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.

While you can physically land in New Zealand and visit one specific area in 5 days, you cannot "see" the country in such a short timeframe. New Zealand consists of two large islands with incredibly diverse landscapes that require significant travel time to navigate. If you have only 5 days, your best strategy is to pick one island and one region. For example, you could spend 5 days in Queenstown (South Island) to see Milford Sound and go bungee jumping, or 5 days in the North Island to visit Auckland, Rotorua's geothermal parks, and the Hobbiton movie set. Attempting to see both islands in 5 days would result in spending most of your vacation in airports or in a rental car, leaving little time to actually experience the culture or scenery. Furthermore, if you are traveling from the Northern Hemisphere, you must factor in "jet lag," which can effectively consume the first two days of your trip. To truly see the highlights of both islands, most travel experts recommend a minimum of 14 to 21 days to account for the winding roads and the vast array of activities.