New Zealand trip plans

Road trips, camping bases and time on the trail.

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13 trip plans in our collection

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Illustrative photograph · Photo: Sleeps-Darkly · CC0 1.0
Anchor Bay on the Tawharanui Peninsula, photographed on 9 December 2018. Nearby coastal context, not a view of the campground or its pitches. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Sleeps-Darkly / CC0 1.0 / Details
Auckland
Auckland: Two Days Camping at Tawharanui
A compact Matakana and Tawharanui escape with one camp, a flexible park walk and no dependency on island ferries or city transfers.
Duration
2 days
Style
Fixed-base stay
Start / finish
Matakana / Matakana
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hahei's beach and coastal settlement. This is a view of the destination, not a verified view of camping pitches. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Details
Waikato
Coromandel: Three Days Based in Hahei
Use one Hahei camp to separate Cathedral Cove walking from Hot Water Beach, allowing the tide and coastal forecast to decide the order.
Duration
3 days
Style
Fixed-base stay
Start / finish
Hahei / Hahei
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Proshoot (Keith Bennett) · CC BY-SA 3.0
The sea outlook from Uretiti's DOC campsite, photographed on 18 October 2013. This coastal view does not show the camping pitches. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Proshoot (Keith Bennett) / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Details
Northland
Northland: Three Days Around Waipu Cove and Mangawhai
Keep a Waipu Cove camping base for a coast-focused break, with a deliberate choice between Mangawhai's cliff walk and a shorter beach day.
Duration
3 days
Style
Fixed-base stay
Start / finish
Waipu / Waipu
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Andrew Scofield · Unsplash License
Pitched tents in Yosemite Valley, United States, not a New Zealand campsite or a pitching demonstration. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Andrew Scofield / Unsplash License / Details
Taranaki
Taranaki: Three Days from a New Plymouth Base
Combine manageable Coastal Walkway sections with one conditional North Egmont forest outing, retaining a town-based option for mountain weather.
Duration
3 days
Style
Fixed-base stay
Start / finish
New Plymouth / New Plymouth
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Rotorua's shoreline at Sulphur Point in 2017. Landscape context only; this reserve view does not show a designated camping area. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Details
Bay of Plenty / Central North Island
Rotorua to Taupo: Four Days of Short Walks and Lake Stops
Spend two days around Rotorua before moving once to Taupo, pairing Okere Falls with a separate Huka Falls outing rather than an alpine crossing.
Duration
4 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Rotorua / Taupo
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Tom Ackroyd · CC0 1.0
Wellington Harbour from Roseneath in 2021. Harbour context only; no designated overnight parking spaces are identified. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Tom Ackroyd / CC0 1.0 / Details
Wellington
Wellington and Wairarapa: Four Days from Harbour to Forest
Spend a Lower Hutt night before moving to Carterton for town stops and a Holdsworth forest day, with a dedicated margin for the SH2 crossing.
Duration
4 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Wellington / Carterton
Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Cody Black · Unsplash License
A backpack carried outdoors; location unverified. This is not a retailer or current-stock photograph. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details
Wellington
Wellington to Kapiti: Four Days Around Waikanae
Head north to a Waikanae base for separate estuary and forest outings, leaving the Wairarapa crossing and island excursions outside the trip.
Duration
4 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Wellington / Waikanae
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Andrew Scofield · Unsplash License
Pitched tents in Yosemite Valley, United States, not a New Zealand campsite or a pitching demonstration. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Andrew Scofield / Unsplash License / Details
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty: Five Days from Waihi Beach to Ohope
Travel east from Waihi Beach through Katikati and a Papamoa base to Ohope, keeping harbour outings separate from the longer accommodation move.
Duration
5 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Waihi Beach / Ohope
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Andrew Scofield · Unsplash License
Pitched tents in Yosemite Valley, United States, not a New Zealand campsite or a pitching demonstration. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Andrew Scofield / Unsplash License / Details
Gisborne / Hawke's Bay
Gisborne to Napier: Five Days Through Wairoa
Split the eastern journey with a Wairoa overnight, a Gisborne forest day and an unhurried Napier finish instead of adding an East Cape circuit.
Duration
5 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Gisborne / Napier
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Andrew Scofield · Unsplash License
Pitched tents in Yosemite Valley, United States, not a New Zealand campsite or a pitching demonstration. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Andrew Scofield / Unsplash License / Details
Waikato
Hamilton, Raglan and Waitomo: Five Days Across Waikato
Pair a Raglan coast stay with a separate Waitomo walking day, starting in Hamilton and avoiding a rushed coast-and-caves combination.
Duration
5 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Hamilton / Waitomo
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Cody Black · Unsplash License
A backpack carried outdoors; location unverified. This is not a retailer or current-stock photograph. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details
Manawatu-Whanganui
Manawatu to Whanganui: Five Days With a Gorge Walking Day
Start with two Palmerston North nights, give the gorge its own transport plan, then move to Whanganui for a slower arts-focused finish.
Duration
5 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
Palmerston North / Whanganui
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.
Illustrative photograph · Photo: Cody Black · Unsplash License
A backpack carried outdoors; location unverified. This is not a retailer or current-stock photograph. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.
Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details
Taranaki
Taranaki: Five Days from New Plymouth to Stratford and Hawera
Move down Taranaki's eastern side with a Stratford forest day and a Hawera gardens finish, rather than returning to New Plymouth every night.
Duration
5 days
Style
Road trip
Start / finish
New Plymouth / Hawera
Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

Plan an island road trip

Start with a realistic route, then choose campsites and walks for each overnight base.

North Island itinerary South Island: 10-day route & longer options Campervan relocation: compare the constraints

Leave room to change course

These are editorial route suggestions, not booked holidays. Allow extra time for weather, roadworks, rest and the needs of your group. Each overnight stop needs a confirmed booking or verified permission.

Driving in New Zealand

Walking distances and grades belong to the individual route. Check its current notices before adding it to a driving day.

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