28 days in New Zealand Itinerary

Wellington, the world's southernmost capital city and New Zealand's second most populous urban area, combines the nation's rugged history and nature with its modern and cosmopolitan present.

Start off your visit on the 8th (Thu): take a memorable ride with Wellington Cable Car, explore the activities along Oriental Bay, and then examine the collection at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Here are some ideas for day two: head outdoors with Great Alpine Highway, get a taste of the local shopping with Cuba Street, and then head outdoors with Bruce Bay.

To see maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Wellington online trip maker .

The Route module shows you all the different ways you can get to Wellington. In August in Wellington, expect temperatures between 15°C during the day and 9°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 10th (Sat) so you can travel to Stewart Island.

Visiting Rakiura Track and Ulva Island will get you outdoors.

To find other places to visit, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, read Stewart Island itinerary app .

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Wellington to Stewart Island. You will leave for Queenstown on the 13th (Tue).

Sheltered in an inlet of Lake Wakatipu, the resort town of Queenstown enjoys a strong reputation for its adventuring and skiing opportunities.

Head to Amisfield Cellar Door and Artbay Galleryfor some retail therapy. Escape the urban bustle at Coronet Peak and Speed Boats Tours. There's lots more to do: fly down the slopes at The Remarkables Ski Area, identify plant and animal life at Kiwi Birdlife Park, have some family-friendly fun at Skyline Queenstown, and take in the exciting artwork at The Ivy Box.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Queenstown trip itinerary site .

Explore your travel options from Stewart Island to Queenstown with the Route module. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Fri) so you can travel to Paihia.

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.

Visiting Taupo Bay and Parasailing & Paragliding will get you outdoors. The adventure continues: look for gifts at The Cabbage Tree Shop, discover the deep blue sea with a scuba or snorkeling tour, head off the coast to Urupukapuka Island, and admire the sheer force of Haruru Falls.

For ratings, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, use the Paihia trip maker .

Traveling by flight from Queenstown to Paihia takes 5.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of car and ferry. Finish your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Thu) so you can drive to Auckland.

The largest and most populous city in New Zealand, Auckland combines a rich history and thriving contemporary culture in an abundance of museums, art galleries, and performance venues.

Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Fri): tour the pleasant surroundings at Piha Beach, then explore the activities along Devonport, and then don't miss a visit to Sky Tower. Keep things going the next day: get impressive views of Rangitoto Island and then get to know the resident critters at Auckland Zoo.

To see more things to do, ratings, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Auckland trip planner .

Drive from Paihia to Auckland in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus; or take a bus. In August in Auckland, expect temperatures between 14°C during the day and 14°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Sun) so you can go by car to Manukau.

Manukau City is a former territorial authority district in Auckland, New Zealand, that was governed by the Manukau City Council. Rainbow's End Theme Park has been added to your itinerary. Head to Clevedon Village Farmers Market and Thames Society of Artsfor plenty of shopping. Your itinerary includes some good beach time at Rotoroa Island and Whangamata Beach. Get out of town with these interesting Manukau side-trips: Spookers Haunted Attractions (in Karaka), Miranda Hot Springs (in Thames) and The Coromandel Smoking Co. (in Coromandel). And it doesn't end there: explore the fascinating underground world of Nikau Cave, steep yourself in history at Stockade Hill, have some family-friendly fun at Gravity NZ Trampoline Park, and get outside with Driving Range.

To find more things to do, photos, maps, and tourist information, read Manukau driving holiday site .

Manukau is very close to Auckland. Traveling from Auckland in August, expect slightly colder with lows of 9°C in Manukau. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Sun) to allow time to travel to Waitomo Caves.

Head deep beneath the surface of the earth at Waitomo Caves, a village and cave system that draws both extreme sports enthusiasts and those wanting something a little more relaxed.

On the 29th (Thu), get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports, then explore the fascinating underground world of Ruakuri Cave, then explore the fascinating underground world of Caveworld, and finally Head underground at Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Keep things going the next day: experience rural life at Waitomo Big Bird & Miniature Animal Petting Farm, Head underground at Footwhistle Glowworm Cave, then admire the sheer force of Marokopa Falls Walk, and finally take in the views from Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk.

For reviews, ratings, photos, and more tourist information, use the Waitomo Caves driving holiday planning app .

Drive from Manukau to Waitomo Caves in 2.5 hours. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 30th (Fri) so you can go by car to Rotorua.

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.

Your day-by-day itinerary now includes Happy Ewe Cycle Tours as well as Skyline Rotorua. Escape the urban bustle at Kinloch Beach and Horseback Riding Tours. There's still lots to do: take in the natural beauty of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, identify plant and animal life at Redwoods Treewalk, admire all the interesting features of Te Puia, and have fun at 3D Trick Art Gallery.

To find traveler tips, ratings, other places to visit, and tourist information, refer to the Rotorua road trip planning tool .

Getting from Waitomo Caves to Rotorua by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a bus. In August, daytime highs in Rotorua are 17°C, while nighttime lows are 7°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 2nd (Mon) to allow enough time to take a bus to Taupo.

The resort town of Taupo lies on the banks of Lake Taupo, the largest body of water in the whole of Australasia.

You've now added Taupo Bungy to your itinerary. On the 3rd (Tue), get interesting insight from Taupo Bungy, then see the world from above with a helicopter tour, then push the limits with an extreme tour, and finally admire the sheer force of Huka Falls Walkway. Keep things going the next day: witness a stunning natural landmark at Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave and then tee off at Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary.

Plan my trip to Taupo with suggested itineraries provided by Inspirock.

Getting from Rotorua to Taupo by bus takes about an hour. Other options: drive. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) so you can go by car to Tongariro National Park.

Tongariro National Park has a long history of preserving New Zealand's pristine alpine landscape.

Get in touch with nature at Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Horsemtrails. On the 6th (Fri), spend an exhilarating day on the slopes at Whakapapa - Mt Ruapehu. There's more to do: contemplate the geological forces at Mount Ruapehu.

To see more things to do, photos, and other tourist information, use the Tongariro National Park trip website .

Traveling by car from Taupo to Tongariro National Park takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of shuttle and car; or do a combination of bus and car. Cap off your sightseeing on the 7th (Sat) early enough to go by car back home.