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Epic Road Trip New Zealand Campervan Itinerary
Last updated:

 

28 days | Christchurch to Auckland NZ | Road Trip Itinerary

 

Starting your motorhome hire in Christchurch, head south to the high country lakes and Mt Cook then back to Dunedin on the east coast. Take the road west to Milford Sound then north to Queenstown and Wanaka. Follow the west coast north to the glaciers then continue north to Nelson and Marlborough. Take the ferry to Wellington before heading north to Napier. Head through the central North Island taking in Taupo and Rotorua before journeying up the east coast to take in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel before finishing in Auckland.

 

Itinerary highlights:

  • Swimming with rare dolphins in Akaroa

  • The Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo

  • The strange formations of the Moeraki Boulders

  • Penguins and albatross in Dunedin

  • The scenic splendour of Milford Sound

  • A scenic flight over the glaciers

  • Hiking national parks around Nelson

  • Wine tasting in Malborough

  • The beautiful ferry trip over the Cook Strait

  • The art deco city of Napier

  • Maori culture and geothermal geysers in Rotorua

  • Walking up or around 'The Mount'

  • Beautiful white sandy beaches

 

Pick up location: Christchurch

Drop off location: Auckland

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Download PDF VERSION
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1

CHRISTCHURCH

Spend the day enjoying Christchurch or perhaps take a drive to the beautiful French settlement of Akaroa, 75km from Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch.

 

Things to see and do in Christchurch. 

 

  Overnight Stay

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2

CHRISTCHURCH - MT. COOK

Depart Christchurch for the drive to Mt Cook via Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. Stop on the shores of Lake Tekapo and visit the Church of the Good Shepherd - a historic church dedicated to the early pioneers of this area and the sheepdog statue - a tribute to the high country farmers’ best friend. Arrive at Mt Cook and spend the afternoon exploring. Overnight at Mt. Cook. 

 

Things to see and do at Mt Cook. 

 

  331 km

   4 hours, 45 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

Alternative Route

If you have some spare time, you could extend your visit and drive to Mt Cook via Methven on State Highway 72 - the Inland Scenic Route. This route is slightly longer, but it is an incredible mountain-side drive.


Alternative Route

Alternatively, continue to Mt Cook via State Highway 1 through Ashburton, the commercial centre of one of New Zealand’s richest agricultural and pastoral regions. While this route isn’t as scenic as the other two, it will get you there the fastest. 

 

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3

MT. COOK - DUNEDIN

Travel south to Oamaru, a town which prospered from gold discovered in Central Otago. Its restored Whitestone historic precinct with Victorian shops and eateries is a perfect place to stop. Once you have had some kai (food), head to Moeraki. This region is home to the Moeraki Boulders. From Oamaru take highway 1 to Dunedin, passing through Palmerston.

 

Spend the afternoon in Dunedin. This university city of Scottish heritage is home to the Speights Brewery, Cadbury factory, New Zealand’s steepest street and oldest university, incredible wildlife and even a castle. Overnight in Dunedin. 

 

Things to see and do in Dunedin.

 

  260 km

   3 hours, 15 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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4

DUNEDIN - TE ANAU

Travel along State Highway 1 on the east coast until you reach State Highway 94. Then head towards Te Anau. Things to do on the route from Dunedin to Te Anau. Arrive in Te Anau and spend the afternoon exploring this gateway to the Fiordland National Park. Overnight in Te Anau. 

 

Things to see and do in Te Anau.

 

  290 km

   4 hours, 10 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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5

TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND 

Depart Te Anau today for the spectacular drive to Milford Sound. The road to Milford is a wonderful alpine drive. From Te Anau the road winds down the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, then through the Homer Tunnel before being greeted by Mitre Peak towering from the glassy waters of Milford Sound. Arrive around midday or early afternoon. Overnight in Te Anau or Milford Sound. 

 

Things to see and do at Milford Sound.

 

  121 km

   2 hours, 20 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

Return To Te Anau Trip

The road to Te Anau is approximately two to 2.5 hours long, so if you don’t want to make the return trip, you can overnight at Milford Sound

 

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6

MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Take a journey through mountains and alongside lakes on State Highways 94 and 6, arriving in Queenstown late morning. Spend the afternoon in Queenstown enjoying the many activities and attractions in the area. Overnight in Queenstown. 

 

What to see and do in Queenstown.

 

  291 km

   2 hours, 20 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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7

QUEENSTOWN

Spend today in Queenstown. Overnight in Queenstown. 

 

There’s so much to see and do here!

