The complete itinerary
Complete New Zealand itinerary: 88 days, hotels and bookings
88 days sequenced Morning / Afternoon / Evening / Hotel.
88 days €119
See the itinerary
Travel in New Zealand: day-by-day itineraries
Two islands at the end of the world concentrating every landscape on the planet: the fjords of Milford Sound, the steaming volcanoes of Rotorua, glaciers running down to the forest, turquoise lakes beneath the Southern Alps, the golden beaches of Abel Tasman and the hills of Hobbiton. Land of the Māori people and world capital of adventure sports in Queenstown, New Zealand is the ultimate road trip: every bend is a postcard, every detour a dream hike.
- Capital
- Wellington
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar (NZ$)
- Language
- English, Māori
- Direct flight
- No direct flight, ≈ 24 hr via a hub
- Time difference
- +12 hr in winter, +10 hr in summer
Itineraries
Our trip ideas in New Zealand
Or take it one module at a time
Module
New Zealand in 10 days: Far North, Waitomo and Taranaki, day by day
Ten days from Cape Reinga to Mount Taranaki: Ninety Mile Beach by 4x4, Tāne Mahuta the country's largest kauri, Hobbiton, the Waitomo Black Abyss, the glowworm caves and the circuit of the volcano from Dawson Falls.
10 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 10 days: Rotorua and the Coromandel, day by day
Ten days from the geothermal valleys to the Coromandel beaches: Waiotapu, the Waimangu valley born of the 1886 eruption, Te Puia and the Pohutu geyser, the Kaituna rafting, Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach and the Pinnacles.
10 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 10 days: Wellington, Tongariro and Taupo, day by day
Ten days from the capital to Lake Taupo: the cable car and Zealandia, Te Papa, Weta Workshop, Cape Palliser lighthouse, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Māori carvings at Mine Bay by kayak.
10 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 11 days: Auckland and Northland, day by day
Eleven days from Auckland to the Bay of Islands: the Sky Tower at dusk, Waiheke by bike, the Rangitoto volcano and its lava caves, Tiritiri Matangi, the Muriwai gannets, the Poor Knights and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
11 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 11 days: Christchurch, Mount Cook and Otago, day by day
Eleven days from Christchurch to the Catlins: the city rebuilt after the earthquakes, the Akaroa dolphins, the Mackenzie night sky, the Hooker Valley Track below Aoraki, the Tasman Lake icebergs, Victorian Oamaru and the Taiaroa Head albatrosses.
11 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 12 days: Arthur's Pass, Golden Bay and Kaikoura, day by day
Twelve days from the west coast to Kaikoura: the Hokitika Gorge, Cave Stream, the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, the Oparara arches, Te Waikoropupū, the Abel Tasman Coast Track, the Queen Charlotte Track and the Kaikoura sperm whales.
12 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 12 days: the Catlins, Stewart Island and Fiordland, day by day
Twelve days at the far end of the South Island: Nugget Point, the Cathedral Caves at low tide, the petrified forest of Curio Bay, the Rakiura Track and the southern brown kiwi at Ocean Beach, then seven days of cruising to Preservation Inlet.
12 days €39
See the itinerary
Module
New Zealand in 12 days: Milford Track, Queenstown and the glaciers, day by day
Twelve days from the most famous walk in the world to the west coast: the four days of the Milford Track up to Mackinnon Pass, Queenstown and the Kawarau bridge, Roy's Peak, the Rob Roy Glacier, the Haast Pass and the Fox heli-hike.
12 days €39
See the itinerary
The right season
When to go in New Zealand?
The southern summer (December-February) is high season: endless days, open trails, but bookings essential. March-April, golden and calm, is the connoisseurs' secret; November offers lupins in bloom and gentle prices. Winter (June-August) flips the scenery: skiing in Queenstown and Wanaka, passes sometimes closed, a mild green North Island.
- January : Ideal
- February : Ideal
- March : Ideal
- April : Pleasant
- May : In-between
- June : In-between
- July : In-between
- August : In-between
- September : Pleasant
- October : Pleasant
- November : Pleasant
- December : Ideal
- Ideal
- Pleasant
- In-between
- Avoid
Quick guide
Understanding New Zealand
Getting around
The campervan is a national way of life: a superb campground network, impeccable roads, reasonable distances. The Wellington-Picton ferry links the two islands; domestic flights save time on a short stay.
Money
The New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Everything is paid by contactless card, down to the trailhead car park. No tipping. Budget fuel and campgrounds carefully, the country is not cheap.
Language
English, and Māori everywhere in the place names: kia ora (hello) is on every tongue. The Kiwi accent surprises for two days, then charms.
Useful apps
CamperMate for campgrounds and van sites, the DOC app for hikes and huts, MetService for the changeable weather and the pass alerts.
Accommodation
DOC campgrounds facing the lakes, fully equipped holiday parks, characterful B&Bs and exceptional lodges. The southern summer (December-February) books out months ahead, vans included.
Etiquette
Biosecurity is sacred: clean shoes declared at the airport, no fruit or honey in the luggage. Respect Māori tapu (sacred) sites and pick up everything behind you, even in the wild.
The iconic places
Milford Sound
Fiordland
The fjord with 1,200 m walls plunging into the Tasman Sea, waterfalls and dolphins included. The road to get there is already a monument.
Queenstown
Otago
The world capital of adrenaline on its royal-blue lake: bungee jumping born here, jet boats, paragliding and pinot noir vineyards all around.
Hobbiton
Matamata
The hobbit village of the films, preserved in its green hills: 44 hobbit holes, the Green Dragon and a pint at the inn.
Rotorua
Bay of Plenty
Geysers, boiling mud and the rainbow pools of Wai-O-Tapu, in the heart of Māori culture: haka, hāngī and marae are lived here.
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Canterbury
The roof of the country (3,724 m) above the milky waters of Lake Pukaki: the Hooker Valley offers the finest easy walk in the Southern Alps.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Central Plateau
19 km between active volcanoes, a red crater and emerald lakes: the country's finest day hike, the one through Tolkien's Mordor.
Tap a dot, or browse the list below the map.
- Bay of Islands : 144 islands and dolphins of Northland
- Sky Tower : Auckland, the city of sails
- Hobbiton : The village of the Shire
- Rotorua : Geysers and Māori culture
- Wai-O-Tapu : The rainbow geothermal pools
- Tongariro : The crossing of the volcanoes
- Abel Tasman : Golden beaches and kayaking
- Franz Josef : The glacier that runs down to the forest
- Lake Tekapo : Lupins, starry skies and the Church of the Good Shepherd
- Aoraki/Mount Cook : The roof of New Zealand
- Queenstown : The capital of adventure
- Milford Sound : The fjord of a thousand waterfalls