Essential New Zealand: Both Islands Self-Drive
Duration
7 Days 6 Nights
Destinations
New Zealand, Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown
Seven days across both islands, at your own wheel. The rental car is collected at Auckland Airport on arrival and returned at Queenstown Airport on departure, which means no retracing the route — the itinerary moves in one direction, North Island to South, with a domestic flight bridging the two. The North Island leg covers three days: Auckland on arrival, then Hobbiton at Matamata on the drive to Rotorua (175 kilometres from Auckland, 70 more to Rotorua), and a full day in Rotorua across Wai-O-Tapu and the Redwoods Nightlights. Four activities are included in total: the Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland admission, the Redwoods Nightlights evening walk through the Whakarewarewa Forest, and the Milford Sound fiord cruise with lunch. The domestic flight from Rotorua to Queenstown on day four is not included and must be booked independently. At approximately three hours, it is the only practical way to bridge the islands in a 7-day self-drive without losing a full day to the Cook Strait ferry and South Island driving. Queenstown gets two nights: a free day for the town and its activity options, then the Milford Sound day — approximately 12 hours of driving and cruising through Fiordland. This is a tour for you if you want both islands, driving freedom, and the key experiences covered without being on a fixed coach schedule.
- ◆Self-drive — 6-day rental car with zero or reduced excess liability, Auckland to Queenstown
- ◆Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour — The Shire at Matamata, self-driven
- ◆Rotorua — Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park and the Redwoods Nightlights walk
- ◆Milford Sound — self-drive to Fiordland with fiord cruise and lunch
- ◆Both islands in 7 days — North Island by road, South Island by road and flight
Day-by-Day
Collect your rental car at Auckland Airport and drive to your city accommodation. Auckland sits on an isthmus between the Waitematā and Manukau harbours; the drive into the city centre from the airport takes 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. The car is included for 6 days with zero or reduced excess liability — confirm the specific excess terms at collection.
Auckland Waterfront — Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter are within easy reach of most central hotels. The ferry terminal connects to Devonport and Waiheke Island for those arriving early enough to use the afternoon.
Sky Tower — At 328 metres, the observation deck gives the clearest overview of Auckland's two-harbour layout. Entry own expense.
Note: The car is not needed for city driving on Day 1; most central Auckland accommodation has parking available if you want to leave it overnight.
Overnight: Auckland
Meals: Independent.
Included
- check_box6-day rental car hire with zero or reduced excess liability (collected Auckland, returned Queenstown)
- check_box6 nights accommodation
- check_boxHobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour
- check_boxWai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland admission
- check_boxRedwoods Nightlights walk, Rotorua
- check_boxMilford Sound cruise with lunch
Not Included
- disabled_by_defaultDomestic flight Rotorua to Queenstown (Day 4) — to be booked independently
- disabled_by_defaultInternational flights
- disabled_by_defaultTravel insurance
- disabled_by_defaultFuel and road tolls
- disabled_by_defaultMeals not specified in the itinerary
- disabled_by_defaultOptional activities and entrance fees
- disabled_by_defaultPersonal expenses, laundry and minibar
