Scenic New Zealand: Both Islands Self-Drive in 10 Days

Ten days across both islands, moving in an arc that covers the North Island's geothermal region, then crosses to the South Island by domestic flight and works its way through Queenstown, Fiordland, and the West Coast glaciers before returning to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass. The rental car is collected at Auckland Airport and returned at Christchurch Airport. Three activities are included. Rotorua gets Wai-O-Tapu in the morning — position for the Lady Knox Geyser at 10:15am before the main park circuit — and the Redwoods Nightlights in the evening. Milford Sound is a self-drive day from Queenstown, approximately 12 hours, with the fiord cruise and lunch included. The rest of the itinerary — Waitomo, Hobbiton, the Haast Pass drive, Puzzling World at Wānaka — can all be added as optional extras at your own expense and timing. The sequence on the South Island is the reverse of most standard circuits: Queenstown first, then the glaciers, then Christchurch. This makes the Haast Pass drive go east to west — descending from the dry Central Otago plateau into the temperate rainforest — and the final leg back through Arthur's Pass gives you the alpine crossing in the other direction. Both are worth doing; the direction changes the light and the landscape character. The domestic flight from Rotorua to Queenstown on day four is not included and must be booked independently. This is a tour for you if you want both islands in ten days with the freedom to add the optional experiences that suit your interests.

• ◆Self-drive — 9-day rental car with zero or reduced excess liability, Auckland to Christchurch
• ◆Rotorua — Wai-O-Tapu and the Redwoods Nightlights on a full geothermal day
• ◆Milford Sound — self-drive to Fiordland with fiord cruise and lunch from Queenstown
• ◆West Coast glaciers — two nights in glacier country, reached via the Haast Pass
• ◆Arthur's Pass — the alpine crossing back to Christchurch through the Southern Alps

Day-by-Day