21 days in New Zealand 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.

Start off your visit on the 3rd (Wed): learn about winemaking at Villa Maria Auckland Winery, kick back and relax at Karekare Beach, and then look for all kinds of wild species at Muriwai Gannet Colony. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 4th (Thu): tour the pleasant surroundings at Bethells Beach, then steep yourself in history at Howick Historical Village, and then enjoy the sand and surf at St. Helier's Bay.

To find photos, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read our Auckland vacation maker tool .

Montreal, Canada to Auckland is an approximately 23-hour flight. You can also do a combination of train and flight; or do a combination of bus and flight. Traveling from Montreal to Auckland, you'll lose 17 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Montreal in March, expect Auckland to be much warmer, temps between 22°C and 22°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Thu) so you can go by car to Rotorua.

Surrounded by lakes and featuring impressive areas of geothermal landscape, the city of Rotorua offers an otherwordly landscape and a welcoming, peaceful environment, with the culture of the native Maori people very much in the foreground.

Your day-by-day itinerary now includes Blue Lake Track as well as Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre. Get in touch with nature at Waimangu Volcanic Valley and Pilot Bay. Explore hidden gems such as Mount Maunganui Base Track and Waikite Valley Thermal Pools. The adventure continues: identify plant and animal life at Redwoods Treewalk, witness a stunning natural landmark at Lady Knox Geyser, do a tasting at Volcanic Hills Winery, and explore the striking landscape of Waiotapu Boardwalk/ Mud Pool.

To see ratings, reviews, maps, and other tourist information, you can read our Rotorua travel itinerary planner .

Getting from Auckland to Rotorua by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a bus; or fly. When traveling from Auckland in March, plan for a bit warmer days and slightly colder nights in Rotorua: temperatures range from 26°C by day to 18°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 7th (Sun) early enough to go by car to Hastings.

Hastings is a New Zealand city and is one of the two major urban areas in Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. On the 8th (Mon), look for all kinds of wild species at Pekapeka Wetlands, then kick back and relax at Waimarama Beach, and then learn about winemaking at Te Awanga Estate Vineyard. On the 9th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: explore the wealth of natural beauty at Te Mata Park.

For traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Hastings trip itinerary maker app .

Getting from Rotorua to Hastings by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 9th (Tue) so you can travel to Kaikoura.

Head to the small town of Kaikoura, a humble setting from which to witness some of nature's grandest designs.

Start off your visit on the 10th (Wed): explore the fascinating underground world of Maori Leap Cave, then hike along Ohau Stream Walk, then tour the pleasant surroundings at Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, and finally see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

To see ratings, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, use the Kaikoura trip planning tool .

You can do a combination of flight and train from Hastings to Kaikoura in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight, bus, and train; or do a combination of bus, taxi, flight, and train. On the 11th (Thu), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive to Fox Glacier.

A trip to Fox Glacier brings you close to one of New Zealand's most easily accessible natural wonders.

Gillespies Beach has been added to your itinerary. Start off your visit on the 12th (Fri): take in the awesome beauty at Fox Glacier, contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Matheson Walk, then see the world from above with a helicopter tour, and finally enjoy the sand and surf at Gillespies Beach. Keep things going the next day: trek along Fox Glacier Te Moeka o Tuawe Valley Walk, trek along Minnehaha Walk, go for a walk through Tatare Tunnels Walk, then trek along Peters Pool Walk, then trek along Sentinel Rock Walk, and finally take in the dramatic natural features at Franz Josef Glacier.

For traveler tips, photos, and other tourist information, go to the Fox Glacier trip itinerary planning site .

Traveling by car from Kaikoura to Fox Glacier takes 7 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of train, bus, and flight; or take a bus. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 13th (Sat) so you can catcht the bus to Wanaka.

Situated on the shores of Lake Wanaka in the Otago region, Wanaka has become a popular ski and summer resort area, owing to its extensive views of the lake and its proximity to some of the best slopes in the country.

On the 14th (Sun), trek along Rob Roy Track and then trek along Isthmus Peak Track. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 15th (Mon): admire the sheer force of Thunder Creek Falls and then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Wanaka.

To see other places to visit, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, read Wanaka trip builder site .

Take a bus from Fox Glacier to Wanaka in 4 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Mon) so you can take a bus to Te Anau.

Set among the picturesque peaks and glacially carved fiords of Fiordland National Park, Te Anau offers those wishing to explore the park a great place to stay and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a small town in an enviable location.

You've now added Doubtful Sound to your itinerary. Start off your visit on the 16th (Tue): explore the activities along Doubtful Sound, explore the activities along Milford Sound, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Lake Gunn. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 17th (Wed): hike along The Chasm Walk, then stroll through Gertrude Saddle, and then look for all kinds of wild species at Milford sound Hwy.

To find other places to visit and other tourist information, read Te Anau trip builder website .

Traveling by bus from Wanaka to Te Anau takes 6.5 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Thu) so you can travel to Wellington.

Wellington, the world's southernmost capital city and New Zealand's second most populous urban area, combines the nation's rugged history and nature with its modern and cosmopolitan present.

On the 19th (Fri), take an exotic tour of a safari tour and then take a peaceful walk through Otari-Wilton's Bush Native Botanic Garden. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 20th (Sat): kick back and relax at Paraparaumu Beach, then look for all kinds of wild species at Nga Manu Nature Reserve, and then explore and take pictures at Mount Kaukau.

For ratings, more things to do, photos, and more tourist information, you can read our Wellington route maker app .

You can do a combination of bus and flight from Te Anau to Wellington in 7 hours. Alternatively, you can ride a ferry; or do a combination of bus and ferry. In March, plan for daily highs up to 22°C, and evening lows to 16°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.