually more to do here than glacier gallivanting! Check it out in the list below.

Things to Do in Franz Josef

Do a heli-hike on the Franz Josef Glacier (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor and KKday)
Do one of New Zealand’s highest skydives over the glacier and the Southern Alps (on Viator, Tripadvisor, and Klook)
Hike to the Franz Josef Terminal Face (1h30min one way)
Kayak on the reflective waters of Lake Mapourika (on Viator, Tripadvisor and Klook)
Tackle the rugged glacial terrain on an ATV (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

Learn more about these experiences in the 20 Best Things to Do in Franz Josef.

Accommodation in Franz Josef

See our top recommendations in the 10 Best Hotels in Franz Josef and 10 Best Budget Accommodation in Franz Josef or simply check these out:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Glenfern Villas
Kahere Retreat

Luxury:

Franz Josef Oasis
Te Waonui Forest Retreat

Day 15 – Franz Josef to Wanaka

Drive Time: 3h40min

You’ve got a long drive ahead today but plenty of reasons to stretch your legs. You’ll be going through another super scenic rode on the Haast Pass where we recommend you stop at Thunder Creek Falls just a minutes walk from the road. Then don’t miss the Blue Pools of Haast. This is a 1-hour return walk through the forest to some of the clearest and bluest rivers you will ever see.

This evening you will have the time to relax by the beautiful Lake Wanaka.

Things to Do in Wanaka

Have a local craft beer or wine at one of the lakefront bars
Do a stand-up paddleboard or kayak tour on Lake Wanaka (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Visit Puzzling World and get lost in their giant maze (on Klook, Viator and Tripadvisor).

And that’s just a taste. Check out the 25 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.

Accommodation in Wanaka

If the 10 Best Hotels in Wanaka or 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Wanaka doesn’t interest you, then check out these:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Day 16 – Wanaka to Queenstown

Drive Time: 1 Hour

Time to hit the Adrenaline Capital of the World! Take the Cardrona Valley route to be the best views on the way to Queenstown. Once there you have so much to do! Take a look at The Complete Guide to Queenstown or the list below.

Things to Do in Queenstown

Do a bungy jump – you have three to choose from in Queenstown
Go skiing or snowboarding in winter
Do a jet boat tour
Visit the Lord of the Rings filming locations
Go up the Gondola and do some luging/mountain biking/eating/sightseeing
See native wildlife at the Kiwi Birdlife Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Party at the bars and clubs
Do a wine-tasting tour (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

And there’s so much more to do listed in the 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.

Accommodation in Queenstown

See more stays in The 50 Best Accommodations in Queenstown or take a look at the following:

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Day 17 – Queenstown or Milford Sound

Drive Time: 0 Hours

With towering mountains, untouched rainforest and unbelievable scenery, Milford Sound is an unforgettable journey. To have a break from driving, we recommend taking one of the many bus tours to Milford Sound then boarding a cruise of the fiord. Bus trips give you plenty of opportunities to hop off the bus and do multiple short walks on the way. For more information, get your head in the 10 Best Milford Sound Tours from Queenstown & Te Anau. If a 13-hour bus and cruise trip doesn’t appeal, see the 6 Best Scenic Flights to Milford Sound from Queenstown instead.

However, if you want a break from the road, you have plenty more options for things to do in Queenstown listed above as well as some more inspiration in the 45 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.

Day 18 – Queenstown to Mt Cook

Drive Time: 3 Hours

If you have not had enough of epic scenic drives, then here’s one more for you through the Lindis Pass on the way to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. On the way to Mt Cook, consider stopping by the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell to challenge your travel buddies to go-karting (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or stop by Omarama for their hot pools with a view.

Once at Mt Cook, you have a lot of options to explore the heart of the Southern Alps with its glaciers but well get onto that more tomorrow.

Accommodation in Mt Cook

Get inspiration for amazing stays from our 5 Best Hotels in Mt Cook and 5 Best Budget Accommodation in Mt Cook or, you know the drill by now, see these awesome stays:

Budget:

Mt Cook Lodge & Motel

Mid-range:

Aoraki Court Motel
Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Lodge

Luxury:

The Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook
Aoraki Alpine Chalet

Day 19 – Mt Cook

Drive Time: 0 Hours

There are many ways to enjoy the impressive landscape of the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, from glaciers to lakes to mountains, so you’ll want to spend a whole day doing some or all of the following activities.

Things to Do in Mt Cook

Take a scenic flight, helicopter ride or land on a glacier in a ski plane (more info on Viator, Tripadvisor or Klook)
If you missed out in Franz Josef, do a glacier heli-hike on the Tasman Glacier New Zealand’s longest glacier (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
Do one of the many hikes listed in the 10 Must-Do Hikes Around Mt Cook
Do some stargazing in this International Dark Sky Reserve
Take a boat trip or kayak on a glacier lake.

More details on all of these activities can be found in the 20 Best Things to Do in Aoraki Mt Cook.

Day 20 – Mt Cook to Geraldine (via Lake Tekapo)

Drive Time: 2h15mins

Next stop, Geraldine! This is not without an obligatory stop at Lake Tekapo with its vibrant blue lake and the most scenic church in New Zealand, The Church of the Good Shepherd. Stop by the Fairlie Bakery for one of their award-winning New Zealand pies, then onward to Geraldine. You have time to either do an activity this evening or tomorrow morning so take your pick from the following!

Things to Do in Geraldine

Do grade 5 white water rafting on the Rangitata River
Horse trek in the hills of Peel Forest
Hike, swim, rappel, cliff jump and more on a canyoning tour
Go mountain biking or 4×4 off-roading
Take an alpaca for a walk.

See how to do all these exciting experiences in the 10 Best Things to Do in Geraldine.

Accommodation in Geraldine

Budget:

Geraldine Top 10 Holiday Park
Rawhiti Backpackers

Mid-range:

Luxury:

The Vicarage

Day 21 – Geraldine to Christchurch

Drive Time: 2 Hours

If you missed any of the awesome activities yesterday, take the time to do them before you hit the road to Christchurch. Journey through the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch where you now get the chance to explore the South Islands biggest hub before catching your flight and moving on to your next adventure.

Things to Do in Christchurch

Walk in the Botanic Gardens
Visit the Canterbury Museum
Take an open-top bus tour of the city
Grab some souvenirs to take home
Try some Kiwi cuisine in Christchurch.

See the 15 Best Things to Do in Christchurch for much more ideas (and details).

Accommodation in Christchurch

Get ideas for places to stay from our 11 Best Hotels in Christchurch or the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Christchurch. Or check out these stays:

Budget:

Around the World Backpackers
Bealey Quarter

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Rydges Latimer Christchurch
Crowne Plaza Christchurch
Quest Christchurch Serviced Apartments

More About Planning a Three Week Trip to New Zealand

That’s it for our New Zealand 3-week itinerary but by no means the end of our road trip advice. Check out the following guides if you simply can’t get enough of our NZ tips:

Finally, be sure to bookmark the 31 Tips for Travelling in New Zealand and The Best Travel Guide to New Zealand – they’re pretty darn useful.

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.

Contact Laura via our contact page