From south to north
Aotearoa doesn't mean 'the land of the looooooong white cloud' for nothing. New Zealand is a lanky country. Its skinny shape makes it ideal for a one-way journey. Driving all the way from the south to the north of New Zealand is a road trip of epic proportions. It’ll involve one ferry crossing, hours of driving, and countless photo opportunities, hikes, pee breaks, and memories made.
Queenstown
There are too many things to do in Queenstown to list them all in one short paragraph – you just have to get down there and discover it for yourself. The mountains surrounding the town are a playground for outdoorsy folk. Hike, ski, or cycle your way around, or hitch a ride up the hill on the gondola if you’re that way inclined. Elevate things even further with a bungy jump, sky dive, or helicopter ride.
Get a taste of the open road and head a little further afield to Milford Sound, or just do a loop around Lake Wakatipu, stopping in at Glenorchy and anywhere else that takes your fancy.
Napier
Napier is at the heart of Hawke’s Bay, one of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions and the culmination of the wine trail. The town is famous for its Art Deco buildings, considered some of the finest in the world. After exploring the town, you can ditch your camper for a cycle tour through the many glorious vineyards.
Mount Maunganui
After Rotorua, leave the Thermal Highway behind and head straight up to Tauranga instead. This will put you on the Pacific Coast Highway. You can spend a night or two in Tauranga or head straight out to Mount Maunganui.
You can’t claim to have driven the length of New Zealand if you don’t have a photo of you grinning at the top of Mount Maunganui.
“JUCY was our freedom. We chased adventure and made memories for a lifetime.”
Hahei
Carry on up the Pacific Coast Highway. It passes by beach towns of Waihi Beach and Whangamata before looping around the Coromandel.
The Coromandel is one of New Zealand’s ultimate driving destinations, with a stunning view around every bend of the very bendy roads. You can take your pick of beaches to stop off at on the road that loops around the peninsula, but the classic destination is Hahei. Nearby Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove are bucket-list worthy attractions, and Hahei beach itself is magnificent.
Take the time to stop in at the little cafes, wineries, and fresh fruit stands you’ll find dotted around the Coromandel. Going slow here is almost obligatory – because of the perpetual beach vibes as much as the narrow, windy roads.
Auckland
Auckland’s concrete and glass skyline draws in weary travelers with the promise of flat whites in trendy cafes, a thriving live music scene, and continuous arts and culture events.
New Zealand’s largest city invites exploration. You’ll find all the best places to visit in the suburbs lying around the central city. There are some of the best cityside beaches in the world, incredible harbor views, and markets galore. You can base yourself here for a few days and take day trips out to the west coast beaches of Piha, Bethells, and Muriwai. Or head north to Matakana and the surrounding vineyards for a day.
While you always have the option of carrying on up north, Auckland makes a logical conclusion point for your bottom-to-top Kiwi road trip.
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