Discover my suggestions for your New Zealand itinerary 2 weeks or 3 weeks – detailed day by day description with photos, including some of the best things to do on both North and South Islands: fjords, volcanoes, beaches, mountains, lakes… Get ready to plan an unforgettable road trip in New Zealand!
Tips to plan your New Zealand itinerary for 2 or 3 weeks
Below are some important points for you to understand before planning your New Zealand road trip itinerary.
Choices will have to be made and I am first sharing a few tips for you to better understand opportunities and constraints.
TIP 1 – Driving Times & New Zealand Map
Let’s start with a reality check. New Zealand is bigger than most people think! Sure, compared to neighbor Australia it is small, but driving times are significant.
Plus, always plan more time than what Google says to drive from point A to point B. On any New Zealand road trip you will want to stop all the time to admire the scenery…
TIP 2 – Island Crossing
If you are planning a road trip on both islands, you will have to book a ferry between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island) or opposite.
There are several sailings a day with 2 different operators: Interislander and Blueridge.
However you can do the booking only if you have your car’s plate number. So you can’t do it early.
I recommend you
- bookmark this booking page for now in your favorites – New Zealand ferries
- do the booking the first day after you collect your rental car, once you know the plate number
- plan half a day on your itinerary for the crossing (including waiting to embark and disembarking)
TIP 3 – Daylight & tide times and sunrise, sunsets…
When planning, have a look at sunrise and sunset times, to see how much daylight you will have when traveling. This way you know how long you have, to see all the sites during the day. This is important to define the best time to travel around New Zealand.
There are several places in New Zealand that you can only visit at low tide. And light might be better at sunrise or sunset. So, if you can plan for those to coincide, it is great. Start with those locations and plan around. For example:
- Piha beach at low tide and sunset
- Cathedral Cove at low tide and sunrise
- Moeraki boulder at low to mid-tide and sunrise
- Motukiekie beach & Wharariki beach at low tide and sunset
- Cathedral Caves at low tide
- …
TIP 4 – Road Closures & Road Conditions
In Summer, all is normally open. However, off the main touristic season, you can have road works on one lane bridges which completely block access to a place (some locations in South NZ are only available from 1 road). And in Winter, some roads may be cut off or icy. Check road conditions and planed roadworks
The roads in South Island are not as sinuous as in North Island, but you have some mountain passes to cross – check out my NZ driving guide
TIP 5 – Plan some flexibility
If some locations are really big-ticket items for you, I recommend planning a night close by. This way you double the chance to see it under nice weather.
For example, in Arthur’s pass, my favorite road in New Zealand South Island. I recommend staying at the village of Arthur’s pass. Or around Lake Pukaki: one day you can see Mount Cook, another it is in the clouds…
TIP 6 – You can’t drive everywhere – make a choice
Although some locations seem to be close by, you sometimes need to do a big detour to travel between 2 places. For example Lake Pukaki and Fox Glacier look close to each other but you have to do a big loop South or North to be able to reach Fox glacier from Pukaki.
So be sure to check driving times and roads to avoid planning too much in a day.
TIP 7 – Use domestic flights, don’t come back to your starting point
If you want to cover both islands in just 2 or 3 weeks, don’t even try to make a loop that comes back where you started. There is way too much driving involved.
I recommend a starting point at Auckland and a finishing point at Queenstown or Christchurch – or the opposite.
Just note that rental car price may go up because of it. So make sure to compare rental prices in one direction or the other (most people start in Auckland, so it may be cheaper if you do the opposite).
And make sure you take a rental companies who has offices on both islands, just in case!
Need to rent a car in New Zealand?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a car with enough power for the mountain areas
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
TIP 8 – Tool to plan your itinerary with practical maps
There is so much to see in New Zealand, that it can be overwhelming to find where to start!
