Country itinerary · New Zealand
14 days in New Zealand
A route that follows geography, not a list: Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Queenstown.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC0
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Quick answer
Spend 3 days in Christchurch, 3 days in Wellington, 4 days in Auckland, 4 days in Queenstown. The stops are ordered to keep travel short — about 1,842 km in total. Go in November–April for good conditions everywhere.
Key facts
- Stops
- 4
- Total distance
- About 1,842 km
- Start
- Christchurch
- Best months
- November–April
Days 1–3: Christchurch
A rebuilt garden city on the Avon and the gateway to the South Island
Christchurch (Ōtautahi), the South Island's largest city, was largely rebuilt after the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes, and its compact centre now mixes new architecture, street art and the Riverside Market with heritage survivors such as New Regent Street and the restored tramway. The Avon River winds through the…
- Don't miss: Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Punting on the Avon and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
- Day trip: Akaroa (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car)
- Stay: Central City
Days 4–6: Wellington
About 305 km from Christchurch.
New Zealand's capital wraps around a deep harbour at the southern tip of the North Island, with a compact, walkable centre squeezed between the waterfront and steep green hills. The national museum, Te Papa, sits on the harbour, a red cable car climbs from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Garden, and Zealandia's fenced…
- Don't miss: Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Cable Car and Wellington Botanic Garden
- Day trip: Martinborough (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car)
- Stay: Te Aro
Days 7–10: Auckland
About 493 km from Wellington.
Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau, spreads across a narrow isthmus between the Waitematā Harbour and the Manukau Harbour, dotted with more than 50 volcanic cones. The compact city centre runs from the Sky Tower down to the ferry terminal and the Viaduct, and ferries reach Devonport, Rangitoto and the vineyards of Waiheke…
- Don't miss: Sky Tower, Auckland War Memorial Museum and Maungawhau / Mount Eden
- Day trip: Waiheke Island (About 40 minutes by ferry)
- Stay: City Centre and Viaduct Harbour
Days 11–14: Queenstown
About 1,044 km from Auckland — usually quickest by air.
Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu in Central Otago, ringed by the jagged Remarkables and other peaks of the Southern Alps. The compact town centre is packed with tour shops, restaurants and bars, and it is the base for bungy jumps, jetboats, the TSS Earnslaw steamship and, in winter, the Coronet Peak and…
- Don't miss: Skyline Gondola and Luge, TSS Earnslaw cruise and Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge bungy
- Day trip: Milford Sound (About 4 hours each way by road)
- Stay: Queenstown Town Centre
The route at a glance
| Stop | Days | From previous stop |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 3 | Start |
| Wellington | 3 | 305 km |
| Auckland | 4 | 493 km |
| Queenstown | 4 | 1,044 km |
Total straight-line distance between stops: about 1,842 km. November–April suit every stop on this route.
What 14 days in New Zealand costs
Estimated spend per person on the ground, excluding flights, from the daily ranges in our destination research. Prices change; treat these as planning figures.
| Stop | Days | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch | 3 | $210–$360 | $510–$900 | $1,200–$2,700 |
| Wellington | 3 | $225–$390 | $540–$960 | $1,260–$2,850 |
| Auckland | 4 | $280–$440 | $640–$1,120 | $1,800–$4,000 |
| Queenstown | 4 | $300–$480 | $720–$1,280 | $2,000–$4,800 |
| Total | 14 | $1,015–$1,670 | $2,410–$4,260 | $6,260–$14,350 |
Costs are similar across the route: every stop is expensive for international visitors.
Questions travellers ask
+Is 14 days enough for New Zealand?
It covers Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Queenstown at a steady pace.