2 Week Itinerary in New Zealand: Best of the North and South Island

It’s a road trip adventure! Two weeks in New Zealand is a good chunk of time. Now don’t get me wrong — Kevin and I could have easily spent a month driving around. But sadly, as our fellow Americans know all too well, we only had 2 weeks of vacation. But fear not. You can still see plenty of New Zealand’s top highlights and hidden gems.

I lived in New Zealand as a student over 16 years ago (and I’m STILL in denial of this fact!). During that time, I pretty much explored every region of the country. So what you’re getting here is the “best of the best” — covering the best hikes, wine tasting, shopping, museum and restaurants. You know, pretty much my favorite things.

This itinerary covers a lot of ground, but it easily can be scaled back. While some things have changed from 16 years ago, one thing hasn’t — New Zealand’s gorgeous scenery. Check out our 2 week driving itinerary below and you’ll soon see why this tiny country is so special.

Day 1: Arrival in Auckland

• Early morning arrival, pick up car rental at Auckland airport.
  • We booked a great deal with HolidayCars.com (with Hertz).
  • There are local companies, like Jucy New Zealand that do camper vans. But we aren’t exactly the camping type.
  • We booked a SUV for 16 days with a drop off in Wellington.
• 8 AM, Arrive at Otara Polynesian Market.
  • If you arrive on a Saturday, one of the most unique things to check out is the Otara Polynesia Market, located just a 15-minute drive from the Auckland International Airport.
  • This market is held only on Saturdays and is open from 6 AM to 12 PM.
  • If you’re into shopping, this is your spot. You’ll find gorgeous carvings and artwork at a fraction of the price.
  • Be sure to check out our detailed blog post on our 24-hour visit in Auckland.

• 10 AM, Visit La Cigale French Market in Parnell neighborhood.
  • Voted Auckland’s best food market by a local newspaper, La Cigale French Market is held every Saturday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 1:30 PM.
  • This market is inspired by the wonderful food markets found in France.
• 12 PM, Stroll around Parnell, the oldest district in Auckland and in my opinion, the most beautiful.
  • Stop by the Chocolate Boutique. It might be tempting to eat your way through all those markets, but you’ll want to save some room for dessert. This shop sells what I consider the best hot chocolate you’ll ever taste called the Italian Denso.

• 2-5 PM, Auckland Free Walking Tour, meet at the Viaduct Harbor.
  • Yes, the Auckland Free Walking Tour is actually free. No strings attached.
  • Kevin and I got in quite the workout (but oh boy, we needed it after our morning of markets and chocolate).

• 6 PM, Get a massage at East Day Spa to unwind and adjust to the new time zone.
  • The East Day Spa is a relaxing haven. Prior reservations are essential, but we lucked out since there was an opening for 6 PM.
• 8 PM, Dinner and viewing at the Sky Tower.
  • • Our dinner at Orbit, inside the Sky Tower, was perhaps one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip.
    • A trip to the top of the Sky Tower is $32 New Zealand Dollars per person. So I figured, why not pay a little more and get a meal to go along with the view? The viewing platform is included with any dinner reservation.
    • Advanced reservations are needed. I tried making them on the same day but the restaurant said it was full. But Kevin came up with the great idea to call our concierge. He scored us a table within minutes (and a nice tip from us).

• 10 PM, Go to bed. You’ll likely be pretty exhausted at this point. We loved our room at the Sky City Grand Hotel – 1 night.
  • The location doesn’t get much better, in the heart of downtown Auckland
  • Rate was $150 USD, all-inclusive.

Day 2: Waitomo Caves and Hamilton

• 8 AM, Wake up. I know it’s early. But at least you got to bed at a reasonable hour last night!
• 9 AM, Depart Auckland for Waitomo Caves (2.5 hour drive).
• 12:30-3:30 PM, Waitomo Caves Blackwater – Labyrinth Tour.
  • Discover the original Waitomo black water rafting adventure on a guided 3-hour tour.
  • You’ll explore the mysterious Ruakuri Cave that will have you floating, squeezing and leaping over cascading underground waterfalls.
  • Tour includes the use of equipment required for your trip such as tubes, wetsuits, boots and helmets. However each person will need to bring their swimwear and towel.
  • Total cost: $300 NZD or $200 USD total

• 4 PM, Drive to Hamilton (1 hour drive).
  • Okay, Hamilton might not be the most exciting spot. But it makes a nice base for the region. While it’s often the butt of jokes (think of it as the Scranton of New Zealand), the city is quickly building an impressive restaurant scene.
  • I studied at the University of Waikato, located here, so it was like going back through memory lane here.