So, if you want to create your own itinerary, check out my eBook. I have already pre-selected all my favorite locations and created practical maps. It simplifies the planning process:
Plan your dream trip in New Zealand thanks to my guide
- 12 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 200+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 285+ original photos to help you choose
New Zealand Itinerary 2 weeks – Best of both islands (intense)
Intro to my Nature 2 week in New Zealand itinerary – Map
STARTS IN – Auckland
ENDS IN – Queenstown
With only 2 weeks, if you want to cover a good portion of both islands, it implies quite a lot of driving each day. I have made the following NZ 2 week itinerary quite intense. In the next section, you will find an alternative version a little lighter.
Note – as I said earlier you can also do this trip the other way around as rental prices may be cheaper.
Note 2 – I think nature is the best in New Zealand, so I have mostly skipped the towns 🙂
Day 1 – Best of both islands – Coromandel
- Starts in –
Auckland - Ends in –
Hahei or Hot water beach - Driving time – 2h30
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
Drive South to the Coromandel Peninsula
STOP 1 – Cathedral cove – Complete the famous walk at low tide. It offers beautiful views of the sea cliffs and access to a giant archway and sea stacks on a beach.
STOP 2 – Hot water beach – Impressive burning water source in a small section of the beach – go dig yourself a hole and soak in it! - Where to stay –
Depending on your timing with the tide, you can either stay at Hot water beach (see options) or in Hahei (see options) - Alternative –
If you prefer going underground than to the beach, you can head to Waitomo instead. There you can visit beautiful caves and see glowworms! – also 2h30 drive
Day 2 – Best of both islands – Rotorua
- Starts in –
Hahei or Hot water beach - Ends in –
Rotorua - Driving time – 3h (or 2h15 from the alternative Waitomo)
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
STOP 1 – Hobbiton or Blue Spring – I think the Blue Spring, with its crystal clear water, is a wonderful place and should not be missed, but I know some of you are really big fans of Lord of the Rings, so your first stop can be one or the other.
STOP 2 – Pick one of the geothermal parks – This afternoon I would pick Te Puia with the geyser or the Waimangu volcanic Valley - Great activities –
Enjoy a scenic flight above the region to see the fault lines and many lakes – for example: Book an helicopter tour with the fault line
or relax at a geothermal spa at the end of the day – The Polynesian Spa is right by the lake: mineral hot pools, cold plunge pools, heated recliners… – pre-book your experience
There are lots of great activities in Rotorua – Check out the many other options - Where to stay –
There is a large choice of accommodations in Rotorua from B&Bs to motels to luxury stays – Check out the best rated options and book
I stayed in a room at a B&B (Rotorua City Homestay). They were very welcoming and I enjoyed their breakfast a lot – Check out photos and availabilities
Day 3 – Best of both islands – Rotorua
- Starts in –
Rotorua - Ends in –
Taupo - Driving time – 1h30
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
STOP 1 – Wai-O-Tapu – in the morning I recommend to most famous valley with the Champagne Pool and features with crazy colors. Don’t miss the Lady Knox geyser at 10:15 am. See my article and Pre-purchase your entrance ticket in your currency here
STOP 2 – Orakei Karako is my favorite geothermal park in the region of Rotorua -Taupo. It is a small detour from the main road, but what an incredible place! The main terrace has many colors and is surrounded by forest. Breathtaking. Pre-purchase your entrance ticket in your currency here
STOP 3 (maybe) – As you approach Taupo, you can add Craters of the Moon. It is something completely different from the other parks. The 1h walking loop is quite fascinating and worth a stop in my opinion even if it is not as colorful.
STOP 4 (maybe) – another options is to visit the Huka falls – a powerful rush of water as the river enters a shallow ravine after being 100m wide. There you can enjoy a 30min jetboat experience - Where to stay –
You can stay in Taupo – there are many accommodations by the lake – Check out the best rated options and book
I stayed at Sails on the Lake in an apartment with Lake view and all the equipments I needed – Check out photos and availabilities
Or if you absolutely want to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing day hike (one of the most beautiful in the World), you can drive further and stay at the South end of Lake Taupo or at Whakapapa village (check out options)
Day 4 – Best of both islands – Tongariro
- Starts in –
Taupo - Ends in –
Whakapapa or Palmerston North - Driving time – 1h20 or 3h30
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Option1 –
Your first option is to enjoy the Tongariro National Park for the whole day and do some hiking. Small 30min walks, 2h loops such as the Taranaki Falls hike or longer adventure such as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
You can also drive around for wonderful landscapes and drive up to the ski fields for a closer look at the dry lava flow.
