CoupleUpcomingNew Zealand Self-Drive
February 2027
20 nights · Auckland → Paihia → Rotorua → Queenstown → Te Anau → Wānaka → Twizel → Lake Tekapo → Christchurch
11N/12D · International
New Zealand
Auckland → Waitomo → Rotorua → Queenstown → Milford Sound → Franz Josef → Christchurch
Four nights on the North Island for Auckland, the Waitomo glowworms, Hobbiton and Rotorua's geothermal valleys. Seven on the South Island for Queenstown, Milford Sound, the drive over Haast Pass to Franz Josef, and the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch.
- Duration
- 11N/12D
- Stops
- 7 places
- Best time
- Nov – Feb
- Price
- Price on enquiry
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive Auckland
Met at Auckland airport and driven into the city. A walk around the Viaduct Harbour and waterfront once you have checked in. Overnight Auckland.
Stay: Cordis Auckland, or similar or similar
Day 2: Auckland
Up the Sky Tower for the view over the harbour. A ferry across to Devonport and up Mount Victoria, or out to the black-sand beach at Piha on the west coast. Dinner at the waterfront. Overnight Auckland.
Stay: Cordis Auckland, or similar or similar
Day 3: Waitomo Glowworm Caves → Rotorua
South to Waitomo, about two and a half hours. A boat ride through the dark under a ceiling of glowworms. On to Rotorua for the evening. Overnight Rotorua.
Stay: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, or similar or similar
Day 4: Hobbiton & Te Puia
Morning at the Hobbiton movie set near Matamata, about an hour away. Back to Rotorua for Te Puia, with its geysers, mud pools and the Māori arts and crafts institute. A hangi dinner and cultural performance in the evening. Overnight Rotorua.
Stay: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, or similar or similar
Day 5: Fly to Queenstown
Fly to Queenstown via Auckland or Christchurch. Afternoon on the lakefront. The Skyline Gondola at sunset for the view over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Overnight Queenstown.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, or similar or similar
Day 6: Queenstown — Kawarau Gorge & Arrowtown
Out along the Kawarau Gorge, where the bridge bungy is. Jump, jetboat on the Shotover River, or watch. Afternoon in Arrowtown, an old gold-mining town. Overnight Queenstown.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, or similar or similar
Day 7: Milford Sound
A long, good day to Milford Sound through Te Anau and the Homer Tunnel. A cruise out to the Tasman Sea under Mitre Peak and past the waterfalls. Back to Queenstown by road, or by scenic flight if you add it. Overnight Queenstown.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, or similar or similar
Day 8: Queenstown at Leisure
A free day. A lake cruise to Walter Peak on the TSS Earnslaw, the Queenstown Hill walk, a wine tour through Gibbston Valley, or a paraglide off Coronet Peak. Overnight Queenstown.
Stay: Crowne Plaza Queenstown, or similar or similar
Day 9: Queenstown → Wanaka → Haast Pass → Franz Josef
One of the best drives in the country. Over the Crown Range to Lake Wanaka, then through Haast Pass to the wild west coast. Stops at the Blue Pools and Thunder Creek Falls on the way. Overnight Franz Josef.
Stay: Franz Josef village 4★, or similar or similar
Day 10: Franz Josef Glacier
A walk up the valley to the glacier viewpoint, or a helicopter landing on the ice if the weather allows. The Glacier Hot Pools in the afternoon. Lake Matheson for the mirror view of Aoraki Mount Cook if the sky is clear. Overnight Franz Josef.
Stay: Franz Josef village 4★, or similar or similar
Day 11: TranzAlpine Train to Christchurch
Drive north to Greymouth and board the TranzAlpine for the crossing of the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass. Arrive in Christchurch in the evening. Overnight Christchurch.
Stay: Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square, or similar or similar
Day 12: Departure
A morning in the Botanic Gardens or a punt on the Avon if there is time, then the transfer to Christchurch airport for the flight home.
What’s included
Included
- Hand-picked hotels (Comfort or Premium tier — your choice)
- Daily breakfast
- All sightseeing, monuments, and activities listed
- Private AC vehicle with experienced driver
- Airport / station transfers
- Local English-speaking guides at key sights
- WhatsApp support from our team throughout the trip
Not included
- Flight or train tickets
- Lunch and dinner (unless specified)
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees (international journeys)
- Anything not explicitly listed in inclusions
Hotels
Two budgets. We confirm the exact hotels, or similar, when you book.
Comfort
- Cordis Auckland, or similar
- Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, or similar
- Crowne Plaza Queenstown, or similar
- Franz Josef village 4★, or similar
- Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square, or similar
Premium
- The Hotel Britomart
- Solitaire Lodge, Lake Tarawera
- Eichardt's Private Hotel
- Te Waonui Forest Retreat
- The George, Christchurch
Upgrades you can add
Heli landing on Franz Josef
Helicopter flight onto the glacier with a short walk on the ice.
Fly back from Milford Sound
A scenic flight back to Queenstown instead of the four-hour drive.
Business-class flights
Lie-flat seats on every long sector. We can book through your preferred airline alliance.
Luxury car upgrade
Mercedes E-Class, Toyota Vellfire, or Innova Crysta — depending on destination.
Visa for Indian passports
From official sources, last checked October 2026. We confirm it again when we plan your trip.
New ZealandVisa in advance
India is not a visa waiver country, so Indian passport holders need a New Zealand Visitor Visa before travel. You apply online.
Documents and how to apply →
When to go
- Nov – Feb
- Late spring and summer — long days and the best weather for Milford Sound
- Mar – Apr
- Autumn colour in Queenstown and Arrowtown, fewer crowds
Things to do
Milford Sound
A cruise down the fjord under Mitre Peak and past waterfalls to the Tasman Sea.
Waitomo glowworm caves
A boat ride in the dark under a ceiling of glowworms.
Hobbiton
The Shire film set near Matamata, kept as it was built for the films.
Franz Josef Glacier
Walk to the viewpoint, or land on the ice by helicopter when the weather allows.
Queenstown
Bungy at the Kawarau Bridge, jetboats on the Shotover, and the Skyline Gondola.
TranzAlpine
A train from Greymouth over Arthur's Pass to Christchurch.
Photos
New Zealand: common questions
- Either. Many families self-drive the South Island with an Indian licence plus an international permit or approved translation. We can also arrange a driver for every leg.
- The sightseeing is easy. Bungy, jetboats and glacier walks are optional, so the trip works for a range of ages.
- No. Every trip is planned for one family, couple or group of friends at a time: flights, hotels, drivers, guides and sightseeing, all chosen for you.
- Message us on WhatsApp — there is no form. Tell us roughly where, roughly when, and who is travelling. A trip designer replies personally, usually the same day, and follows up with a call to understand your priorities before sending a proposal.
- Where we show a figure it is indicative, per couple, and all-inclusive — flights, visa, hotels, sightseeing, transfers, breakfast and dinner. It is a planning number, not a quote: it is confirmed once hotels and transport are actually held, and it moves with the exchange rate on the day of booking. Trips without a figure are priced on enquiry.
- Yes. On our Europe trips both are included in the indicative price — return flights and visa application support and fees. Elsewhere we book flights through your preferred airline alliance and co-ordinate visa documentation separately.
Past trips like this
Trips we planned for real families. Names and prices are left out.
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