8 days in New Zealand Itinerary
8 days in New Zealand Itinerary
Created using Inspirock New Zealand planner
Start: Dunedin
Drive
1
Queenstown
— 1 night
Fly
2
Paihia
— 1 night
Fly
3
Rotorua
— 2 nights
Drive
4
Taupo
— 3 nights
Fly
End: Dunedin
Wed, Jan 6 - Wed, Jan 13
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See full calendar
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Shallow Bay
Sheltered in an inlet of Lake Wakatipu, the resort town of Queenstown enjoys a strong reputation for its adventuring and skiing opportunities.Kick off your visit on the 6th (Wed): get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, look for all kinds of wild species at Kiwi Birdlife Park, and then get your game on at Skyline Queenstown. On the 7th (Thu), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: learn about winemaking at Chard Farm Winery, get interesting insight from Tours, then relax and rejuvenate at some of the best spas, and finally push the limits with an extreme tour.
To see other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Queenstown journey planner.
Dunedin to Queenstown is an approximately 3.5-hour car ride. You can also take a bus. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Thu) to allow enough time to travel to Paihia.
Things to do in Queenstown
Highlights from your trip
1
night
1
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The main tourist town in the Bay of Islands area, Paihia gives visitors a good range of accommodations, a convenient town center, long sandy beaches, and interesting architecture.Start off your visit on the 8th (Fri): look for gifts at Paihia Bookshop, then get in on the family fun at Action World, then contemplate the long history of Waitangi Treaty Grounds, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at Paihia Harbour.
To see other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Paihia travel itinerary planner.
Traveling by flight from Queenstown to Paihia takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 8th (Fri) so you can travel to Rotorua.
Things to do in Paihia
Highlights from your trip
2
nights
2
nights
Sulphur City
Surrounded by lakes and featuring impressive areas of geothermal landscape, the city of Rotorua offers an otherwordly landscape and a welcoming, peaceful environment, with the culture of the native Maori people very much in the foreground.Start off your visit on the 9th (Sat): witness a stunning natural landmark at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, then get impressive views of Waimangu Volcanic Valley, and then whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 10th (Sun): take in the natural beauty of Te Puia, take a pleasant ride with a tour on horseback, then take a peaceful walk through Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at Redwoods Treewalk.
For maps, traveler tips, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Rotorua planning website.
Traveling by flight from Paihia to Rotorua takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In January, daily temperatures in Rotorua can reach 27°C, while at night they dip to 19°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Taupo.
Things to do in Rotorua
Highlights from your trip
3
nights
3
nights
Great Cloak of Tia
The resort town of Taupo lies on the banks of Lake Taupo, the largest body of water in the whole of Australasia.Step out of Taupo to go to Tongariro National Park and see Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is approximately 1h 15 min away. The adventure continues: get interesting insight from Tours, examine the collection at Taupo Museum, take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, and contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Taupo.
To find more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, read Taupo driving holiday planner.
You can drive from Rotorua to Taupo in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 13th (Wed) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Taupo
Side Trip
Highlights from your trip
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New Zealand travel guide
Land of the Long White Cloud
Far-flung New Zealand has become known for its astounding topography, singular biodiversity, varied climate, and for marrying native Maori and post-colonial European cultures on its two main islands and the multitude of smaller landmasses dotted around them. Free-spirited New Zealanders cultivate a love of sports, sustainability, and the outdoors. Far from other landmasses, the islands existed for millions of years before being inhabited by humans, so an abundance of species have come to thrive in the thick, wild rainforest, vast and rugged backland, and extensive surrounding marine areas. While much of New Zealand tourism centers around adventures through this spectacular scenery, take time to explore the nation's rich cultural heritage as well. The traditions and history of the Maoris, and the industry and internationalism of the descendents of the first European settlers endure in fascinating attractions, ranging from museums, to farms, to places of worship.
