New Zealand —
one of the most beautiful places on earth
After Tasmania we flew into Auckland and picked up the Haka Tours Amplified 19-day tour — and this is where things got properly special. New Zealand is one of those places where the scenery genuinely does not look real. Every single day felt completely different — one minute you're beside the ocean, the next you're deep in mountains, then suddenly you're in geothermal Rotorua, watching the southern lights from Mount John at Lake Tekapo, or floating through a cave lit by thousands of glowworms. In 57 countries between us, New Zealand is firmly in the top five. We'd go back tomorrow.
Watch our New Zealand highlights first 🎬
Follow our 19-day route
Click any stop to jump around the journey. The dashed line shows the order of our stops rather than a turn-by-turn driving route.
14 featured stops across the North and South Islands.
How to explore New Zealand
New Zealand is large and getting around independently requires careful planning. These are your best options:
The best option for first-timers. Companies like Haka Tours operate 10–21 day circuits covering both islands with accommodation and transport included.
Driving yourself gives maximum flexibility. Left-hand traffic. Good roads, but plan drives carefully — distances are vast. An InterIslander ferry connects North and South islands.
Useful for covering long distances quickly (e.g. Auckland to Queenstown). Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main carriers.
Budget-friendly but slower. Intercity and NakedBus connect major cities and towns.
Best for: Long daylight, warm weather, beach time, hiking. Busiest season — book accommodation well ahead.
Best for: Mild weather, fewer crowds, stunning foliage. Ideal sweet spot for visiting.
Best for: Skiing, Southern Lights viewing (from June), fewer tourists. Can be cold and rainy.
Best for: Warming weather, spring wildflowers, active for adventure sports. Building crowds.
Our tip: We visited in shoulder season (May) and had excellent weather and manageable crowds. New Zealand is good to visit year-round — it just depends what you want to do and whether you're comfortable with weather variability.
Visa-free entry: Up to 6 months. You'll get a NZeTA (electronic travel authority) automatically on arrival or apply online beforehand.
Visa-free entry: 3–6 months depending on citizenship. Many nationalities need an NZeTA. Check immigration.govt.nz for your specific country.
Passport (valid 3+ months past travel), proof of onward travel, proof of funds, travel insurance (highly recommended). Some nationalities may need additional documents.
New Zealand Dollar (NZD $). Widely accepted cards everywhere. Budget NZD $80–150/day for budget travel, NZD $150–250/day for mid-range comfort.
Travel info: Visit immigration.govt.nz for the most up-to-date visa requirements. Requirements can change.
Explore five New Zealand stops from your sofa
Our friends at Drive From Home let you virtually cruise through some of the places on our route. Pick a destination, open the city guide or jump straight into the drive.
Book a New Zealand guided tour
New Zealand is large and the highlights are spread across both islands — a guided tour takes the stress out of organising transport, ferries and accommodation and means you see far more than you would independently. This is the type of tour we did and would recommend without hesitation.
Disclosure: Affiliate link — if you book through it we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More ways to book New Zealand
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New Zealand can mean beaches, boats, glacier walks and freezing cold mountain summits all in one trip. These are the things we'd pack without hesitation.
NZ weather changes fast — especially on the South Island. A good waterproof layer is essential.
Essential for walking trails, Cathedral Cove, glacier visits and adventure days.
For Lake Tekapo stargazing especially — it's genuinely very cold on that summit.
NZ sandflies are famously persistent — especially near water and in forested areas.
NZ has some of the strongest UV radiation in the world — you can burn badly even when it feels cool.
NZ uses Type I plugs — same as Australia but different to Ireland.
Ready to plan your New Zealand trip?
New Zealand is one of those trips you plan for years and it exceeds every single expectation. Don't rush it — give both islands the time they deserve. You won't regret a single second of it.