Touring Routes

New Zealand Touring Routes

Find out what our unique country has to offer on a self drive holiday or one of many fantastic New Zealand touring routes. Get a taste of New Zealand on a top touring route, visiting destinations as diverse as Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Taupo, Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown and Fiordland.

• Self Drive Tour Operators
• Attractions
• Accommodation

Explore New Zealand at your own pace on a self drive tour of the North or South Island. There are many New Zealand touring route options available, some including a rental car and accommodation at stopovers along the way; others allowing you to create your own completely unique and personalised holiday experience. Check out some of our favourite New Zealand touring routes for some driving inspiration:

Taupo, Bay of Islands and Auckland
Duration: 7 days
Distance: 1,044km (653 miles)

Take in the sights of the Taupo region, an area of geological upheaval and geothermal attractions, before continuing on to Turangi, trout fishing capital of New Zealand. Visit the Tongariro National Park for walks and visits to volcanic areas. The Bay of Islands offers a heavenly retreat from the world, with ancient native kauri forests, windswept beaches and scope for a wide range of activities in the water: diving, swimming and surfing to name just a few. In Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, enjoy a cruise on the harbour, take in the sights or hit the shops.

Auckland, Rotorua and Napier
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 457km (286 miles)

From New Zealand's largest metropolis, Auckland, venture through the centre of the North Island to Hamilton, a city loved for its gardens. On reaching Rotorua, don't be surprised by an odour-ful welcome; the city is a hotbed of geothermal activity which leaves a smell of sulphur in the air. As well as geysers and hot mud pools, Rotorua is also a centre for Maori culture. You can get a glimpse into the history and culture of New Zealand's native people through activities, attractions and tours. Driving on to Napier, you'll enter one of the world's most well-preserved Art Deco cities (Napier was rebuilt almost entirely in the Art Deco style of the time, following a devastating earthquake in 1931). As well as beautiful buildings, the city offers excellent local food and wine.

Bay of Islands and Wellington
Duration: 7 days
Distance: 1,275km (797 miles)

Traveling the length of the North Island, this route will take you from the location of New Zealand's first capital city to Wellington, our current centre of Government. As well as sunny beaches and stunning seascapes, the Bay of Islands has many sites of historical importance, including the site where the Treaty of Waitangi, our founding document, was signed. From here, you'll drive to Auckland, city of sails, and then on to the Coromandel Peninsula, an area known for its arts and crafts, beaches and laidback lifestyle. Driving through Rotorua and Taupo, take your pick from the many geothermal places of interest and Maori cultural attractions on offer. The route also takes in Napier (an Art Deco city) and Martinborough (well loved for its delightful food and locally produced wines). The final port of call is Wellington, serving up a wide array of arts, culture and café experiences.

Christchurch, Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 370km (230 miles)

Known as the Alpine Pacific Triangle, this route takes you from Christchurch city to two of the South Island's most popular recreational destinations. Christchurch, the garden city, provides numerous opportunities for dining, shopping, visiting attractions and taking in the charm of a city built to mimic the appearance of an English town. From there, Hanmer Springs is a pleasant, easy drive. A great destination at any time of the year, Hanmer's main attractions are its natural hot springs, its stunning alpine scenery and its adventure activities: mountain biking, bungy jumping, jet boating and horse riding to name just a few. Heading south, back towards Christchurch, you'll reach the seaside township of Kaikoura. Here, visitors come to see wildlife in its natural habitat: watching whales, swimming with dolphins and getting up close to seals and seabirds on the shore.

Queenstown, Mount Cook and Christchurch
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 614km (384 miles)

Covering the distance from Queenstown to Christchurch, you'll view a wide expanse of open sky, magnificent mountain ranges and the kind of stunning scenery for which the South Island is well known. Queenstown is a true resort town, with a massive influx of visitors during the winter months and a buzzing atmosphere enjoyed by those who visit for snow sports, extreme adventures, mountain biking and tramping. Heading out of town, Arrowtown is a must for a stop-off in another era; in this historic township you can explore gold mining sites from the nineteenth century and even try your hand at panning for gold. Driving on, you'll reach Mount Cook, also known by its Maori name Aoraki. As the highest peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook is an impressive sight and a place visited by many people throughout the year. From Mount Cook Village, you can take a walk, get a spot of fishing in, or just sit back and enjoy the alpine scenery. Other places of interest lie within easy reach, including the Tasman Glacier, which runs alongside Mount Cook, and Lake Tekapo, known for the brightness of its waters.

Christchurch, Fiordland and Christchurch
Duration: 9 days
Distance: 1,859km (1,162 miles)

From the South Island's largest city, Christchurch, this New Zealand touring route will take you through a scenic wonderland featuring braided rivers and mighty mountain ranges. On reaching Oamaru, visitors encounter the 'moonscape' of Moeraki's distinctive spherical boulders. Further on in Dunedin, there's plenty to take in, from historic architecture to New Zealand's oldest university, coastal landscapes and native wildlife: albatrosses, seals and penguins. Heading into the deep south of New Zealand, you'll discover more native creatures in the dense rainforest and coastal surroundings of the Catlins. If you're keen, travel by ferry to Stewart Island and take in the wilderness experiences there, before heading back to the spectacular Milford Sound, an area of beautiful and magnificent fjords. From there, it's a five hour drive to Queenstown, a humming resort town overflowing with adventure activities, dining opportunities and recreation activities. On your way back to Christchurch, you'll be met by New Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook, as well as Lake Tekapo and other glacial lakes.

Choose one of these New Zealand touring routes or create your own! With so many interesting, beautiful and unique places (and such manageable driving distances) New Zealand is the ideal place to explore on a self drive tour or personalised New Zealand touring route.

Looking for more information? Find NZ touring routes in the NZS.com directory.

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Travel images from Flickr: Open Road, New Zealand Lake and Dolphin.