New Zealand in 3 Weeks: North & South Islands

Stops on this route

Day by Day

1. 1

   Auckland

   • Day 1

     Arrive in Auckland — Sky Tower & Viaduct Harbour

     Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus to the city centre (18 NZD, 45 minutes, runs 24 hours). Check into an apartment or guesthouse in the CBD or Ponsonby neighbourhood. Visit the Sky Tower observation deck for a panoramic introduction to the harbour city (32 NZD entry); the views across the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbour orient you immediately. In the evening, walk the Viaduct Harbour waterfront for craft beer and fresh New Zealand green-lipped mussels at Ostro or Soul Bar — budget around 40–60 NZD for dinner.

2. 2

   Hobbiton & Coromandel

   • Day 2

     Hobbiton Movie Set — Shire & Green Dragon Inn

     Transit

     Drive or join a guided tour south from Auckland (2 hours) to Matamata to visit the Hobbiton Movie Set on the Alexander Farm — tours run every 10 minutes from 9 AM and last 2 hours (NZD 49). You'll walk through 44 Hobbit Holes, the Mill, the Party Tree, and end with a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn pub. Continue to the Coromandel Peninsula (1.5 hours) and check in near Hahei village or Whitianga — the base for Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

   • Day 3

     Hot Water Beach & Cathedral Cove Sea Arch

     Arrive at Hot Water Beach 1–2 hours either side of low tide and dig your own thermal pool in the sand as geothermal water seeps up from volcanic vents below — bring or hire a spade from the café (5 NZD). Walk or kayak to Cathedral Cove, a dramatic double-arched sea cave accessible only on foot (45-minute coastal trail from the carpark) or by kayak from Hahei Beach. The arch frames a boulder beach and azure cove immortalised in the Chronicles of Narnia films. Return to Hahei for fish and chips on the beach.

3. 3

   Rotorua & Taupo

   • Day 4

     Drive to Rotorua — Wai-O-Tapu & Mud Pools

     Transit

     Drive south to Rotorua (2 hours from Coromandel). Stop first at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (32 NZD entry) — the Lady Knox Geyser erupts daily at 10:15 AM, and the Champagne Pool's orange and green sulphur terraces are otherworldly. Afternoon: visit Te Puia cultural village to see the Pohutu Geyser (the largest in the Southern Hemisphere) and a Maori haka performance. Dine at Eat Streat in central Rotorua for hangi-style buffet or lamb sliders at one of the converted container restaurants (30–45 NZD).

   • Day 5

     Taupo, Huka Falls & Volcanic Plateau

     Transit

     Drive 1 hour south to Taupo on the shore of New Zealand's largest lake — a volcanic caldera with views of the smoking Tongariro volcanoes across the water. Huka Falls is 500 metres from the carpark and among the world's most powerful short waterfalls: 220,000 litres of turquoise water thunder through a 15-metre gorge every second. Adrenaline seekers can bungy jump above the Waikato River at Taupo Bungy (175 NZD) or skydive over the lake. Continue to Whakapapa Village or National Park township for the night — your trailhead for tomorrow's crossing.

4. 4

   Tongariro

   • Day 6

     Tongariro Alpine Crossing — Mt. Doom

     Start the 19.4 km Tongariro Alpine Crossing as early as possible — shuttles from National Park township drop you at Mangatepopo carpark from 6:30 AM (25–30 NZD return). The crossing takes 6–8 hours and crosses an active volcanic plateau past the Red Crater (1,868 m), the brilliant turquoise Emerald Lakes, and the South Crater — terrain Peter Jackson used as Mt. Doom and Mordor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Carry 2+ litres of water, a wind layer, and sunscreen regardless of the forecast; conditions change within minutes at altitude. Book transport well ahead in summer.

5. 5

   Wellington

   • Day 7

     Drive to Wellington — Te Papa & Cuba Street

     Transit

     Drive 3.5 hours south on State Highway 1 to Wellington, New Zealand's compact and culturally rich capital. Te Papa Tongarewa on the waterfront is free entry and houses the country's finest collection of Maori taonga (treasures), natural history exhibits, and the giant squid specimen — allow 2–3 hours. Walk down Cuba Street in the afternoon for the best coffee in the country (Wellington consistently ranks among the world's top café cities) and craft beer at Garage Project Taproom. The harbourfront at dusk with the evening commuter ferries is quietly beautiful.

