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North & South Island New Zealand Holiday Crossing Cook Strait On Bluebridge Ferry

This New Zealand Route Planner and New Zealand Travel Planner will help you  plan new zealand driving times and places to go in New Zealand

Recommended a minimum of 21 days to complete this North & South Island New Zealand itinerary

The arrival point of this travel planner is Auckland where you can pick up your rental vehicle. The route takes in the Bay of Plenty on the East Coast of the North Island, then continues on to Taupo, home to NZ's largest lake. Travel south down the centre of the island to the Rangitikei area, then on to onto the capital city of Wellington. From here you take the  Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry 100% owned and run by Kiwis, the Bluebridge Cook Strait experience is a truly New Zealand one.

Sailing several times a day between central Wellington (just opposite the Railway Station) and Picton – the Bluebridge journey takes just over three hours.

If you can tear your eyes away from the view you’ll find everything you need aboard Bluebridge to make your trip a comfortable and enjoyable one.

Sit back and enjoy a free movie, have a glass of local wine or beer at the bar, or just relax with a good book in any of our lounges.

If you’re hungry you can grab a hearty meal in the café from the range of fresh, tasty dishes on offer. Our L’Affare – trained staff can make you a superb espresso coffee from beans roasted locally in Wellington. The kiosks can supply you with snacks, magazines, games and postcards.

  The trip takes you over the Cook Strait, through the Marlborough Sounds to the South Island port of Picton. Most rental car companies allow you to drop your rental vehicle off in Wellington and collect another in Picton.

Now in the South Island, travel down the scenic East Coast via Kaikoura, famous for whale watching to the alpine village of Hanmer Springs. Return back to the East Coast to the Canterbury region, then onto the coastal city of Timaru. From here head inland to Aoraki Mt Cook, NZ's highest peak and into MacKenzie Country. Next stop is Lake Wanaka & Lake Hawea region, then onto your final destination the Southern Lakes District and Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.

Queenstown Airport has flights to most of New Zealand and Australia's major cities, and rental car options are also available.

Use the travel planner below by simply selecting the tourism operators you are interested in. Once submitted, this system will email all of your chosen operators and they will reply to you directly with a no obligation free quote and availability. You can also use this itinerary service to make direct bookings for accommodation, rental vehicles and activities.new zealand driving times for more information on this itinerary go to our site