All Trips · Oceania
The Grand New Zealand Journey
An unforgettable journey from Auckland to Queenstown, combining Māori culture, volcanic landscapes, the Cook Strait, dramatic coastlines and the magnificent Southern Alps.
Duration
18 Days / 17 Nights
Starts
Auckland Airport
Ends
Queenstown Airport
Car
Mazda 3 or Similar
Hotels
11 Cities
Stay as many nights as you wish
Your package price updates instantly
Hotels & rental car included — flights optional
Secure online payment
Overview
Experience the best of both New Zealand islands on this carefully paced self-drive adventure from Auckland to Queenstown. Discover Rotorua’s Māori heritage and geothermal wonders, Lake Taupō, Wellington, the Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds before continuing through Nelson, Kaikōura, Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Wānaka to Queenstown. The suggested itinerary combines iconic scenery with comfortable stays and can be adjusted to suit your preferred dates, hotels and pace.
Perfect for
Self-Drive Explorers
Road Trippers
Nature Lovers
Couples
Photography Fans
Culture Seekers
Food & Wine Lovers
Adventure Seekers
Your Itinerary Overview
18 Days · 17 Nights
Auckland
Rotorua
Taupō
Wellington
Nelson
Kaikōura
Christchurch
Lake Tekapo
Mount Cook Village
Wānaka
Queenstown
Your route. Your pace.
Add or remove nights at every destination. Your itinerary and package price update instantly.
1
Start
Auckland, New Zealand
Attic BackpackersStay 2 Nights · Days 1–3
2
Day 3
Rotorua, New Zealand
Haka House RotoruaStay 2 Nights · Days 3–5
3
Day 5
Taupō, New Zealand
Haka House Taupo
4
Day 6
Wellington, New Zealand
Haka House WellingtonStay 2 Nights · Days 6–8
5
Day 8
Nelson, New Zealand
Castles Motel and Driftwood Motel
6
Day 9
Kaikōura, New Zealand
Alpine-pacific Holiday Park
7
Day 10
Christchurch, New Zealand
Haka House Christchurch
8
Day 11
Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Haka House Lake Tekapo
9
Day 12
Mount Cook Village, New Zealand
YHA Mount Cook
10
Day 13
Wānaka, New Zealand
Manuka Crescent MotelStay 2 Nights · Days 13–15
11
Day 15
Queenstown, New Zealand
Haka House QueenstownStay 3 Nights · Days 15–18
Choose your rental car
Prices shown for a 18-day rental.More rental cars available — drag sideways or use the arrows to explore
Type
Why You'll Love This Trip
One epic route through both islands, start to finish
Drive at your own pace with full flexibility
11 destinations from Auckland to Queenstown
Scenic Cook Strait ferry through the Marlborough Sounds
Volcanic plateaus, alpine lakes and the Southern Alps
Hotels at every budget, from hostels to 5-star
Stargazing in one of the world's top dark sky reserves
Important car and inter-island travel information
This journey crosses from the North Island to the South Island. The selected rental-car supplier must explicitly permit its vehicle to travel on the Cook Strait ferry. If the supplier does not permit this, the booking must be arranged with one car from Auckland to Wellington and a second car from Picton to Queenstown. Ferry reservations are essential and are not automatically included unless shown in the confirmed booking.
What's Included
17 nights’ accommodation in the selected hotel category
Rental car from Auckland Airport to Queenstown Airport for the itinerary dates
Unlimited kilometres where included in the selected rental rate
Standard collision damage waiver and third-party insurance as shown with the selected car
One-way rental between Auckland and Queenstown where permitted by the selected supplier
Detailed day-by-day self-drive itinerary
Applicable hotel taxes and service charges
24-hour emergency assistance during the journey
What's Excluded
International and domestic flights unless specifically selected
Cook Strait ferry tickets for passengers and vehicle
Fuel, parking charges, tolls and traffic fines
Meals and drinks unless specifically mentioned
Entrance fees, Māori cultural experiences, cruises and optional excursions
Additional rental-car insurance or excess reduction
Personal expenses and gratuities
Travel insurance
Visa, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority and International Visitor Levy where required
From per personUS$3,462