• 6:30 PM, Check into Novotel Tainui Hamilton – 1 night. Then walk to get dinner nearby.
  • I took Kevin back to my favorite Indian spot called Jaipur Indian Restaurant.

Day 3: Pretend to be a Hobbit; Get Cultured in Rotorua

• 7:30 AM, Wake up. I know, it’s another early day! But we recommend getting an early start to maximize all the fun daytime activities.
• 8:30 AM, Depart Hamilton for Cambridge and have breakfast (20 min drive from Hamilton).
  • I love tiny Cambridge, in the heart of the rural Waikato region,  known for its charm, horses and tree-lined streets.
  • We highly recommend grabbing a healthy breakfast at Paddock Gourmet.
• 10:30 – 1:30 PM, join the Hobbiton Movie Set Tour (3 hr tour).
  • Depending on the time of year, tours leave every 20-30 minutes from the Shire’s Rest (i.e. a gift shop).
  • This is a must-visit for fans of Lord of the Rings or even if you aren’t. Trust me, I barely could sit through The Hobbit and I still loved it.
  • Hobbiton remains in the top 3 places that tourists visit in the entire country. So make sure you have an advanced reservation. Read about our full experience here of our fun adventures in Hobbiton.

• 2-3 PM, Drive to Rotorua (1 hour), a town best known for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs.
• 3-5 PM, Unwind at Polynesian Spa.
  • Full disclosure, this wasn’t our favorite spa. It was packed and feels past its prime. With that said, it still makes a relaxing place to chill for a few hours.

• 5:30-9:30 PM, Mitai Maori Village – Beauty by Night Combo with kiwi bird encounter
  • Rotorua is where you can experience authentic Maori culture, learning about Ta Moko (traditional tattooing), the haka (a ceremonial dance) and hangi (meals cooked in an underground oven).
  • Mitai Maori Village is the best spot to see an authentic performance. Even cooler? The tour also includes a guided bush walk where we saw glow worms in their natural element and saw a Kiwi bird at a nearby sanctuary.
  • Read about our full experience at Mitai Maori Village, where we take you behind-the-scenes.

• 9:30 PM, Depart for Chateau Tongariro (2 hour drive).
• 11:30 PM, Arrive at Chateau Tongariro – 1 night.
  • This hotel is gorgeous, and is the closest spot to base yourselves to do Tongariro Crossing, which is considered New Zealand’s best day hike.

Day 4: Hike Tongariro Crossing or (Alternatively) Hit Up Art Deco-Inspired Napier

• I’ll present you with 2 options (in case of weather issues).
  • Tongariro Crossing is a beautiful 6-8 hour hike. But depending on the time of year, the weather can turn quickly and the trail shuts down.
  • Back-up plan: Visit the town of Napier, a 3-hour drive away. And yes, our hike up Tongariro Crossing was shut down so Napier it is!

• 11 AM – 1 PM, Explore downtown Napier and all it’s cute shops.
  • There is a great Art Deco preservation group called the Art Deco Trust. They also have a store well worth exploring.
  • Nearby is the weird and wonderful Opossum World, where you can get nearly anything imaginable in possum fur.
• 2 PM, Do some wine tasting at Church Road Winery.
  • Church Road is one of Hawke’s Bay’s most awarded wineries.
  • This place is stunning, and no reservations are required. We literally just showed up and they found a spot at the tasting bar.

• 3-7 PM, Drive to Wellington, a 4-hour drive. Though, it will go much faster since this is a very scenic area.
• 7 PM, Check into the hotel, called Ohtel – a total of 3 nights.
  • This place is wonderful, and one of our top 5 hotels on the trip.
  • It’s more like an apartment, right in the heart of Wellington and steps from its top attractions.
  • Cost was around $185 USD a night.

