Hi helpful travellers!
We are planning a 20 day tour of New Zealand with our 3 daughters. We spent 6 weeks in NZ twenty years ago and had an absolute blast and promised to return with our kids one day. The days is nearly here! Would be really grateful for some advice on our planned itinerary, keeping in mind we have teenagers with us this time.
Day 1 Auckland
Day 2 Taupo
Day 3 Taupo
Day 4 Taupo
Day 5 Taupo
Day 6 Taupo
Plan to go to Rotorua, Waitomo Caves and do the Tongariro Crossing during the time at Taupo, but want to stay in one place so not moving around all the time.
Day 7 Wellington
Day 8 Abel Tasmin
Day 9 Abel Tasmin
Day 10 Abel Tasmin
Day 11 Kaikoura
Day 12 Kaikoura
Day 13 Mount Cook
Day 14 Mount Cook
Day 15 Queenstown
Day 16 Queenstown
Day 17 Queenstown
Day 18 Queenstown
Day 19 Queenstown
Day 20 Auckland
Any advice would be much appreciated. We don't want to move around too much and definitely need a big chunk at the beginning and end in one place. Thanks!

The only problem I see is the drive from Kaikoura to Mount Cook - it's well over six hours (497 km), and that's without stops. I assume you'd drive down the east coast? Keep in mind that SH 1 around Kaikoura was just reopened after the earthquake damage and last I heard it's still only one lane, and closes at night. It could make that six hour drive much longer.

I'm not as well versed with the NI, but someone else will chime in regarding the feasibility of using Taupo as a base.

If possible, you might consider an extra day or two in Wellington - lots to see and do there. The drive from Taupo to Wellington will take almost five hours - that will eat up that entire day and lot leave much time to Wellington - unless of course that's the whole idea.

Assume you're going to Wellie to take the ferry to Picton and then will drive to your base in Abel Tasman?

Is this March 2018? Taupo is not the best for a base except for Rotorua as it is only 1 hour away. It leaves some long distances for the day trips and a long day to Wellington. You are missing Hobbiton - are none of the family LOTR fans?
Waitomo is about 2 hours away so that's 4 hours of driving for a day trip. The TAC from Taupo means a really early start like 5 am as it is about 1.5 hours drive there. Book a shuttle rather than drive your car. However if you drive park at the END of the TAC and get the shuttle to the start unless someone opts out of walking and can drive the car around to pick you up. It's hard to avoid moving around too much as NZ is a long skinny country and often only 1 route in and out of an area as there are too many hills and mountains for there to be a choice of roads.
Wellington is a cute little city and as I mentioned before if anyone is into LOTR then Weta Workshop is there and a great Peter Jackson exhibit free at Te Papa.
Abel Tasman/Kaikoura/Mt Cook is a very awkward choice of places to visit. I'd leave out Abel Tasman as going there then to Kaikoura is a back track. The coast road is open in daylight hours only and still with road works which will make a slow trip. Fly Wellington to Christchurch and do a day trip from there to Kaikoura. Mt Cook is a much easier drive from Christchurch.
Queenstown is lovely and there is lots to do.

for your messages. Yes - March 26-April 14th. We don’t mind long drives if it means seeing a lot more of the country and staying in one place for a few days. Unfortunately We don’t expect to come back again as NZ so far away for us so keen to see as much as possible. We just don’t want to miss the beauty of the Abel Tasmin and think the girls would love the walks/kayaking around there. I also understand the weather is likely to be better there than other parts of NZ at that time of year - although not guaranteed!
I do agree that using Taupo as a base does mean some long drives for day trips but we wanted to stay there a few days in the hope that one of the days would be good enough to climb the tongariri crossing. If we narrow this to one day, we may not be able to do it, which would be such a shame as it was a highlight of our visit 20 years ago. Would you recommend the bay of islands/coromandel over Abel Tasman? We’d like one beach/kayaking stop on our journey.
Any other ideas for 20 day itinerary for family with teenage girls much appreciated! Kids love new experiences but wouldn’t be into bungee jumping/falling out of aircrafts!
thabks so much - really appreciate your comments.
Ps would like somewhere quiet and relaxing to stay when we arrive in Auckland. Any suggestions?

Are you planning to take the ferry from Wellington to Picton?

If so, Picton to Marahau (the gateway to Abel Tasman) is about a three hour drive. If you take a morning ferry, you'll have plenty of time to get to Abel Tasman that day.

Two full days near the park (three nights) will give you a good taste of the place and give you time for some walks and kayaking.

Marahau to Kaikoura is a 4.5 hour drive - under the best of conditions. It's certainly doable, but as pointed out by Tasmangirl, almost three hours of this drive will be backtracking.

This could be prevented if you flew from Wellington to Nelson instead, and then drove from there to Abel Tasman. Then afterwards head to Kaikoura.

The problem is the drive from Kaikoura to Mt Cook - too long a day IMO, and that's without potential road issues (read comments about SH 1 above). I suggest you forgo one of those nights in QT and break up the drive. Kaikoura to Christchurch is about 2.5 hours, but if it were me, I'd overnight a bit further south, such as near Geraldine. The drive there from Kaikoura would take just over four hours - you could take your time, sightseeing as you go and then spend the night in Geraldine. Then the next day your drive to Mt Cook would only be about 2.5 hours, giving you that afternoon and the next full day to explore Mt Cook.

The drive to Queenstown from Mount Cook will take about 3.5 hours.

It's been too long since I was in the Bay of Islands/Coromandel to compare it to Abel Tasman. But I will say, the South Island has called me back over a dozen times, whereas the North Island has not. If it were me, I'd spend every one of those 20 days on the South Island. In fact, I'm spending another 28 days there in May.

As for relaxing in Auckland - I assume you arrive early in the day after an international flight? If so, much of that day, assuming it's your only one, will probably be spent sleeping. I'd just stay at the Novotel near the airport, perhaps walk or take a taxi over to Villa Maria for a late lunch, then start fresh the next morning. I hope you don't plan to drive immediately in an unfamiliar country after such a long flight?

Another option would be to take the bus into Auckland, arrange an early check in to your hotel, then explore Auckland on foot after you rest up, and pick up your rental car the next day.

Thank you so much. I think we will stay the night in Geraldine - good tip and stick to the Abel Tasman. We have to do the tongariro crossing as such a highlight from our trip 20 years ago so will stick to 4 nights in Taupo to do a few day trips and hopefully get to do the TC. Very helpful advice - thank you.

"Would you recommend the bay of islands/coromandel over Abel Tasman? "
No. There is something special about ATNP with its gorgeous little beaches of yellow sand surrounded by native bush and clear blue water AND hardly any roads so no traffic to disturb you. As I live in Auckland and don't often get down south Coromandel has become my default beach area but given a choice (or unlimited air points!) I would be heading to ATNP every summer. Give up something else. The BOI heads you in a completely different direction so forget that this holiday.
If it's only for one night you would have to get way out of the city for somewhere quiet and relaxing! But then if you live in New York all of Auckland may seem quiet. A friend stayed at Heartland Hotel out by the airport and we went to have dinner there with her. Nice new hotel with restaurant, swimming pool and parking. Sister in law stays at the Novotel. You are here at Easter so try and avoid Auckland around 29/30 March and 2 April as the holiday traffic can be pretty slow. I think the War Birds over Wanaka is on this year at Easter (vintage war plane show incredibly popular) so Wanaka will be booked out for accommodation but if you are there after that it should be fine.

Thank you all - such a help. Looking forward to exploring this beautiful country!