New Zealand Road Trip Ideas - North & South Island Self Drive

From the vibrant city of Auckland you’ll travel south to the spectacular mountains and thrilling adventures of Queenstown.  Along the way you’ll travel through heartland New Zealand, including the cultural mecca of Rotorua and quirky Wellington City in the North Island.  While in the South Island you have opportunities to meet our unique wildlife in Kaikoura and Dunedin and marvel at the magnificent wilderness of Milford Sound.

Explore the cities of Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington before embarking on a circuit of the South Island. The wineries of Marlborough, the whales of Kaikoura, the garden city of Christchurch and the mighty Southern Alps. The alpine adventure town of Queenstown awaits, before heading to the West Coast Glaciers. Return to Christchurch on board the world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic train.

Starting in Auckland with time to truly explore the region’s natural features this tour then travels through the heart of the North Island by scenic train. The South Island beckons with a host of natural and scenic locations and inclusions. From Abel Tasman National Park's beaches to Kaikoura's whales to the West Coast's unique Glaciers and geology, the diversity is outstanding.   In the deep-south you’ll discover the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula and spend a night in the remote Doubtful Sound before returning to Queenstown.

Travelling through the heart of the North Island this tour allows you to see the incredible diversity that New Zealand offers. The South Island's mountains, lakes and glaciers and the North Islands rich Maori culture and its modern cosmopolitan cities.

Explore Auckland, the City of Sails before venturing south to Waitomo and the world-famous glow worm caves. From here travel to Rotorua enjoying adventure activities Maori culture and maybe the Tarata Fishaway. Leaving the North island you will pass the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, renowned for its great craft beer, wind and the "beehive" government building. Once across the Cook Strait you'll pass the rich wildlife of the Kaikoura coastline, the canterbury plains, southern lakes and glacial areas. There are plenty of adventures on your journey and highlights might include a helicopter ride over the glacier, the TranzAlpine train or even a swim with the world's smallest wild dolphins.

Explore some of our beautiful wine regions and enjoy relaxing at the end of the day at boutique lodges and hotels.

From Christchurch you’ll first travel a loop of the lower South Island, beginning with the iconic TranzAlpine scenic train crossing the Southern Alps to the West Coast.  Highlights of the section of the trip include a scenic flight and snow landing on the remarkable West Coast glaciers and a spectacular cruise in Milford Sound.  Heading north you’ll enjoy a wine tasting tour in Marlborough, before crossing the Cook Strait to the North Island and the quirky capital city of Wellington. Travel through the central plateau to Rotorua and its bubbling mud pools and unique Maori culture before arriving into Auckland the ‘City of Sails’.

Travel the heart of the North Island exploring Auckland City, Rotorua and Wellington before crossing to the South Island. Continue down the east coast through Marlborough, Kaikoura and Christchurch before crossing the plains and into the Southern Alps and Mt. Cook. The alpine resort of Queenstown is next before heading north through Wanaka and onto the West Coast Glaciers. Return to Christchurch via the Tranz Alpine train.

Explore the cities of Auckland, the tropical Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Wellington before embarking on a circuit of the South Island. The wine regions of Marlborough, the whales of Kaikoura, the garden city of Christchurch and the mighty Southern Alps. The Alpine adventure town of Queenstown awaits before heading to the West Coast Glaciers. Return to Christchurch on board the world famous Tranz Alpine Scenic train.

From Christchurch you’ll first travel a loop of the lower South Island, including the iconic attractions of Mt Cook National Park, the alpine ‘Adventure Capital’ of Queenstown and the spectacular wilderness of the West Coast.  Crossing back to Christchurch on board the TranzAlpine scenic train, you then venture north.  Along the way explore the wonderful wildlife of Kaikoura, before crossing the Cook Strait to the North Island and the quirky capital city of Wellington. Travel through the central plateau to Rotorua and its bubbling mud pools and unique Maori culture before arriving into Auckland the ‘City of Sails’.