New Zealand itinerary — how long do you need, and which island?
A week does one island, two weeks does both. The South Island is where most people go — Alps, fiords and glaciers — and seven days loops it, nine crosses it, twelve reaches everything. The North Island is geothermal country, Hobbiton and coast. From $239 for a day.
Checked on 6 October 2026.
New Zealand is two islands that feel like two countries, joined by a three-hour ferry. The honest planning question is not where to go but whether you have time for both — and for most people with under two weeks, the answer is no, and that is fine.
How long each option takes
| If you have | What fits | Trip | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| **A day** | Hobbiton from Auckland | 1 Day Hobbiton | $239 |
| A day | Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo from Christchurch | 1 Day Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo | $259 |
| **Eight days** | A South Island crossing, Christchurch return | 8 Day Southern Crossing | $1550 |
| **Seven days** | A South Island loop from Christchurch | 7 Day Southern Loop | $1940 |
| **Nine days** | The South Island at pace, Christchurch return | 9 Day South Island Express | $1866 |
| **Twelve days** | The essential South Island, finishing in Wellington | 12 Day Essential South Island | $1815 |
| Eight days | The North Island, Wellington to Auckland | 8 Day North Island | $1264 |
| Nine days | The North Island, Auckland to Wellington | 9 Day North Island Adventure | $2099 |
Prices are per person and update on their own.
Which island?
- South Island if you want mountains, fiords and glaciers. Milford Sound, the Southern Alps, Queenstown and the west coast. This is what most people picture when they picture New Zealand.
- North Island if you want geothermal country, Maori culture, Hobbiton and a gentler landscape. Warmer, greener and less driving.
- Both needs about two weeks including the ferry crossing, which is three hours through the Marlborough Sounds and a trip in itself.
Walking trips
Fiordland is what people plan a whole trip around. These are based in one place and walk out from it rather than covering ground.
| Trip | Length | Based | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Day Fiordland Great Walks | 3 days, based in Te Anau | Te Anau / Te Anau | $1642 |
| 4 Day Fiordland National Park Walk | 4 days, 3 nights | Queenstown / Queenstown | $2015 |
Getting there
- Three hours from the east coast of Australia — Auckland from Sydney or Brisbane, Christchurch and Queenstown from Melbourne and Sydney.
- Fly into one end and out of the other where the trip is one way. Several of the South Island runs finish in Wellington or Queenstown rather than where they started.
- It is a separate country, so you need the usual entry requirements — check them for your passport before you book flights.
The trips
People also ask
- What New Zealand trips are there?
- Where should I go in Australia?
- Which tours suit older travellers?
- Is Australia good for solo travel?
Where this comes from. Each trip's own route, duration and inclusions sheet, as held on its page here. Prices are the current from price and update on their own.