The short answer
- 1 week
- South Island: Christchurch to Queenstown
- 2 weeks
- Both islands, flying or ferrying between
- 3 weeks
- Add the West Coast and Abel Tasman
- Fly in
- Auckland or Christchurch; out of Queenstown
New Zealand's highlights are spread across two islands and connected by slow, winding roads. The secret to a good itinerary is doing less: two nights in most places, and flights to skip the longest drives.
Every route below works as a self drive or matches the routes most tours follow. Try your own combination in the New Zealand trip planner.
Driving times: North Island
Swipe sideways to see every place →
| Auckland | Paihia (Bay of Islands) | Waitomo | Rotorua | Taupo | Wellington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 3.5 h | 2.5 h | 3 h | 3.5 h | 8 h | |
| Paihia (Bay of Islands) | 3.5 h | 5.5 h | 6 h | 6.5 h | 11 h | |
| Waitomo | 2.5 h | 5.5 h | 2 h | 2 h | 6 h | |
| Rotorua | 3 h | 6 h | 2 h | 1 h | 6 h | |
| Taupo | 3.5 h | 6.5 h | 2 h | 1 h | 4.5 h | |
| Wellington | 8 h | 11 h | 6 h | 6 h | 4.5 h |
Driving times: South Island
Swipe sideways to see every place →
| Picton | Christchurch | Lake Tekapo | Mount Cook | Queenstown | Te Anau | Franz Josef | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picton | 4.5 h | 7 h | 8 h | 9.5 h | 11 h | 6.5 h | |
| Christchurch | 4.5 h | 3 h | 4 h | 6 h | 7.5 h | 5 h | |
| Lake Tekapo | 7 h | 3 h | 1.5 h | 3 h | 4.5 h | 6 h | |
| Mount Cook | 8 h | 4 h | 1.5 h | 3.5 h | 5 h | 6.5 h | |
| Queenstown | 9.5 h | 6 h | 3 h | 3.5 h | 2 h | 5.5 h | |
| Te Anau | 11 h | 7.5 h | 4.5 h | 5 h | 2 h | 7 h | |
| Franz Josef | 6.5 h | 5 h | 6 h | 6.5 h | 5.5 h | 7 h |
7 days: the South Island highlights
Best for: A first taste, or a week from Australia
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Christchurch, drive to Lake Tekapo for stargazing | Lake Tekapo |
| 2 | Hooker Valley Track below Aoraki/Mount Cook | Mount Cook |
| 3 | Drive to Queenstown through the Lindis Pass | Queenstown |
| 4 | Queenstown: gondola, jet boat or Arrowtown | Queenstown |
| 5 | To Te Anau for the Milford Road | Te Anau |
| 6 | Milford Sound cruise, back to Queenstown | Queenstown |
| 7 | Fly home from Queenstown |
Want this as a private tour?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 7 days, built around your dates.
14 days: the classic North and South
Best for: Most first time visitors
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Auckland and a day on Waiheke Island | Auckland |
| 3 | Waitomo glowworm caves and Hobbiton | Rotorua |
| 4 | Rotorua: geysers and a Maori cultural evening | Rotorua |
| 5 | Taupo, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in summer | Taupo |
| 6 | Drive to Wellington: Te Papa and the waterfront | Wellington |
| 7 | Ferry to Picton, drive to Kaikoura for whales | Kaikoura |
| 8 | To Lake Tekapo via Christchurch | Lake Tekapo |
| 9 | Aoraki/Mount Cook, then Queenstown | Queenstown |
| 10 to 11 | Queenstown and Wanaka | Queenstown |
| 12 | Te Anau | Te Anau |
| 13 | Milford Sound cruise | Queenstown |
| 14 | Fly home from Queenstown |
To save a long day, fly Wellington to Christchurch or Queenstown instead of taking the ferry.
Want this as a private tour?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 14 days, built around your dates.
21 days: add the West Coast and Abel Tasman
Best for: A full trip, or a second visit
| Days | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Auckland and the Bay of Islands |
| 4 to 6 | Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua and Taupo |
| 7 | Wellington |
| 8 to 9 | Ferry, then Abel Tasman National Park |
| 10 to 11 | Punakaiki and the West Coast to Franz Josef Glacier |
| 12 to 13 | Haast Pass to Wanaka |
| 14 to 17 | Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound |
| 18 to 20 | Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo, Christchurch |
| 21 | Fly home from Christchurch |
Want this as a private tour?
A local specialist will send a free itinerary and price for 21 days, built around your dates.
Rather have a trip to New Zealand made just for you?
Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in New Zealand?
At least 10 days for one island and 14 to 21 days for both. A week works if you stay in the South Island.
Should I visit the North or South Island?
If you only have a week, choose the South Island for mountains, lakes and Milford Sound. See our [North or South Island guide](/guides/new-zealand/north-vs-south-island).
Is it better to fly or take the ferry between islands?
The ferry is scenic but takes most of a day with driving either side. Flying from Wellington or Auckland to Christchurch or Queenstown saves time.
New Zealand month by month
More New Zealand guides
Best time to visit New Zealand: seasons, weather and what to do by month
December to March is the best time for most of New Zealand: long days, warm weather and the Great Walks open. March and April are the sweet spot, still warm but quieter. June to September is for skiing and the southern lights.
Updated 17 October 2026
New Zealand: guided tour or self drive? An honest comparison
Self drive is usually cheaper for two or more people and gives total freedom, but you plan everything and drive long, winding roads on the left. A tour costs more per person, but removes the driving, planning and booking, and suits solo travellers, first timers and anyone who'd rather look at the scenery.
Updated 17 October 2026
How much does a New Zealand tour cost? Prices by tour type and a calculator
Expect about NZ$330 to 480 per person per day on a small group tour, NZ$380 to 560 on a classic coach tour and NZ$750 or more on a premium tour. Driving yourself costs about NZ$250 to 330 a day each for two sharing, including activities. Add NZ$117 for the NZeTA and visitor levy unless you're Australian.
Updated 17 October 2026
South Island itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 days
The South Island is where most visitors' highlights are: Milford Sound, Queenstown, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo. Ten days covers these well; two weeks adds the West Coast glaciers or Abel Tasman.
Updated 17 October 2026