6. 6

   Marlborough & Picton

   • Day 8

     Interislander Ferry — Through Marlborough Sounds to Picton

     Transit

     Board the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton (3.5 hours, from 55 NZD — book well ahead in summer). The Cook Strait crossing passes through the Queen Charlotte Sound's fjord-like channels lined with native bush, one of New Zealand's most scenic transport journeys. Arrive in Picton by early afternoon and drive 30 minutes to Blenheim, the heart of Marlborough wine country. Visit two or three cellar doors — Cloudy Bay, Brancott Estate, and Dog Point are within 15 minutes of each other — for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris tastings (10–20 NZD per tasting, often refundable with purchase).

   • Day 9

     Queen Charlotte Track & Marlborough Sounds Kayak

     Rise early and drive back to Picton to join a half-day sea kayak tour into the Marlborough Sounds — operators including Wilderness Guides run guided paddles through sheltered bays and past deserted coves (95–130 NZD half-day). Alternatively, walk the first section of the Queen Charlotte Track from Ship Cove (access by water taxi, 38 NZD return) through cathedral podocarp forest above the Sound. Lunch at The Portage Resort on the water, then drive back toward Nelson for the night — around 1 hour from Blenheim.

7. 7

   Abel Tasman

   • Day 10

     Abel Tasman National Park — Golden Beaches & Sea Kayaking

     Transit

     Drive 1 hour from Nelson to Marahau, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. Hire a sea kayak or join a guided half-day paddle (95–150 NZD) through the park's amber-sand coves, spotting New Zealand fur seals on rocky outcrops and little blue penguins near the shoreline. The water taxi (from 38 NZD) lets you hop between beaches like Anchorage, Bark Bay, and Onetahuti at will. Pack a picnic from the Nelson Farmers' Market and spend the afternoon swimming in the clear, tannin-tinted water before driving south towards the West Coast.

8. 8

   West Coast & Franz Josef

   • Day 11

     Drive the West Coast — Pancake Rocks to Hokitika

     Transit

     Take the spectacular SH6 highway south along New Zealand's wild West Coast — mountains to the east, Tasman Sea to the west, and remarkably little traffic. Stop at Punakaiki to walk the Pancake Rocks at Dolomite Point (free), where sea surges boom through blowholes in layered limestone formations at high tide (check tide tables). Continue to Hokitika for a green-stone (pounamu jade) carving workshop (many studios, 60–120 NZD) and whitebait fritters at a local dairy — West Coast whitebait is a NZ delicacy worth the 25 NZD price. Arrive at Franz Josef township in late afternoon (total drive around 3 hours from Marahau).

   • Day 12

     Franz Josef Glacier — Hike or Helicopter

     Franz Josef Glacier descends from the Southern Alps to within 300 metres of rainforest — a geologically rare phenomenon. The glacier face is best experienced on a guided ice hike via helicopter (around 360 NZD for a 2-hour helo-hike with crampons and ice axes) since direct glacier access is restricted due to rapid retreat and ice collapse risk. If budget is tight, the free valley walk to the terminal face viewpoint (1.5 hours return) and the Roberts Point Track (5.5 hours return through rainforest and swing bridges) are both spectacular alternatives. The helicopter provides a perspective no walk can match — it's worth it as a once-in-a-lifetime splurge.

9. 9

   Wanaka

   • Day 13

     Drive to Wanaka — The Tree & Roy's Peak Sunset

     Transit

     Drive 3 hours southeast over Haast Pass — one of the world's great mountain road crossings, descending from alpine rock and ice through ancient rainforest to the blue-glacial rivers of the Haast Valley. Arrive in Wanaka in time for lunch at Francesca's Italian Kitchen by the lakefront. The lone willow tree growing from the shallows of Lake Wanaka has become New Zealand's most photographed tree; reach it via a short lakefront walk. For Roy's Peak (1,578 m), start the 5–6 hour hike by 5 PM in summer for a golden-hour ridge walk with views across Lake Wanaka to Mt. Aspiring.

10. 10

    Queenstown

    • Day 14

      Drive to Queenstown — Arrive & Explore the Waterfront

      Transit

      It's only 1 hour from Wanaka to Queenstown, but take the Crown Range Road (highest sealed pass in New Zealand at 1,121 m) for views over the Wakatipu Basin before descending into the adventure capital. Check in to a hostel or boutique hotel near the lakefront — accommodation in Queenstown is the most expensive in New Zealand, so book ahead (hostels from 50 NZD, hotels from 180 NZD). Walk the lakefront esplanade to the pier, rent a bike, or take the Skyline Gondola up for sunset views. The township's Shotover Street and Beach Street are crammed with restaurants, gear shops, and activity booking desks.

