Can a ten-day self-drive itinerary be reversed or customised?

Most ten-day itineraries can be customised with different hotels, rental vehicles, activities or extra nights. Auckland-to-Christchurch routes can often operate northbound, while Wellington-to-Christchurch itineraries may be adapted to start in Christchurch. However, reversing the route can affect ferry departures, rental-car availability, seasonal excursions and the days on which guided tours operate.

Useful customisations include adding a second night in Wellington, Kaikōura, Aoraki/Mount Cook or Queenstown; upgrading to an SUV or hybrid; replacing suggested activities with included experiences; or changing the finish to suit international flights. Travellers with 11 or 12 days can also reduce the pressure of longer driving sectors by adding Lake Taupō, Blenheim, Wānaka or Te Anau. A customised route should retain the same geographical flow rather than adding distant side trips that require backtracking.