By admin A word of warning: two weeks may seem like plenty of time to see the main sights in a country, but the island nation of New Zealand has an inordinate wealth of natural beauty and splendor to experience (there is a reason it has been the setting for so many films). Split between the North and South Island, the attractions range from world-class hiking, every adventure sport you could conceive of, delicious wines, and an abundance of water activities.
Many people with only a week will opt to solely visit the South Island, but I fortunately had a second week, so I chose to divide my time between the North Island and the South Island. Even so, I still wish I had been able to spend at least two more weeks in what is undeniably one of the most picturesque destinations in the world.
In addition, New Zealand is very safe. The country has no lethally poisonous snakes, spiders, or other species, and its low crime rate has regularly earned it the envious position of second-safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index (Iceland holds the top spot, and the U.S. is #121 if you’re curious). I spent my first week traveling and hiking solo, and I was never uncomfortable. The only time I felt scared was when I drove on the left side of the road for the first time.
My friends Lindsay and Katz joined me for the second week, and we spent Christmas together in Queenstown before heading on to Australia. I have to give Lindsay credit for planning the bulk of our South Island itinerary; at times our pace did feel a bit manic, but we were able to pack so much in, and I have no regrets about anything we did.
Read on for an outline of the perfect two week itinerary in one of my favorite countries in the world.
Day 1: Auckland
The most populous urban area in New Zealand (with approximately 1.5 million residents), Auckland offers the majority of international flights, so chances are you will have to fly into Auckland Airport to start your New Zealand adventure. From the U.S., one can fly nonstop from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, or Honolulu.
Accommodations in Auckland: I didn’t find myself dazzled by the hotel options in Auckland, as the hospitality scene seemed to cater mainly to business travelers, or people like me, who just needed a home base for a night. I ultimately booked a room at the Four Points by Sheraton, which qualified for the annual Free Night Award that comes with my Marriott Bonvoy American Express. This helped to cover the annual fee for the credit card, and then some. While I had low expectations for the hotel, I was pleasantly surprised. I was upgraded to a corner room with great views of the city, my bathroom was modern and bright, and the free breakfast was excellent.
Things to Do in Auckland: While Auckland is a clean and modern city on the water with some nice parks, it pales in comparison to the numerous other breathtaking destinations in New Zealand, so I would not recommend spending a significant amount of time there. I opted to spend my first night in the city to recover from the long flight before picking up my rental car and beginning my North Island road trip the following morning. Popular day trips from Auckland include Waiheke Island (which I opted to do as a two night trip), Rotorua (I passed, as I had heard mixed reviews), and the Waitomo Glowworm Caves (I stopped there on my way to Taupo, which was a nice way to break up the drive).
Days 2-4: Lake Taupo
Located about a three hour drive south of Auckland, in the center of the North Island, lies the beautiful Lake Taupo. New Zealand’s largest lake, and roughly the same size as the city-state of Singapore, Taupo offers essentially every outdoor activity you could imagine.
Accommodations by Lake Taupo: I decided to split my visit between two resorts. The first two nights, I stayed at Lake Taupo Lodge, a lovely mansion-turned-luxury-B&B featuring six guest suites, a gorgeous garden, and views overlooking the lake. It was a nice spot, and the proprietor was a sweetheart of an older gentleman, but the decor did feel in need of an update. For the last night in the region, I splurged on the ultra-premium Huka Lodge, which has consistently been rated one of the world’s top retreats and visited by royals and celebrities. Located on the banks of the Waikato River, the lodge is particularly famous for its world-class fly-fishing, but you can still enjoy the luxurious accommodations and nearby hiking if you’re not an angler (I most certainly am not).
Things to do in Taupo: In addition to the aforementioned fly-fishing, popular activities in Taupo include visiting its hot springs, mountain biking, scenic cruises, kayaking, and my favorite: hiking. I chose to spend one day hiking the 12-mile Tongariro Crossing trail, one of the most popular day hikes in the country and the setting for several scenes in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. On my other full day, I hiked the trails around Huka Falls and the Waikato River.
Days 5-6: Hawke’s Bay
Located five-and-a-half hours south of Auckland, or two hours from Taupo, Hawke’s Bay is on the east coast of the North Island and known for its mild, temperate weather. If you’re not doing the road trip thing, you can easily fly into the region’s airport in Napier (domestic flights only).
