New Zealand
A natural wonderland in the South Pacific combining snowy mountains, fjords, volcanic geothermal areas and Māori culture, a paradise for road trips and outdoor adventure.
New Zealand lies in the southwest South Pacific and consists mainly of the North Island and the South Island. The North Island has Auckland, the capital Wellington, the Bay of Islands, and the volcanic geothermal areas and Māori culture of Rotorua and Taupō. The South Island is built around the Southern Alps, with adventure sports in Queenstown, Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, Aoraki/Mount Cook and its glaciers, and cities such as Christchurch and Dunedin. Seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere: December–February is summer, ideal for hiking and road trips, and June–August is best for skiing. The main international gateway is Auckland Airport, and Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown also have international flights.
Destinations
- Auckland City
- Wellington
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
- Queenstown & Wanaka
- Invercargill & Bluff
- Tauranga & Mount Maunganui
- Nelson & Abel Tasman
- Rarotonga
- Rotorua & Taupo
- Napier & Hawke's Bay
- New Plymouth & Taranaki
- Aitutaki
- Kaikōura
- Punakaiki & Greymouth
- Bay of Islands
- Marlborough
- Lake Tekapo & Aoraki/Mount Cook
- Te Anau & Fiordland
- Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers
- Coromandel Peninsula
- The Catlins
- Stewart Island (Rakiura)
- Niue
- Whangārei
- Great Barrier Island
- Chatham Islands
- Whanganui
- Oamaru
- Gisborne
- Tongariro National Park
- Hamilton
- Hanmer Springs
- Raglan
- Atiu
- Mangaia
- Far North & Cape Reinga
- Hokianga & Waipoua Forest
- Whakatāne & Ōhope
- East Cape
Itineraries
- New Zealand South Island In-Depth Grand Loop – A complete loop of the South Island starting from Christchurch, connecting coastlines, glaciers, fjords, peninsulas, an…
- New Zealand North to South: Auckland to Queenstown – Head south from Auckland through geothermal areas and Wellington, cross the strait, and explore the lakes and fjords to…
- Classic North Island: Auckland to Wellington – Head south from Auckland to Wellington, connecting the glowworm caves, Hobbiton Movie Set, geothermal wonders, and alpi…
- Southern Scenic Route: Dunedin to Queenstown – Drive from Dunedin along the Catlins coast to the southern tip, then head north to Fiordland on the South Island's quie…
- Western Volcanoes & Forgotten World Highway – Travel from a surf town through SH43 to Taranaki, then follow the Whanganui River south to Wellington
- Christchurch to Queenstown Lakes & Fjords – A one-way self-drive through the Mackenzie Basin, Mount Cook, Wanaka, and Fiordland, ending in Queenstown.
- TranzAlpine Train & West Coast Glaciers – Cross the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train, then drive along the West Coast glaciers to Queenstown.
- Pacific Coast and East Cape Road – From Auckland along the east coast to Napier, rounding East Cape to see the long wharf and Napier's Art Deco city.
- Northland Twin Coast Loop – Depart from Auckland to loop around Northland, seeing kauri forests, Cape Reinga, and the Bay of Islands
- Auckland Volcanoes, Harbour and Hobbiton – Rangitoto Island, Devonport, the volcanic cones and the Ponsonby neighbourhood, plus a day trip to Hobbiton.
- Auckland City and Day Trips – Auckland city plus Waiheke Island, Hobbiton and the glowworm caves, with a night on the Coromandel Peninsula.
- Northern Explorer Train & Volcano Route – A car-free journey from Auckland by scenic train to hike Tongariro, then south to Wellington