New Zealand itineraries
Sample itineraries written by our New Zealand experts
Our New Zealand travel specialists have written the following itineraries to help plan your trip. Not sure where to begin? Contact us now and we'll connect you with a specialist tour operator for expert New Zealand advice.
Filter by place:
14 days
New Zealand wildlife and waterways
New Zealand in two weeks
Auckland (1 days) →
Lake Taupo (2) →
Marlborough Sounds (3) →
Kaikoura (3) →
Queenstown (1) →
Milford Sound (1) →
Queenstown (3)
View itinerary
11 days
Bay of Islands and South Island escape
Off-the-beaten path New Zealand
Auckland (1 days) →
Northland (2) →
Christchurch (1) →
Hokitika (3) →
Queenstown (1) →
Milford Sound (1) →
Queenstown (2)
View itinerary
13 days
South Island wildlife route
Whale-watching, birding and wildlife on New Zealand’s south island
Christchurch (1 days) →
Milford Sound (2) →
Stewart Island (3) →
Dunedin (2) →
Kaikoura (2) →
Nelson (3)
View itinerary
14 days
New Zealand self drive
Wine, wildlife and winding roads
Auckland (2 days) →
Lake Taupo (3) →
Hawke’s Bay (2) →
Christchurch (1) →
Arthur’s Pass National Park (1) →
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (1) →
Queenstown (4)
View itinerary
19 days
New Zealand Lord of the Rings route
Head into Mordor, explore Isengard and chill out in Hobbiton
Auckland (1 days) →
Rotorua (2) →
Lake Taupo (3) →
Wellington (3) →
Nelson (1) →
Kaikoura (1) →
Lake Heron (1) →
Lake Tekapo (1) →
Queenstown (2) →
Milford Sound (1) →
Queenstown (1) →
Auckland (2)
View itinerary
10 days
Northern adventure route
Adventures on New Zealand’s North Island
Auckland (1 days) →
Coromandel (1) →
Raglan (1) →
Rotorua (2) →
Lake Taupo (2) →
Wellington (3)
View itinerary
10 days
Southern adventure loop
Thrill seeking around South Island
Christchurch (1 days) →
Lake Tekapo (1) →
Queenstown (2) →
Wanaka (2) →
Franz Josef Glacier (2) →
Christchurch (2)
View itinerary
20 days
North to south white knuckle
Epic adventures from North to South Island
Auckland (1 days) →
Coromandel (1) →
Raglan (1) →
Rotorua (2) →
Lake Taupo (2) →
Wellington (2) →
Kaikoura (1) →
Christchurch (1) →
Lake Tekapo (1) →
Queenstown (2) →
Wanaka (2) →
Franz Josef Glacier (2) →
Christchurch (2)
View itinerary
-
Queenstown
The self-described ‘adventure capital of the world’, Queenstown is a playground for adrenaline junkies... -
Milford Sound
Even by New Zealand’s standards, Milford Sound is a truly spectacular sight... -
Lake Tekapo
A highland lake in the middle of New Zealand’s south island, Lake Tekapo is best known for its incredibly clear skies that are perfect for stargazing... -
Rotorua
An eggy scent hangs over sulphuric Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, which is home to spectacular geothermal springs, mud pools and geysers... -
Coromandel
Visible across the Hauraki Gulf from Auckland, the Coromandel offers pristine beaches, thick rainforest and plenty of adventure... -
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is the place to see wildlife in New Zealand... -
Wanaka
Laidback Wanaka has a claim to be Queenstown’s cooler sibling... -
Northland
The site of New Zealand’s earliest Maori settlement, Northland is the birthplace of New Zealand and home to its best beaches... -
Auckland
Forget the city’s high-rise centre; the beauty of Auckland is the scenery surrounding it... -
Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is the first stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail and is a great place to try cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay wines... -
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the majority of New Zealand’s only International Dark Sky Reserve, so head into the hills – or just Mount Cook Village near Lake Pukaki – and marvel at the light show in the sky... -
Stewart Island
Sparsely populated Stewart Island is home to some of New Zealand’s most interesting wildlife, including penguins, dolphins and albatross... -
Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef’s icy mass once flowed all the way into the sea, but after decades of global warming, the glacier has retreated inland and is now only accessible by helicopter... -
Marlborough Sounds
A huge maze of beaches, bays and hills formed after the last ice age, the Marlborough Sounds are the perfect place to hike, bike or boat... -
Lake Taupo
Vast Lake Taupo is as big as Singapore and was created 2,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption so huge it would have been seen from China... -
Hokitika
New Zealand’s wild west coast is linked by a single track through Greymouth, Kumara, Cowboy Paradise, Hokitika and Ross... -
Christchurch
Most travellers use Christchurch as a base for exploring the south island, but there is plenty to see in this upwardly-mobile city... -
Arthur’s Pass National Park
Head into Arthur’s Pass National Park by road and you’ll encounter some of New Zealand’s most spectacular engineering, including viaducts, precipitous bridges and redirected waterfalls... -
Dunedin
Little Dunedin is full of pretty gardens and boutique cafes, making a lovely stop on routes on the south island... -
Raglan
The surfing town of Raglan on the Waikato coast is the perfect place to spend a few days lazing by the sea... -
Nelson
Nelson Tasman is known as one of New Zealand’s most artistic places, with painters, sculptor and jewellery makers are living here... -
Lake Heron
Lake Heron Station is an authentic working sheep farm, making it the perfect place to experience high-country New Zealand life... -
Wellington
Creative Wellington has a claim to be New Zealand’s most cultural city...
New Zealand
Adventures at the end of the earth
New Zealand is nothing short of epic. With hundreds of national parks, world-class ski slopes, pristine hiking trails, and picture-perfect beaches, no…
Read more
Planning a trip?
Get a custom itinerary with specialist advice from the experts
- Describe your ideal trip
- We connect you with a top tour company
- Get a custom itinerary with no pressure to book
Request a custom itinerary
Get a tailored itinerary from one of our specialist tour operators
Prefer to talk by phone?
Speak to a travel specialist now
+1 (888) 535 8827
Members of
Your details are safe and will not be used for any other purpose. By clicking 'Send' you agree to us sharing your details with our partner tour operator according to our Privacy Policy
Expert advice
Top tour operators