Day 5: Stroll the Streets of Wellington

• 9:15 AM – 1 PM, join the exceptional Zest Food Walking Tour.
  • You’ll stop at local coffee roasters, chocolate producers and a fancy grocery store that sort of makes Whole Foods lowbrow!

• 2-4 PM, Explore Te Papa Museum (open 10 am – 6pm), Free!
  • This is New Zealand’s national museum, and is the most visited museum in Australasia for a good reason. Interactive exhibits to learn about the nation’s rich history through clever and fun exhibitions.

• 4-7 PM, Explore Wellington, relax at coffee shop and stroll around Cuba Street to check out the street performers.

• 7 PM, grab some dinner on Cuba Street. Or simply just chill out. You’re on vacation after all!

Day 6: Get a Taste of ‘Wellywood” – New Zealand’s Film Capital

• 11 AM – 1 PM, Weta Cave Studio – 2-hour combo tour
  • This is one of our most memorable experiences. The tour shows you how Weta Workshop designs and manufactures effects for films like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and others. In the 2^nd part, you’ll explore the huge miniatures crafted by Weta Workshop for several TV shows.

• 2-4 PM, Catch the Cable Car in downtown Wellington to the botanical gardens.
  • If you’re up for a 30-45 minute walk, we recommend buying a one-way ticket up the mountain, and walking back down to the central business district through the botanical gardens.

• Evening: We ended up grabbing dinner with an old friend. But then went to see a movie at the Embassy Theater.
  • New Zealanders love their movies, and it doesn’t get much better than this. The classic theater, built in the 1920’s, has been fully updated with comfy seats. You can also order food and drinks to take inside.
  • The theater was thrust into the spotlight when it hosted the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

Day 7: Ferry to South Island, Bike New Zealand’s Famed Wine Region

• 6 AM, Wake up! We know it’s early, but you can sleep on the boat ride. You’ll need to check-in at Bluebridge Ferry at least 1 hour before your departure time.
• 8-11:30 AM, Bluebridge Cook Ferry to Picton (3.5 hour ride)
  • There are 2 companies that operate ferries between the North and South Islands. I’ve tried both and prefer Bluebridge (over competitor Interislander Ferry).
  • Most of the time, there isn’t a major difference in cost. Both ferries allow you to bring a car. However, Bluebridge wins based off its food selection, comfy common space and free movies on board. They also have cabin rooms with actual beds for an additional cost.
  • If you’re coming with kids, Bluebridge has a play room with staffers dressed as Disney characters. And they sing Disney songs! Though, we’re pretty sure they weren’t hired based off any singing ability, just saying!

• 11:30 AM, Arrive in Picton, then drive to Blenheim (30 minute drive) where you’ll explore New Zealand’s famed Marlborough wine region with bike rentals from Bike 2 Wine.
  • Biking and drinking wine? You might be thinking… now there is a recipe for disaster! But it isn’t so crazy. Biking is an ideal way to pace yourself and you’ll burn off all that alcohol (and calories) with some exercise.
  • Check out our full review here along with recommendations on the most unique places to see in the region.

• 5 PM, Wrap up the full day of biking. We were out for about 5 hours and time flew by. Drive 1.5 hours to Nelson.
• 7:30 PM, Dinner in Nelson at Hopgoods. It’s on the pricey side, but is considered one of New Zealand’s top restaurants.
• Evening: Relax at  Retiro Park Lodge – 1 night

Day 8: Road Trip Along New Zealand’s Remote West Coast

• If you’re tight on time, you can potentially skip the west coast of the South Island. It’s beautiful, but very remote (and very wet).
• 10 AM – 4 PM, 6-hour road trip along the remote west coast, stopping along the way in little mining towns like Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika.
  • Worth the stop: Coaltown Museum in Westport.
  • Next hit up the Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki and grab lunch at the Pancake Rocks Cafe.

• Early evening arrival in Franz Joseph Glacier. Check into the Deluxe Tree Lodge Room at the Rainforest Retreat and unwind.
  • No doubt about it. This was the best room on the trip. It’s pricey, but makes the perfect place to hang out during those rainy nights (and besides, there isn’t much to do at night in Franz Josef).
  • Rainforest Retreat has a wide range of rooms. Take note, their budget options are bare bones.

