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16 Day Self Drive Tour Auckland to Christchurch

Auckland - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Nelson - Glaciers - Queenstown -  Milford Sound - Te Anau - Dunedin - Mt Cook - Christchurch

A complete New Zealand itineraries self drive tour including 5 days in the North and 11 in the South Island. Visits all the top tourist sites. Features almost a complete circuit of the Southern Alps...

16 Day Self Drive Tour with your choice of Boutique or Self catering Accommodation for 15 nights.

Total Driving Time About: 43 hrs 20 mins              Distance: 3,226 kms

Day 1: Arrive Auckland

On your arrival in Auckland  you will be met by our representative and provided with your chosen car and documentation. Overnight in Auckland

Day 2: Auckland to Rotorua

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 50 mins                  Distance: 346 kms 

Travel south through lush Waikato farmland, perhaps via Waitomo Caves, where a highlight of the day is a tour through the magical grotto lit by thousands of tiny glowworms. Then it is on to Rotorua, steeped in Maori culture and history. Tonight enjoy a night of traditional culture and entertainment, before experiencing a Maori hangi (feast), with a selection of foods cooked the traditional Maori way underground, amongst the surroundings of an authentic village.  Stay 2 nights in Rotorua.

Day 3: At Rotorua

A day free to explore this exciting thermal region. Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so volcanic activity is part of the city's past and present. Explore the geothermal areas and discover the unique culture of New Zealand's Maori people. Rotorua has lots to do in all weather, and at any time of year.

Day 4: Rotorua - Napier

Estimated Driving Time: 3 hrs             Distance: 226 kms  

Drive south through steam clad Wairakei, to the resort town of Taupo sits on the edge of New Zealand's largest lake, which is well stocked with sizeable trout with spectacular views of Tongariro National Park. Skirt Lake Taupo, and cross the Rangitaiki Plains. You might want to stop at the Waiarua Falls lookout, to view the twin waterfalls. At Tarawera you can walk to the hot springs, which are above the Waipunga River, before driving on to the wine producing region of Hawkes Bay. Overnight in Napier.

Day 5: Napier - Wellington

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs             Distance: 354 kms 

Pass the many vineyards and orchards of the Hawkes Bay, as you make your way south to our capital city. Wellington is compact, cultured and full of character. Nestled between the harbour and the hills, the downtown area is ideal for explorations on foot. Enjoy cafes, restaurants, museums, theatre and all kinds of shops. Overnight in Wellington.

Day 6: Wellington - Picton - Nelson

Estimated Driving Time: 2 hrs             Distance: 143 kms 

Sit back, relax and soak in the scenery as you cruise across Cook Strait and the gorgeous Marlborough Sounds on your Interislander Ferry journey to Picton, the gateway to the marine, forest and island attractions of the Marlborough Sounds.

Drive to Blenheim, the centre of the Marlborough wine region famous for its Savignon Blanc and gourmet food. Havelock is the place for a seafood meal - it's known as the Green Shell Mussel capital of the World. At Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve you can enjoy a bush walk or a swim. Nearby Canvastown gives you the chance to explore old gold mining fields - thousands tried to get rich here in the 1860s. Rai Valley has a delightful cottage museum. Stay 2 nights in Nelson.

Day 7: At Nelson

A full day to explore Nelson, home to a fascinating community of beach, bush and art lovers. From here you can organise yourself an eco-adventure, visit WOW - the World of Wearable Art & Classic Cars or become immersed in the local creative culture.  The nearby Abel Tasman National Park, and see one of New Zealand's most beautiful stretches of coastline. Options include a day walk, sea kayaking, visiting a seal colony, or lazing on the beach! 

Day 8: Nelson - Greymouth- Glaciers

Estimated Driving Time: 6 hrs 35 mins             Distance: 485 kms  

The road to Westport bypasses Nelson Lakes National Park is scenic and interesting, beginning with the dark, forbidding Buller Gorge. From Westport to Greymouth scenic highway 6 hugs the coast, providing spectacular views of wild beaches and the tempestuous Tasman Sea. Stop off at the Pancake Rocks at Punaikaki to see these most unusual rock formations. Enroute to the Glaciers stop off at Hokitika first settled in 1860, after the discovery of gold on the west coast. It still has the feel of a ‘frontier town', and there are some lovely old buildings to admire. 

Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glaciers are unique relics of the last ice age. Mighty rivers of solid white, tumbling down ice-hewn rock valleys, they are classically beautiful in the glacial sense. Nowhere else in the world have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude. We recommend a guided walk to the terminal face of a glacier. Overnight at either Fox or Franz Josef Glacier townships.

