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New Zealand trip plans

Road trips, camping bases and time on the trail.

Essentials

13 trip plans in our collection

  • A stony shoreline and rippling Lake Te Anau beneath mountain silhouettes and an evening sky at Henry Creek.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Samm Bell · CC BY 4.0

    The lake outlook from Henry Creek Campsite, as identified by DOC. Surrounding scenery only: camping pitches are not visible. Photograph date not supplied. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Samm Bell / CC BY 4.0 / Details

    Fiordland / Southland

    Fiordland: Three Days Based in Te Anau

    Keep a Te Anau camp for a conditional Milford Road day and a separate low-level Kepler walk, leaving room to swap the outings or omit Milford.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Fixed-base stay
    Start / finish
    Te Anau / Te Anau

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Lake Tekapo township along the blue lake, with dry open land and mountains behind, viewed from Mount John.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany · CC BY 3.0

    Lake Tekapo township and its lakeshore, viewed from Mount John. Destination context only, not a verified campground view. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Ulrich Lange, Bochum, Germany / CC BY 3.0 / Details

    Canterbury

    Mackenzie: Three Days from Tekapo to a Twizel Base

    Move once from Tekapo to Twizel, then reserve a separate day for an optional Aoraki visit and Kea Point rather than assuming every alpine track is suitable.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Lake Tekapo / Twizel

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Campervan, camp sign and gravel access beside the water at Momorangi Bay Camp.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Mattinbgn · CC BY 3.0

    The waterfront camping area at Momorangi Bay on 27 November 2011. This historical photograph does not establish today's layout, facilities or availability. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Mattinbgn / CC BY 3.0 / Details

    Marlborough

    Marlborough: Three Days of Picton and Sounds Walks

    Stay in Picton for a harbour arrival, a Tirohanga lookout day and a shorter Momorangi forest visit, with no ferry or Queen Charlotte Track dependency.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Fixed-base stay
    Start / finish
    Picton / Picton

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.
    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

    Nelson / Tasman

    Nelson Tasman: Three Days from Motueka

    Make Motueka the base for a waterfront afternoon, a self-contained Marahau day walk and a flexible Kaiteriteri outing without a boat-dependent return.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Fixed-base stay
    Start / finish
    Nelson / Motueka

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Two white campervans and folding chairs on grassy ground beside trees and water at Lake Poaka.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Campervans at Lake Poaka Campsite, New Zealand, photographed in January 2020. General camping illustration, not a photograph of the featured holiday park or confirmation of its facilities or camping rules. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Michal Klajban / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Details

    Southland

    Southland: Three Days from Invercargill to Riverton

    Use Invercargill for arrival and a Bluff day visit, then move once to Riverton for a short reserve outing, keeping island crossings out of the schedule.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Invercargill / Riverton

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • A yellow tent pitched among trees, with another tent partly visible beside it.
    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

    Otago

    The Catlins: Three Days Around Kaka Point and Owaka

    Explore the northern Catlins from one Kaka Point camp, separating Nugget Point from an Owaka and Purakaunui Falls day instead of rushing the whole coast.

    Duration
    3 days
    Style
    Fixed-base stay
    Start / finish
    Kaka Point / Kaka Point

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Boats on Lake Wanaka beside the town waterfront, with snow-dusted mountains behind.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Lake Wanaka from the town waterfront in 2017. Area context only; the shoreline and visible parking are not identified as permitted overnight sites. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Krzysztof Golik / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Details

    Otago

    Queenstown to Wanaka: Four Days with Two Lake Bases

    Pair a Queenstown stay and Bob's Cove with a separate transfer to Wanaka and a lakeshore walk, keeping exposed peak hikes out of the default route.

    Duration
    4 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Queenstown / Wanaka

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Reeds, grass and rocks on the shore of Lake Mahinapua at Shanghai Bay, with forest across the lake.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Pseudopanax · Public domain

    Lake Mahinapua viewed from Shanghai Bay on 17 October 2024. Nearby lakeside scenery only; the campsite and its pitches are not shown. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Pseudopanax / Public domain / Details

    West Coast

    West Coast: Four Days from Hokitika to Fox Glacier

    Give Hokitika Gorge and Lake Matheson their own days, using a separate southbound transfer and no promise of glacier access or mountain reflections.

    Duration
    4 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Hokitika / Fox Glacier

    Checked 2026-09-26. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.
    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

    Canterbury

    Christchurch and Kaikoura: Five Days With a Peninsula Walking Day

    Make a focused Christchurch-Kaikoura return trip with three Kaikoura nights, a flexible peninsula outing and no compulsory wildlife-tour booking.

    Duration
    5 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Christchurch / Christchurch

    Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • Reeds, grass and rocks on the shore of Lake Mahinapua at Shanghai Bay, with forest across the lake.
    Illustrative photograph · Photo: Pseudopanax · Public domain

    Lake Mahinapua viewed from Shanghai Bay on 17 October 2024. Nearby lakeside scenery only; the campsite and its pitches are not shown. Not a verified photograph of the place or itinerary in this guide.

    Photo: Pseudopanax / Public domain / Details

    West Coast

    Westport to Hokitika: Six Days Along the Northern West Coast

    Slow the Westport-Punakaiki-Hokitika corridor into a six-day trip with separate coast and gorge days, stopping before glacier-country transfers.

    Duration
    6 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Westport / Hokitika

    Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • A yellow tent pitched among trees, with another tent partly visible beside it.
    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

    Otago / Southland

    Otago and the Catlins: Seven-Day Coastal Loop from Dunedin

    Travel through Kaka Point and the southern Catlins to Invercargill, then return through Gore with overnight stops separating coast and inland driving.

    Duration
    7 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Dunedin / Dunedin

    Checked 2026-10-01. Suggested itinerary; bookings and current access need confirmation.

  • A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.
    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

    Marlborough / Nelson / Tasman

    Picton to Golden Bay: A Seven-Day Top of the South Road Trip

    Work west from Picton through Nelson and Motueka, then allow two Golden Bay days before returning to Motueka without a same-day ferry deadline.

    Duration
    7 days
    Style
    Road trip
    Start / finish
    Picton / Motueka

    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.

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.

Find walking tracksConditions & alerts