Day 9: Join a Glacier Hike; Explore Wanaka

• Another day with 2 options. Franz Josef is famous for its glacier and heli-hike tours. However, given the awful weather conditions of the west coast, there is a good chance your tour will get killed.
  • Option #1: If you have good weather, sign up for a heli-hike. They provide all the gear, but you should bring plenty of layers to stay warm.
  • Option #2: Okay, once again, weather shut us down. So we ended up skipping the heli-hike for the much CHEAPER (i.e. free) hike on the Callery Gorge (about a 1.5 hour hike round trip). We left around 9 AM so we could still enjoy our comfy room at the Rainforest Retreat.

• 11:30 AM, Drive to Wanaka (4 hour drive)
• 2:30 PM, Get lost in Puzzling World, which was one of Kevin’s favorite stops. As the name implies, it’s a museum for puzzle lovers and includes a massive labyrinth (that exhausted me!).

• Spend your early evening chilling out by the fireplace at Alchemy Cafe. We loved all the couches and free sparkling water.

• 8 PM, Catch a movie at the indie Paradiso Cinema, where you can order food and drinks. But that’s not all. They also do a movie intermission where you can buy freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!

• After the movie, drive 1 hour south to Queenstown where you’ll spend 3 nights.
  • We are not recommending the hotel we stayed at. If we came back, we’d likely stay at the QT Hotel.

Day 10: Get your Adrenaline Pumping in Queenstown

• 11 AM, take a 1-hour jet boat ride with KJet, highly recommended.
  • KJet Queenstown is considered one of the best with over 60 years experience. Plus, you can’t beat its central location right in the smack-dab middle of Queenstown on the Main Town Pier.
  • Read our full feature story on the KJet experience.

• 12-6 PM, Day exploring Queenstown
  • Take the cable car up the mountain to do 2 rides down the luge. We had a blast zipping down the 800 meters of banked corners, tunnels and dips.

• Visit the crazy bungy sites (or even try it out): Kawarau Bridge is a 30 minute drive out of Queenstown, and The Ledge is located at the top of Bob’s Peak (near the luge).
• Arrowtown is also worth the trip. You can stroll through it on your drive back from the Kawarau Bridge bungy site.

• Evening: Take a 1 hour soak at Onsen Hot Pools (10 min drive from Queenstown).
  • Each pool is housed in private cedar-lined bathing rooms, complete with shower, changing area, and breathtaking views.
  • Be sure to book reservations well in advance. To learn more, visit our feature story on the hot pools and the other romantic date ideas in Queenstown.

• 9:30 PM, After your soak, grab dinner at Botswana Butchery (open late).

Day 11: Full Day Adventure to Milford Sound

• 7:20 AM – 9:30 PM, Pick up, BBQ Bus Milford Sound Day Tour (Full Day Tour)
  • Milford Sound is remote. Very remote. It’s here that you’ll find New Zealand scenery on a scale you’ve likely never experienced.
  • But is it worth the 4+ hour drive ONE WAY from Queenstown just to see nature? In short, yes. It would be like flying halfway halfway around the world to Arizona, but never bothering to see the Grand Canyon. It is the quintessential day trip from Queenstown.
  • Check out our full review of the BBQ Bus, which we consider the best operator to go with.

• 9:30 PM, Grab a bite at Fergburger, one of Queenstown’s most popular dining spots. Or go straight for dessert  at Cookie Time where you can order cookie dough by the scoop.

Day 12: Getting Wild in Dunedin

• 8 AM-11:30 AM, Drive to Dunedin (3.5 hours drive).
• 1-7 PM, Elm Wildlife Tour – Peninsula Encounters.
  • Voted New Zealand’s best wildlife tour, it gives you a sound insight into the habits of various penguin species, fur seals, and sea lions.
  • Check out our full feature story here on all the animal encounters.

• 8 PM, Explore downtown Dunedin, including the University of Otago, one of New Zealand’s liveliest schools. Grab dinner and taste local wine from the region at the Gaslight Restaurant.
• Hotel:  Bluestone On George – 1 Night
  • Another great hotel – the location can’t be beat.

