As married couple, ages 56 and 65, we are doing a post-retirement extended trip from Los Angeles beginning with 14-15 days in New Zealand …then onto Australia and Fiji staring this coming mid-April. As likely our only trip to New Zealand, we do want to experience both islands. We plan on driving. We enjoy rugged coastlines and easy to moderate hikes…along with some cultural experience. [We are okay skipping Hobbiton, glow worm caves, and even decided to enjoy hikes around Lake Taupo and skip Tongariro National Park unless as day trip…because will not be doing the alpine crossing.]

Below is my initial plan…for which I would really value perspective and advice.

Some major questions:

From Taupo/ Tongariro, should we drive to Wellington and fly to Christchurch…. Or drive back to Auckland and fly to Christchurch… which may be a little shorter drive and save on rental one way drop)?

We could ferry Wellington and to south island which would maintain one car rental and add scenic area of south island but would require more time on south island than we have planned.

If adding one day anywhere to this plan, what would you recommend?

Any recommendation to this plan is welcome.

Grateful for your help,

Brad Bailey

Start of 45 day trip of New Zealand / Australia / Fiji (April 15 – May 30)

Depart late evening (to arrive 16th morning)

Fly LA to New Zealand (Aukland = AKL) Dep. 14th 11:55 arr 16th 12:40pm



Day 1 – Day in Auckland – recoup and visit Auckland sites

Day 2 - Drive to the Coromandel Peninsula – 3.5 hrs (Stay in Hahei)

Day 3 – Day in Hahei (Stay in Hahei)

Day 4 – Drive Hahei to Waihi and on to Rotorua (3.5 hrs plus stops) Stay in Rotorua

Day 5 – Rotorua / Te Puia 4pm geo & cultural / Stay in Rotorua



Day 6 - Drive Rotorua to Lake Taupo (1 hr) / Huka Falls & hikes / Stay in Lake Taupo

Day 7 – Drive (5 hrs) to Wellington (or to Auckland)

Day 8 – Fly Wellington to Christchurch/ rent car/ Afternoon visit International Antarctic Centre (Stay in Christchurch)

Day 9 – Early drive Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (3 hrs + stops); Lunch and shoreline hike; late afternoon continue on (1.5hrs) to Mt Cook. (Stay Mt Cook)

Day 10 - Mount Cook National Park – hikes, and dark sky (Stay Mt. Cook)

Day 11 – Morning in Mt. Cook, then drive to Wanaka (2.5hrs + stops) Stay in Wanaka

Day 12 – Wanaka (Mt. Aspiring National Park) / Stay in Wanaka

Day 13 – Drive Wanaka to Te Anau (3hrs + stops) (Stay Te Anau)

Day 14 – Cruise in Milford Sound / drive to Queenstown

Day 15 - Queenstown

Day 16 - Fly Queenstown to Sydney

You could fly from Taupo to Auckland and then to Christchurch, but perhaps easier is to drop Taupo and fly direct from Rotorua to Christchurch. You could add the extra time to either. If you're looking for hiking, you could add time in any of Wanaka, Queenstown, or Te Anau, with perhaps the latter two giving you the most variety for day hikes.

Entirely too much in too little time IMO. Can you spare another week (or better yet, two?)

The SI is the highlight of NZ IME and you're really rushing through it. Drives take much longer than you might expect as there is so much to see enroute, roads are winding and often one lane in each direction, weather can be extremely unpredictable, etc.

In NZ the journey's the thing, slow down and enjoy your one and only visit.

Thanks. I listed the drive times as mapped times and understand actual will be added for both slowdown and stops. I can understand how loaded such itineraries are. I have sought to navigate what will keep the plan efficient... allow staying two nights whenever possible... and have now adjusted (as seen below) to shorten transition to SI and end better. We cannot add a week...but could add a day so wanted to ask what you would suggest if able to add a day anywhere.


Drive times are ONLY mapped times and understand actual will be added for slowdown and stops

Day 1 – Day in Auckland (arrive previous day) – recoup and visit Auckland sites

Day 2 - Drive to the Coromandel Peninsula (3.5+ hrs plus stops) (Stay in Hahei)

Day 3 – Day in Hahei - Cathedral Cove / Hot Water Beach (Stay in Hahei)

Day 4 – Drive Hahei to Waihi and on to Lake Taupo (4.5+ hrs plus stops) / Stay in Taupo

Day 5 - Lake Taupo - Huka Falls & hikes / Drive to Rotorua (1 hr) / Stay in Rotorua

Day 6 – Rotorua / Te Puia 4pm geo & cultural / Stay in Rotorua

Day 7 – Return car / Fly Rotorua to Christchurch/ rent car/ Afternoon visit International Antarctic Centre / Stay in Christchurch

Day 8 – Early drive Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (3 hrs + stops); Lunch and shoreline hike; late afternoon continue on (1.5+hrs) to Mt Cook. (Stay Mt Cook)

Day 9 - Mount Cook Nat’l Park – hikes, and evening dark sky / Stay Mt. Cook

Day 10 – Morning in Mt. Cook, then drive to Wanaka (2.5hrs + stops) / Stay in Wanaka

Day 11 – Wanaka (Mt. Aspiring National Park) / Stay in Wanaka

Day 12 – Drive Wanaka to Te Anau (3hrs + stops) / Stay Te Anau

Day 13 – Cruise in Milford Sound / Stay Te Anau

Day 14 – Enjoy morning in Te Anau / drive to Queenstown / Stay in Queenstown

Day 15 - Queenstown - Enjoy activities or relaxing in Queenstown

Fly Queenstown to Sydney



Day 1 – Day in Auckland – recoup and visit Auckland sites

Day 2 - Drive to the Coromandel Peninsula (3.5+ hrs plus stops) (Stay in Hahei)

Day 3 – Day in Hahei - Cathedral Cove / Hot Water Beach (Stay in Hahei)

Day 4 – Drive Hahei to Waihi and on to Lake Taupo (4.5+ hrs plus stops) / Stay in Taupo

Day 5 - Lake Taupo - Huka Falls & hikes / Drive to Rotorua (1 hr) / Stay in Rotorua

Day 6 – Rotorua / Te Puia 4pm geo & cultural / Stay in Rotorua

Day 7 – Return car / Fly Rotorua to Christchurch/ rent car/ Afternoon visit International Antarctic Centre / Stay in Christchurch

Day 8 – Early drive Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (3 hrs + stops); Lunch and shoreline hike; late afternoon continue on (1.5+hrs) to Mt Cook. (Stay Mt Cook)

Day 9 - Mount Cook Nat’l Park – hikes, and evening dark sky / Stay Mt. Cook

Day 10 – Morning in Mt. Cook, then drive to Wanaka (2.5hrs + stops) / Stay in Wanaka

Day 11 – Wanaka (Mt. Aspiring National Park) / Stay in Wanaka

Day 12 – Drive Wanaka to Te Anau (3hrs + stops) / Stay Te Anau

Day 13 – Cruise in Milford Sound / Stay Te Anau

Day 14 – Enjoy morning in Te Anau / drive to Queenstown / Stay in Queenstown

Day 15 - Queenstown - Enjoy activities or relaxing in Queenstown

Fly Queenstown to Sydney

I’d lean toward driving to Wellington and flying to Christchurch. It breaks up the journey nicely and Wellington is worth a short visit. If you could add a day anywhere, I’d put it on the South Island, either Wanaka or Mt Cook, to give yourself more weather flexibility.