New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary
New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary

New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary

© www.nelsontasman.nz

How to Make the Most of Two Weeks in New Zealand

You’ve probably heard enough times that two weeks is not enough time to see New Zealand but we’ll spare you the lecture. Two weeks is the time you have in New Zealand so let’s make the most of it! While seeing a lot of New Zealand in two weeks is doable, it does involve a lot of driving. Consider looking at how to spend two weeks in the North Island or two weeks in the South Island as alternatives. Nevertheless, if you want to hit both islands and see some major highlights then continue on down to the “New Zealand in two weeks” itinerary below.

Our two-week New Zealand itinerary incorporates a bit of everything you’d dream of for a New Zealand trip: volcanic landscapes, mountains, beach, rugged coastal areas, wildlife and cultural experiences. We’ll also throw in a few tips on how to get around New Zealand in two weeks.

How to Get Around New Zealand in Two Weeks

Were 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 almost every day for two weeks 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 two weeks.

New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary© Tourism New Zealand

Day 1 – Auckland Airport to Hahei

Drive Time: 2h15mins

Landed in Auckland Airport, check! Rental vehicle picked up, check! Now it’s time to hit the road to Hahei in the Coromandel. We are guessing you are in New Zealand to see the natural landscapes rather than the cities, so leave Auckland behind and head to some of the most stunning beaches on the North Island.

Things to Do in Hahei

Depending on what time your flight came in, you have the option to do one or both of the following in Hahei:

  • Cathedral Cove. Take the easy coastal walk (1h30min walking track) to a beach with white cliffs and giant archway to walk through. There are also options to visit the beach with activity operators by kayak or boat
  • Hot Water Beach. Go to Hot Water Beach at low tide to dig yourself a hot pool in the sand.

Accommodation in Hahei

Budget:

Mid-range:

Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ

Day 2 – 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:

Accommodation in Waitomo

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 3 – Waitomo to Rotorua (via Hobbiton)

Drive Time: 1h50min

If you want to do one 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! Once the adventure is over, its 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 and Tripadvisor). This will add an extra 30 minutes to your drive time.

Things to Do in Rotorua

Accommodation in Rotorua

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

See more options in The 50 Best Accommodations in Rotorua.

© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 4 – 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 and Tripadvisor), go luging from the top of the gondola (on Viator and Tripadvisor), mountain bike in the Redwood Forest (on Viator and Tripadvisor), jet boat or do a freefall experience at the Velocity Valley (on Viator and Tripadvisor), and so much more!
  • See native New Zealand wildlife at Wingspan or Rainbow Springs (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

Accommodation in Taupo

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Accommodation in National Park Village

Budget:

Mid-range:

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 5 – 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

Things to Do in Taupo

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 6 – Tongariro National Park to Wellington

Drive Time: 4 hours from National Park, 5 hours from Taupo

Your final destination today is the capital city of New Zealand! However, there’s plenty to do along the way to break up the 4-5-hour drive.

Things to Do on the Road to Wellington

  • Stop by Ohakune for its walking and biking trails. Hire a bike and do the 2-hour Old Coach Road or hike in the Mangawhero Forest (1 hour)
  • Visit the National Army Museum in Waiouru
  • Check out the quirky town of Bulls and spot all the bull-related puns of the town
  • Along the Kapiti Coast, stop by one of the beaches like Peka Peka Beach or Queen Elizabeth Park. Or take a tour to Kapiti Island to check out the native bird sanctuary (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor).

Accommodation in Wellington

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

See more options in The 50 Best Accommodations in Wellington.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 7 – 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 a 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

Things to Do in Picton

Accommodation in Picton

If everything goes to plan and you do not miss your ferry then these are the budget accommodation options in Picton.

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary© www.nelsontasman.nz

Day 8 – Picton to Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park)

Drive Time: 1h50min

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 opportunity to do some of the following activities.

Things to Do in Nelson

Accommodation in Nelson

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

Day 9 – Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park)

Drive Time: 0-1 hour

Nelson is the gateway to three national parks in the South Island. One of which is the Abel Tasman National Park, full of pristine golden sand beaches backed with lush forest. 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 Abel Tasman National Park

New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary© Unsplash

Day 10 – 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 plenty of options, but don’t miss the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes for their impressive and bizarre rock formations.

Things to Do in Punakaiki

Accommodation in Punakaiki

Budget:

Mid-range:

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Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ

Day 11 – 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

Accommodation in Franz Josef

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary© Miles Holden - Tourism New Zealand

Day 12 – 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 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 Viator and Tripadvisor)
  • Do a skydive if you missed the chance in Franz Josef (on Viator and Tripadvisor).

Accommodation in Wanaka

Budget:

Mid-range:

Luxury:

Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ Aj Hackett

Day 13 – 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

Accommodation in Queenstown

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Mid-range:

Luxury:

Tourism NZ© Tourism NZ

Day 14 – Queenstown (or Milford Sound)

Drive Time: 0 Hours

Depending on what time your flight is, you can either squeeze in some short activities in Queenstown from the list above. However, if you have one more full day to spare then this is your chance to visit Milford Sound. We get it, Milford Sound is on almost everybody’s New Zealand bucket list, so this is a way to squeeze in the experience into a two-week itinerary for New Zealand. Although you can drive there (8 hours return), we recommend taking a break from driving and taking one of the bus trips to and from Milford Sound with a cruise included.

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 Guide to Milford Sound and the Milford Road.

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 10 Queenstown Must-Dos.

When your trip in New Zealand is all wrapped up, return your rental vehicle to the Queenstown depot then head onto your next adventure!

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.

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