Fjords, Volcanoes & Adventure Capital of the World
Duration
14 days
Best Time
Dec–Feb
Daily Budget
$100–180
Difficulty
Moderate
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
📅 Auckland & Northland
Arrive in Auckland — climb One Tree Hill for city views, explore Waitemata Harbour, and drive north to the Bay of Islands. Take a boat to the Hole in the Rock at Cape Brett. Kayak, snorkel, and watch dolphins in the marine reserve.
📅 Rotorua & Tongariro
Drive to Rotorua — the geothermal heart of the North Island. Experience a Māori hāngī feast. Tackle the Tongariro Alpine Crossing — 19km of volcanic drama through craters and emerald lakes. New Zealand's greatest day walk.
📅 Queenstown & Fiordland
Fly to Queenstown — bungee jump the Kawarau Bridge, jet boat the Shotover Canyon, and skydive over the Remarkables. Day trip to Milford Sound — cruise through 1,200m sheer fiord walls with waterfalls cascading into dark water.
📅 West Coast & Abel Tasman
Franz Josef Glacier heli-hike, Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki. Ferry to Nelson and kayak the Abel Tasman Coast Track for two days. End in Christchurch for the stunning Botanic Gardens and a Canterbury Plains vineyard lunch.
💡 Key tips: Book the Tongariro Crossing shuttle early — it sells out in summer. Rent a campervan for flexibility ($80–120/day). Freedom camping is legal in many areas. Petrol is expensive — plan routes carefully.