    • Day 15

      Shotover Jet Boat & Kawarau Bungy Jump

      Queenstown runs on adrenaline and two experiences stand above the rest: the Shotover Jet boat (149 NZD, departs from the gorge 5 km from town) rockets through a rock-walled canyon at 85 km/h with centimetre clearances and 360-degree spins — the most thrilling 25 minutes in the country. The AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge (134 NZD) is where commercial bungy jumping was invented in 1988: a 43-metre jump above the rushing Kawarau River, 20 minutes from town. Combine both in a morning, lunch at Fergburger (NZ's most famous burger joint — queues from noon, arrive by 11:30 AM), and spend the afternoon recovering on the lakefront.

    • Day 16

      Routeburn Track Day Walk & Lake Wakatipu Cruise

      Drive 1.5 hours to the Routeburn Track trailhead at Glenorchy for a day walk on one of New Zealand's Great Walks — even just the first 4 km to Routeburn Flats offers beech forest, alpine meadows, and views of snowcapped peaks that justify the drive. The area around Glenorchy is also used as a filming location for Lothlórien and Amon Hen in The Lord of the Rings. Return to Queenstown for an afternoon cruise on the TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship to Walter Peak High Country Farm (105 NZD) — includes a sheepdog demonstration and high tea in the colonial homestead.

11. 11

    Fiordland & Milford Sound

    • Day 17

      Drive to Milford Sound — Through Fiordland

      Transit

      Leave Queenstown early for the 4-hour drive to Milford Sound through Fiordland National Park — one of the most scenic drives on earth, passing through the mirror lakes, Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain, and the Homer Tunnel (a single-lane tunnel blasted through rock at 945 m altitude). Book the afternoon Milford Sound cruise (78–120 NZD, 2 hours) operated by RealNZ or Mitre Peak Cruises — Mitre Peak rises 1,692 m directly from the water, and Stirling Falls and Lady Bowen Falls thunder down into the sound. Stay overnight in Milford (Te Anau is the practical alternative, 2 hours back toward Queenstown).

    • Day 18

      Milford Sound Morning & Milford Track Walk

      Transit

      Early morning on Milford Sound is extraordinary — the fiord is glassy at dawn and the peaks catch the first light before the day-trip coaches arrive. If time and budget allow, an overnight cruise on the Sound (350–500 NZD per person) lets you kayak in silence, spot fur seals, and see bioluminescence in the black water at night. Alternatively, walk the first section of the Milford Track from Sandfly Point — the track's final stage passes through beech forest alongside the Arthur River, and the sandflies (notorious in Fiordland) are the only downside. Drive back via Te Anau and the shores of Lake Te Anau in the afternoon.

12. 12

    Lake Tekapo & Christchurch

    • Day 19

      Drive to Lake Tekapo — Church of the Good Shepherd & Stargazing

      Transit

      Drive north from Te Anau through Queenstown and over the Lindis Pass to Lake Tekapo (total around 3.5 hours). The lake's impossibly turquoise colour comes from glacial flour suspended in meltwater — the shade shifts from mint to cobalt depending on cloud cover and time of day. The Church of the Good Shepherd, built from local stone in 1935, sits at the water's edge with a window above the altar framing the lake and mountains — one of New Zealand's most photographed churches. Lake Tekapo is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve; book a Mt. John Observatory stargazing tour (145 NZD) for views of the Milky Way with a guide.

    • Day 20

      Mt. Cook Detour or Drive to Christchurch

      Transit

      With an early start, detour via Aoraki / Mt. Cook National Park (1 hour off the main route) — the Hooker Valley Track (3 hours return) passes swing bridges and glacier lakes to a viewpoint below the summit of New Zealand's highest peak (3,724 m). The track is straightforward and rewards with views few tourists reach. Otherwise, drive direct to Christchurch (2.5 hours from Tekapo), check into a hotel in the revitalised central city, and explore the Re:START Container Mall, Cardboard Cathedral, and the Botanic Gardens along the Avon River. Dinner at the Oxford Terrace strip.

    • Day 21

      Christchurch — Tram, Markets & Departure

      Transit

      Spend your final morning on the heritage tram circuit through the central city (30 NZD, unlimited hop-on/hop-off), which connects the Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery, Arts Centre Market, and the earthquake-memorial red pin precinct. The Christchurch Arts Centre Saturday market runs from 10 AM — pick up Kiwi souvenirs, local honey, and artisan merino wool before heading to Christchurch Airport for your departure flight. Christchurch connects internationally to Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, and Los Angeles, and domestically to Auckland for onward connections.

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Further reading

• Oceania on Wikipedia
• Oceania travel guide on Wikivoyage