New Zealand Forum Tripadvisor (2024)

FAQs

How many days in New Zealand is enough? ›

How long does it take to travel New Zealand? New Zealand is a relatively compact country, so you can see most of the country's highlights in two weeks. To explore more of the regions and get off the beaten track, you could easily spend three weeks or more exploring.

How much time do you need in New Zealand? Two weeks is an optimal amount of time to spend in New Zealand, which is why I've shaped this itinerary to cover 14 days of travel. Anything less than one full week and you'll just want to base yourself in one place (Queenstown or Auckland, most likely) and stick to day trips.

You can enjoy incredible scenery throughout New Zealand. Even if you only have several days, you can experience many unforgettable attractions. Travelling by domestic air lets you see more of the country. This North and South island itinerary includes some of the highlights that you can experience in just 10 days.

The best time to visit New Zealand is during the summer months of December to March, which bring long, bright and sunny days and temperatures of 16°C to 24°C. They're ideal for visiting the lovely beaches or enjoying the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking.

As a guide, you can expect to pay between NZ$30 and NZ$40 for a main dinner course at most restaurants. However, at a high-end restaurant, you can expect to pay between NZ$40 - NZ$100 for a main dinner course. For lunch, prices range between NZ$15-NZ$29 at most cafes.

Choosing the Cheapest Travel Times

The shoulder seasons, or off-seasons, are 3-4 month periods where flight tickets and traveling expenses in New Zealand are cheaper. To save money on plane tickets, visit between March and May, June and August, or September and November.

While both islands have beautiful beaches, the North Island has more traditional white-sand beaches that are perfect for swimming. The South Island is where you'll find the Southern Alps, which includes glaciers and the country's largest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook.

Driving is by far the easiest way to see New Zealand. City hopping by public transport is excellent in some countries (and New Zealand does have plenty of buses) but driving allows you to truly get off the beaten track and explore at your own pace.

With 20 days in New Zealand, you have time to explore the highlights of the North and South Islands and add unique excursions catered to your preferences.

How many days is ideal for New Zealand? ›

14-21 days allows for a more extensive trip with a good amount of 2 night stops and also allows time to include locations such as Milford Sound and Kaikoura or the Coromandel and Bay of Islands, which might not be possible on shorter time frames.

Choosing the right flights and transport in New Zealand

It's a good idea to book your air travel as far in advance as you can. Typically long-haul flight schedules are released 11 months in advance, however, Silver Travel Advisor can often secure your flights earlier than this with advanced registration.

3000 km - around 4 months

Sometimes you'll only be a day or two between towns, or you can be up to 8 days in wilderness. In the more populous north there's usually a campground ahead, and in the more remote south there's the security of New Zealand's renowned backcountry huts at the end of any tramping day.

To comfortably visit both the North and South Islands by road you will need at least 14 days.

Apart from Fiordland (which is a day trip best done by coach), most of the sights are within 1 hours drive of central Queenstown. If you have a particular special interest like food and wine, skiing, fishing, biking, adrenalin charged activities, Lord of the Rings etc, a seven day trip is a great idea.

Five days may seem short, but allows for an eventful adventure through New Zealand. Since there is not much time, it is ideal to travel within the South Island or the North Island—which budgets for a successful road trip with a few scenic stops.