Home > Sample campervan tours
Christchurch-Auckland (21 nights/22 days)
New Zealand tour information supplied by our colleagues at drivingnz.com, experts in New Zealand self-drive tours.
Day 1 Christchurch
- Arrive at Christchurch Airport, uplift your Campervan and travel onto your local campervan park.
- After settling in you may want to explore the city, or even visit the Antarctic Centre located near the airport, with penguins and other points of interest about the South Pole.
Day 2 Christchurch
- Drive through the city and visit some of the scenic highlights including Sumner Beach, Cashmere Hills, Lyttleton Harbour, Brighton Pier or just meander the city on the trams or by foot.
- You may want to take in the very authentic Tamaki Heritage Village Maori cultural experience and a hangi (Maori earth-oven meal).
- You may want to travel up the Gondola in the Heathcote Valley overlooking Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains.
- Alternatively you could drive north through the Wairapa Valley wine country to Kaikoura on the East Coast and board a boat for a two-hour whale watching expedition in the waters off Kaikoura or travel out to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula to view the Hector Dolphins on one of the cruise.
Day 3: Christchurch - Lake Tekapo (230km/3:00hr) - Mt Cook/Aoraki (102km/1:15hr)
- Today you will drive out across the Canterbury Planes, down the coast and west through Geraldine and onto the very picturesque Lake Tekapo.
- From here it is a 1 hour drive to New Zealand's highest mountain, Mt Cook/Aoraki.
- In the afternoon take one of the many walks available in the Mt Cook area, guided or unguided.
- In the evening be sure to discover the Planetarium or visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.
Day 4: Mt Cook/Aoraki - Oamaru (184km/2:30hr) - Dunedin (115km/1:30hr)
- If you are in outside of winter when the lake is frozen, you may want to take up the wonderful experience of viewing the Tasman Glacier up close with a Glacier Boat Tour of the lake where you will see and touch icebergs at the face of the glacier.
- There are plenty of various graded walks to do within the National Park, both guided and unguided which you could do in the afternoon including the Hooker Valley walk, a very popular walk amongst visitors.
- In the afternoon you will head back out to the east coast via the mining town of Oamaru, home to one of New Zealand's largest Blue Penguin Colonies. Each day, 1 hour after dusk you can view the Penguins returning to their colony after a day in the ocean.
- Continue down State Highway 1, past the Moeraki Boulders and down into New Zealand's most Scottish town, Dunedin.
Day 5: Dunedin
- A 45-minute drive out to Otago Peninsula, and you can visit the Yellow Eyed Penguin and New Zealand Fur Seal colonies at Nature's Wonder, the Royal Albatross Centre or New Zealand's only castle, Larnach Castle.
- Other attractions include the worlds steepest street, Baldwin St, The Octagon, or the fantastic architecture of Dunedin Railway Station.
- Dunedin is also the home to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory which you can take a tour of during the day.
Day 6: Dunedin - Te Anau (298km/4:00hr)
- Continue south today down SH1 through to Gore, the you will head north west and through to Te Anau, base for access to the amazing Doubtful and Milford Sounds.
- In the evening you may want to take a Real Journeys tour out across the lake to visit the Glowworm Caves of Te Anau.
Day 7: Te Anau - Milford Sound (116km/2:30hr) - Te Anau (116km/2:30hr)
- Drive through the spectacular Fiordland National Park, stopping along the way at some of the many great spots for a photo, or just to admire the stunning views.
- Then upon arrival into Milford Sound take one of the cruises available through this World Heritage Site.
- * The Te Anau-Milford Sound road can get quite busy, and is very windy in places. We would recommend that you take a coach tour to/from Te Anau so you can sit back and enjoy the sights from the safety of a coach.
- Return to Te Anau for the evening.
Day 8: Te Anau - Queenstown (174km/2:30hr)
- Head north around the back of Lake Wakitipu and through to Queenstown.
- After settling in at the local camp ground you may want to sample the great shopping and fine restaurants on offer in Queenstown or travel up to dine at Skyline located at the top of the gondola, where they do a fabulous buffet in the evening.
Day 9: Queenstown
- You may want to start the day with an exhilarating jet boat ride on the Shotover Jet through the river canyon.
- If you are interested in wines you may want to drive out to lunch at Gibston Valley Wines for a tour of their unique cave wine cellar.
- Take a bungy jump from Kawarau Bridge, or Skippers Canyon - or a least go and watch others.
- White water rafting is very popular, and the rivers around Queenstown offer some of the best.
- Take a cruise on Lake Wakitipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw over the Walter Peak Farm.
- Other extreme activities include sky diving or taking a ride in one of the Pit Special Aircraft used for aerial acrobatics over Queenstown.
- Located 10km from Queenstown are the Onsen Hot Pools, where you can soak up in a tub in the with the great views out at Arthurs Point.
Day 10: Queenstown - Wanaka (70km/1:00hr) - Franz Josef (285km/3:45hr)
- A one hour drive over the Crown Range into Lake Wanaka where you can stop to explore this picturesque lakeside town.
- You may want to stop at the Cardrona Pub along the way, or even stop at Cardrona Adventure Park for a quad bike ride or a ride in a monster truck.
- Continue out through Haast Pass up State Highway 6 and through to Fox Glacier and onto Franz Josef 23km further away.
Day 11: Franz Josef
- Explore the glacier on foot or take a guided walk with one of the local tour companies. There are also Heli Hiking options which start from the ice fall.
- Relax in the evening and indulge yourself at the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools.
Day 12: Franz Josef - Greymouth (160km/2:00hr) - Punakaiki (44km/0:30hr) - Nelson (274km/3:45hr)
- Today drive north up the rugged West Coast and onto the old mining town of Greymouth.
