New Zealand

Off the Beaten Path New Zealand

Sixteen nights that drive to Dunedin's penguin colony and Kaikoura's whale grounds before most itineraries even reach Queenstown.

16 Nights / 17 DaysDuration
10Cities

The South Island, All the Way Down to the Albatross

Most New Zealand itineraries run Auckland to Queenstown and call it the South Island. This one keeps going , south past Queenstown to Dunedin's albatross colony and penguin beaches, then back up the coast to Kaikoura for whale watching, before finally looping north to Auckland and Rotorua.

This is one of the New Zealand itineraries we've planned for a couple before , sixteen nights, seventeen days across Christchurch, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Dunedin, Lake Tekapo, Kaikoura, Auckland and Rotorua, built for two adults travelling together, self-drive throughout. It's shared here to show what a longer, further-reaching route through New Zealand could look like. A version built around your own dates and pace would look a little different , and that's the point.

Why This Trip

Why Go All the Way Down to Dunedin

Why Go All the Way Down to Dunedin

Dunedin sits south of Queenstown, on a part of the South Island most itineraries never reach , the Otago Peninsula's Royal Albatross Colony and an evening penguin viewing are both here, and neither shows up on the standard Auckland-Rotorua-Queenstown loop.

Kaikoura, further up the east coast, adds a whale-watching day most first-time visitors skip in favour of a faster route back to Christchurch. Between the two, and a TranzAlpine-style drive out to Hokitika on the West Coast, this route covers more of both islands than almost anything else we've built.

Holiday Overview

Cities Covered
Christchurch, Hokitika, Franz Josef, Wanaka, Queenstown, Dunedin, Lake Tekapo, Kaikoura, Auckland, Rotorua
Starting Price
₹2,52,595

per person, based on 2 adults travelling together, excluding international airfare

Best Time to Travel
Late March to early April (South Island autumn)
Experiences Covered
Self-drive across both islands, Franz Josef Glacier helicopter with snow landing, Skyline Gondola & Luge, Milford Sound cruise, Dunedin Albatross Colony & penguin viewing, Lake Tekapo stargazing, Kaikoura whale watching, Hobbiton, Spellbound Glowworm Caves, Auckland sunset harbour cruise

Tap a pin to preview each stop

Trace Your Path

An itinerary designed
for every moment.

Christchurch Day 1, 10–12

Cathedral Square and a morning at the International Antarctic Centre.

Hokitika Day 2

A coastal town looking out over the Tasman Sea, reached on a scenic self-drive along the TranzAlpine route.

Franz Josef Day 3

A drive along the West Coast, with a 1:45pm helicopter flight and snow landing on the glacier.

Wanaka Day 4

A drive through Mount Aspiring National Park's viewpoints to Wanaka, a lakeside town known for wineries and waterfront dining.

Queenstown Day 5–7

The Skyline Gondola and three luge runs, a Milford Sound catamaran cruise, and Arrowtown's gold-mining heritage streets.

Dunedin Day 8

An evening Albatross Classic guided tour and a Guided Evening Penguin Viewing.

Lake Tekapo Day 9

A 9pm stargazing experience through a 14-inch telescope.

Kaikoura Day 11

A self-drive day trip to Kaikoura for whale watching along the coast.

Auckland Day 12, 15–17

A new self-drive vehicle picked up at the airport, the Sky Tower's panoramic decks and a sunset harbour cruise under the Harbour Bridge.

Rotorua Day 13–14

The Hobbiton Movie Set's Shire, the Spellbound Glowworm Caves, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and the Lady Knox Geyser eruption.

Day By Day

New Zealand Trip Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Christchurch Arrival

    A self-drive vehicle picked up at the airport and a check-in to Christchurch City Hotel, with the evening free.

  2. Day 2

    Christchurch to Hokitika

    A scenic self-drive along the TranzAlpine route to Hokitika, a coastal town looking out over the Tasman Sea.

  3. Day 3

    Hokitika to Franz Josef

    A drive along the West Coast to Franz Josef, with a 1:45pm helicopter flight and snow landing on the glacier.

  4. Day 4

    Franz Josef to Wanaka

    A drive through Mount Aspiring National Park's viewpoints to Wanaka, a lakeside town known for wineries and waterfront dining.

  5. Day 5

    Queenstown Arrival

    A drive to Queenstown, with the evening free to explore.

  6. Day 6

    Skyline Gondola with Luge & Arrowtown

    The Skyline Gondola and three luge runs, followed by a self-drive to Arrowtown's gold-mining heritage streets.

  7. Day 7

    Milford Sound Coach & Cruise

    A twelve-hour tour through Fiordland's gorges and the Homer Tunnel, with a Milford Sound catamaran cruise past waterfalls and cliffs.

  8. Day 8

    Queenstown to Dunedin

    A self-drive south along the coast to Dunedin, with an evening Albatross Classic guided tour and a Guided Evening Penguin Viewing.

  9. Day 9

    Dunedin to Lake Tekapo

    A drive north to Lake Tekapo, with a 9pm stargazing experience through a 14-inch telescope.

  10. Day 10

    Lake Tekapo to Christchurch

    A drive back to Christchurch, with the evening free around Cathedral Square.

  11. Day 11

    Kaikoura Whale Watching, Self-Drive

    A self-drive day trip to Kaikoura for whale watching along the coast.

  12. Day 12

    Christchurch to Auckland

    A morning at the Christchurch International Antarctic Centre, then a flight to Auckland and a new self-drive vehicle picked up at the airport.

  13. Day 13

    Hobbiton & Spellbound Glowworm Caves , Drive to Rotorua

    The Hobbiton Movie Set's Shire, then the Spellbound Glowworm Caves' guided tour before checking into Rotorua.

  14. Day 14

    Lady Knox Geyser & Wai-O-Tapu

    Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland's colourful geothermal pools and the Lady Knox Geyser eruption.

  15. Day 15

    Rotorua to Auckland

    A drive back to Auckland, with the evening free.

  16. Day 16

    Sky Tower & Sunset Harbour Cruise

    The Sky Tower's panoramic decks by day, then a sunset harbour cruise under the Harbour Bridge with live commentary and a licensed bar.

  17. Day 17

    Departure

    The self-drive vehicle is dropped at Auckland Airport for the flight home.

What's Included

Experiences Included.

Where You'll Stay

Hotel Stays.

Self-drive throughout, with hotel stays across ten stops on both islands.

Christchurch: Christchurch City Hotel, later Wyndham Garden Christchurch Kilmore Street.

Hokitika: Bella Vista Motel.

Franz Josef: JAG Escape Franz Alpine Retreat.

Wanaka: Archway Motel.

Queenstown: Marina Apartments Element Escapes.

Dunedin: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City.

Lake Tekapo: Jero's Place.

Auckland: Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre.

Rotorua: Quest Rotorua Central.

The Fine Print, Handled

What Travenza Holidays
Will Arrange.

Itinerary planning, hotel reservations, self-drive vehicle rental across both islands, sightseeing, the internal flight from Christchurch to Auckland, visa assistance, and travel support throughout.

Customised by travel dates, pace, and hotel preference , including how much further south past Queenstown to go.

Ready When You Are

Plan Your Off the Beaten Path Holiday to New Zealand

An albatross colony past Queenstown, a whale-watching morning at Kaikoura, a West Coast drive out to Hokitika most itineraries skip entirely , this route covers more of New Zealand than the standard loop ever gets to.

This is one of the itineraries we've built for a couple travelling together before, shared here to show what the trip could look like. A version built for your own dates and pace would look a little different.

Estimated from ₹2,52,595 per adult · All inclusive

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