New Zealand Road Trip Itineraries

Welcome to our NZ road trip itinerary hub. Whether you have three days or three weeks, there is a classic New Zealand road trip that fits. Use this page to find a route that matches your trip length, pick-up city, and the kind of scenery you are after, then pair it with a rental car from NZ Rent A Car at any of our nationwide branches.

Choose by Trip Length

Pick a route by how many days you have available.

Weekend Road Trips (2-3 days)

Short road trips ideal for a weekend away or a long weekend.

• Auckland to Coromandel return
• Christchurch to Kaikoura and back
• Queenstown to Wanaka and Glenorchy
• Nelson to Golden Bay and Abel Tasman
• Auckland to Rotorua and Taupo

Week-Long Road Trips (5-8 days)

Longer trips covering one island in depth.

• Auckland to Wellington via Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro (5-7 days)
• Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook and Wanaka (4-6 days)
• Christchurch to Dunedin via the Catlins (5-7 days)
• Picton to Queenstown via West Coast glaciers (7-8 days)
• Nelson loop through Golden Bay and Marlborough (4-5 days)

Two-Week and Longer Itineraries (10-21 days)

Cross-country road trips that cover both islands.

• Auckland to Queenstown, full North + South Island (14-21 days)
• Grand New Zealand loop: Auckland to Auckland via ferry (14-21 days)
• South Island road trip: Christchurch-Queenstown-West Coast-Picton (10-14 days)
• North Island tour: Auckland, Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Wellington (7-10 days)

Choose by Pick-Up City

Start your road trip from wherever you land or are based.

• Auckland: North Island tours, Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Rotorua, cross-island itineraries
• Christchurch: South Island tours, Southern Alps, West Coast, Kaikoura
• Queenstown: Fiordland day trips, Wanaka, Central Otago, one-way drives north
• Picton: Ferry arrival trips, Marlborough, Nelson, West Coast
• Nelson: Top of the South, Abel Tasman, Golden Bay, Marlborough wine country

See our full list of branch locations for each start point.

Choose by Scenery or Theme

Different trips suit different interests.

• Coastline and beaches: Bay of Islands, Coromandel, Kaikoura, Otago Peninsula
• Mountains and alpine scenery: Mt Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound
• Wine regions: Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, Central Otago, Waiheke
• Maori culture: Rotorua, Waitangi, Taupo
• Glaciers and west coast: Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Punakaiki
• National parks: Abel Tasman, Fiordland, Tongariro, Nelson Lakes

Featured Road Trip Routes

A closer look at some of our most popular road trip guides.

Auckland to Queenstown: 8-14 Days

The classic cross-country drive. Pick up in Auckland, drive south through Rotorua, Taupo and Wellington, take the ferry to Picton, then through Nelson, the West Coast or Christchurch, and south to Queenstown. Works as a one-way rental with drop-off in Queenstown.

Queenstown to Milford Sound: Day Trip or Overnight

One of the great drives in the world. From Queenstown through Te Anau to Milford Sound and back. Works as a long day trip or a more relaxed overnight with a stop in Te Anau.

Christchurch to Queenstown via Mt Cook: 4-6 Days

The South Island's classic scenic drive. Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Lake Pukaki, Omarama and Wanaka before reaching Queenstown. Incredible alpine scenery the whole way.

Nelson to Picton via the Marlborough Sounds: 2-3 Days

A short, beautiful drive through the top of the South Island. Perfect as an arrival or departure trip around a Cook Strait ferry crossing.

Planning Your Road Trip

A few basics before you book.

• Book vehicle early: especially for summer peak (December-February) and ski season (June-August)
• Choose the right vehicle: a compact or mid-size carfor main roads; an SUV 4x4 if you are heading to gravel roads or ski fields
• Consider one-way rental: saves the return drive on long routes
• Check ferry schedules: the Cook Strait ferry is booked separately; see our inter-island car rentalpage
• Read up on NZ driving: see Driving Safely in NZbefore your first day on the road

Attractions and Travel Guides

For specific places along the way, our attractions directory covers hundreds of points of interest, and our NZ travel guides go deeper on regions, seasons and routes.

Book Your Road Trip Rental

Ready to turn an itinerary into a booking? Book online or contact the branch closest to your start city. Our team is happy to help with any questions about routes, ferry crossings, or the right vehicle for your trip.