Travel Planner
Use this New Zealand Route Planner and New Zealand Travel Planner to plan driving times and places to go in New Zealand
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Recommended a minimum of two weeks to complete this North & South Island New Zealand itinerary
This scenic self-drive itinerary incorporates both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The arrival point of this itinerary is Auckland where you can pick up your rental vehicle. The route takes you through the North Island countryside to the tourist mecca of Rotorua famous for Maori culture and geothermal areas. Travel from here to the East Coast wine country regions of Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay.
Continue down the centre of the North Island to the Wairarapa region, also famous for it's New Zealand vineyards, then on to NZ's capital city Wellington. From here you can either fly over the Cook Strait, or take the 3 hour journey on the Interislander Ferry 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.
The route carries on along the East Coast of the South Island via Marlborough Wine Country, then up to the Nelson/Tasman region where you can include the Abel Tasman National Park in your trip. Travel down to the Glacier Country which incorporates Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers. This route then continues on to Wanaka/Lake Hawea and Central Otago, world famous for it's pinot noir. Finally on to your last stop 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 itinerary 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