- You may want to visit Shanty town, an authentic recreation of the mining town from yesteryear or take in one of the many bush or coastal walks available.
- Drive north up the rugged West Coast, through to the famous Pancake Rocks and Blowholes of Punakaiki.
- While you are there you may want to walk the Truman Track - 15 minutes through virgin forest to a coast of caves and coves.
- Continue north to New Zealand's sunshine capital, Nelson at the top of the South Island.
Day 13: Nelson
- Travel up 70km north west to Kaiteriteri, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park for a walk through one of the many tracks or just relax on the beach. Guided walks that our can do include stunning coast line, beaches, bush and wildlife.
- Be sure to explore Nelsons arty shops or enjoy their boutique restaurants in the evening or visit the World of Wearable Art Museum which is fascinating..
- Nelson is also home to Skywire, the longest flying fox in the world, at. 1.6km long located just out of town.
Day 14: Nelson - Picton (196km/2:30hr) - Wellington (3:00hr ferry)
- Upon leaving Nelson you will drive east through Blenheim. If you have time we thoroughly recommend visiting the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, designed by film director Peter Jackson, it is an incredible life like display of vintage plans, unique to any other displays in the world.
- Then it is off onto the port of Picton where you board the Inter Island Ferry with your camper van for a memorable trip through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound, across the Cook Straight to Wellington where you will disembark.
Day 15: Wellington
- Wellington is the political capital of New Zealand and you can visit the government buildings in the morning including the Beehive.
- Discover at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - five floors of treasured exhibits and interactive displays. It's an entertaining way to find out about New Zealand, arguably one of the best interactive museums in the world.
- The harbour of Wellington is stunning, so be sure to take in the great waterfront especially from the top of Mt Victoria.
- Visit the urban conservation Karori Sanctuary - the sanctuary marked a turning point in the conservation and recovery of native wildlife on mainland New Zealand when it formed in 1995, reversing a decline that has lasted for at least 700 years. The sanctuary comprises 225 hectares (one square mile) of regenerating lowland forest and wetlands protected by a unique 8.6 km predator resitance fence.
Day 16: Wellington - Napier (319km/4:00hrs)
- Head north today out over the Rimutaka Ranges, through to Masterton before continuing up State Highway 2 into Napier in the Hawkes Bay.
- Napier was nearly destroyed in the early 1930's by an earthquake and rebuilt during the peak of Art Deco, and is today the most Art Deco city in the world. You could explore the extraordinary architecture with a guided Art Deco walk.
- For a lasting moment, you may want to take a ride in the 1930's Buick, around to the National Tobacco Building for a photo with the car and building.
Day 17: Napier
- New Zealand's oldest winery, The Mission Estate Winery, which was established in 1851. Take a guided historic tour, which showcases the beauty of the restored seminary building, outline the history of the Mission, and conclude with a tasting of selected Mission wines.
- If time permits: Discover the history of winemaking throughout the ages at the Church Road Wine Museum. Take the guided tour through the working winery and finish with a tasting of current vintage releases.
- Drive to Clifton Station to see an interactive sheep shearing show and learn about the history of farming in Hawke's Bay and New Zealand before enjoying a bite to eat at the 'Caf� in a Paddock'.
Day 18: Napier - Taupo (142km/2:00hr) - Rotorua (76km/1:00hr)
- Drive through to New Zealand's largest lake, Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island.
- Visit the awesome Huka Falls, as an option you could take the Huka Jet up the Waikato River to the base of the falls.
- You may want to take a 1.5hr Chris Jolley Cruise out to view the Maori Carvings on Lake Taupo.
- Upon leaving Taupo, located just 10km north on State Highway 5 you will come across a turn off to The Aratiatia Rapids and at several specific times each day spill gates from a dam are opened at the top of the Aratiatia rapids and the narrow gorge fills with turbulent water surging past.
- Continue onto the geothermal wonderland which is Rotorua.
Day 19: Rotorua
- Visit the famous geysers, bubbling mud pools and the Maori cultural centre at Te Puia.
- Drive out to Lake Tarawera to visit the Buried Village where the Pink and White Terraces where destroyed by the eruption of Mt Tarawera.
- There is so much to do in Rotorua from the luge and Gondola at Skyline, Agradome Sheep Show to the adrenalin packed activities at Agroventures.
- In the evening you could always take in at cultural show and hangi, or visit Rainbow Springs at night which is spectacular.
Day 20: Rotorua - Waitomo Caves (156km/2:00hr) - Auckland (195km/2:30hr)
- Drive south to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves which you will be able to explore before continuing north through the lush farming countryside of the Waikato back to Auckland.
- After settling in, you may want to try one of the great restaurants or pubs located in Auckland's key food havens of Ponsonby, Parnell, Takapuna or Viaduct Basin.
Day 21: Auckland
- Explore Auckland's iconic sights including the views from Mt Eden, Devonport, and the waterfront.
- Discover the marine world of Kelly Tarlton's Underwater Experience and Antarctic Experience which is fascinating.
- You could take a Fullers Harbour Ferry to the island of Waikeke which is 45 minutes from the city ferry terminal. There you could explore the beaches, wine trails or quant eateries of the relaxed lifestyle that is Waiheke.
- You may want to explore the wild west coat beaches of Piha and Karekare located only 45 minutes from the CBD. There are some great coastal and bush walks around this region.
- Try you hand at sailing NZL41, the America's Cup yacht which you can participate with the sailing of on the Waitamata Harbour.
Day 22: Auckland
- Today you will return your camper van to the depot at Auckland Airport where your arrangements conclude.
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