{"id":6990,"date":"2019-01-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=6990"},"modified":"2020-08-12T11:52:31","modified_gmt":"2020-08-12T01:52:31","slug":"incredible-nz-road-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/new-zealand\/road-trip\/incredible-nz-road-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 of NZ\u2019s most incredible road trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Land of the Long White Cloud might not be huge geographically speaking, but it sure crams plenty to do inside its borders. This makes NZ perfect for road trips, with everything from quick adventures along the coast to week-long treks from the North to the South. Here are five of our faves to put on your holiday list for when the time is right \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n

Heads up!\u00a0<\/strong>Due to COVID-19, Government travel advice and restrictions can quickly change. We recommend all travellers keep an eye on and follow the travel advice for their own regions and their intended destination\/s.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. New Zealand Wine Trail<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Five-day drive from Hawke’s Bay to Marlborough<\/h3>\n
Just one of Malborough’s many fantastic wineries<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NZ is famous for its exceptional wine, so why not sip your way down the country on this spectacular tour? With a designated driver, of course \ud83d\ude07<\/p>\n

Journey from Hawke’s Bay in the North Island to Marlborough in the South Island with pit stops in Wairarapa and Wellington along the way. It\u2019s along this route that you can sample some of the best wines New Zealand has to offer.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> The Marlborough Lodge<\/a> is a stone’s throw from Hunter’s Winery and St Clair Winery and offers luxury accommodation \u2013 perfect for unwinding after a long journey.<\/p>\n

2. Auckland to Wellington volcano tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Five-day trip from Auckland to Wellington<\/h3>\n
Hit the road from Auckland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NZ\u2019s volcanic heart offers many wonders to explore, such as the Waitomo Caves and Rotorua\u2019s spectacular geothermal attractions and M\u0101ori cultural experiences.<\/p>\n

Auckland alone is surrounded by 48 extinct volcanic cones. This means there are plenty of cave systems to explore, so stock up on your energy!<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> If you are looking for a five-star hotel that won’t break the bank, the InterContinental Wellington<\/a> offers the perfect place to rest up after all that spelunking.<\/p>\n

3. Bay of Islands Loop<\/strong><\/h2>\n

455km drive from Auckland<\/h3>\n
Urupukapuka Island, the Bay of Islands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the time-pressed, the Bay of Islands Loop gives you the chance to soak up some of New Zealand’s best sights in under a day. Spot dolphins in the Bay of Islands, stop for a glass of vino at one of Waiheke Island’s vineyards (a 30-minute ferry ride from Auckland) and explore North Island\u2019s spectacular beaches.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> There are plenty of hotel options in Auckland, with the Hilton and Stamford Plaza offering five-star experiences. But if you want a seriously luxurious stay, opt for the Delamore Lodge<\/a> on Waiheke Island for lush ocean views and more time at the winery.<\/p>\n

4. Christchurch to Queenstown<\/strong><\/h2>\n

480km one-way drive<\/h3>\n
Yep, that\u2019s NZ\u2019s tallest peak right there \u2013 Aoraki\/Mount Cook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another great drive that packs plenty of bang for your buck. Technically this drive can be done in six hours – but that defeats the point. Take your time to explore Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and other iconic sites. Eat fresh local produce, hike scenic trails, and learn some history at spots like the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Peppers Bluewater Resort<\/a> is a fantastic stay at Lake Tekapo \u2013 the perfect spot to spend some extra time.<\/p>\n

5. Te Anau to Milford Sound Highway<\/h2>\n

240km drive<\/h3>\n
We see where the name ‘Mirror Lakes’ comes from…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sure, you could join a cruise and reach Milford Sound by boat. But it\u2019s also a great drive, with plenty of views you might otherwise miss out on. Te Anau Downs is early in the trip and definitely worth stopping the car for, with walking tracks first created in 1888 by Quentin McKinnon. Then it\u2019s time to fire up your Instagram at Mirror Lakes, where the mountains are literally reflected on the water\u2019s glass-like surface. Check out Knobs Flat, the pools and waterfalls of Cascade Creek, Hollyford Valley Lookout, Homer Tunnel, The Chasm, and Mount Tutoko \u2013 all sights you\u2019d miss if you went by boat.<\/p>\n

Where to stay:<\/strong> Te Anau is one of the best places to rest your boots in New Zealand, with four-star hotels like Distinction Luxmore<\/a> and family venues like Te Anua Top 10 Holiday Park<\/a> offering great stays at top rates.<\/p>\n<\/i> PLAN YOUR NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIP <\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Land of the Long White Cloud might not be huge geographically speaking, but it sure crams plenty to do inside its borders. This makes NZ perfect for road trips, with everything from quick adventures along the coast to week-long treks from the North to the South. Here are five of our faves to put …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":6992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[775,761],"tags":[108,279,109,360,361,362],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6990"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10880,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6990\/revisions\/10880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}