How many days do you need in Auckland & Rotorua?
- Most travelers spend 5-7 days in Auckland and Rotorua combined
- With 8 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
- The most common extensions are Queenstown (NZ), Paihia, and Wellington
How Many Days to Spend in New Zealand
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Recommended Itineraries for Auckland & Rotorua
Recommended Itinerary for 5 Days
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Auckland & Optional Activities | Auckland |
| Day 2 | Explore Auckland, Whale & Dolphin Watching | Auckland |
| Day 3 | Drive to Rotorua & Wai-O-Tapu Tour | Rotorua |
| Day 4 | Redwoods Forest & Mountain Bike Tour | Rotorua |
| Day 5 | Polynesian Spa & Return to Auckland | Auckland |
On this active, five-day tour, experience two different cities in New Zealand. Begin in Auckland, and stroll the trendy neighborhoods, followed by a day outdoors, including a dolphin and whale watching excursion. Then, travel to Rotorua, a geothermal destination. Explore the cultural and historical sites, dip into the hot springs, bike through the Redwoods Forest, and visit the famous Polynesian Spa. Read more
Extended Itineraries
8-Day Itinerary Including Wellington & Queenstown
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Queenstown, Walter Peak Dinner & Farm Tour | Queenstown |
| Day 2 | Milford Sound / Piopiotahi Flight & Cruise Tour | Queenstown |
| Day 3 | Queenstown Free Day | Queenstown |
| Day 4 | Fly to Wellington, Visit Museums & Wellington Cable Car | Wellington |
| Day 5 | Drive to Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland | Rotorua |
| Day 6 | Polynesian Spa & Te Pā Tū Evening Māori Cultural Experience | Rotorua |
| Day 7 | Drive to Auckland via Waitomo Glowworm Caves | Auckland |
| Day 8 | Depart Auckland |
For those that like a trip to include thrills, food, and natural wonders, this eight-day itinerary should check off all the boxes. New Zealand is known for its hospitality, and you'll experience the very best of it at a mountaintop farm, a lakeside spa, and a multicourse Māori feast. Along the way, you'll get to see a fjord from a plane, glowworms from a boat, and Wellington's cityscape from a century-old funicular railway. Read more
9-Day Itinerary Including Christchurch, Aoraki / Mount Cook & Queenstown
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Auckland, Cruise & Sky Walk | Auckland |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Rotorua via the Waitomo Caves & Glowworm Grotto | Rotorua |
| Day 3 | Explore Geothermal Rotorua's Hot Springs & Geysers | Rotorua |
| Day 4 | Fly to Historic Christchurch & Stroll the Botanical Gardens | Christchurch |
| Day 5 | Drive to Aoraki / Mount Cook, Cruise Tasman Lake | Aoraki / Mount Cook |
| Day 6 | Drive to Queenstown, Explore the Adventure Capital | Queenstown |
| Day 7 | Take a Scenic Boat & Plane Trip Across Milford Sound / Piopiotahi | Queenstown |
| Day 8 | Free Day in Queenstown & Optional Activities | Queenstown |
| Day 9 | Depart Queenstown |
Beginning in the vibrant capital of Auckland, this adventure-packed nine-day itinerary starts with a sail under the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Then, it's on to explore geothermal Rotorua and historic Christchurch and visit the spectacular Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park for stargazing and a glacier cruise. You'll finish with a multitude of options in Queenstown, from bungee jumping to a jet boat ride to vineyard tours. Read more
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