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Auckland to Christchurch Self Drive Holiday

Travel from Auckland, New Zealand’s major international airport gateway on an Auckland to Christchurch self-drive holiday through the North Island to Wellington. If you have time head north to the beautiful Bay of Islands. On the way discover the geothermal wonderland and Maori culture of Rotorua. Visit Hobbiton made famous by the Lord of the Rings films, take a trip into the mysterious glowworm caves at Waitomo, or explore the coast, beaches and bays of the Coromandel Peninsula. Catch a rainbow trout at Taupo, from there a superb scenic drive takes you round Lake Taupo to Tongariro National Park, popular for hiking, skiing and snowboarding; or canoeing on the nearby Whanganui River.

An alternate route to Wellington takes you across to art deco Napier and Hawkes Bay, NZ’s oldest wine growing region with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes. If you arrive on a weekend, make sure you visit a Sunday Food Market. Further south stop at Martinborough, with its premium vineyards producing Pinot Noir wine, as well as browsing the arts and crafts of the nearby villages, including Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Masterton. From here it is a short drive to Wellington, the nation’s capital.

From Wellington crossover on the Interislander ferry to Picton, for the start of your South Island. From Picton you can either head south through Blenheim and the Marlborough wine growing region and along the coast to Kaikoura, popular for whale watching. Don’t forget to try the Crayfish hire…..simply magnificent!  Just inland from Kaikoura are the hot springs at Hanmer Springs. It is then just a short drive to Christchurch.

The alternate route from Picton takes you west to Nelson. Take time out to explore the arts and crafts markets, visit the World of Wearable Art, cycle the Great Taste Trail or go hiking or kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. Follow the scenic West Coast drive past Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks to historic Hokitika, and Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Take a helicopter trip to one of the glaciers, and see the spectacular reflections in Lake Matheson. After driving through Haast Pass you come to Wanaka, one of New Zealand’s best kept secrets, and Queenstown, both very popular for adventure and outdoor activities from skiing to hiking.

From Christchurch or Queenstown you can connect through Fiordland National Park with Milford and Doubtful Sounds, the Scottish city of Dunedin with its nature attractions on Otago Peninsula, as well as towering Mt Cook, idyllic Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd to make a circle trip.

Amendments

Our Auckland to Christchurch self-drive itineraries are fully flexible, so they can be amended or combined with other itineraries. All one way itineraries can also be done in reverse. So if you have any changes or special requests, just put a note in the booking/enquiry form.

Airfares

International flights can be included from Australia for all Australian residents.

10 Day Auckland to Christchurch Self Drive
10 Day Auckland to Christchurch Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$2,365.00
Auckland - Rotorua - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch ...
14 Day New Zealand Grand Self Drive
14 Day New Zealand Grand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$3,260.00
Auckland - Whangamata/Coromandel - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Nelson - Hokitika - Franz Josef - Queenstown - Dunedin - Christchurch ...
16 Day Explorer of New Zealand Self Drive Tour
16 Day Explorer of New Zealand Self Drive Tour
North Island | South Island
NZ$6,120.00
Auckland - Whitianga - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Picton - Christchurch - Mt Cook - Queenstown - Milford Sound - Franz Jos...
16 Day New Zealand Icons Self Drive
16 Day New Zealand Icons Self Drive
North Island | South Island
AU$5,556.00
Auckland - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Kaikoura - Lake Tekapo - Dunedin - Te Anau - Queenstown - Franz Josef - Christchurch ...
18 Day North to South Explorer Self Drive
18 Day North to South Explorer Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$4,302.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Auckland - Rotorua - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Mt Cook - Queenstown - Franz...
19 Day Auckland to Christchurch Family Adventure
19 Day Auckland to Christchurch Family Adventure
North Island | South Island
NZ$5,895.00
Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua - Tongariro National Park - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Mt Cook - Queenstown...
21 Day Discover New Zealand Self Drive
21 Day Discover New Zealand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$5,675.00
Auckland - Rotorua - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Picton - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Mt Cook - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown -...
21 Day Epic Lord Of The Rings Motorhome Adventure
21 Day Epic Lord Of The Rings Motorhome Adventure
North Island | South Island
AU$4,170.00 to AU$7,799.00 per person
Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua - Taupo - Wellington - Kaikoura - Methven - Mt Cook - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown - Lake Wanaka - Fra...
22 Day New Zealand Motorhome Self Drive
22 Day New Zealand Motorhome Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$4,576.00 to NZ$5,445.00 per person
Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Greymouth - Fox Glacier - Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Dun...
22 Day NZ Discovery Self Drive
22 Day NZ Discovery Self Drive
North Island | South Island
AU$4,728.00 to AU$5,679.00 per person
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Whitianga - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Dunedin - Te Anau - Milford Sound - ...
22 Day Scenic Escape Self Drive
22 Day Scenic Escape Self Drive
North Island | South Island
AU$6,818.00
Auckland - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Wellington - Nelson - Punakaiki - Franz Josef Glacier - Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Dunedin -...
22 Days Best of Both Islands Self-Drive
22 Days Best of Both Islands Self-Drive
North Island | South Island
AU$4,170.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Auckland West Coast - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Blenheim - Christchurch - Franz Josef Glacier - Queenstown - Te Ana...
23 Day Grand New Zealand Self Drive
23 Day Grand New Zealand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$6,629.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Auckland North Shore - Rotorua - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Blenheim - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Mt Cook - Duned...
24 Day Grand Explorer Self Drive
24 Day Grand Explorer Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$8,456.00
Auckland - Hokianga - Bay of Islands - Auckland - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Nelson - Christchurch ...
26 Day Discover New Zealand Self Drive
26 Day Discover New Zealand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$5,981.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Matakana Coast - Rotorua - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Abel Tasman National Park - Kaikoura - Christchurch - Mt Co...
30 Day Length and Breadth North to South Self Drive
30 Day Length and Breadth North to South Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$9,160.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Matakana Coast - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Napier - Martinborough - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Abel Tasman...
30 Day Ultimate Explorer New Zealand Self Drive
30 Day Ultimate Explorer New Zealand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$9,060.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Matakana Coast - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Napier - Martinborough - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Abel Tasman...
42 Day Ultimate New Zealand Self Drive
42 Day Ultimate New Zealand Self Drive
North Island | South Island
NZ$10,795.00
Auckland - Bay of Islands - Matakana Coast - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Napier - Martinborough - Wellington - Interislander Ferry - Abel Tasman...
9 Day North Island Food and Wine Self Drive
9 Day North Island Food and Wine Self Drive
North Island
NZ$2,940.00 to NZ$3,491.00 per person
Auckland - Rotorua - Napier - Wellington ...