New Zealand in Two Weeks: Road Trip Itinerary

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:

• Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
• Hahei Holiday Resort
• Tatahi Backpackers

Mid-range:

• The Church Accommodation
• Tatahi Lodge Beach Resort
• Hahei Beach Apartment

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:

• Do a walking tour of the Ruakuri Cave (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) 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 Complete Guide to Waitomo.

Accommodation in Waitomo

• Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park
• Waitomo Backpackers
• Waitomo Boutique Lodge
• Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge
• Juno Hall Backpackers
• Abseil Inn

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

• Relax in a natural geothermal hot pool. There are paid options, such as the Polynesian Spa (more info on 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.

Accommodation in Rotorua

Budget:

• All Seasons Holiday Park
• Rotorua Top 10 Holiday Park
• Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park
• Crash Palace
• Funky Green Voyager

Mid-range:

• Millennium Hotel Rotorua
• Sport of Kings Motel
• Quest Rotorua Central Apartment Hotel

Luxury:

• Jet Park Hotel Rotorua
• Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua

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:

• Silver Fern Lodge
• Haka Lodge

Mid-range:

• Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort
• Lake Taupo Top 10 Holiday Park
• All Seasons Kiwi Holiday Park
• Quality Suites Huka Falls

Luxury:

• Hilton Lake Taupo
• Tauhara Sunrise Lodge

Accommodation in National Park Village

Budget:

• Plateau Lodge
• YHA National Park Backpackers
• Howards Mountain Lodge
• The Crossing Backpackers

Mid-range:

• The Park Hotel
• Pukenui Lodge
• Tongariro Crossing Lodge

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

• 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. Take a look at our Guide to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to work out a plan
• 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 (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• 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 10 Amazing Things to Do in Taupo.

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:

• Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers
• The Dwellington
• Nomads Capital
• Trek Global
• Cambridge Hotel

Mid-range:

• Rydges Wellington
• Apollo Lodge Motel
• Quest on Lambton Serviced Apartments
• West Plaza Hotel

Luxury:

• InterContinental Wellington
• Sofitel Wellington

See more options in The 50 Best Accommodations in Wellington.

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

• Visit the Te Papa Museum to learn everything there is to know about New Zealand
• Go to Zealandia to see native New Zealand wildlife (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• 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.

Things to Do in Picton

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

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:

• Tombstone Backpackers
• Picton Campervan Park
• Jugglers Rest
• Alexanders Holiday Park
• Picton’s Waikawa Bay Holiday Park

Mid-range:

• Broadway Motel
• Harbour View Motel
• Picton TOP 10 Holiday Park

Luxury:

• Escape To Picton Boutique Hotel
• Picton Waterfront Luxury Apartments

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

• Walk to the Centre of New Zealand found in the Botanic Reserve
• Step back in time and also try some craft beer 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.

Accommodation in Nelson

Budget:

• The Prince Albert Backpackers & Bar
• Nelson City TOP 10 Holiday Park
• The Sails Nelson
• Paradiso Backpackers
• Bridge Backpackers
• Tahuna Beach Hostel

Mid-range:

• Delorenzo Studio Apartments
• Boutique Hotel Warwick House

Luxury:

• Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco
• Joya Garden & Villa Studios

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

• Take a water taxi to do a day hike of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track one of New Zealand’s Great Walks (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Kayak in the Abel Tasman National Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Take a boat tour to explore the bays and beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• 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
• Take on some canyoning in Abel Tasman.

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

• Do the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Walk (20-minute loop)
• Visit the Punakaiki Cavern (just off the side of the state highway)
• Horse trek into the Paparoa National Park
• Sample the Paparoa Track, one of the New Zealand Great Walks
• Check out the stunning overhang and waterfall onto the beach on the Truman Track (15 minutes one way).

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 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

• Do a heli-hike on the Franz Josef Glacier (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Do New Zealand’s highest skydive over the glacier and Southern Alps (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Hike to the Franz Josef terminal face (1h30min one way)
• Relax in the Glacier Hot Pools (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Kayak on the reflective waters of Lake Mapourika (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Go horse trekking in the West Coast wilderness.

Accommodation in Franz Josef

Budget:

• Franz Josef TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Rainforest Retreat
• YHA Franz Josef
• Glow Worm Accommodation
• Chateau Backpackers & Motels

Mid-range:

• Glenfern Villas
• Kahere Retreat

Luxury:

• Franz Josef Oasis

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:

• YHA Wanaka
• Wanaka Backpackers Bothy
• Mountain View Backpackers

Mid-range:

• Wanaka TOP 10 Holiday Park
• Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels

Luxury:

• Wanaka Luxury Apartments
• Lime Tree Lodge
• Edgewater Hotel

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

• Do a bungy jump you have three to choose from in Queenstown
• Do a skydive (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Go skiing or snowboarding in winter
• Do a jet boat tour
• Go white water rafting (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• Visit the Lord of the Rings filming locations
• Go up the Gondola and do some luging/mountain biking/eating/sightseeing (on Viator and Tripadvisor)
• 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)
• Treat yourself to these Cheap Eats in Queenstown.

Accommodation in Queenstown

Budget:

• Absoloot Value Accommodation
• JUCY Snooze Queenstown
• Nomads Queenstown
• Adventure Queenstown
• The Flaming Kiwi Backpackers
• Sir Cedric Tahuna Pod Hostel

Mid-range:

• Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park
• Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park
• Queenstown Holiday Park & Motel Creeksyde

Luxury:

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!