This option means that the day after will have a lot more driving. - Option 2 –
Spend half a day around Tongariro, hike a little and start driving South. - Where to stay –
Option 1 – Stay at Whakapapa village – check out options and book
Option 2 – Stay around Palmerston North – check out options and book
Day 5 – Best of both islands – Castlepoint (or Wellington)
- Starts in –
Palmerston North (or Whakapapa) - Ends in –
Castlepoint - Driving time – 2h (or 4h40 drive)
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
Even though it is a detour, I loved this place so much that I had to include it!
Drive South East to Castlepoint – enjoy a lighthouse walk and the Deliverance cove track – check out my articles for more details - Where to stay –
Accommodations in Castlepoint are mostly rentals – Check out the options and book - Alternative –
If you enjoy visiting cities and don’t want to miss the Te Papa Museum, you can head to Wellington instead and spend the night there – 2h drive from Palmerston. This way you can take an earlier ferry the next day – check out the best rated accommodations in Wellington and book
Day 6 – Best of both islands – Crossing + Kaikoura
- Starts in –
Castlepoint (or Wellington) - Ends in –
Kaikoura - Crossing time – 3h
- Driving time – 5h15 – a long day driving (if coming from Castlepoint – 2h30 before ferry), but once it is done, you can rest in Kaikoura – or if staying in Wellington before, you just have the drive on South Island – Picton to Kaikoura = 2h
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
Along the way you can stop at the Marlborough vineyards, for example for lunch; After that, the road to the coast is stunning.
And as you get closer to Kaikoura, you can stop at Ohau point to see the seals (bring binoculars – see my guide)
If you arrive early you may want to book the whale watching cruise – prebook in your own currency - Where to stay –
Book for 2 nights
There is a large choice of accommodations in Kaikoura with motels, resorts and rentals – Check out the best rated options and book
I stayed at Barnacle Bills. It is not in the center, but I opted for accommodation on higher grounds, close to the lookout to go at sunrise. I was really satisfied – check out photos and availability
Day 7 – Best of both islands – Kaikoura
- Starts in –
Kaikoura - Ends in –
Kaikoura - Driving time – none
- Main stops to consider –
Today you can choose activities in Kaikoura.
You can book the whale watching cruise – prebook in your own currency
If you are correct swimmer, I strongly recommend the swim with wild dolphins in the ocean. This is one of my best memories of all times.
If you prefer to stay on land, check out the Kaikoura peninsula walk - Where to stay –
Same as night before
Day 8 – Best of both islands – Akaroa
- Starts in –
Kaikoura - Ends in –
Akaroa - Driving time – 3h30
- Driving difficulty – Easy, except road on the rim at Akaroa (narrower)
- Main stops to consider –
STOP 1 – Waipara Valley – if you enjoy vineyards, enjoy a lunch break in the Waipara Valley (you don’t even have to make a detour)
STOP 2 – As you approach Akaroa, choose the Volcano Rim drive on the Summit Road. It offers grandiose views of the harbour in the ancient volcano.
