Best of New Zealand: Both Islands Self-Drive in 14 Days

Fourteen days across both islands is enough to do New Zealand properly — not a highlights reel, but a route that covers the geological North Island, the ferry crossing, the Kaikoura coast, the West Coast glaciers, Queenstown, and the Mackenzie Basin. The rental car is collected at Auckland Airport and returned at Christchurch Airport; the itinerary moves in one direction without retracing. Nine activities are included. The North Island leg packs in the most: Waitomo and Hobbiton on the same day's drive from Auckland to Rotorua, then the full Te Ra and Te Po combo at Te Puia the following day — the daytime guided walk through the geothermal valley and Arts and Crafts Institute, followed by the evening hāngī dinner and cultural performance. The Napier Art Deco guided walk covers the 1930s streetscape built after the 1931 earthquake. The Cook Strait ferry from Wellington to Picton is included and runs through the Marlborough Sounds on the South Island approach. The South Island covers a week: Blenheim, the Kaikoura coast, Christchurch, Arthur's Pass to the West Coast, the glacier region, and then Queenstown via the Haast Pass. The Skyline Gondola in Queenstown is included. Milford Sound is specifically flagged as a recommended optional — the 12-hour self-drive round trip is worth adding if your schedule allows, but it is not in the base price. The return to Christchurch on days twelve and thirteen covers Aoraki Mt Cook, the Dark Sky Experience at Tekapo (Thursday to Monday only), and the Antarctic Centre. This is a tour for you if you want two weeks at your own pace covering both islands end to end.

• ◆Self-drive — 13-day rental car with zero or reduced excess liability, Auckland to Christchurch
• ◆Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Hobbiton — both on a single day's drive to Rotorua
• ◆Rotorua — Te Ra and Te Po at Te Puia, plus Napier's Art Deco district by guided walk
• ◆Cook Strait ferry — Wellington to Picton through the Marlborough Sounds
• ◆Dark Sky Experience at Lake Tekapo and Antarctic Centre in Christchurch — both included

Day-by-Day