Accommodations in Hawke’s Bay: I cannot rave enough about the peaceful Farm at Cape Kidnappers, one of three properties owned by Robertson Lodges in New Zealand. It is a strong contender for my favorite hotel in the world, although it is much more than just a hotel. Located on a massive parcel of land bordering dramatic seaside cliffs, the property includes an award-winning golf course, a farm, a gannet colony, and many miles of private hiking trails accessible only to guests. It is pricey, but rates do include meals, not to mention access to the breathtaking trails.
Things to Do in Hawke’s Bay: I honestly did not leave Cape Kidnappers because it was so wonderful and offered way more to do than I had time. However, if I had been able to stay for longer, I would have visited some of the wineries in the region. The area also has terrific beaches and is known for its historic art deco architecture.
Days 7-8: Waiheke Island
A forty minute ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke Island can easily be done as a day trip, but I knew that I’d want to spend more time on the lush island covered with vineyards and hiking trails. I dropped off my rental car at the Hawke’s Bay airport, flew from Napier to Auckland (the easy flight is an hour long), took an Uber to the ferry terminal, and hopped on the next ferry (they depart every thirty minutes).
Accommodations on Waiheke Island: I actually would not plan to return to the B&B where I stayed on Waiheke Island. Delamore Lodge offered a wonderful infinity pool with beautiful views of the bay below, along with warm hospitality. However, similar to Lake Taupo Lodge, the decor was in need of an update, and I expected more design-wise given the extremely high room rate. On a return trip, I would check out Marino Ridge or The Boatshed, both of which appear to feature a more modern aesthetic.
Things to Do on Waiheke Island: If you’re going to Waiheke Island, you’re definitely going wine tasting. I planned a self-guided tour on my first day, starting with lunch at Stonyridge Vineyard, then hitting Tantalus Estate and Te Motu Vineyards (all accessible via a short walking trail). On my second day on the island, my friends Lindsay and Katz arrived from New York, and we all met for a day of wine tasting led by Ananda Tours. To help you balance out all the wine consumption, the island is literally covered in walking tracks, and it’s easy to just start walking and see where the trails take you.
Day 9: Blenheim (Marlborough Wine Region)
The Marlborough wine district in the northeastern corner of New Zealand’s South Island may be the country’s most famous wine region, particularly for its distinctive zesty, crisp flavor. As avid wine drinkers and sauvignon blanc lovers, Lindsay and I couldn’t go to New Zealand and not visit Marlborough. Blenheim is the regions’s most populous town (with a whopping 26k people) and the home of the local airport. The flight from Auckland to Blenheim takes about 90 minutes.
I’ll admit, it was pretty ambitious of us to plan our only time in Blenheim on the same day that we were flying in from Auckland. However, the proximity of the vineyards to the airport paired with the fact that the tasting rooms are clustered very close to each other made the wine region accessible in just one day. If you’d prefer a more relaxing pace of travel, then it would be a good idea to stay for longer, but if you want to do the most that you possibly can with less time, spending just one day in Marlborough is absolutely doable.
Accommodations in Marlborough: I wasn’t wowed by the options for hotels in/nearby Blenheim, and we were only staying overnight, so we chose to book a very affordable and convenient Airbnb that surpassed all our expectations. If I returned and planned to stay for longer, I’d check out The Marlborough Lodge.
Things to Do in Marlborough: Wine tasting, duh. We opted to do a self-guided tour, which was extremely easy since many of the tasting rooms are located within close proximity to each other. Marlborough would be a great destination for a biking wine tour for that reason. If you are into fine dining, you must book a dinner at Arbour for their tasting menu and wine pairings. Our meal there was a highlight of the entire trip. And if you are in the region for longer, the hiking, biking, and water sports offered along the coastline look to be incredible.
Days 10-11: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
About a three hour drive from Queenstown, Aoraki/Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest peak at 3,724 meters, or 12,218 feet. The national park offers a variety of different walking tracks, and Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki nearby afford some of New Zealand’s most iconic imagery.
In another ambitious day, we flew from Blenheim to Queenstown (approximately 90 minutes), picked up another rental car and drove toward the park. However, rather than heading directly for our accommodations, we decided to take a detour to see Lake Tekapo (well worth it). All in all, it added an extra hour of driving, plus time to get out of the car and enjoy the views. Fortunately, it was the 22nd of December, so we had plenty of daylight with which to maximize our time.
Accommodations in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park: Being a national park, Aoraki/Mount Cook offers very limited accommodations, so you should be sure to book a room far in advance to prevent having to stay outside the park and drive 45+ minutes to get in. The one high-end hotel in the park is The Hermitage, although we did not stay there.
