1 / 5

New Zealand in 30 Days

A balanced 30-day self-drive route from Auckland to Christchurch, linking North Island culture, volcanoes, wine country, ferries, glaciers, fiords, lakes, and coastal wildlife with efficient daily drives and practical overnight anchors.

30days
67stops
3397km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Auckland · Whitianga · Tauranga · Rotorua · Hamilton · Taupō · Whakapapa Village · Wellington · Picton · Nelson · Motueka · Murchison · Greymouth · Franz Josef · Haast · Queenstown · Te Anau · Dunedin · Oamaru · Twizel — start in Auckland, end in Christchurch.

DAY01

Auckland → Viaduct Harbour

7.1 km · 22m driving · Overnight in Viaduct Harbour
  1. 09:00
    Auckland City Centre· start
  2. 2.5 km · 8m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Auckland War Memorial Museum
  4. 4.6 km · 14m
  5. 15:00
    Viaduct Harbour· overnight
DAY02

Devonport → Mission Bay

31 km · 43m driving · Overnight in Mission Bay
  1. 09:00
    Devonport· start
  2. 13 km · 20m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Mount Eden Summit
  4. 18 km · 23m
  5. 15:00
    Mission Bay· overnight
DAY03

Auckland → Whitianga

179 km · 2h 48m driving · Overnight in Whitianga
  1. 09:00
    Auckland City Centre· start
  2. 8.5 km · 18m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Driving Creek Railway
  4. 171 km · 2h 30m
  5. 15:00
    Whitianga· overnight
DAY04

Whitianga → Tauranga

191 km · 3h 9m driving · Overnight in Tauranga
  1. 09:00
    Whitianga· start
  2. 37 km · 38m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Cathedral Cove Walk
  4. 6.7 km · 8m
  5. 14:24
    Hot Water Beach
  6. 148 km · 2h 23m
  7. 16:12
    Tauranga· overnight
DAY05

Tauranga → Rotorua

71 km · 1h 13m driving · Overnight in Rotorua Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Tauranga· start
  2. 65 km · 1h 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Te Puia
  4. 5.2 km · 12m
  5. 15:00
    Rotorua Lakefront· overnight
DAY06

Rotorua → Waimangu Volcanic Valley

32 km · 37m driving · Overnight in Waimangu Volcanic Valley
  1. 09:00
    Rotorua Lakefront· start
  2. 5.7 km · 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Redwoods Treewalk
  4. 26 km · 26m
  5. 15:00
    Waimangu Volcanic Valley· overnight
DAY07

Rotorua → Hamilton

139 km · 2h 4m driving · Overnight in Hamilton City Centre
  1. 09:00
    Rotorua Lakefront· start
  2. 26 km · 27m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Hobbiton Movie Set
  4. 69 km · 59m
  5. 14:24
    Hamilton Gardens
  6. 44 km · 38m
  7. 16:12
    Hamilton City Centre· overnight
DAY08

Hamilton → Taupō

223 km · 3h 5m driving · Overnight in Taupō Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Hamilton City Centre· start
  2. 71 km · 1h 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Waitomo Glowworm Caves
  4. 152 km · 2h 1m
  5. 15:00
    Taupō Lakefront· overnight
DAY09

Taupō → Craters of the Moon

9.2 km · 17m driving · Overnight in Craters of the Moon
  1. 09:00
    Taupō Lakefront· start
  2. 6.3 km · 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Huka Falls
  4. 2.9 km · 6m
  5. 15:00
    Craters of the Moon· overnight
DAY10

Taupō → Taranaki Falls Track

104 km · 1h 30m driving · Overnight in Taranaki Falls Track
  1. 09:00
    Taupō Lakefront· start
  2. 8 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Tongariro National Park
  4. 96 km · 1h 18m
  5. 15:0017:00
    Taranaki Falls Track· overnight
DAY11

Tongariro National Park → Wellington

138 km · 1h 50m driving · Overnight in Wellington Waterfront
  1. 09:00
    Tongariro National Park· start
  2. 0.3 km · 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Durie Hill Elevator
  4. 138 km · 1h 49m
  5. 15:00
    Wellington Waterfront· overnight
DAY12

Wellington → Mount Victoria Lookout

3.4 km · 10m driving · Overnight in Mount Victoria Lookout
  1. 09:00
    Wellington Waterfront· start
  2. 0.2 km · 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  4. 3.2 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Mount Victoria Lookout· overnight
DAY13

Wellington → Picton

8.1 km · 23m driving · Overnight in Picton Foreshore
  1. 09:00
    Wellington Waterfront· start
  2. 3.3 km · 10m
  3. 11:42
    Wellington Ferry Terminal
  4. 4.4 km · 11m
  5. 14:24
    Picton Ferry Terminal
  6. 0.5 km · 2m
  7. 16:12
    ⭐ Picton Foreshore· overnight
DAY14

Picton → Nelson

152 km · 2h 14m driving · Overnight in Nelson City Centre
  1. 09:00
    Picton Foreshore· start
  2. 34 km · 33m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
  4. 5.1 km · 7m
  5. 14:24
    Pollard Park
  6. 113 km · 1h 34m
  7. 16:12
    Nelson City Centre· overnight
DAY15

Nelson → Motueka

72 km · 1h 15m driving · Overnight in Motueka
  1. 09:00
    Nelson City Centre· start
  2. 60 km · 1h
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Kaiteriteri Beach
  4. 12 km · 15m
  5. 15:00
    Motueka· overnight
DAY16

