L'Heure du Voyage
🇳🇿 Itinerary · New Zealand · 14 days

2-week New Zealand itinerary 2026: both islands

14 days across both islands: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, inter-island ferry, Mount Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound. The full itinerary, road trip, budget and transport.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€3,200-4,500

Total distance

~2,600 km

Profile

Two-island road trip

Season

Nov-Apr

Auckland 2d · Rotorua 2d · Wellington 2d · ferry · Mount Cook 2d · Queenstown 4d · Milford 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

New Zealand 2-week itinerary map: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€85/day

Auckland · D1 to D2 · City of Sails

  • D1 Arrival in Auckland, pick up the van, Sky Tower, Viaduct waterfront.
  • D2 Volcanic Rangitoto Island by ferry, west coast beaches (Piha) optional.
🛌 🛌 Auckland · e.g. central hotel (2 nights)·🚐 Van rental (left-hand driving)·New Zealand guide →
2

~€80/day

Rotorua · D3 to D4 · Geothermal and Maori culture

  • D3 Drive to Rotorua via Hobbiton (Matamata, Lord of the Rings set).
  • D4 Wai-O-Tapu (colourful geothermal springs), Maori village, hangi and haka in the evening.
🛌 🛌 Rotorua · e.g. geothermal lodge (2 nights)·🚐 Van
3

~€80/day

Wellington · D5 to D6 · Creative capital

  • D5 Drive to Wellington via Tongariro National Park (volcanoes).
  • D6 Te Papa museum (free), cable car, Cuba Street cafés.
🛌 🛌 Wellington · e.g. hotel near the harbour (2 nights)·🚐 Van
4

~€90

Inter-island ferry · D7 · Picton and the Marlborough Sounds

  • Morning Ferry Wellington → Picton (3h30, van on board), crossing the Marlborough Sounds.
  • Afternoon Drive south, Marlborough vineyards (sauvignon blanc) or the Kaikoura coast.
  • Evening Stop at Kaikoura (whales) or Christchurch.
🛌 🛌 Kaikoura or Christchurch (1 night)·⛴️ Inter-island ferry + 🚐 van
5

~€75/day

Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook · D8 to D9 · Southern Alps

  • D8 Drive to Lake Tekapo, turquoise waters, stargazing.
  • D9 Aoraki/Mount Cook park, Hooker Valley hike to the glacier.
🛌 🛌 Lake Tekapo then Mount Cook Village (2 nights)·🚐 Van + 🥾 hike
6

~€95/day

Queenstown · D10 to D13 · Adventure capital

  • D10 Drive to Queenstown via Wanaka, Skyline gondola.
  • D11 Adventure: bungy, jet boat or scenic flight.
  • D12 Arrowtown, Gibbston Valley wine route.
  • D13 Free day, Lake Wakatipu, relax.
🛌 🛌 Queenstown · e.g. lake-view hotel (4 nights)·🚐 Van
7

~€100

Milford Sound · D14 · Fjord and departure

  • 7am Trip to Milford Sound, scenic Fiordland road.
  • 12pm Fjord cruise, waterfalls and wildlife.
  • Evening Back to Queenstown, return flight via Auckland.
⛴️ Cruise + ✈️ return flight

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€3,200

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,300
  • 🚐 Van/hostel: €45/night
  • 🍽️ Simple meals: €20/day
  • ⛽ Fuel + rental + ferry: €550
  • 🎫 Milford + activities: €300
Recommended

Comfort

€3,900

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €1,400
  • 🏨 Hotel/lodge: €95/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed dining: €35/day
  • 🚗 Rental + fuel + ferry: €700
  • 🎫 Cruise + excursions: €450

Premium

€6,500

per person

  • ✈️ Business class: €2,500
  • 🏨 High-end lodges: €260/night
  • 🍽️ Renowned tables: €65/day
  • 🚖 Premium 4WD + ferry cabin
  • 🎫 Scenic flights + private Milford cruise: €800

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

1 week

1 week

The South Island: Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound.

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

Both islands: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, ferry, South Island.

1 month

1 month

The grand tour of both islands, from the Far North to Fiordland.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary links both islands by road trip with an inter-island ferry (van on board). Over 14 days and ~2,600 km, you drive on the left on winding roads. The Wellington-Picton ferry crosses the Marlborough Sounds. Budget ~€550 to €700 for rental, fuel and ferry.

🚐

Van rental

both islands · picked up in Auckland · left-hand driving

⛴️

Inter-island ferry

Wellington → Picton · 3h30 · Interislander/Bluebridge · van on board

🥾

Hikes

Hooker Valley (Mount Cook), Tongariro, Queenstown trails

⛴️

Milford Sound cruise

Fiordland fjord · waterfalls, seals

✈️

Return flight via Auckland

Queenstown → Auckland → Europe

Adapt by season

One austral window for both islands

Across both islands, the southern summer (December to February) maximises long days and open trails, but it is high season: book early and expect high prices. Autumn (March to May) offers the blazing colours of Queenstown and Wanaka with fewer people. In winter (June-August), the inter-island ferry runs but the southern passes can close under snow. Aim for November to April for this full road trip.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In March 2025, the 8am Wellington-Picton ferry crossed the Marlborough Sounds in golden light, nearly empty, while the 2pm sailing was full: book the morning departure, the fjord crossing is worth the early start. The van loads easily if you arrive 1h ahead.
  • • Combining the North Island volcanoes (Rotorua, Tongariro) and the Southern Alps: two New Zealands.
  • • Hobbiton on the way to Rotorua: the Lord of the Rings sets are worth the detour.
  • • Keep Queenstown as a large base of 4 nights to radiate out.
  • • Stargazing at Lake Tekapo, a dark-sky reserve.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Skip a night in Wellington for Kaikoura (whales) on the South Island.
  • • Fly Wellington → Queenstown instead of the ferry if time is tight (but you lose the Sounds).
  • • Add Abel Tasman (kayaking, golden beaches) right after the ferry if you have 2 days.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is two weeks enough for both islands? +
Yes for a fine overview: Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington in the north, then Mount Cook, Queenstown and Milford in the south, linked by the ferry. With a month, you add the Bay of Islands, Abel Tasman, the west coast and its glaciers.
How do you cross from one island to the other? +
By the inter-island Wellington-Picton ferry (3h30, van on board, Interislander or Bluebridge), which crosses the Marlborough Sounds. Or by a domestic flight (Wellington-Queenstown), faster but without the Sounds scenery.
Do you need a van or a car? +
Both work. The van/campervan offers freedom and lodging savings, ideal over 14 days. A car suits you if you prefer hotels. Left-hand driving, winding mountain roads.
What budget for 2 weeks in New Zealand? +
Budget €3,200 backpacking (van) and €3,900 in comfort per person, flight from Europe included. The international flight, the ferry and fuel weigh on the budget.
What is the best time? +
November to April: southern summer (Dec-Feb) for long days, autumn (March-May) for colours and fewer people. Winter runs but the southern passes can close under snow.
Do you need a visa for New Zealand? +
Yes: an NZeTA authorisation is required for most Western travellers, applied for online before departure (with an IVL levy). Tourist stays up to 3 months. Passport valid for 3 months after return.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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