Instead, we booked a family room (Lindsay’s idea) at the Aoraki Alpine Lodge, complete with one king bed for Lindsay and Katz and a bunk bed for me. While it certainly wasn’t luxurious, the lodge was clean, affordable, and conveniently located, and we only needed a place to sleep. I would 100% stay there again if traveling solo or with friends or family, but would opt for The Hermitage if I was on a romantic trip.
What do Do in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park: Hike! The Hooker Valley Track is the most popular trail, is only 5 km long, and is also pretty flat and easy (it would make a great trail run, if that’s your thing). Because we finished early and felt like we could take on an additional challenge, we decided to embark on the Sealy Tarns Track, another 5+ km out-and-back, but all uphill, then all downhill, and steep AF. The views were unbelievable, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather, so I’d recommend trying to fit both tracks in if you have the time, decent conditions, and are in fairly good physical shape.
Day 12: Wanaka
Wanaka is a picturesque mountain town set on the serene Lake Wanaka and looking out to the snowcapped peaks of Mount Aspiring National Park. Approximately two-and-a-half hours from Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and an hour from Queenstown, Wanaka reminded me of a bustling lakeside town in Tahoe. After finishing our two hikes in Aoraki/Mount Cook, we hustled to Wanaka to maximize our time in the quaint resort destination.
Accommodations in Wanaka: Wanaka isn’t exactly known for its luxurious hotels; accommodations tend to be smaller B&Bs, lodges, or chain motels. We booked an Airbnb in an apartment building within walking distance to the main drag. It wasn’t anything too fancy, but we appreciated the small patio and in-unit laundry.
What to Do in Wanaka: Once again, hiking. Roy’s Peak is the most famous track in Mount Aspiring National Park, but after much research and some consultation with the locals, we decided to try the less popular, more challenging Isthmus Peak track. It was a long, uphill slog with seemingly never-ending switchbacks, but the views helped to keep us motivated all along. I should also mention that during the winter, Wanaka is a great skiing and snowboarding destination.
When you’re done hiking, the town does have a bit of a social scene, with numerous tables set outside along the main strip facing the lake. The vibe is casual and sporty; we felt totally comfortable stopping for wine (me and Lindsay) and a beer (Katz) while still in our hiking attire from earlier in the day. After showering and cleaning ourselves up a bit, we had a delicious, much-needed dinner at Kota, with friendly hospitality and great views of the lake.
Finally, you have to see the Insta-famous #thatwanakatree. Apparently, you haven’t been to Wanaka if you haven’t seen the tree; we found an article comparing the famous tree with other iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. I’ll leave you with that.
Days 13-16: Queenstown
Known as the “Adventure Capital of New Zealand,” Queenstown is a bustling resort town set on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the dramatic crags of The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak, Ben Lomond, and Queenstown Hill. It is also a great base for a number of day trips in the area.
After a manic four nights in four different places (Auckland, Blenheim, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Wanaka), we were excited to have a home base in Queenstown for another four nights. Plus, we were there for Christmas. Depending on what you want to do, you could definitely get away with a shorter visit to Queenstown, but we were very happy to slow down for a few days.
Accommodations in Queenstown: Queenstown offers some excellent choices for high-end hotels; Matakauri is high on my list for my next visit. We opted to book an Airbnb for our stay; it was perfect for the three of us since we had our own rooms and bathrooms, but also got to enjoy a shared living room, kitchen, and dining area, plus a spacious deck with incredible views over the lake.
What to Do in Queenstown: SO MUCH. We opted out of the extreme sports (bungee jumping, sky diving, etc.), but those are popular activities. Hiking is of course an option; we did the relatively relaxed Queenstown Hill track on Christmas Day. The Shotover Jet boat ride was an exhilarating yet time-efficient activity, and the Central Otago wine region was close enough that we could book an afternoon tour and still visit three wineries. The highlight of our visit was the scenic flight to Milford Sound. While the cruise through the Milford Sound was spectacular itself, I thought the flight was even better.
Queenstown also has a thriving food & beverage scene. We enjoyed Botswana Butchery, Nest Bar + Kitchen and Rata for dinners and The Boatshed Cafe for brunch. Fergburger is a popular burger spot, but we decided not to wait in the line that winding out the door and down the street. For cocktails, we went to Upstairs @ the Bunker and The Lodge Bar; the town also has a number of more casual bars and pubs if that’s more your thing.
I left New Zealand astounded by the country. It was one of the few places I visited on my travels where I could immediately picture myself living. I’m not sure if that’s going to happen anytime soon, but one thing is for certain: I’ll be back.
