Auckland to Christchurch is one of, if not the, most famous road trip routes in New Zealand. Starting at the top (aka the North Island) in the capital city Auckland and travelling 1,465 kilometres south to Christchurch on the South Island, this road trip is a real bucket list experience.
And New Zealand is an infamous travel aspiration for a reason. Stunning landscapes, welcoming people, a fascinating indigenous culture…and great quality roads just waiting to be journeyed!
When planning your New Zealand road trip you will for sure have many questions you need answering, and a thirst for the best tips and hacks to make sure your trip is the very best possible. We’ve got you covered! Summer Campers have done the legwork so you don’t have to: you can get all the information you could ever need about this road trip here, on our blog post dedicated to all things Auckland – Christchurch. You are welcome!
Are you ready for the ultimate Auckland to Christchurch itinerary? Let’s do this…
1. Day One: Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand’s capital city! Auckland is a combination of beaches, boutiques, and the best international food scene you could imagine. Take in this special city and all it has to offer…and pick up your home for the next 21 days: your campervan!
2. Days Two – Three: Auckland to Waiheke Island (around two hours’ driving).
Pack yourselves (and your campervan!) on a short ferry ride to this pristine island, surrounded by the divine South Pacific Ocean. Swim, snorkel, zipline if you’re brave enough (we see you, adrenaline junkies!) and take a visit to a local vineyard to sample some of New Zealand’s finest wine. In that order – ziplining when drunk is not encouraged!
3. Days Four – Five: Waiheke Island to Hamilton (around three hours’ driving).
Hamilton is an arts haven that hasn’t lost its city feel, with a scenic positioning next to the Waikato River. Visit Hamilton Gardens (a 58-hectare botanical garden) for a mesmerising journey through civilisations and their native plants, hike the Tiffany Falls trail and take in the majestic 21-metre waterfall, and take some time to switch off and cycle the city’s dedicated cycle routes. And of course, eat, drink and be merry at one of Hamilton’s many epicurean hotspots!
4. Days Six – Seven: Hamilton to Rotorua (around one and a half hours’ driving).
Roturua is a geothermal wonderland, with geysers, volcanic valleys and the spookily named Hells Gate. On top of an abundance of natural marvels, Rotorua also is a dreamland for adrenaline junkies, offering bungy jumping, the slingshot, skyline luge and a forest zip-line. Wondrous nature and extreme sports: a combination incredibly unique to New Zealand!
5. Days Eight – Nine: Rotorua to Taupō (around a one hour drive).
A summer hotspot for locals thanks to its beautiful lake and wide array of water sports options, Huka Falls is the Summer Campers favourite spot to hit up on a trip to Taupō. This 11-meter-high cliff spews over 220,000 litres of water across its ridge every second, resulting in a wild spectacle that has to be seen to be believed! Feeling extra brave? Splash some cash on a jet boat ride and get up close and personal to the Falls, so close that you can feel the spray on your skin. An experience, and wonder of the world, that you could never forget.
6. Days Ten – Eleven: Taupō to Tongariro (around a one hour drive).
The home of the Lord of the Rings film locations, Tongariro is the perfect spot to don your walking boots and get moving. A day hike will take you to Tama Lakes, where you can bask in the lava field vista, while the Tongariro Alpine Crossing (also a day hike, but more challenging than the Tama Lakes alternative) will have you traversing lava flows, skipping over active craters and navigating steam vents in this epic volcanic voyage. This is New Zealand in her element, where wild nature mingles with tranquil Emerald Lakes and the lush green forest.
7. Days Twelve – Thirteen: Tongariro to Whanganui (around two and a half hours’ driving).
Whanganui is a city with a difference. Steeped in history and set next to the Tasman Sea, Whanganui is a real journey back in time. Culture vultures will enjoy exploring the Opera House and the Sarjeant Art Gallery, while an unforgettable river cruise affords a beautiful opportunity to sit back and take in the culture from the comfort of a more fixed abode.
8. Days Fourteen – Fifteen: Whanganui to Wellington (around two hours’ and 15 minutes driving).
Wellington City is at the southern point of the North Island, and the leisurely drive from Whanganui to get here is peppered with smaller towns worth popping into. Foxton is a beach destination en-route that is home to the famous Kiwi – and aptly named – soft drink Foxton Fizz, and Red Rocks – Pariwhero is a secret spot where you can watch seals splash around (or sleep, depending on how they’re feeling!), for free! When you reach Wellington itself you will find a small city bursting with culture, cuisine, history, and nature. We love a day spent at the world-famous cable car to catch a glimpse of the best Wellington-views followed by a pit stop at the Wellington Botanical Gardens. With lots of wining and dining in-between, of course!
9. Days Sixteen – Seventeen: Wellington to Picton (around four hours’ driving).
It is time to hop from the North Island to the South Island! Take either the Interislander or Bluebridge ferries to cross the Cook Strait and head south to Picton, a vibrant community that plays host to great coffee, great food, great beer, and great wine! If hiking is your game then don’t miss the Tirohanga Track; steep and challenging, but oh so worth it. If the animal world is more your scene, make sure you jump aboard a (very!) cheeky boat headed for Kaipupu Sanctuary, where a leisurely 2.7km trail introduces you to an abundance of New Zealand’s unique birdlife. Including criminally cute blue penguins!
And the drive to get to Picton is delicious too, taking in the scenic changes as you travel through Marlborough Sound. An incredibly well spent two days!
10. Day Eighteen: Picton to Nelson (around two hours’ driving).
Nelson is a super cute coastal town that is home to a thriving creative community. Take some time to relax as you check out the numerous art galleries and handicraft shops, basking in the artsy, chilled vibes.
11. Days Nineteen – Twenty: Nelson to Hanmer Springs (just under four hours’ driving).
As you continue your journey south you will come across Hanmer Springs, a thermal gem perfect for maximum relaxation as your epic road trip draws to a close. There are 15 open-air thermal pools and three aqua therapy pools to choose from, each offering incredible scenic mountain views. And the cherry on the cake? Monteith’s Brewery is just across the road, for when a crisp beer is calling your name!
12. Day Twenty-One: Hanmer Springs to Christchurch (around one hour and forty-five minutes driving).
The final port of call – Christchurch – awaits you, ready to welcome you with botanical gardens, punting, tram rides through New Zealand’s garden city, and a bustling contemporary arts scene. Your road trip around New Zealand may be over, but the travelling doesn’t have to be! Christchurch is the perfect springboard for further exploration of the South Island, including the Southern Alps. So if time and budget is on your side, enjoy your time in Christchurch before hitting the open road (again)!
Feeling rebellious and want to travel South to North, Christchurch to Auckland? Just flip this itinerary and hit the road!
Sold on an Auckland to Christchurch road trip? Then it is time to get started turning your dreams into a reality!
Plane tickets are a priority of course, but an equal priority is securing the perfect campervan to travel, sleep, laugh and make unforgettable memories in throughout your trip. Summer Campers work with all rental companies in New Zealand, do not charge any booking fees, and will confirm your reservation within 10 minutes. We are experts at turning travellers’ road trip dreams into a reality, and we are ready to do the same for you!
Check out our campervan search engine on our home page for a quick and easy booking process – and be sure to let us know if you have any questions! We have the answers to any questions you may have, so don’t be shy, shoot us a WhatsApp via the link on our home page and we will get back to you asap!
