Planning a trip to New Zealand? With breathtaking hikes, turquoise lakes, hopping cities, and wine galore, this is the perfect adventure-packed destination. But, with so much to see, it can feel overwhelming. I spent MONTHS figuring out what to hit and what to pass. With this 10-day New Zealand itinerary, you’ll get all the must-see spots across the North and South Islands – here’s everything you need to know.
- How Many Days in New Zealand
- Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand
- Where to Stay in New Zealand
- How to Get Around in New Zealand
- 10 Day New Zealand Itinerary
- Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland Then Start Your Drive
- Day 2 – Tongariro National Park Adventure and Wellington
- Day 3 – Explore Wellington Then Arrive on the South Island
- Day 4 – Marlborough Wine Hopping
- Day 5 – Scenic Drive to Christchurch
- Day 6 – Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Day 7 – Enjoy Lake Wanaka & Lake Hawea
- Day 8 – Head Further South Towards Lake Te Anau
- Day 9 – Spend the Day Exploring Milford Sound
- Day 10 – Head Home from Queenstown
How Many Days in New Zealand
While you could easily spend a month here and still want more time, 10 days is perfect for a taste of both islands. This itinerary hits all the big highlights but you’ll be moving around quite a bit, so 10 days is the minimum I’d recommend for this itinerary. If you’ve got more time, consider adding a few days for the Bay of Islands, the beaches if you’re visiting in the summer, or to space out some of these stops.
Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand
Keep in mind that New Zealand’s seasons are the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere’s. For great weather, aim for late spring (October-November) or early autumn (March-April) when the crowds are a bit thinner and the views are stunning. Summer (December-February) is ideal for beaches but can definitely get busy. I went in late May and while I was definitely bundled up, the crowds were few and far between which made it very enjoyable.
Where to Stay in New Zealand
To see all of the sites throughout both islands, you’re going to be staying in a different spot almost every night. Christchurch, Queenstown, and Wellington have great hotels downtown near food and nightlife, while places like Taupō and Wanaka offer stunning lakeside Airbnbs. Just remember to book early if you’re traveling during the high season!
How to Get Around in New Zealand
There’s really no way getting around renting a car to explore New Zealand. With a car, you’ll get to stop at all the hidden spots and take in the iconic scenic drives at your own pace. Driving on the left side can take some getting used to, but the roads are really easy to navigate which makes it less challenging. For inter-island travel, I’d recommended taking a ferry because the views are incredible, but domestic flights are available too. Make sure you choose a rental car company that allows you to ferry with your car, because not all of them do!
10 Day New Zealand Itinerary
Starting towards the top of the North Island in Auckland, you’ll work your way down towards Queenstown at the bottom of the South Island over the next 10 days. While the North Island is great, the South Island is where I’d recommend spending most of your time as there are more iconic spots you can’t miss.
Day 1 – Arrive in Auckland Then Start Your Drive
Travel Time: 3.5 hours
Overnight: Lake Taupō
Land in Auckland
Welcome to Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand! Known for its stunning waterfront and diverse food scene it’s worth spending some time here if you have extra days. For this trip, though, we’ll head straight to our next destination.
Experience Hobbiton
If you haven’t seen them already, watch Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies before your trip. Not just because of Hobbiton itself, but much of the movies were filmed throughout New Zealand. After arriving in Hobbiton, about 2 hours from Auckland, you’ll walk through the lush green hills and tiny hobbit holes that make you feel like you’re in the movie. The only way to see Hobbiton is through a tour, so I’d recommend booking ahead of time!
Walk Around Huka Falls
After the tour, drive an hour and a half to Huka Falls to catch stunning views of the blue-green waterfalls. This stop only takes half an hour to explore and is right outside your night 1 destination, Taupō.
Spend the Night at Lake Taupo
Lake Taupō is New Zealand’s largest lake, formed by a volcanic eruption over 26,000 years ago, and is a great spot to unwind with a lakeside Airbnb and explore local dining spots. The Steak House Taupo was a favorite of ours for dinner!
Day 2 – Tongariro National Park Adventure and Wellington
Travel Time: 5 hours
Overnight: Wellington
Explore Tongariro National Park
After grabbing breakfast in Taupō, start your 1.5 hour drive to Tongariro National Park. The drive to Tongariro was one of the most stunning ones of the whole trip, so definitely take your time to stop along the way. This park is home to some of New Zealand’s most varied landscapes, with volcanoes, mineral springs, and unique alpine views. You’ll feel like you’re in 10 different countries while in the park. There are tons of hikes and activities to choose from, but we loved the Silica Rapids Loop Walk.
Spend the Night Exploring Wellington
Hit the road again to start your 3.5 hour drive to Wellington. As New Zealand’s capital, there’s tons to walk around and see in town which is why we’d recommend staying at a hotel near the city center.
Day 3 – Explore Wellington Then Arrive on the South Island
Travel Time: 4 hours
Overnight: Marlborough
Explore Wellington
Kind of cheesy, but we woke up and hopped on the Wellington cable car and explored the summit. This gives you a great panoramic view of Wellington and has a scenic spot right up top to grab a bite to eat.
Ferry to Picton
We chose to take the early afternoon ferry so that we could explore Wellington in the morning but still be on the ferry while there’s daylight. While this journey across Cook Straight to Picton will take 3.5 hours, time flies because of the stunning views through Marlborough Sounds.
Drive to Marlborough
Once in Picton, make the quick 30-minute journey to Marlborough, New Zealand’s premier wine region. There are tons of incredible boutique hotels in the area but we loved our experience at Vintners Retreat where our condo backed up to the vineyards.
