Given that I've been on something of a New Zealand ‘writing spree’ lately, it only felt right to throw a good itinerary from India into the mix as well. Fair warning though, this one's an experience packed pick.
But when a destination sits on the other side of the world and is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many of us, I suppose squeezing in as much as you reasonably can isn't such a bad idea after all, right? So here's an 11 day New Zealand itinerary straight from our local guides on the ground in New Zealand, and if it's your first time visiting New Zealand, they reckon this is one of the best ways to experience both islands in one go!
Make Sure Your First 2 Days Are in Auckland
Once you've settled into your hotel in Auckland and have shaken off the jet lag, head up the Sky Tower for the city's best view point, then wander down to Viaduct Harbour, where you can grab a bite at one of the many waterfront restaurants there. Also, make time for the Auckland War Memorial Museum too. It's one of the finest museums in the southern hemisphere and a genuinely good way to get a first sense of the country's Polynesian heritage and early settler history.
On your second day, go beneath the surface at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium. Its underwater walk-through tunnels and penguin encounters make it one of Auckland's most memorable stops, and a nice contrast to probably a guided city sightseeing you can slot in for the afternoon for its architecture, parks, cuisines and cultural precincts.
Head South to Rotorua, By Way Of Waitomo
On the 3rd day, from Auckland, take the scenic drive south through the Waikato, one of New Zealand's most photogenic stretches of farmland. Break the journey at Waitomo for a guided tour of the Glowworm Caves. Here, you can witness thousands of bioluminescent glowworms clinging to the cave ceiling above a silent underground river, like a constellation, but underground. Continue on into Rotorua, New Zealand's geothermal heartland, and once you've settled in, head to the Polynesian Spa. Natural mineral pools, warmed from below and set against Lake Rotorua, are exactly what you'll want after a day on the road!
Give Rotorua a full day next. You can start at the Agrodome for a farm show covering sheep shearing, working sheepdogs and the agricultural traditions that shape rural New Zealand. In the afternoon, perhaps head to Te Puia, where Māori crafts and weaving traditions sit alongside an active geothermal landscape, including the Pohutu Geyser, one of the largest active geysers in the southern hemisphere. Spend the evening simply being in Rotorua's presence.
Fly South to Christchurch on Your 5th Day
A short flight across the Cook Strait brings you into Christchurch, the Garden City of the South Island. Having rebuilt itself since the 2011 earthquake, Christchurch today is one of the country's more interesting urban landscapes to walk through…
Spend your first afternoon at the International Antarctic Centre, home to New Zealand's largest colony of rescued little blue penguins, or kororā, the smallest penguin species on earth and native only to New Zealand and southern Australia. Pair that with a simulated Antarctic storm, cold enough to make your coat necessary indoors, and a ride aboard a Hägglund all-terrain vehicle bouncing over ice-like obstacle courses, and you've got one of the more hands-on afternoons the country has to offer. You can follow it with a panoramic tour of the city, taking in the Botanic Gardens, the rebuilt centre and the Avon River cutting through it all.
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Drive to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo on Day 6
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Reserve this day for one of New Zealand's greatest road journeys. You could start the day by crossing the Canterbury Plains, watching the flat farmland climb into high country as you make your way toward Lake Tekapo. If there's one stop on this drive you need to stop for, it's this one: the lake's turquoise waters, tinted by glacial flour carried down from the surrounding mountains, and the small Church of the Good Shepherd perched on its shore make for one of the most photographed scenes in the country.
From there, you can continue south and west, crossing the wide-open Mackenzie Basin before the road climbs into the Southern Alps. Eventually, it drops you straight into Queenstown, New Zealand's adventure capital, sitting right on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. Once you've checked into your hotel, perhaps stretch your legs and give yourself a break, letting the mountain views take over for the evening.
Give Fiordland The 7th Day
You'll want to set aside an entire day for this one, and it's worth booking yourself in early, because the drive itself is half the reason people rave about Milford Sound in the first place. The drive takes you through glacier-carved valleys and past mirrored lakes, with mountain walls rising ‘really’ high. The final stretch takes you through the Homer Tunnel, which marks your approach into Milford Sound, widely considered one of the wettest corners of the planet.
Once you arrive, board a cruise that takes you beneath cliffs draped in silver waterfalls, so keep your eyes open for seals sunning themselves on the rocks and dolphins occasionally riding the boat's bow wave, all while sheer rock faces climb over 1,200 metres straight out of the water around you. And when it's time to head back, don't write off the return drive as just the way home, Fiordland looks just as good the second time through.
Browse our New Zealand tour packages from India today, including carefully curated 11-day and 14-day journeys across both islands.
Day 8 For Exploring Arrowtown and Queenstown Itself
Spend a morning in Arrowtown, a beautifully preserved relic of the 1860s gold rush. Wander the heritage stone buildings and independent shops, walk the Avenue of Remembrance (particularly golden in autumn), and if you're up for it, try your hand panning for gold along the Arrow River, still a pastime sport for visitors!
When you’re back in Queenstown after that, take the Skyline Gondola up Bob's Peak for fabulous views over Lake Wakatipu and the jagged Remarkables range. Keep the afternoon open for whatever type of adventure you're after: bungee jumping, jet boating, white-water rafting and paragliding, all bookable locally at extra cost!
Want to customise this itinerary? Our tailor-made New Zealand holidays let you choose your own pace, experiences and travel dates.
Cross to Wanaka and the West Coast
Leave Queenstown behind the next day and head north to Wanaka for a morning stop. Get a picture of yourself with the famous Wanaka Tree, a lone willow growing out of the lake, and if you want something a little more playful, duck into Puzzling World for its optical illusions and architectural oddities.
In the afternoon, cross the Haast Pass, descending through ancient podocarp rainforest onto the wild West Coast. Eventually, you’ll arrive in the Franz Josef Glacier region, surrounded by dense rainforest, mist over the peaks, and the distant sound of a glacier that's very much alive…
Take In Franz Josef On Your ‘Final’ Day
Here’s how to make use of this day very well. First, spend your morning exploring the Franz Josef Glacier landscape. Optional walks to the viewpoints give you a proper look at one of the few glaciers in the world that descends into temperate rainforest so close to sea level.
Then, head back towards Christchurch along the coast, cut east through Arthur's Pass and the Southern Alps. If you'd rather travel by rail, the TranzAlpine Train is widely considered one of the great train journeys of the world, crossing the Main Divide through tunnels, viaducts and braided river valleys.
Still deciding how long to spend in the country? Read our guide on How Many Days Do You Need in New Zealand? before you plan your trip.
Say Goodbye to NZ in Christchurch
You could start the morning with one last, unhurried breakfast, since there's nothing left on the agenda except the flight home. From there, it's a straightforward escort to Christchurch International Airport for your onward journey. What's harder to shake off is everything else you're taking with you, even if it never makes it into a suitcase…
Why This New Zealand Tour Itinerary Works So Well
What makes such a New Zealand trip itinerary work is the route and variety it has in itself. Across 11 days, you move through Auckland's city roads, Rotorua's geothermal wonders, Christchurch's reinvention, the mountain theatre of Queenstown and Fiordland, and the glacier country of the West Coast. I could say it's a well-rounded introduction of New Zealand for first-time visitors…
If reading through all this felt like a lot to plan and pull off on your own, that's completely fair. We've had our experts put together a practical New Zealand 11 day travel itinerary along these experiences as one of our New Zealand tour packages from India, so you don't have to piece it together yourself…
