How many days are sufficient for New Zealand?

The short answer is 14 days as a minimum time frame for visiting both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. That's roughly one week's travel time for both islands and is just long enough for any visitor to experience the best of the country.



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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.

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For a 10-day trip, we recommend visiting up to four or five different destinations. Our 10-day itinerary locations are some of the most popular: Auckland the City of Sails, Wellington the cultural, art and food capital, and Queenstown the home of world-class adrenaline activities.

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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.

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Backpackers might spend 1-2 months in the country but anyone that wants the best of New Zealand in a shorter time frame should aim for 2-3 weeks. That will give you enough time to experience everything you've ever heard about New Zealand.

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Seeing New Zealand in 1 week is possible, but it will require early starts and long days. Personally, I'd ditch the car idea and fly between four major stops - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown - to save time.

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Generally speaking, if you want to engage with city culture or explore Maori history, the North Island is for you. If you want to deep-dive into nature, the South Island has plenty of lakes, mountains, fjords, and glaciers to discover.

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This self-drive tour covers the North and South islands, ideal for travelers who want to see a lot in 11 days while maintaining control of their schedule. You'll explore New Zealand's largest, most diverse city, Auckland, and slowly make your way down to Queenstown, surrounded by The Remarkables.

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You don't need to drive to see New Zealand. Take the bus or train and you can enjoy the same scenery without the responsibility of driving in an unfamiliar environment. In some places you can travel by ferry. Travelling by plane is quick and convenient.

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Most travellers need either an NZeTA or a visa to travel to New Zealand. This depends on the passport you are travelling on, and if you will be a visitor or a transit passenger.

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How Long Does it Take to Drive Around New Zealand? Driving around New Zealand can take anywhere between 30 hours, if driving from top to bottom and taking the ferry between the North and South Island, to 65 hours if doing a thorough road trip of both islands with the ferry included.

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Depending on your transportation of choice and the number of places to see, New Zealand can be done in 20 days. You can plan to spend 10 days on the north island and 10 days on the south island. This can be done in 3 weeks if you rent a car and have the freedom to go and leave.

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The cost of a round-trip ticket to New Zealand can range from $800 to $1,500 depending on the season and airline. Accommodation costs can range from budget hotels or hostels at around $30 to $50 per night to luxury hotels at $200 or more per night.

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