New Zealand is one of those countries that you should add at your bucket list despiste the high cost of the whole trip. It doesn’t mean the country is expensive, prices are similar than in Europe but you need at least 20 days for a full experience. Flights from Europe to New Zealand aren’t cheap at all although you can find good prices if you book your flight between 5-6 months in advance. A campervan is probably the best option to travel across the country, we booked ours from Campervan Republic and the price was reasonable.
New Zealand has a big list of incredible places to see and interesting activities to do therefore you should plan the route a bit in advance as it will help you to have a clear overview of the whole trip. Do not book any activity or accommodation before you arrive as you probably will change your plans everyday; the weather is so changeable and unpredictable and activities can be cancelled the same day due to bad conditions. Do not forget to allow more time than usual in New’s Zealand roads, unexpected and beautiful places can be found along the way. My best tip to you? Just go with the flow.
Under my recommendation, download Campermate in your phone, this ultimate app will be your best friend during the trip. Use its interactive map to find information about accommodation, places to see, things to do, petrol stations among others. You can also save money by booking dozens of activities from Bookme
you will probably change your plans everyday
This article is written to give you an idea of “what to see and do” in both islands. Also to provide information about accommodation, food, activities and petrol prices, basically a total budget. Find map link to see how our journeys were. We missed interesting things that can be added at your list and we also visited places that you might not have in mind. Three activities were cancelled due to the bad weather therefore we had to change plans few times. Hope you find this article useful for your next New Zealand experience, have a look and check out how our trip ended up.
#DAY 1 Auckland – Waitomo Caves
Distance: 184km (map)
Time: allow 2h 30′ + stops
Accomodation in Waitomo: Waitomo Top 10 Holiday Park – 18NZD
Waitomo Caves: Combo two caves – 89NZD
#DAY 2 Waitomo Caves – Hobbitton – Rotorua
Distance: 182km (map)
Time: allow 3 hours + breaks
Accommodation in Rotorua: Holdens Bay Holiday Park: 15NZD
Hobbiton Movie Set Tour: 79NZD
#DAY 3 Rotorua – Waiotapu Volcanic Valley – Taupo Lake – Tongariro NP
Distance: 216km (map)
Time: allow 3 hours + breaks
Accommodation in Tongariro NP: Whakapapa Holiday Park – 20NZD
Rotorua Lake – FREE
Waiotapu Volcanic Valley –28NZD
Taupo Lake – FREE
Rafting in Rotorua – 45NZD (activity cancelled)
#DAY 4 Tongariro NP – Queen Elizabeth Park – Wellington
Distance: 402 km (map)
Time: allow 5 hours + breaks
Accomodation in Queen Elizabeth Park (Paekakariki) – 18NZD
Tongariro Alpine Crossing (7hrs hike) shuttle – 30NZD (activity cancelled)
Tongariro Walk – FREE
Queen Elizabeth Park walk – FREE
#DAY 5 Wellington – Ferry South Island – Picton – Nelson Lakes NP
Distance: 286 km (map)
Time: allow 6hrs 15′ + breaks (ferry included)
Ferry Wellington – Picton: 320NZD (2 adults + campervan) – 160NZD
Accommodation in Nelson Lakes NP (Murchison): Riverside Holiday Park – 16NZD
Beautiful views from ferry when arriving to south island
Wellington city centre tour – FREE
Mount Richmond Scenic Road
Nelson Lakes NP Scenic Road
Nelson Lakes N.P. hikes – FREE
#DAY 6 Nelson Lakes NP – Buller Gorge – Paparoa NP – Bunner Lake
Distance: 214 km (map)
Time: allow 3h 30′ + breaks
Accommodation in Lake Brunner (Moana): Lake Brunner Motel Campsite – 33NZD
Buller Gorge: scenic road + the old ghost road track (1h) – FREE
Paparoa NP hike: Porarari River (2h) –FREE
Paparoa NP walk: Pancakes Rocks (30′) – FREE
Brunner Lake & River walk: FREE
#DAY 7 Brunner Lake – Artur’s Pass NP
Distance: 124km (map)
Time: allow 2 hours + stops
Accommodation in Artur’s Pass NP (Jackson): Jackson´s Retreat Campervan Holiday Park – 23NZD
Arthur’s Pass NP hike: Jack’s Hut track from Bealey (4-5h) – FREE
Arthur’s Pass NP hike: Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall track (1h) – FREE
Arthur’s Pass NP Scenic Road
#DAY 8 Arthur’s Pass NP – Hokitika – Franz Josef Glacier
Distance: 201km (map)
Time: allow 2h 30′ + stops
Accommodation in Franz Josef: Rainforest Retreat Campsite – 23NZD
West Coast Scenic Road
Bruce Bay Beach Walk (1h) – FREE