 

  Overnight Stay

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8

QUEENSTOWN -  WANAKA via SH6

Drive the short distance on State Highway 6 detouring to the old gold mining village of Arrowtown. Spend the rest of the day and evening in beautiful Wanaka. There is always something to do in Wanaka, no matter what the season. Overnight in Wanaka. 

 

Things to see and do in Wanaka.

 

  117 km

   1 hour, 40 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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9

WANAKA - FOX GLACIER

The journey from Wanaka winds around Lakes Hawea and Wanaka. Lake Hawea is worth stopping for a coffee lakeside if you have a spare 30 minutes or so. The Department of Conservation has set up various short walkways along this route that offer visitors an opportunity to get away from the road and visit the beautiful scenery of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and river valleys. We encourage you to get out and about and enjoy every minute of it.

 

Continue on the journey to Haast and from there to to Fox Glacier. The drive from Haast Junction to Fox Glacier takes approximately one hour 45 minutes. The journey through Haast Pass is very rugged and scenic, so it is recommended visitors stop along the way. Spend the afternoon exploring Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Overnight in Glacier Country. 

 

Things to see and do in the Westland National Park.

 

  264 km

   3 hours, 45 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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10

GLACIERS

Spend the day exploring Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Overnight in Glacier Country.

 

Things to see and do in the Westland National Park. 

 

  Overnight Stay

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11

FRANZ JOSEF - GREYMOUTH

Depart the Glaciers for Greymouth. En-route, you could stop by Hokitika, the third largest town on the West Coast. Things to see and do in Hokitika. You can also stop in Ross, a goldmining town that still has working goldmines, or Whataroa to visit the only nesting colony of the white heron (kotuku) in New Zealand. Then head up the coast to Greymouth. Overnight in Greymouth. 

 

Things to see and do in Greymouth. 

 

  177 km

   2 hours, 30 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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12

GREYMOUTH - ST ARNAUD

Upon leaving Greymouth, take a journey through the scenic winding and narrow coast road Buller Gorge to Westport. Explore Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes on the way. Stop in Westport and then continue along the Buller river road from Westport to St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Overnight in St Arnaud.

 

  277 km

   3 hours, 15 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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13

ST ARNAUD - NELSON

Take the short drive from St Arnaud to Nelson this morning and spend the rest of the day exploring. The Nelson region is known for its year-round sunshine, golden beaches, proximity to three National Parks, 300-plus working artists and craftspeople, boutique wineries, fresh local produce and seafood, historical streetscapes, waterfront cafes and restaurants and a relaxed lifestyle. Overnight in Nelson. 

 

Things to see and do in Nelson. 

 

  87 km

   1 hour, 15 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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14

NELSON

Spend another day exploring or simply relaxing in the Nelson region. Overnight in Nelson.

 

  Overnight Stay

 

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15

NELSON - BLENHEIM

Drive from Nelson to Blenheim this morning. Savour the flavours of this region during a vineyard lunch while on a tour of the many wineries and breweries, private gardens and craft studios in the area. Overnight in Blenheim.

 

Things to see and do in Blenheim. 

 

  140 km

   1 hour,  minutes

  Overnight Stay

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16

BLENHEIM - PICTON

Spend some more time exploring the Marlborough Region today before driving to Picton. Overnight in Picton.

 

  78 km

   1 hour, 30 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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17

PICTON - WELLINGTON FERRY

Catch the morning ferry service across Cook Strait from Picton into Wellington. The three-hour ferry trip offers breathtaking scenery from the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound and the rolling hills of the Marlborough Sounds to the rugged rocks and steep cliffs of the Wellington Heads.

 

Arrive in Wellington around midday and spend the rest of the day exploring New Zealand’s capital city. Overnight in Wellington.

 

Things to see and do in Wellington. 

 

   Ferry Ride - 3 hours

  Overnight Stay

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18

WELLINGTON

Spend today enjoying the many delights of the Wellington region or alternatively start your drive north and overnight enroute. Overnight in Wellington, the Wairarapa region or the Kapiti Coast.

 

  Overnight Stay

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19

WELLINGTON - NAPIER

Depart Wellington for Napier. There are two alternative routes, either via the Wairarapa Region (follow State Highway 2 through the Hutt Valley, over the Rimutaka Hill, and into the Wairarapa region) or via the Kapiti Coast (follow State Highways 1, 57 and 3 via Palmerston North, before linking up with State Highway 2 at Woodville). Arrive in Napier in the Hawke’s Bay region late afternoon. There are many excellent vineyards and restaurants in the area for dinner tonight. Overnight in Napier.

