Suggested Vacation Itinerary:
14 Day New Zealand Highlights

This suggested itinerary covers the major attractions and highlights that New Zealand has to offer. In the North, the geothermal attractions and Maori culture of Rotorua. In the South, Mount Cook, Queenstown and the magnificent Milford Sound.

Whilst this itinerary commences in Christchurch and finishes in Auckland, it can also be undertaken in reverse.

 DAY 1: ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH
Welcome to Christchurch. After collecting your National rental car, we recommend that you take time to explore Christchurch, including a visit to the Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens, Museum or take a tram ride.

DAY 2: CHRISTCHURCH/MOUNT COOK REGION (332 kilometres/208 miles)
Travel across the Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo and the tiny stone Church of the Good Shepherd. Enter Mount Cook National Park. A great way to experience the mountain scenery is a scenic flight from either Tekapo or Mt Cook. Stay at Mt Cook Village or travel on to nearby Twizel or Omarama.
 

DAY 3: MOUNT COOK REGION/QUEENSTOWN (270 kilometres/169 miles)
View the historic cottages of Arrowtown before reaching Queenstown.

DAY 4: QUEENSTOWN
A free day - there is so much to see and do in Queenstown. A visit to one of the many local booking centres will help you decide what activities or attractions are best for you. Choose from jetboating, a lake cruise or challenge yourself to bungy jumping.

DAY 5: QUEENSTOWN/MILFORD SOUND/TE ANAU (412 kilometres/258 miles)
Today is an undoubted highlight. Drive to Te Anau, gateway of Fiordland National Park. Travel on to Milford Sound where a cruise amidst spectacular waterfalls and Mitre Peak is the best way to experience this magnificent fiord. Return to Te Anau. You may like to take the Te Anau Glow-worm Caves trip in the evening.

DAY 6: TE ANAU/WANAKA (290 kilometres/181 miles)
View Te Anau Wildlife Centre before returning to Queenstown. Perhaps sample wine at one of the local wineries then continue to Wanaka.
 

DAY 7: WANAKA/FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (290 kilometres/181 miles)
Cross the Southern Alps to the West Coast. Stop at the South Westland World Heritage Park Visitors Centre and Lake Matheson before arriving at Franz Josef.

DAY 8: FRANZ JOSEF/GREYMOUTH/CHRISTCHURCH (427 kilometres/269 miles)
View craftspeople at work at Hokitika and maybe Shantytown. Traverse the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

DAY 9: CHRISTCHURCH/KAIKOURA/BLENHEIM (332 kilometres/208 miles)
Stop at Kaikoura, a small fishing town renowned for its boat trips to view the mighty sperm whales or swim with the dolphins. Continue into the wine growing region of Marlborough.

 
DAY 10: BLENHEIM/WELLINGTON (ferry)
We suggest a wine trail before continuing to Picton where you board the ferry to Wellington. Enjoy shopping at Lambton Quay or visit the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.

DAY 11: WELLINGTON/NAPIER (336 kilometres/210 miles)
A leisurely drive to Napier, an area famous for its wineries, gannet colony, beautiful gardens and 1930's art deco architecture.

DAY 12: NAPIER/ROTORUA (229 kilometres/143 miles)
Enroute to Rotorua, stop at Lake Taupo. At Rotorua, experience Maori culture and the geothermal attractions of the region. You could visit Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, Agrodome, Paradise Valley Springs, Buried Village or take a trip to Mt Tarawera volcanic crater. Tonight, perhaps experience a Maori Hangi and Concert on a local marae.

 
DAY 13: ROTORUA/WAITOMO/AUCKLAND (353 kilometres/221 miles)
Depart Rotorua and cross the rolling Waikato farmlands to Waitomo, home of the spectacular glow-worm grotto. Continue onto Auckland.

DAY 14: DEPART AUCKLAND
Explore Auckland and its many attractions. Take a harbour cruise and take a trip up the Sky Tower and a visit to the Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World.

Drop off your National rental car at either the city or airport depots before your departure flight.