2-Week Auckland to Christchurch Road Trip Itinerary

Sights along the way

Sight photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons — see individual post credits.

Two weeks, two islands, one rental car

If you have 14 days and want to see the "greatest hits" of both islands, Auckland → Christchurch is the classic route. It works particularly well one-way: fly into Auckland, out of Christchurch, and skip a lot of backtracking. Nomado offers one-way rentals between our depots.

Day 1 — Auckland

Pick up your car from our Auckland depot (free shuttle from Auckland Airport) and take it easy — Devonport ferry, Mt Eden, dinner on Ponsonby Rd.

Day 2 — Auckland → Coromandel (2.5 hrs)

Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Overnight Whitianga.

Day 3 — Coromandel → Rotorua (3 hrs)

Waiotapu geothermal park in the afternoon, Polynesian Spa at sunset. See our Rotorua weekend guide for more.

Day 4 — Rotorua → Taupo → Tongariro (2 hrs)

Huka Falls in the morning, then base yourself in National Park for tomorrow's hike.

Day 5 — Tongariro Alpine Crossing

19.4 km one-way, book a shuttle back to your car. Non-negotiable if the weather holds. Rest in Ohakune.

Day 6 — Tongariro → Wellington (4.5 hrs)

Te Papa museum, cable car, Cuba St for dinner.

Day 7 — Cook Strait ferry (3.5 hrs) + Picton → Kaikoura (2.5 hrs)

Take your rental car across the Cook Strait ferry — one of the world's great ferry rides. Book at least a week ahead in summer.

Day 8 — Kaikoura

Whale watching or swim-with-dolphins in the morning.

Day 9 — Kaikoura → Nelson via Blenheim (4 hrs)

Wine tasting in Marlborough — full route in our NZ wine regions guide.

Day 10 — Abel Tasman day trip

Water taxi + walk one of NZ's most beautiful stretches of coast.

Day 11 — Nelson → West Coast (Punakaiki, 4.5 hrs)

Pancake Rocks at high tide. Overnight Greymouth or Hokitika.

Day 12 — West Coast → Franz Josef (2 hrs)

Glacier valley walk. Optional heli-hike. See our West Coast glaciers itinerary.

Day 13 — Franz Josef → Arthur's Pass (4 hrs)

One of the South Island's most dramatic drives. Kea, tussock, alpine passes.

Day 14 — Arthur's Pass → Christchurch (2 hrs)

Drop the car at our Christchurch depot, then a night in the city before flying home.

Which rental car?

For a two-week trip like this we recommend the mid-size SUV or the 7-seater SUV if you have four or more people plus luggage. Both come with roof racks for skis or surfboards, and all Nomado rentals include unlimited kilometres — you'll do around 2,400 km on this route.

Related reading

• 4-week North & South Island return itinerary
• 10-day South Island loop from Christchurch
• NZ road trip packing list

Get an instant quote — $29/day, one-way fees waived on 14+ day rentals between Auckland and Christchurch.