Motueka → Murchison

163 km · 2h 14m driving · Overnight in Murchison
  1. 09:00
    Motueka· start
  2. 103 km · 1h 26m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Lake Rotoiti Jetty
  4. 60 km · 48m
  5. 15:00
    Murchison· overnight
DAY17

Murchison → Greymouth

184 km · 2h 38m driving · Overnight in Greymouth Town Square
  1. 09:00
    Murchison· start
  2. 15 km · 12m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Buller Gorge Swingbridge
  4. 126 km · 1h 49m
  5. 14:24
    Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Walk
  6. 44 km · 37m
  7. 16:12
    Greymouth Town Square· overnight
DAY18

Greymouth → Franz Josef

233 km · 3h 8m driving · Overnight in Franz Josef Glacier Village
  1. 09:00
    Greymouth Town Square· start
  2. 72 km · 1h
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hokitika Gorge Walk
  4. 161 km · 2h 8m
  5. 15:00
    Franz Josef Glacier Village· overnight
DAY19

Franz Josef → Ōkārito

0.1 km · 1m driving · Overnight in Ōkārito Lagoon
  1. 09:00
    Franz Josef Glacier Village· start
  2. 0.1 km · 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Franz Josef Glacier
  5. 15:00
    Ōkārito Lagoon· overnight
DAY20

Franz Josef → Wānaka

129 km · 1h 50m driving · Overnight in Wānaka Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Franz Josef Glacier Village· start
  2. 129 km · 1h 50m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Ship Creek Walks
  5. 15:00
    Wānaka Lakefront· overnight
DAY21

Wānaka → Rippon

Overnight in Rippon
  1. 09:00
    Wānaka Lakefront· start
  3. 12:0014:00
    ⭐ Mount Iron Track
  5. 15:00
    Rippon· overnight
DAY22

Wānaka → Queenstown

Overnight in Queenstown Bay Beach
  1. 09:00
    Wānaka Lakefront· start
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Arrowtown Chinese Settlement
  5. 15:00
    Queenstown Bay Beach· overnight
DAY23

Queenstown → Frankton Arm Walkway

12 km · 27m driving · Overnight in Frankton Arm Walkway
  1. 09:00
    Queenstown Bay Beach· start
  2. 1.2 km · 7m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Skyline Queenstown
  4. 11 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    Frankton Arm Walkway· overnight
DAY24

Queenstown → Te Anau

45 km · 54m driving · Overnight in Te Anau Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Queenstown Bay Beach· start
  2. 11 km · 17m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Devil's Staircase Lookout
  4. 35 km · 37m
  5. 15:00
    Te Anau Lakefront· overnight
DAY25

Te Anau → Milford Sound

236 km · 3h 28m driving · Overnight in Te Anau Lakefront
  1. 09:00
    Te Anau Lakefront· start
  2. 118 km · 1h 44m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Milford Sound Visitor Terminal
  4. 118 km · 1h 44m
  5. 15:00
    Te Anau Lakefront· overnight
DAY26

Te Anau → The Octagon

358 km · 4h 26m driving · Overnight in The Octagon
  1. 09:00
    Te Anau Lakefront· start
  2. 155 km · 1h 53m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Bill Richardson Transport World
  4. 203 km · 2h 33m
  5. 15:00
    The Octagon· overnight
DAY27

The Octagon → Otago Peninsula

18 km · 30m driving · Overnight in Otago Peninsula
  1. 09:00
    The Octagon· start
  2. 0.6 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Dunedin Railway Station
  4. 17 km · 26m
  5. 15:00
    Otago Peninsula· overnight
DAY28

The Octagon → Oamaru

96 km · 1h 30m driving · Overnight in Oamaru Historic Precinct
  1. 09:00
    The Octagon· start
  2. 18 km · 28m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Moeraki Boulders
  4. 79 km · 1h 2m
  5. 15:00
    Oamaru Historic Precinct· overnight
DAY29

Oamaru → Twizel

277 km · 3h 23m driving · Overnight in Twizel
  1. 09:00
    Oamaru Historic Precinct· start
  2. 210 km · 2h 33m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
  4. 67 km · 50m
  5. 15:00
    Twizel· overnight
DAY30

Twizel → Christchurch

287 km · 3h 40m driving
  1. 09:00
    Twizel· start
  2. 60 km · 43m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Church of the Good Shepherd
  4. 226 km · 2h 54m
  5. 14:24
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens
  6. 0.9 km · 3m
  7. 16:12
    Christchurch City Centre
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Days 1–2Stay in Auckland · Nights 1-2
  2. Day 3Stay in Whitianga · Night 3
  3. Days 4–5Stay in Tauranga / Rotorua · Nights 4-5
  4. Day 6Stay in Rotorua · Night 6
  5. Day 7Stay in Hamilton · Night 7
  6. Days 8–9Stay in Taupō · Nights 8-9
  7. Day 10Stay in Whakapapa Village · Night 10
  8. Days 11–12Stay in Wellington · Nights 11-12
Heads Up
  • June is winter in New Zealand: check NZTA road conditions daily, especially the Desert Road, Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Crown Range Road, and the Milford Road.
  • Book the Cook Strait ferry and Milford Sound cruise well ahead; ferry sailings can be delayed by weather, so keep the Wellington and Picton days flexible.
  • Carry warm layers, waterproof gear, and tire chains where rental conditions require them; daylight is short, so plan to finish driving before dark.
  • Some alpine walks, glacier access routes, and high-country roads may close after snow, ice, rain, or avalanche risk; use visitor centers for current local advice.