 

Things to see and do in Napier. 

 

  323 km

   4 hours, 35 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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20

NAPIER - TAUPO

Depart Napier on State Highway 5 for Lake Taupo. Enjoy the fantastic scenery, take your time and stop in local towns along the way for a taste of real New Zealand. The popular holiday town of Lake Taupo is a wonderful playground to spend the afternoon exploring. Overnight in Taupo.

 

Things to see and do in Taupo. 

 

  143 km

   2 hours, 5 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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21

TAUPO - ROTORUA 

Drive to Rotorua this morning and spend the day enjoying the many activities and attraction this region has to offer. In Rotorua visitors have the opportunity to experience a number of Maori culture activities and attractions as well as geothermal areas, adventure and adrenaline activities, mountain biking, hiking  and wildlife and agricultural attractions as well as beautiful lakes and native forest. Overnight in Rotorua.

 

Things to see and do in Rotorua. 

 

  80 km

   1 hour, 10 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

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22

ROTORUA - TAURANGA 

(with or without Hobbiton)

Spend the morning enjoying Rotorua. We suggest you take a gondola ride up Mt Ngongotaha for views of Lake Rotorua and the central city district. At the top take the opportunity to try the luge. Things to see and do in Rotorua. In the early afternoon, depart Rotorua on State Highway 33 for Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty region. This region seems to have it all - a mild, sunny climate, some of the country’s most popular beaches and an abundance of orchards.

 

Activities and attractions in the Tauranga region.

 

  86 km

   1 hour, 15 minutes

  Overnight Stay

 

Alternate Route


As an alternative route and if you’re a movie fan, you might like to travel to Tauranga via Hobbiton Movie Set.

Allow 1 hour to travel from Rotorua to Hobbiton, 2 hours for a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, and a further 1 hour from Hobbiton to Tauranga. Or, you can arrive later in the day and do an evening tour and banquet dinner at the Shire’s Rest (operates certain days only) and stay overnight in Matamata before travelling to Tauranga the next morning. Overnight in Tauranga or nearby ‘The Mount’ - Mt Maunganui

 

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23

TAURANGA - WHANGAMATA

Travel up the east coast on the Pacific Coast Highway to the Coromandel. The eastern side of the Peninsula is sprinkled liberally with white sand and surf beaches. Overnight in one of the many beach towns such as Whangamata.

 

Things to see and do in Whangamata.

 

  100 km

   1 hour, 30 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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24

WHANGAMATA - TAIRUA

Drive further up the east coast today and spend some time exploring the lovely twin harbor towns of Tairua and Pauanui. Overnight in Tairua or Pauanui.

 

  35 km

   30 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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25

TAIRUA - WHITIANGA

Drive the short distance from Tairua to Whitianga today. The coastal town of Whitianga is a great place from which to enjoy the delights of the Coromandel. Overnight Whitianga.

 

Things to see and do on the Coromandel’s East Coast. 

 

  42 km

   30 minutes

  Overnight Stay

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26

WHITIANGA - THAMES - AUCKLAND

In the morning drive north from Whitianga on State Highway 25. The road will take you across to the other side of the peninsula and down the west side through secluded bays and coastal villages. Stop in Coromandel town to soak up some of the small-town atmosphere and attractions it has to offer. Then continue the spectacular drive down the Peninsula to Thames.

 

About the drive down the Coromandel Peninsula.

 

You can either stay in Thames tonight or continue the journey back to Auckland to give you a day exploring New Zealand’s largest city before you depart. From Thames you can either drive up the East Coast to Auckland or head to Auckland on the motorway. The journey around from Kawakawa Bay is a nice one so if you have a couple of hours up your sleeve and you’re in no rush, we recommend you travel this way. Overnight in Thames or Auckland.

 

  191 km

   3 hours

  Overnight Stay

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27

AUCKLAND

Spend the day in the beautiful harbor city of Auckland. Known as the ‘city of sails’, Auckland offers stunning scenery, from the volcanic cones of the city suburbs to the island-studded Hauraki Gulf and the beautiful rainforest of the West Coast. Visit the Skytower to get your bearings, and perhaps if there’s time take a ferry trip to Waiheke or Rangitoto Island.

 

Things to see and do in Auckland.

 

  Overnight Stay

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28

DEPART

Drive from Auckland City back to the Wilderness depot today for your departure.

Ready for your adventure? Book a motorhome today.

We want to make your trip planning as easy as possible, so please feel free to get in touch. You can ask our motorhome holiday experts anything.

 

Book now with Wildernes Motorhomes