The route focuses on three fixed hotel locations: Auckland, Rotorua, and Wanaka on the South Island. From Auckland to Rotorua, it's about a three-hour drive. To Wanaka, you fly via Auckland to Queenstown and then drive just over an hour from there.
11 Days / 10 Nights
November–March
3 stops
Why This Route?
For travellers new to campers, eager to see New Zealand from fixed bases, without long drive days.
Hidden Gems
Karekare Beach on the West Coast near Auckland
Waimangu Volcanic Valley south of Rotorua
Diamond Lake with the Rocky Mountain Track near Wanaka
Itinerary
Stop 1 • 3 Nights
Auckland
Region
The Auckland region includes the country's largest city, the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, the west coast with black sand beaches, and the Waitakere Ranges. Most travellers land here and start their tour in Auckland.
Culture
The isthmus was densely populated long before the arrival of Europeans, with the volcanic cones serving as fortified Pā. After the Treaty of Waitangi, Auckland became the capital in 1841; in 1865, this status passed to Wellington.Today, Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities shape the region more strongly than any other in the country. The Auckland War Memorial Museum houses the largest collections on Māori and Pacific culture.
Rich in culture and history. For adventure seekers and Perfect for unwinding and relaxation.
Rotorua smells of sulfur, and that's part of the experience: The city on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua lies in the middle of a geothermal area. Between pavements and front gardens, steam rises from the ground; in Te Puia, the Pōhutu Geyser erupts; and in Kuirau Park, mud pools bubble without an entrance fee.Rotorua is also the center of the Te Arawa and one of the best places in New Zealand to experience Māori culture, whether in the living village of Whakarewarewa, in lakeside Ohinemutu, or at a cultural evening with Hāngī.
9 Sights
4 Restaurants
Te Arawa and the Spa Town
The Iwi of Te Arawa have lived for centuries by the lakes around Rotorua and use geothermal energy for cooking, bathing, and heating. In Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa, families still live today amidst steaming springs, and their carved meeting houses (Wharenui) display the ancestors of the Iwi.At the end of the 19th century, the government transformed Rotorua into a spa town; the Bath House in the Government Gardens is a reminder of this era. Today, you can experience Māori culture at cultural evenings featuring Haka, Waiata, and Hāngī or in the carving and weaving workshops at Te Puia.
Wanaka is located on the southern shore of Lake Wānaka, about an hour's drive north of Queenstown. It is quieter than its neighbour and a gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, the Roys Peak track, and the ski fields of Cardrona and Treble Cone.
4 Sights
3 Restaurants
History and Character
History and CharacterFor the Kāi Tahu, the lake and the valleys of Makarora and Matukituki were part of the routes to the West Coast Pounamu. European settlers arrived in the 1850s and 1860s as sheep farmers; the gold rush brushed the area, especially along the Cardrona River. For a long time, Wanaka remained a small holiday resort for families from Otago.Today, the town is a centre for mountain sports and boasts an active arts and café scene. Every second Easter, the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow takes place, and Lake Wānaka is a popular destination for sailors and paddlers.
