New Zealand

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   

   Auckland

   New Zealand

   Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, home to 1.5 million people, nearly one-third of the country's population. It is a vibrant multicultural city set around two big natural harbours, ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world.

   Auckland →to Wellington

   Transport details are not recorded.

2. 02

   

   Wellington

   New Zealand

   Wellington packs New Zealand's cultural capital into a compact, walkable harborfront where Te Papa museum stands alongside indie boutiques and over 800 cafés—more per capita than New York. The 'Windy City' charms with a vibrant arts scene, craft beer culture along Courtenay Place, and easy access to walking trails ringed by hills.

   Wellington →to Christchurch

   Transport details are not recorded.

3. 03

   

   Christchurch

   New Zealand

   Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, situated on the Canterbury Plains just north of Banks Peninsula. With a population of 385,000, it serves as the major international entry point for exploring the rest of the South Island.

   Christchurch →to Queenstown

   Transport details are not recorded.

4. 04

   

   Queenstown

   New Zealand · Daily budget ~$99

   Queenstown is New Zealand's adventure capital, drawing 1.9 million visitors annually to its dramatic Southern Alps setting beside Lake Wakatipu. Originally a ski resort town since the 1980s, it has evolved into a year-round destination where bungy jumping, skydiving, and jet boating compete with vineyard tours, spa retreats, and alpine hiking.

   Queenstown →to Wanaka

   Mixed transport~$7.69

5. 05

   

   Wanaka

   New Zealand

   Wanaka shares the mountains, lakes and outdoors appeal of Queenstown but with far smaller crowds and a cooler, more laid-back vibe. It's the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park and home to half of New Zealand's Olympic skiers and snowboarders.

   Wanaka →to Te Anau

   Transport details are not recorded.

6. 06

   

   Te Anau

   New Zealand

   Te Anau is the self-proclaimed walking capital of the world, serving as the gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. This small lakeside town offers access to three of New Zealand's Great Walks: the Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, and Milford Track.

   Te Anau →to Dunedin

   Transport details are not recorded.

7. 07

   

   Dunedin

   New Zealand

   Dunedin is a university town, cultural hub, and historic city with a compact walkable centre. Known as the 'Edinburgh of the South', it offers easy access to beaches, wildlife, and native forests.

   Dunedin →to Invercargill

   Transport details are not recorded.

8. 08

   

   Invercargill

   New Zealand

   Invercargill is the most southerly and westerly city in New Zealand, a Victorian-era time capsule with wide streets and century-old buildings that evoke the sedate pace of 19th-century commerce. The city serves as the main centre of the Southland region and a base for exploring southern New Zealand, with access to Stewart Island, the Catlins, and Fiordland.

   Invercargill →to Kaikoura

   Transport details are not recorded.

9. 09

   

   Kaikoura

   New Zealand

   Kaikoura is a small coastal town on New Zealand's South Island where the Seaward Kaikoura mountains rise dramatically from the Pacific Ocean. The town is famous for marine wildlife encounters — whales, dolphins, seals, and albatross — all visible from boat tours or while kayaking.

   Kaikoura →to Nelson

   Transport details are not recorded.

10. 10

    

    Nelson

    New Zealand

    Nelson is New Zealand's sunniest city with over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, making it an ideal year-round destination. The city is unique as the smallest city in the world to have its own symphony orchestra and is surrounded by three national parks: Abel Tasman, Kahurangi, and Nelson Lakes.

    Nelson →to Picton

    Transport details are not recorded.

11. 11

    

    Picton

    New Zealand

    Picton is a small but important town at the top of the South Island, serving as the gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. For many travellers, it's the gateway to the Marlborough and Nelson Bays regions.

    Picton →to Motueka

    Transport details are not recorded.

12. 12

    

    Motueka

    New Zealand

    Motueka serves as the primary gateway to Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, making it essential for visitors to New Zealand's South Island seeking coastal adventures. The area boasts one of the country's highest annual sunshine-hour indices, attracting holidaymakers to nearby beaches at Kaiteriteri and Marahau.

    Motueka →to Takaka

    Transport details are not recorded.

13. 13

    

    Takaka

    New Zealand

    Takaka is the largest town and hub of Golden Bay in the northwest corner of New Zealand's South Island. Agriculture and tourism are the main industries, making the economy fairly seasonal.

    Takaka →to Franz Josef

    Transport details are not recorded.

14. 14

    

    Franz Josef

    New Zealand

    Franz Josef is a small West Coast village built around one of New Zealand's most dramatic natural attractions: the Franz Josef Glacier, a 11-km-long frozen river descending from Mount Cook to near sea level. The area draws up to 550,000 visitors annually who come for guided glacier walks, heli-hiking experiences, scenic helicopter flights, and the unique opportunity to walk on ancient ice.

    Franz Josef →to Fox Glacier

    Bus~$2.79

15. 15

    

    Fox Glacier

    New Zealand

    Fox Glacier village offers a quieter, more intimate atmosphere than its larger neighbor Franz Josef, making it ideal for travelers seeking fewer crowds. The township sits in Glacier Country on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, tucked into rainforest-clad foothills of the Southern Alps with stunning outlooks across surrounding farms.

    Fox Glacier →to Hokitika

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    

    Hokitika

    New Zealand

    Hokitika is the main service town for the southern West Coast, positioned as a convenient stopover on State Highway 6 between the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers to the south and Greymouth to the north. The town was rebuilt after a devastating 1869 fire and retains some handsome historic buildings from its gold-rush heyday when it ranked first in New Zealand for ship traffic.

    Hokitika →to Punakaiki

    Transport details are not recorded.

17. 17

    

    Punakaiki

    New Zealand

    Punakaiki is a tiny settlement on New Zealand's wild West Coast, famous for the Pancake Rocks and Blow Holes at Dolomite Point. The limestone formations look like stacked pancakes, and at high tide with westerly waves, water blasts up to 15m through the blow holes.

    Punakaiki →to Lake Tekapo

    Transport details are not recorded.

18. 18

    

    Lake Tekapo

    New Zealand

    Lake Tekapo is a small resort village on the shores of a stunning turquoise glacier-fed lake in New Zealand's Southern Alps. The village is internationally recognized for its exceptional dark skies, making it the premier stargazing destination in the Southern Hemisphere.

    Lake Tekapo →to Mount Cook National Park, Aoraki

    Drive~2 h~$13

19. 19

    Mount Cook National Park, Aoraki

    New Zealand

    National-park visitor destination served by Mount Cook Village.

    Mount Cook National Park, Aoraki →to Rotorua

    Transport details are not recorded.

20. 20

    

    Rotorua

    New Zealand

    Rotorua is New Zealand's premier geothermal destination, built over a volcanic hot spot in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The city offers easily accessible hot springs, geysers and mud pools alongside a vibrant Māori culture that is more dominant here than elsewhere in the country.

    Rotorua →to Taupō

    Bus~1 h 30 min~$5.16

21. 21

    

    Taupō

    New Zealand

    Taupō sits on the northern shore of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake at 616 km², built around the Waikato River outlet. The town is a base for trout fishing, geothermal attractions, and outdoor activities.