Day 13: Moeraki Boulders; Oamaru; Evening in Christchurch

• 10 AM – 6 PM, Another road trip adventure day! Drive towards Christchurch (5 hours total if going non-stop). But we recommend the following places to explore along the way:
  • Visit Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. Apparently this honor goes to Dunedin, rather than San Francisco.
  • Moeraki Boulders (cool rocks, 1 hr from Dunedin).
  • Oamaru (30 min drive from the boulders) to see a steampunk-themed town. While you’re there, you’ll definitely want to see the funky Steampunk Headquarters. Kevin forced me to go to this museum, but it turned out to be a really unique experience.

• Early evening: Arrive into Christchurch.
  • This city isn’t exactly known for its thumping nightlife. In fact, there are sections right in the heart of the central business district where you won’t see a single person.
  • However, there is one place where you’ll find a big crowd and that’s at the Isaac Theater Royal, which is the major theatrical venue on the South Island to see broadway theater and stage performances. Check out their full schedule to see what might be playing that night.

Day 14: Fully Day in Christchurch; Evening in Hanmer Springs

• 10 AM – 4:30 PM, Spend your day exploring Christchurch.
  • I debated whether we should include this stop on our trip. When I visited Christchurch as a student, let’s just say, the most memorable part was seeing its many canals.
  • Fast forward to present day, and Christchurch is a city very much in transition and still recovering from several tragedies. Spend time at Quake City, the earthquake memorial sites, C21 Espresso (a funky coffee shop rebuilt after the earthquakes) and the International Antarctic Center in the suburbs.
• Check out our detailed 1-day itinerary exploring Christchurch. It was without a doubt worth the visit here.

• 4:30 PM, Drive to Hanmer Springs (2 hours), for a soak in some of the best hot springs in New Zealand. Be sure to get passes to go down the water slides. Clearly, there is no age limit on this!

• 7:30-9 PM, Soak in Hamner Springs.
• 9:15 PM, Grab dinner across the street from the spa at The Roasted Bean, which often has late night pizza specials.

• Depart Hanmer Springs and drive to Kaikoura, where you’ll spend the evening at the quaint Kaikoura Boutique Hotel – 1 Night

Day 15: Hiking in Kaikoura, and Ferry to North Island

• 7:30 – 9:30 AM, Hike 2 hours along the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway. We recommend leaving from your hotel and follow the footpath along the esplanade to Point Kean viewpoint.
  • Near Point Kean car park, there are signs warning that seals are likely to be present in the surrounding area. And boy, they aren’t kidding! Just remember to keep your distance since they’ve been known to bite tourists.
  • If you have enough time, you can even walk directly on the peninsula to see the seal colony. Allow an extra 20 minutes.

• 11 AM, Drive to Picton (2 hours) to catch the ferry.
• 2-5:30 PM, Bluebridge Ferry return to Wellington. Remember to always check in 1 hour before your departure time.

• Evening: Overnight at QT Wellington – 1 Night
  • We loved this hotel. Another top hotel during our time in New Zealand.
  • If it’s a Saturday night, consider wandering the Wellington Night Market (open 5-11 PM), which is mostly a collection of food stalls.
  • Enjoy a drink in the QT Hotel lobby and go out to see a show at one of New Zealand’s many stages such as BATS Theater, Circa Theater or any number of smaller venues.

Day 16: Final Day, Wellington

• Sadly, the last day has arrived. But we still had one more tour to go.
  • 10-11 AM, Join the FREE New Zealand Parliament Tour.
  • Tours run daily, almost every hour (generally the first tour is 9 AM and the last is at 4 PM).
  • You’ll get to learn about the very unique New Zealand parliamentary process and their love of the prime minister. We loved it.
  • To make a reservation, simply just email them directly with the time, date and number of guests at tour.desk@parliament.govt.nz.
• Wrapping things up: We grabbed a coffee before driving back to the airport. Hopefully, you’ve gotten the hang of driving on the left side at this point. Or you can always do what Kevin did — pretend he’s bad at driving so I ended up driving the entire country!