New Zealand 15-Day Tours & Itineraries

Explore 12 trips designed by local kimkim specialists to get ideas for your trip to New Zealand.
See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 15-day trips in New Zealand.
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Surf at Ngarunui beach in Raglan
Map of Highlights of New Zealand: From North to South - 15 Days
Highlights of New Zealand: From North to South - 15 Days

Traverse New Zealand on this two-week adventure-packed trip, covering the highlights of North and South Island. Discover diverse landscapes, from world-class surfing beaches, volcanic islands, and fern forests to geothermal waters, glacial fiords, and imposing mountains. Along the way, you'll visit historic mining towns, go wine tasting, hike, paddle, and fly your way across the country.

Discover New Zealand's diverse flora and fauna on this road trip
Map of New Zealand's South Island: Luxury Self-Drive Tour - 15 Days
New Zealand's South Island: Luxury Self-Drive Tour - 15 Days

Experience the wilderness and wildlife of New Zealand's South Island on this 15-day self-drive itinerary. By day, you'll drive through breathtaking landscapes and embark on outdoor adventures, while nights are spent in a series of secluded luxury lodges. Setting off from Christchurch, enjoy alpine walks in Mount Cook National Park, discover rich marine life on the Otago Peninsula, and cruise through the remote Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park. After adrenaline sports in Queenstown and a memorable trek across the Franz Josef Glacier, the scenic TranzAlpine train whisks you back to Christchurch.

Get up close to the Māori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo
Map of Ultimate New Zealand & Australia Adventure  - 15 Days
Ultimate New Zealand & Australia Adventure - 15 Days

This is the perfect trip for first-timers to Australia and New Zealand. Kick off the tour in Sydney and Melbourne with a few days to experience each city, plus nearby attractions like the Great Ocean Road. Then fly to New Zealand's South Island for a range of outdoor activities in the adventure capital of the world. Next is a road trip on the North Island, where you'll see spouting geysers, glowworm caves, and Maori rock art—ending with a whale- and dolphin-watching cruise off the coast of Auckland.

Explore New Zealand's oldest park, Tongariro National Park
Map of New Zealand North & South Island Road Trip - 15 Days
New Zealand North & South Island Road Trip - 15 Days

From the cosmopolitan cities and raw geothermal activity of the North Island to the stunning landscapes and heart-pumping thrills of the South, this 15-day self-drive itinerary squeezes the best experiences out of New Zealand. Fly over Milford Sound, helicopter over an active volcano, and ride the scenic TranzAlpine train with this luxury itinerary packed with adventure.

Sydney Harbour
Map of Best of New Zealand & Australia: Queenstown, Cairns, Sydney & More - 15 Days
Best of New Zealand & Australia: Queenstown, Cairns, Sydney & More - 15 Days

This fun two-week tour allows you to experience some of the highlights of New Zealand's South Island, as well as Australia's east coast. Begin in Christchurch, then travel across the mountains to explore mountains, glaciers, fiords, and the 'Adventure Capital of New Zealand', Queenstown. Traveling across to Australia, snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef, visit one of the oldest rainforests in the world at the Daintree National Park, have fun at a theme park on the Gold Coast, see the highlights of Sydney, and marvel at the unparalleled natural beauty of the Blue Mountains. This tour fits a lot of varied sights and experiences into two action-packed weeks. 

Waiheke Island vineyard, New Zealand
Map of New Zealand North & South Island Road Trip Highlights: Auckland to Queenstown - 15 Days
New Zealand North & South Island Road Trip Highlights: Auckland to Queenstown - 15 Days

Travel New Zealand from top to tail on this 15-day self-drive adventure. Start in the North Island, where you'll explore Maori culture and geothermal landscapes and tour the Hobbiton film set from "The Lord of the Rings." Next, take the Interislander ferry to the South Island for whale watching and glacier tours, followed by a trip to the country's adventure capital, Queenstown. The journey ends with a cruise of the famous, UNESCO-listed Milford Sound.

You'll visit New Zealand's best wine regions between Auckland and Queenstown
Map of New Zealand North & South Islands Food & Wine Road Trip  - 15 Days
New Zealand North & South Islands Food & Wine Road Trip - 15 Days

Best for food and wine lovers, this self-guided road trip spans nearly the entire length of New Zealand for the adventure of a lifetime. From Auckland, you'll make your way south through key wine regions while partaking in meals on land, tram, and boat, including a traditional Maori feast and a farm dinner on the South Island. The itinerary also visits top natural attractions with free time to enjoy activities ranging from easy hiking trails to paragliding over Queenstown.

See New Zealand's Milford Sound /  Piopiotahi by boat and plane
Map of Highlights of Australia & New Zealand - 15 Days
Highlights of Australia & New Zealand - 15 Days

This 15-day itinerary perfectly blends beauty, culture, and thrilling adventures across Australia and New Zealand. Begin in Sydney, exploring its famous landmarks and the stunning Blue Mountains. Fly to Palm Cove, a tropical paradise home to the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Cross over to New Zealand, landing in the adventure capital of Queenstown. Cruise the majestic Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, and finish in the vibrant city of Auckland.

The Remarkables Ski Resort on New Zealand's South Island
Map of New Zealand's South Island Ski Safari - 15 Days
New Zealand's South Island Ski Safari - 15 Days

This 15-day ski safari dashes between six of the best ski slopes on New Zealand's South Island. Wake to fresh powder at The Remarkables, Coronet, Cardrona, Treble Cone, Mt Hutt, and Roundhill ski fields. Between snow days, you'll soak in natural thermal pools, go hiking, and experience the best après-ski in the country.

Milford Sound
Map of New Zealand Highlights by Road, Rail & Air - 15 Days
New Zealand Highlights by Road, Rail & Air - 15 Days

Discover everything from trendy cities and staggering countryside to award-winning wines and gourmet food tours on this far-reaching 15-day trip around New Zealand's North and South Islands. Float over the Canterbury Plains at first light in a hot air balloon, be helicoptered up to the Franz Josef Glacier, and sit back while you enjoy a cruise through the breathtaking Milford Sound.

Cruise the glassy waters of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi, a fjord on New Zealand's South Island
Map of Road Trip New Zealand's North & South Islands - 15 Days
Road Trip New Zealand's North & South Islands - 15 Days

Cover New Zealand's North and South Islands' highlights, starting in Auckland before discovering the geothermal activity of Rotorua. Next, you'll reach Napier and wine taste at Hawke Bay, followed by a Wellington city tour and meeting native kiwis. Cross the Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island, see whales in Kaikōura, and hike Aoraki / Mount Cook. Then, cruise Milford Sound / Piopiotahi before ending your trip with a scenic ride aboard the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch.

Enjoy a walking tour of New Zealand's Mount Tarawera on Lake Tarawera
Map of Self-Drive New Zealand & Australia - 15 Days
Self-Drive New Zealand & Australia - 15 Days

Hit the road and discover the highlights of Australia and New Zealand on this two-week self-drive itinerary. Start on New Zealand's North Island to explore Auckland and geothermically active Rotorua, then hit up the South Island for hiking and sightseeing across Otago and Canterbury. In Australia, visit the Far North of Queensland, home to rainforests and reefs, before heading south toward Sydney via the iconic Uluru-Taka Tjuta National Park.

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