Hokitika wildlife centre (kiwi experience) – 25NZD
Franz Josef Glacier Valley track (2h) – FREE
#DAY 9 Franz Josef Glacier – Mt Aspiring NP – Wanaka
Distance: 287 km (map)
Time: allow 4 hours + stops
Accommodation in Wanaka: Lakeview Holiday Park – 20NZD
Heli – hiking at Franz Josef Glacier (3hrs) – 449NZD (activity CANCELLED)
Mt Aspiring Scenic Road
Mt Aspiring NP hike: Blue Pools (1h) – FREE
Hawea & Wanaka Lakes
Wanaka lakeside and high-street
# DAY 10 Wanaka – Queenstown – Glenorchy
Distance: 138 km (map)
Time: allow 2h 30′ + stops
Accommodation: YHA Hostel Kinloch – 35NZD
Cycling in Wanaka (2h) – 20NZD
Wanaka – Queenstown scenic road
Queenstown
Glenorchy lakeside
Isengard Walk – The Lord of the Rings scenario (Glenorchy) – FREE
#DAY 11 Glenorchy – Manapouri Lake
Distance: 216km (map)
Time: allow 3h 30′ + stops
Accommodation: Manapouri Motels & Holiday Park – 35NZD
Mt Alfred Summit track (5h) – FREE
Scenic Road Glenorchy – Queenstown
Manapouri Lake Walk (2h) – FREE
#DAY 12 Manapouri Lake – Doubtful Sound Fjord – Te Anau – Milford Sound Fjord
Distance: 139km (map)
Time: allow 2h + stops
Accommodation: Milford Sound Campsite – 40NZD
Kayak Doubtful Sound Fjord (8h) – 255NZD
Te Anau Lake
Te Anau – Milford Sound Scenic Road (considered one of the World’s most beautiful scenic road)
#DAY 13 Milford Sound Fjord – Curio Bay (South-end)
Distance: 395km (map)
Time: allow 5h + stops
Accommodation Curio Bay Campsite – 20NZD
Milford Sound Fjord Cruise – 45NZD
Milford Sound Scenic Road
Fjordland Scenic Road
Dolphins, seals and penguins experience in Curio Bay
#DAY 14 Curio Bay – Catlins Forest – Dunedin – Oamaru
Distance: 291km (map)
Time: allow 4h + breaks
Accommodation (Oamaru): Harbour Campsite – 20NZD
Catlins Forest park Scenic Road
Dunedin city centre tour – FREE
Penguin experience in Oamaru (penguins show up at the harbour-side at the night)
#DAY 15 Oamaru – Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Distance: 397km (map)
Time: allow 5 hours + breaks
Accommodation in Mt Cook NP: Glentanner Holiday Park – 22NZD
Oamaru Town walk tour (2h) – FREE
Pukaki Lake
Mt Cook NP scenic road
#DAY 16 Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Accommodation in Twinzel: Twinzel Holiday Park – 20NZD
Hooker Valley Track (4h) – FREE *Mt Cook view, glacier view, lake & iceberg views (100% recommended)
Blue Lakes and Tasman Lake & Glacier Track (2h) – FREE
#DAY 17 Aoraki/Mt Cook – Lake Tekapo – Edoras (LOTR scenario)
Distance: 242km (map)
Time: allow 3h 30′ + breaks
Accommodation in Edoras: Mt Potts Lodge & Campsite – 20NZ
Lake Tekapo walk – FREE
Burkes Pass scenic road
Kakatere Conservation Parl scenic road
#DAY 18 Edoras (LOTR scenario) – Christchurch
Distance: 160km (map)
Time: allow 2h 30′ + breaks
Accomoddation in Christchurch: Amber Kiwi Holiday Park – 20NZD
Mt Sunday summit (2h) – FREE *Edoras scenario in The Lord of the Rings
Mt Hutt scenis road
Christchurch Botanic Garden – FREE
#DAY 19 Christchurch
Accommodation in Christchurch: North South Holiday Park – 15NZD
City centre walk tour – FREE
Canterbury Museum – FREE
Akaroa Peninsula scenic road (3h)
#DAY 20 Christchurch – Auckland
Drop off campervan at the Christchurch Airport
Flight Christchurch – Auckland – 49NZD
Accommodation in Auckland: Grafton Backpackers Hostel – 23NZD person/day
#DAYS 21 & 22 Auckland
Auckland city centre – FREE
Auckland Harbourside – FREE
Auckland´s Museums – FREE
Auckland Sky Tower – 29NZD
This is how our road-trip ended up across New Zealand. As I said before, you can’t plan the whole trip at all although it’s interesting to have a clear overview of the route as well as the things you want to see and do. Budget can change depending the activities you want to add at your list. Below you can find information about how much money we have spent in petrol, food shopping, restaurants, flights and campervan; basically find below the total budget for a full experience in New Zealand.
Total km: 4199km
Flight London- Auckland return: 650 GBP
Flight Christchurch – Auckland one way – (49NZD) – 25.23GBP
Campervan 20 days + full insurance: 1,020 GBP/ 2 people: 510GBP
Ferry North Island to South Island – (160NZD) – 82.39GBP
Petrol – 947.40 NZD 2 people – (473.20 NZD) – 243GBP
Food shopping/ restaurants – 1138NZD 2 people – (569.21NZD) – 293.18GBP
Activities – (541 NZD) – 278.61GBP
Accommodation – (479NZD) – 246.65GBP
Total in GBP – 2329.06/ person
Total in € (current currency rate at 20.11.17) – 2623.82/ person