STOP 3 – Visit the charming French settlement of Akaroa – beautiful water views and older buildings. - Where to stay –
Stay in the little town of Akaroa – Check out the options and Book
Day 9 – Best of both islands – Glacial Lakes
- Starts in –
Akaroa - Ends in –
Twizel - Driving time – 4h15
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
STOP 1 – Lake Tekapo – enjoy a walk around the church of the Good Shepherd
STOP 2 – Get up to the observatory for amazing views of the Lake Tekapo
STOP 3 – Enjoy the intense color of lake Pukaki and (hopefully) the view of Mt Cook at the other end
STOP 4 – If you still have some energy and the sky is clear, drive all the way to Mt Cook village for incredible views of the glacial valleys - Where to stay –
See the best rated accommodations in Twizel
I stayed at the Mountain Chalets Motel. The decor was tired but spacious and practical, and the location was easy. Check out photos and availability
Day 10 – Best of both islands – East Coast
- Starts in –
Twizel - Ends in –
Dunedin - Driving time – 3h (2h if stopping at Moeraki)
- Driving difficulty – This is quite a detour but to see the Moeraki boulders, I think it is worth it!
- Main stops to consider –
STOP1 – Omarama clay cliffs – as you drive to the East, make a short detour (gravel road)
STOP2 – Oamaru town with its Victorian buildings
STOP3 – Moeraki Boulders – don’t miss this impressive geological wonder! Giant round boulders sticking out of the beach. Visit at low to mid-tide – Learn more on my article
STOP4 – Dunedin if you enjoy towns. This one has some beautiful Victorian buildings and a great vibe
Alternative – otherwise stay at Moeraki to see the boulders for sunrise, but that means a longer drive the next day - Where to stay –
Stay at Dunedin – check out accommodation options and book
If staying near Moeraki – There are no accommodations at the beach itself but at the villages of Moeraki and Hampden, 5 to 10min drive away. Book early!
I stayed at the Moeraki Boulders Motel: It was clean and spacious. The owners are really nice. Not very modern but conveniently located – Check out photos and availability
Day 11 – Best of both islands – Te Anau
- Starts in –
Dunedin - Ends in –
Te Anau - Driving time – 3h25 (or 4h20 from Moeraki)
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
Drive all the way to Te Anau in the morning.
Book a cruise in the afternoon, to enjoy the spectacular lake Te Anau (that already gives a feel of fjords). The cruise takes you to a very young cave with a waterfall and glowworms. It is very touristic, but I had a blast. One of my best souvenirs in NZ – Prebook in your own currency - Great activities –
Or if you really love fjords, you can book a flight above Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound – Check out options - Where to stay –
Book for 2 nights
There is a large choice of accommodations in Te Anau – Check out the best rated options and book
I stayed at the Alpine View Motel. The room was large and nice, the motel well located in the center – check out photos and availabilities
Day 12 – Best of both islands – Milford Sound
- Starts in –
Te Anau - Ends in –
Te Anau - Driving time – 3h30
- Driving difficulty – last section down to Milford Sound is sinuous
- Main stops to consider –
Everybody focuses on the cruise in Milford Sound, but there are already some wonderful stops along the way.
I recommend driving all the way down, doing the cruise, and having time to enjoy the stops as you drive back to Te Anau. This way you won’t have a time pressure.
Stops include: Mirror Lake, Eglinton valley, Lake Gunn, Pop’s view, the Chasm and many others (all my favorites are included in my eBooks with GPS coordinates) - Great activities –
You don’t want to drive all the way to Milford Sound without doing a cruise 🙂 Several companies are running boat tours for 2 to 3 hours;
You have the popular one with underwater observatory – prebook in your own currency
Or you can choose one with the option to kayak – prebook in your own currency
Or check out the different options - Where to stay –
Same as night before
Day 13 – Best of both islands – Around Queenstown or Doubtful Sound
- Starts in –
Te Anau - Ends in –
Queenstown - Driving time – 2h to Queenstown ( add 1h30return if you head to Glenorchy past Queenstown)
- Driving difficulty – Easy
- Main stops to consider –
Many beautiful stops along along Lake Wakatipu
You can head further to Glenorchy for even more scenic views
You can also drive east from Queenstown to the historical town of Arrowtown to learn about gold mining. - Great activities –
Today you can enjoy a cruise on the lake – there is one on the historical steamboat. But I opted for the Spirit of Queenstown because it was going more North and you could see the Glenorchy arm of the lake – pre-book in your own currency
If you are more of an adrenaline junky, Queenstown is the place for you. Check out the many activities - Alternative –
If you want more fjord landscapes, book a Doubtful Sound cruise (it departs only 25min drive away from Te Anau and comes back at 2pm so you have plenty of time to get to Queenstown - Where to stay –
Book for 2 nights – There is a large choice of accommodations in Queenstown – Check out the best rated options
Tip1 – pick a place that has private parking and is within walking distance of the city center. Because parking in Queenstown is a nightmare.
