Auckland to Christchurch 25 to 30 Day Itinerary
When you have a little more time to spare this itinerary will take you the length of the country and will allow you time to truely experience some spectacular areas of New Zealand.
When travelling it is rewarding to have time for spontaneity and to stay an extra night when you are somewhere you simply adore.
Suggested Itinerary - 25 Day (ALD to CHC)
Travel times are as quoted by Google Maps – Additional time should always be added to allow for a lower travel speed (Motorhome category - national speed limit is 90kph), Traffic congestion, Rest and lunch breaks, POI (stop off points) and Sightseeing along your route.
Camp Sites: There are many options for camping sites or places to stay the night – we have made a suggestion below, but consideration should always be made as to the suitability for a large motorhome. Finding somewhere to park up each day is fun – be sure to download the CamperMate App on your phone and make good use of this excellent App.
North Island Trip: https://goo.gl/maps/A9NVJJBZNyD2
West Coast South Island to Queenstown: https://goo.gl/maps/aYF5AirQXCE2
Queenstown to Christchurch (Via Te Anau): https://goo.gl/maps/c1zniNdoCDq
Day 1:
Uretiti Beach
Directions to Uretiti Beach (94kms, 1hr 20mins)
Or,
Whangarei Heads
Directions to Whangarei Heads (140kms, 1hr 46mins)
Day 2:
Travel to Tutukaka and day trip to Poor Knights (if you decide not to take a day trip out on the boat you could travel on to the Bay of Islands).
Tutukaka
Situated in a scenic valley on the Tutukaka coastline, metres from the marina/boat ramp and the gateway to the Poor Knights Marine reserve. Spectacular beaches and coastal walks in the area.
Directions from Uretiti to Tutukaka (1 hour)
Directions from Whangarei Heads to Tutukaka (44mins)
Day 3:
Bay of Islands / Waitangi
Camp site – Waitangi Camp Site
Directions from Tutukaka to Waitangi
Could also carry on to Matauri Bay (1hr 51mins, 137km) or Taupo Bay (2hr 10mins, 161km) depending on the time you have available.
Day 4:
Wenderholm Regional Park
Directions from Waitangi to Wenderholm (192kms, 2hrs 41mins)
Day 5:
Coromandel Peninsula/Western Bay of Plenty
Camping Options:
Hot Water Beach Campsite - Directions (2hr 46mins)
Bowentown Campsite - Directions (2hr 33mins)
Freedom Camping Sites, Western Bay of Plenty
Day 6:
Rotorua Via Tauranga and Mt Maunganui
Directions, from Waihi to Rotorua via Tauranga
Day 7:
National Park
Directions from Rotorua to National Park via Taupo (181kms 2hrs 11mins)
Day 8:
National Park
Tongariro Crossing guided walk – Full Day Walk option – Described as the best one-day walk in NZ
https://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/the-track/tongariro-crossing/national-park/the-track
Day 9:
Wellington
Directions from National Park to Interislander Departure Wellington via Desert Road (319kms 3hrs 49mins)
National Park to Wellington - book an afternoon sailing. After crossing the Strait, the second part of the crossing is effectively a cruise through the Sound, very beautiful and would be a waste to do in the dark.
Note: You will need to be at the Ferry Terminal 1 hour prior to your departure.
Arrival - South Island Picton
Day 10:
Picton/Abel Tasman
Campsites – See below option
Directions from Picton to Abel Tasman (198kms 2hrs 47mins)
Day 11:
Abel Tasman National Park
One day - Kayak and walk options https://www.abeltasman.co.nz/a-day/kayak-and-walk/
Campsite - Option
Day 12:
Nelson Lakes/Lake Rotoiti
Directions from Abel Tasman to Nelson Lakes/Lake Rotoiti (122 kms, 1hr 47)
Day 13:
Paparoa National Park – Half Day Walk possible
Directions from Nelson Lakes to Punakaiki (200kms, 2hrs51mins)
Day 14:
Hokitika & Hokitika Gorge
Directions from Punakaiki to Hokitika (83.6kms 1hr11mins)
Directions from Hokitika to Hokitika Gorge – 2 hour return trip to gorge
Day 15:
Lake Mapourika
Directions from Hokitika to Lake Mapourika (124Kms 1hr30mins)
Day 16:
Fox Glacier – Half or full day Glacier walks/Helicopter trip to Glacier with landing.
Recommend the walk up to Franz Josef on route to Fox.
Directions from Lake Mapourika to Fox Glacier (37.8kms 40mins)
Day 17:
Makarora – Via Haast Pass
Directions from Fox Glacier to Makarora (200km 2hr 25mins)
Day 18:
Wanaka
Campsite (Glendhu Bay)
Directions from Makarora to Wanaka (65km 1hr)
Day 19:
Queenstown
Directions from Wanaka to Queenstown via Arrowtown (73.9kms)
Day 20:
Te Anau
Directions from Queenstown to Te Anau (172kms 2hrs17mins)
Recommended option: Drive to Te Anau and park the motorhome. Then take a coach trip to Milford Sound (Cruise) then return to Te Anau – Excellent way to learn about the local area and its history.
Day 21:
Manapouri/Doubtful Sound
Campsite – Stay another night in Te Anau
Directions from Te Anau to Manapouri then take the boat
Or,
Te Anau
Directions stay in Te Anau - Boat trip, Bus over mountain and cruise Doubtful Sound by boat – this link is for the doubtful sound cruise not for directions
Day 22:
Omarama
Directions from Te Anau to Omarama (3 hours 56 min)
Day 23:
Lake Tekapo/ Mount Cook (Aoraki)
Directions Omarama to Lake Tekapo (1hour1min)
Stopping off at Twizel and Lake Pukaki on route.
Mt Cook Village is 43miles or 58.1kms from Pukaki which is on route, would have to be done as a there and back detour.
Day 24:
Christchurch
Directions Lake Tekapo to Christchurch (227kms, 2hours 51mins)
Day 25:
Christchurch – Motorhome Return by 12.00pm: