17 days in Auckland & Christchurch Itinerary

The largest and most populous city in New Zealand, Auckland combines a rich history and thriving contemporary culture in an abundance of museums, art galleries, and performance venues.

Step off the beaten path and head to Tawharanui Regional Park and Goat Island Marine Reserve. Get out of town with these interesting Auckland side-trips: Nikau Cave (in Waikaretu), Matakana (Matakana Beach Outfitters & Matakana War Memorial) and Muriwai Gannet Colony (in Muriwai Beach). There's still lots to do: take in panoramic vistas at SkyTower, get to know the resident critters at Auckland Zoo, take a memorable tour with Tours, and add some adventure to your tour with a kayaking and canoeing tour.

To find more things to do, maps, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Auckland attractions site .

If you are flying in from United States, the closest major airports are Auckland International Airport and Hamilton International Airport. December in Auckland sees daily highs of 64°F and lows of 64°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Christchurch.

Recovering from the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 was no easy task, but Christchurch has faced the challenges with aplomb.

Step off the beaten path and head to Kayaking & Canoeing and River Rafting & Tubing. Venture out of the city with trips to Arts in Oxford (in Oxford), Geraldine (Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum & Geraldine Observatory) and Akaroa (Dolphin & Whale Watching & Saint Peter's Anglican Church). There's still lots to do: admire the natural beauty at Christchurch Botanic Gardens, steep yourself in history at Taylors Mistake - Awaroa / Godley Head Walk, go all around town with City Tours, and have fun at Margaret Mahy Family Playground.

For ratings, other places to visit, traveler tips, and more tourist information, read Christchurch online trip itinerary builder .

Getting from Auckland to Christchurch by flight takes about 4 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of train and ferry. Traveling from Auckland in December, expect nights in Christchurch to be a bit cooler, around 51°F, while days are a bit warmer, around 70°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Sun) early enough to travel back home.