Day 9: Glaciers to Queenstown   

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 15 mins             Distance: 330 kms

At pretty Lake Paringa you can enjoy a delicious meal of salmon at the salmon farm.  After leaving Haast and the wild west coast you take on the dramatic twists and turns of the Haast Pass, before stopping at the wilderness town of Makarora, where you can fuel up and refresh. The famous ‘bra fence' is impossible to miss - it started as a joke, but it's become a local legend. Passing the northern end of Lake Wanaka, closely followed by Lake Hawea you arrive at scenic Wanaka. The shortest route to Queenstown is over the Crown Range Road. It's a challenging drive, but the views are amazing and you'll probably encounter friendly keas (mountain parrots). More conservative drivers can take the route that runs beside the Shotover River, Lake Dunstan and the Clutha River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way. Queenstown for 2 nights.

Day 10: At Queenstown

The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting and fantastically attractive. It's the place to source almost any kind of adventure, including bungy, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting and river surfing. It's also a destination for luxury experiences - gourmet food and wine, spa treatments and leisurely games of golf. Nearby is the former gold mining town of Arrowtown is a living, historic holiday destination, nestled beside the Arrow River.

Day 11: Queenstown - Milford Sound - Te Anau

Estimated Driving Time: 5 hrs 5 mins             Distance: 403 kms  

Drive south following the dramatic southern shores of Lake Wakatipu to reach Te Anau. The road to Milford is one of New Zealand's most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you'll ease into beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes. The rough hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. Grand, brooding, serene and wild are just some of the words that will come to mind on your Milford Sound Cruise. Tall waterfalls, vertical rock faces and seals are some of the things you'll remember. Return to Te Anau.

(For an additional charge you may choose to Coach from Te Anau to Milford Sound).

Day 12: Te Anau - Dunedin

Estimated Driving Time: 3 hrs 55 mins             Distance: 290 kms 

Drive across the Waimea plains towards the farming community of Gore, then travel through the rolling hill country of South Otago to Dunedin. Stay 2 nights in Dunedin

Day 13: At Dunedin

Know as the "Edinburgh of the South" Dunedin is memorable for its historical architecture. Look for the massive stone Flemish Renaissance-style Dunedin Railway Station, the University clock-tower building and the Gothic Revival Dominican Priory. You might also want to visit Baldwin Street, the world's steepest residential address.

Apart from being New Zealand's first university city, it has an abundance of museums, galleries and heritage homes with amazing stories to tell.

 take time to enjoy the rich historical architecture and abundance of wildlife to be found in this fascinating area.

Take time to explore Larnach Castle and learn about its scandalous history. Otago Peninsula offers absolutely unrivalled viewing of estuarine and marine wildlife. Visit places where the best possible viewing of Hooker's Sea lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, Blue Penguins, a breeding colony of New Zealand Fur Seals and Royal Albatross can be had.

Day 14: Dunedin - Mount Cook Region

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 10 mins             Distance: 320 kms 

Drive north to Be sure to check out the unique geological formations known as the Moeraki Boulders located 70km's north of Dunedin. At historic Oamaru home of the Little Blue Penguins, turn inland. You'll know you're in Omarama when you see the giant merino sheep statue. The easy drive to Twizel takes you through picturesque sheep farming country fringed with mountain ranges. You could pause to cast a line into the Ahuriri River - famous for sizeable rainbow and brown trout. It's also a place to spy on the rarest wading bird in the world - the Black Stilt. If you don't have the time to catch your own salmon, the local salmon farm sells it - fresh or smoked.  The road to Mt Cook - Aoraki hugs the edge of Lake Pukaki. The exquisite opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension. The landscape is a mixture of high country tussock, farmland and snow-capped mountains.  Overnight at Mt Cook

Day 15: Mount Cook Region - Christchurch

Estimated Driving Time: 4 hrs 30 mins             Distance: 329 kms 

The road to Lake Tekapo takes you down the Tasman Valley to beautiful Lake Pukaki. Take a spectacular scenic flight by helicopter or fixed wing plane over Aoraki Mt Cook National Park; a magical world of permanent ice and snow, with New Zealand's highest mountains, and largest glaciers. The opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension. At the southern end of the lake you'll turn left and drive through golden tussock land to Lake Tekapo. The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities. From Tekapo take the scenic route through Fairlie and Geraldine, before passing Methven to Christchurch. Overnight in Christchurch.

Day 16: Depart Christchurch

Today you are free to explore the "Garden City" of Christchurch before catching your flight home.

Total Driving Time About: 43 hrs 20 mins              Distance: 3,226 kms

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