New Zealand road trips and itineraries
PLAN A ROUTE THROUGH PARADISE
New Zealand has some of the greatest scenic drives in the world; it’s the ideal country for a road trip
My road trip guides capture my favourite routes for exploring New Zealand by road.
Whether it’s driving down the West Coast of the South Island, stopping to look at the rock formations in Punakaiki or glaciers in Franz Josef. Or, driving from Christchurch to Queenstown past Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. Or making your way to the tip of the North Island to Cape Reinga and the point where two oceans meet.
Resources for planning your New Zealand road trip
RENTING A CAMPERVAN: Motorhome Republic is the easiest way to compare prices across a range of campervan companies (it’s clunky but still the most useful comparison site at the moment)
RENTAL CARS: DiscoverCars.com for comparing the prices of rental cars
MONEY: New Zealand is mostly cash free, with the occasional exception of campgrounds and roadside fruit stands. Generally, you can get away with paying for everything with a credit or debit card.
I use Wise, including in New Zealand (I love the way it helps me track my spending). You can use the card almost everywhere. The only exception I have found is at self-service gas stations, which refuse to recognise it as a credit card. As a work around, you’ll have to visit petrol stations with a shop/attendant inside.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads (it’s what I use outside of New Zealand — when I’m here, I only occasionally get a cheap plan to cover rental cars).
If you take out travel insurance, you probably don’t need to pay for ‘excess reduction’ when you pick up your rental vehicle (most travel insurance policies should cover excess reduction for car rentals). However, you will need a credit card, which the rental car company will place a hold against — I don’t have a credit card, so this is niggly for me.
FINDING ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is my preferred website for finding hostel or hotel accommodation in New Zealand, but it’s also worth checking Vrbo when you’re looking for places to stay outside of towns (some of the best places to stay are more remote).
Canopy Camping is great for a special stay.
USEFUL APPS:
Get a personalised road trip itinerary
If you’re overwhelmed planning your New Zealand road trip, and don’t know where to start — or you just need to sense check your route — I might be able to help.
GET INSPIRED
Epic New Zealand road trips
Some of my favourite scenic drives around the country — whether you’re looking for coastal views, remote camping spots, or mountains roads.
MOUNTAINS | HIKING
Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
The drive alongside the edge of bright blue Lake Pukaki, with the shimmering peak of Aoraki/Mount Cook looming directly ahead, is one of the most beautiful in the country.
RUGGED & REMOTE
Auckland to Cape Reinga
The reward for reaching the northernmost point of New Zealand is deserted beaches and blissful camping grounds.
GLACIERS | COAST
West Coast of the South Island, from Punakaiki to Franz Josef
A tour of rugged coastlines, rainforests, and ink-black lakes.
BEACHES | RELAXATION
The Coromandel Peninsula loop
The Coromandel makes for the perfect road trip, with a road looping up the west coast and down the east. To get well and truly off the beaten track, follow the gravel road to to very top of the peninsula.
MARINE WILDLIFE | COASTAL
Picton to Christchurch
The coastal road down the upper east coast of the South Island goes via the marine wildlife haven of Kaikoura, along with rocky beaches, seal colonies. and vineyards
BEACHES | REMOTE
Dunedin to Invercargill, along the Catlins Coast
Wind-swept beaches, sea lions, a fossilised forest, and if you’re very lucky, penguins.
RUGGED & REMOTE
Wanaka to Haast, through Mount Aspiring
Sky blue rivers, waterfalls and incredible mountain scenery.
Itineraries
How long should your New Zealand road trip be? You could go on an epic road trip in one week — I’ve done as little as five days between Queenstown and Christchurch. But, to really get the most out of your trip, I recommend at least two weeks.
ONE WEEK
SOUTH ISLAND
A one week South Island itinerary
In one week you can see the highlights of the South Island.
ONE WEEK
NORTH ISLAND
One week road trip from Auckland to Cape Reinga
Drive to the far north of the country in 7 days.
FIVE DAYS
NORTH ISLAND
Driving from Auckland to Wellington
A 5 day North Island road trip.
FOUR DAYS
SOUTH ISLAND
Driving from Christchurch to Queenstown
See the South Island’s highlights in 3-4 days.
TWO WEEKS
BOTH ISLANDS
The ultimate two week New Zealand itinerary
Spend 14 days road tripping across both the North and South Islands.
TWO WEEKS
NORTH ISLAND
A two week road trip around the North Island
Spend 14 days exploring the North Island’s highlights.
TWO WEEKS
SOUTH ISLAND
A two week road trip around the South Island
Spend 14 days road travelling in a loop of the South Island.
THREE WEEKS
BOTH ISLANDS
A three week road trip from Auckland to Christchurch
Spend 21 days road tripping across both the North and South Islands.
ROAD TRIPS
New Zealand in a campervan
The beauty of travelling in a campervan is the freedom it allows you. No need to book accommodation each night; you can make it up as you go.
Campervans also give you the chance to stay in some of the wildest and most remote parts of New Zealand, where the only other accommodation option, if any, is a tent.
Hiring a campervan makes for the ultimate New Zealand road trip.
It does cost a little more to rent a campervan than a car, but the overall experience is different. If you want to be closer to nature and have more spontaneity in your travels, rent a motorhome/campervan.
MOUNTAINS | HIKING
South Island campgrounds worth travelling for
The best beachside, mountainside, or lakeside haunts.
RUGGED & REMOTE
Auckland to Cape Reinga
The reward for reaching the northernmost point of New Zealand is deserted beaches and blissful camping grounds.
GLACIERS | COAST
West Coast of the South Island, from Punakaiki to Franz Josef
A tour of rugged coastlines, rainforests, and ink-black lakes.
BEACHES | RELAXATION
The Coromandel Peninsula loop
The Coromandel makes for the perfect road trip, with a road looping up the west coast and down the east. To get well and truly off the beaten track, follow the gravel road to to very top of the peninsula.
MOUNTAINS | HIKING
Picton to Christchurch
The coastal road down the upper east coast of the South Island goes via the marine wildlife haven of Kaikoura, along with rocky beaches, seal colonies. and vineyards
BEACHES | RELAXATION
Dunedin to Invercargill, along the Catlins Coast
Wind-swept beaches, sea lions, a fossilised forest, and if you’re very lucky, penguins.
RUGGED & REMOTE
Wanaka to Haast, through Mount Aspiring
Sky blue rivers, waterfalls and incredible mountain scenery.
