New Zealand 13-Day Self-Drive Tours & Itineraries

Explore 5 self-drive trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to New Zealand.

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Road leading to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, South Island

Self-Drive New Zealand: South Island Food & Nature Adventure - 13 Days

Experience the finest food and nature New Zealand has to offer on this 13-day South Island tour. Drive a loop of the island, stopping to cruise glacier lakes and paper-flat sounds, stay in a wilderness lodge, and spot seals on the Otago Peninsula. You'll even soar over Queenstown at sunrise in a hot air balloon. Along the way, dine on a historic tram in Christchurch, taste famous ales at Speights Brewery, and indulge in a traditional Kiwi feast at High Country Farm.

Drive to Cape Kidnappers for impressive views of the coast and a gannet colony

Ultimate New Zealand East Coast Road Trip: Queensland to Auckland - 13 Days

Embark on a 13-day whirlwind tour of New Zealand's North and South Islands as you follow the east coast. Begin in Queenstown, a southern city known for extreme adventure sports, then make your way up as you visit wine regions like Wanaka and Kaikoura and see glaciers in Aoraki / Mount Cook. Take a ferry to North Island, stopping in Wellington, the capital, before visiting volcanic landscapes and Maori villages in Rotorua. The tour finishes with a tour of Waitomo Caves and Auckland, the country's largest city.

See plenty of sheep as you explore the coastline from Christchurch

Discover New Zealand's South Island from Coast to Coast - 13 Days

Discover New Zealand's South Island on this 13-day road trip, suited for the intrepid traveler. Starting and ending in Christchurch, you'll soar over the city in a hot-air balloon, then drive the open road to Aoraki / Mount Cook and Haupapa / Tasman Glacier. Visit Dunedin, the Edinburgh of South Island, cruise along the Otago Peninsula to see giant Albatrosses, and take to Dart River's glacier-fed rapids in a jet boat. The tour wraps up with a heli-hike to Franz Josef Glacier and a trip riding the TranzAlpine Scenic Train.

Sunset on Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park

Best of New Zealand's North Island: Adventure, Culture & Relaxation - 13 Days

Ideal for those who want a road trip with a taste of everything, this itinerary will take you from the city lights of Auckland Harbour to the luminescence of Lake McLaren's glowworm canyon. Pamper yourself with a luxurious spa one day, then challenge yourself with whitewater rafting or an alpine hike the next. Experience Maori culture and art, then relax after digging your own beachside hot pool. Whether you choose to dine in Hobbit or Sky Tower-style, this trip will be unforgettable.

Drive to some of the most scenic areas of the South Island on this adventure

New Zealand Outdoor Adventure: Fiords, Glaciers & Mountains - 13 Days

This 13-day New Zealand itinerary covers both islands using a variety of transportation methods, including a rental car. Start in Auckland, where you'll see otherwordly Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves. Then fly to Christchurch and take the TranzAlpine Scenic Train to Greymouth to pick up your car. After choosing between scenic tours at Franz Josef Glacier, head to Queenstown for horseback riding before cruising along Milford Sound to spot wildlife and get drenched under waterfalls.

Other durations: 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days · 15 days · 16 days · 17 days · 20 days · 21 days

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