Sample itinerary · 12 days

Family-friendly North and South

No drive longer than about three hours, with plenty of hands-on stops kids remember.

As produced by the Acrossnz AI itinerary builder

Day by day

Trip map

Where you spend your days

1Auckland2Rotorua1Taupō2Wellington1Picton2Christchurch
  1. Day 1 · Auckland1 day
  2. Day 2 · Rotorua2 days
  3. Day 4 · Taupō1 day
  4. Day 5 · Wellington2 days
  5. Day 7 · Picton1 day
  6. Day 8 · Kaikōura2 days
  7. Day 10 · Hanmer Springs1 day
  8. Day 11 · Christchurch2 days

Not pinned on the map yet: Kaikōura, Hanmer Springs.

This is how your trip looks in the builder. In your own itinerary every box is editable, and you can add, remove or reorder days.

Day 1 · Date to confirm

Auckland

Stay overnight in

Auckland

Drive

No long drive — staying put

Plan for the day

Arrive; Kelly Tarlton's or the zoo.

Day 2 · Date to confirm

Rotorua

Stay overnight in

Rotorua

Drive

Auckland → Rotorua

Plan for the day

Drive down, luge rides.

Day 3 · Date to confirm

Rotorua

Stay overnight in

Rotorua

Drive

No long drive — staying put

Plan for the day

Te Puia geysers and kiwi house.

Day 4 · Date to confirm

Taupō

Stay overnight in

Taupō

Drive

Rotorua → Taupō

Plan for the day

Huka Falls jet boat.

Day 5 · Date to confirm

Wellington

Stay overnight in

Wellington

Drive

Taupō → Wellington

Plan for the day

Drive south with lunch breaks.

Day 6 · Date to confirm

Wellington

Stay overnight in

Wellington

Drive

No long drive — staying put

Plan for the day

Te Papa and Zealandia.

Day 7 · Date to confirm

Picton

Stay overnight in

Picton

Drive

Wellington → Picton

Plan for the day

Ferry across Cook Strait.

Day 8 · Date to confirm

Kaikōura

Stay overnight in

Kaikōura

Drive

Picton → Kaikōura

Plan for the day

Coast road, seal colony at Ōhau Point.

Day 9 · Date to confirm

Kaikōura

Stay overnight in

Kaikōura

Drive

No long drive — staying put

Plan for the day

Whale watching (weather permitting).

Day 10 · Date to confirm

Hanmer Springs

Stay overnight in

Hanmer Springs

Drive

Kaikōura → Hanmer Springs

Plan for the day

Hot pools afternoon.

Day 11 · Date to confirm

Christchurch

Stay overnight in

Christchurch

Drive

Hanmer Springs → Christchurch

Plan for the day

Antarctic Centre.

Day 12 · Date to confirm

Christchurch

Stay overnight in

Christchurch

Drive

No long drive — staying put

Plan for the day

Fly out.