Tip2 – the accommodations very close to the center don’t have the best views as they are in a nook of the lake
I stayed at the Earnslaw lodge. The decor was not modern, be aware, but otherwise it was perfect. Spacious room, parking and a balcony with 180° views over the lake (the reason why I chose this place). Probably one of the best views of all accommodations – Check out photos and availability
Day 14 – Best of both islands – Queenstown
- Starts in –
Queenstown - Ends in –
Queenstown - Driving time – 0
- Great activities –
Queenstown offers so many great activities : Gondola, Cruise, jet boat, paragliding, bungy jumping… – Check out the many activities - Where to stay –
Same as previous night
All the stops listed in those itinerary are included in my eBook with practical tips (how long the plan, facilities, what not to miss…):
Plan your dream trip in New Zealand thanks to my guide
- 12 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 200+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 285+ original photos to help you choose
New Zealand Itinerary 14 days – Intro to both islands (slower pace)
As I wrote earlier, this 2 week itinerary in New Zealand is quite intense with a lot of driving.
Below is another possible version to spend 2 weeks in New Zealand, but as a slower pace.
I have removed the 3 detours to the East Coast which implies:
- less driving time
- No more Castlepoint, Akaroa and Moeraki Boulders
- But more time in the mountains around Lake Pukaki and adding Lake Wanaka
- Day 1 – Auckland to Coromandel (same as Day 1)
- Day 2 – Rotorua (same as Day 2)
- Day 3 – Taupo (same as Day 3)
- Day 4 – Tongariro (same as Day 4)
- Day 5 – Wellington (skip Castlepoint and head to Wellington for the day)
- Day 6 – Wellington to Picton ferry + drive to Kaikoura (Same as Day 6)
- Day 7 – Kaikoura (Same as Day 7)
- Day 8 – Drive to Tekapo and Pukaki (same end as Day 9)
- Day 9 – Enjoy Pukaki and the hikes around Mt Cook village (extra time to admire the mountains)
- Day 10 – Stop at the Omarama Clay Cliffs and head to Wanaka view the beautiful Lindis Pass – 1h45 drive – Check out accommodations in Wanaka
- Day 11 – Drive to Te Anau (end of Day 11) – 3h drive
- Day 12 – Milford Sound (same as Day 12)
- Day 13 – Queenstown (same as Day 13)
- Day 14 – Queenstown (same as Day 14)
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
Make it a New Zealand Itinerary 3 weeks and more
If you have 3 weeks in New Zealand or more, then the options are endless, you can add detours here and there from the 2 week itinerary.
Below are 2 suggestions:
Option 1 – Northlands
If you enjoy beautiful beaches, sand dunes and trees, I recommend adding the Northlands region.
You can do a loop that departs and returns in Auckland.
You will get to see:
- ancient Kauri tree
- Cape Reinga
- The famous 90 mile beach
- Giant sand dunes
- Beautiful coves
- the Bay of islands
- Waterfalls
- Black sand beaches
- ….
Check out the day to day program in my Beach and Coastal gem 7 day itinerary in North Island
Option 2 – Abel Tasman National Park
Another detour you can add is in South Island.
As you arrive in Picton with the ferry, you can first head West to Abel Tasman National Park and further.
You will get to enjoy:
- Stunning golden beaches
- Impressive seastacks
- Dolphins, seals…
- Seal pups
- White sand dunes
- Cruising
- …
Get some ideas from my 7 day itinerary in South Island called Wildlife and Coast.