Day 4 – Marlborough Wine Hopping
Travel Time: N/A
Overnight: Marlborough
Drink Some Sauvy B
Time for my favorite part of the trip… sipping your way through the Marlborough Wine Region, known worldwide for its Sauvignon Blanc. If you don’t want to drive, there are local taxi services that you can call to easily arrange rides. Keep in mind that to be considered an Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW), a wine must be 100% made from grapes grown in Marlborough, New Zealand. Not all the vineyards in the area are considered AMW, so be on the lookout for this when deciding where to stop!
Start your day at one of the most iconic vineyards, Cloudy Bay, before it gets too crowded. From there, choose between a variety of local vineyards like Hanz Herzog Estate, Forrest Estate, and more. Saint Clair Family Estate Vineyard Kitchen is a great spot for lunch in the vineyards and is right across from Makana Confectionery Chocolate Factory which is a must-stop. We walked out with at least 10 different bags of chocolate. Marlborough definitely deserves a spot on everyone’s New Zealand itinerary.
Day 5 – Scenic Drive to Christchurch
Travel Time: 4 hours
Overnight: Christchurch
See the Kaikoura Seals
Take the scenic 4-hour drive from Marlborough to Christchurch with a stop in Kaikoura. This coastal town is known for its marine life, where you’ll often spot seals lounging on the rocky shores and playing in the water. After you’ve gotten your fill of seals (we saw hundreds!!), grab lunch in town before continuing on to Christchurch.
Explore Christchurch
This city is the gateway to the South Island and has bounced back with a vibrant arts and food scene after the 2011 earthquake. We loved walking around Riverside Market to get a taste of local food and craft beers.
Day 6 – Explore Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Travel Time: 6.5 hours
Overnight: Lake Wanaka
Drive to Tasman Lake
While another 4-hour drive may seem daunting, there is so much to see and do in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park along the way to Tasman Lake like Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and more. From the Tasman Glacier parking lot, make the quick hike up to see Tasman Lake and Tasman Glacier before making your way to Hooker Valley Track.
Hike Hooker Valley Track
This 3-hour walk is relatively flat and gives you some of the best views in the park, making it an obvious choice. Don’t feel like you need to do the whole thing, but it gives you some great panoramic views of Hooker River and Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand.
Head to Lake Wanaka
After you’re done exploring, make the 2.5-hour drive to Lake Wanaka. Don’t worry, you’ll be spending the next two nights here so you’ll get a break from driving! I’d recommend staying in an Air BnB on or near the lake. We loved Marina Terrace Apartments which had amazing lake views.
Day 7 – Enjoy Lake Wanaka & Lake Hawea
Travel Time: N/A
Overnight: Lake Wanaka
Rent Ebikes and Take a Sunset Boat Ride
After grabbing breakfast in Lake Wanaka, renting ebikes is a great way to explore the lake and its neighbor, Lake Hawea. There are tons of places to rent in town and have a ton of recommended routes to take. One spot you won’t want to miss is the famous Wanaka Tree that grows out of the lake. Later in the day, going on an evening boat cruise is a great way to close out the day
Day 8 – Head Further South Towards Lake Te Anau
Travel Time: 3 hours
Overnight: Lake Te Anau
Spend the Morning in Lake Wanaka Then Drive to Lake Te Anau
The main purpose of staying in Lake Te Anau is to break up the drive to Milford Sound, so there’s not much to do here. Because of this, we opted to spend the first part of the day in Lake Wanaka before starting our 3-hour drive. If you want to continue another 2 hours to Milford Sound, go for it! Just keep in mind that Lake Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park, so everything after this is very undeveloped which makes it difficult to find somewhere to stay.
Day 9 – Spend the Day Exploring Milford Sound
Travel Time: 5.5 hours
Overnight: Queenstown
Drive to Milford Sound
The 2-hour drive to Milford Sound is one of the most gorgeous ones in New Zealand as you wind through Fiordland National Park. It’s often raining in this area but don’t be discouraged – this will result in you seeing even more waterfalls!
Take a Boat Cruise Through Milford Sound
Milford Sound, a fjord created by glaciers during the last ice age, is often called the “eighth wonder of the world” so this has to find a spot in your New Zealand itinerary. We chose a 2-hour ride through Cruise Milford but there are several options to choose from! Whichever company you go with, try to find the smallest boat you can…the smaller the boat, the closer they can get you to the waterfalls! Whether it’s raining or not, don’t forget your raincoat because you’ll definitely feel some mist from the falls.
Make Your Way to Queenstown
After the cruise, start your 3.5-hour drive to Queenstown where you’ll be ending your adventure. Don’t forget to stop at all the scenic lookouts on the way out of Fiordland National Park.
Day 10 – Head Home from Queenstown
Explore Queenstown Before You Hop on the Plane Home
If you can, book a later flight so you can explore Queenstown. If not, you can always skip the drive from Lake Wanaka to Milford Sound by booking a helicopter + boat cruise Milford Sound excursion that leaves from Queenstown. This will give you some more time to explore the city. Take the gondola up to Bob’s Peak for incredible views of Lake Wakatipu and check out the local shops, cafes and more!
New Zealand’s views, adventure, and laid-back vibe make it the perfect destination. This 10-day itinerary takes you through a mix of jaw-dropping landscapes, great food, and friendly towns. Book your spots ahead of time, especially in peak season, and get ready to explore your new favorite place.
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