Make your own NZ itinerary for 2 weeks, 3 weeks or more!
You can create your own itinerary from my curated list of wonderful locations and with practical maps – I have written my eBook to help you do that:
Plan your dream trip in New Zealand thanks to my guide
- 12 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 200+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 285+ original photos to help you choose
2 weeks in New Zealand itinerary – choose one of the islands
But with only 2 weeks in New Zealand you can also chose to do a more in depth New Zealand road trip itinerary of just one of the islands.
North vs South Island – how to choose
- If you prefer volcanoes and geothermal activity, head to North island
- If you prefer mountains and Lake, head to South Island
- or you can check out my article which compare both
2 weeks in New Zealand North Island itinerary
Below is a summary of my suggested New Zealand North Island itinerary 2 weeks – you can see it in details in this article with photos
- Day 1 – Auckland to Matapouri
- Day 2 – Bay of Islands
- Day 3 – Doubtless Bay
- Day 4 – Cape Reinga
- Day 5 – Hokianga
- Day 6 – Mangawhai
- Day 7 – Black Sand beaches (Piha and others)
- Day 8 – Coromandel peninsula
- Day 9 – Blue Spring/Hobbiton and Rotorua
- Day 10 – Rotorua geothermal parks
- Day 11 – Taupo geothermal parks
- Day 12 – Tongariro
- Day 13 – Taranaki
- Day 14 – Waitomo
New Zealand South Island itinerary 14 days
Below is a summary of my suggested New Zealand South Island itinerary 2 weeks – you can see it in details in this article with photos
- Day 1 – Queenstown to Te Anau (Mountain Day 1)
- Day 2 – Milford Sound (Mountain Day 2)
- Day 3 – Lakes Pukaki and Tekapo (Mountain Day 4)
- Day 4 – Mt Cook NP (Mountain Day 5)
- Day 5 – Twizel to Arthur’s drive (combination with Coast Day 1)
- Day 6 – Arthur’s drive to Kaikoura
- Day 7 – Kaikoura (Coast Day 7)
- Day 8 – Kaikoura to Abel Tasman (10 day highlights Day 2)
- Day 9 – Abel Tasman
- Day 10 – Punakaiki
- Day 11 – Glaciers
- Day 12 – Haast Valley & Lake Wanaka (Mountain Day 3)
- Day 13 – Queenstown
- Day 14 – Queenstown
Is my New Zealand road trip itinerary good?
You can share your itinerary on online forums, but you will get a lot of different opinions and probably people adding locations because you just ‘have to see this!’.
Not so helpful…
Check the following points and you should be ready to go:
- Have I planned less than 4h30 driving per day in Summer and 3h in Winter? and are most days under 3h30 in Summer and 2h30 in Winter?
- Am I clear on the Top 10 locations I don’t want to miss and flexible about the others? (depending on weather conditions)
- Are there available accommodations that fit my itinerary? (If you are late with the planning, the lack of accommodations may influence your itinerary)
- Are you excited or stressed by the itinerary? This might be an indication you have to remove locations…
And then you are ready to go! I wish you a wonderful New Zealand trip!
FAQ – road trip around New Zealand
- Looking for tips about driving and renting a car in New Zealand? – check out my article
- Wondering what to pack / what to wear in New Zealand? – check out my article about planning a road trip
- Still don’t know when to travel to New Zealand? – check out my best time article
NZ Itinerary for Winter?
South Island will have limitations in Winter. There can be snow and ice, and some roads can be difficult.
The other constraint is that you will have shorter days to explore, so you should not plan more than 3h drive each day.
2 weeks in New Zealand without a car
If you don’t rent a car, you won’t be able to much with public transportation.
You can:
- Stay a week in Auckland and do day trips then fly to Queenstown and stay a week there doing day trips.
- Or join bus tours that go around New Zealand such as Flying Kiwi, Haka Tours or Relaxing journeys.
And check out my guide about the best places to stay in New Zealand
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