Planning your road trip around New Zealand can seem daunting, especially if you have never done one before. Figuring out where to start and what sights to see can seem impossible, but with the help of Travellers Autobarn New Zealand, it doesn’t need to be.

We have teamed up with them to bring you the ultimate route around New Zealand with your campervan. Whether you want to take a short trip, an extended sightseeing trip, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip, we have the route for you.

Routes To Travel Around New Zealand

We have several routes listed below for you to use as your inspiration for your campervan trip around New Zealand. We have trips for the North and South islands, with a breakdown of how long they will take and what you will see. Choose your trip now!

North Island Campervan Trips

Auckland To Wellington Via Taupo

• Day 1 – Waikato (Cambridge, Lake Karapiro, Hobbiton Movie Set)
• Day 2 – 3 – Rotorua (Skyline Rotorua, Mountain biking, Te Puia, Polynesian spa, Redwoods Treewalk)
• Day 4 – Taupo (Huka Falls, Lake cruises, Jet Boating)
• Day 5 – Turangi (White water rafting, trout fishing, Tongariro River)
• Day 6 – Tongariro National Park (Tongariro crossing, Whakapapa ski field, Sky Waka gondola)
• Day 7 – National Park to Palmerston North (National army museum, Manawatu gorge, New Zealand rugby museum)
• Day 8 – Palmerston North to Martinborough (Star gazing, Pukkaka National Wildlife Centre, Martinborough wineries)
• Day 9 – 10 – Wellington (Craft beer, shopping, Wellington cable car, Weta Workshop, Zealandia)

Total: 10 days, eight stops

Cape Reinga Campervan Loop

• Day 1 – Mangawhai to Waipu (Beaches, glow worms, food and wine)
• Day 2 – Tutukaka Coast (Paihia, water activities, coastal scenery)
• Day 3 – Waitangi and Russell (Historic Russell, Waitangi treaty grounds, Bay of Islands)
• Day 4 – Cape Reinga (Te Paki dunes, cape Regina, Ahipara)
• Day 5 – Hokianga ( Hokianga Harbour, Maori history, Waipoua forest)
• Day 6 – Kai Iwi Lakes and the Kaipara (Kai Iwi lakes, Kapra harbour, Kauri museum)
• Day 7 – Muriwai and Kumeu (Murawai, food and wine, mountain biking)

Total: 7 days, seven stops, 1000 km

Auckland To New Plymouth (Via Forgotten Highway)

• Day 1 – Hamilton (Hamilton Gardens, Waikato River cruise, Zealong Tea Estate)
• Day 2 – Waitomo (Black water rafting, Waitomo caves, Native Kiwi)
• Day 3 – Forgotten World Highway (Republic of Whangamomona, forgotten world highway – you may need to switch from your campervan to a rail cart, helicopter, or jet boat)
• Day 4 – Opunake (Art galleries, nature walks, Surf Highway 45)
• Day 5 – 6 – New Plymouth (Len Lye centre, Egmont national park, coastal walkway)

Total: 6 days, ten stops, 450 km

Auckland To Napier

• Day 1 – Auckland (Sky tower, Viaduct harbour, Waiheke Island)
• Day 2 Matamata (Hobbiton Movie set, Mount Maunganui, Glow worms)
• Day 3 – Bay of Plenty (Surf lessons, climb Mount Maunganui, Tauranga)
• Day 4 – Whakatane (Maori culture, Moutohora island, Ohope beach)
• Day 5 – Rotorua (Mountain biking, Te Puia, Rotorua skyline)
• Day 6 – Taupo (Lake Taupo, Huka Falls, glass sculpture)
• Day 7 – Napier (Art Deco tour, Te Mata Peak, Hawke’s Bay wineries)

Total: 7 days, seven stops, 650 km

South Island Campervan Trips

Christchurch To Nelson

• Day 1 – Christchurch (Avon, Christchurch Gondola, International Antarctic Centre)
• Day 2 – Akaroa (Akaroa, Wildlife cruise, The Giant’s house)
• Day 3 – Christchurch to Kaikoura (Whale watching, marine adventures, crayfish)
• Day 4 – Kaikoura to Blenheim (Marlborough Sounds cruise, Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, Marlborough wineries)
• Day 5 – Blenheim to Nelson (Greenshell mussels in Havelock, Nelson wineries and craft breweries, centre of New Zealand walk)
• Day 6 – Abel Tasman National Park (Paddle a waka, Kaiteriteri Beach, Abel Tasman National Park)
• Day 7 – Nelson to Murchison (Fly fishing, Natural flames experience, Jet Boating)
• Day 8 – Murchison to Punakaiki ( Bush walks, Pancake rocks, Buller Gorge)
• Day 9 – Punakaiki to Lewis Pass (Reefton, Shantytown, Greymouth)
• Day 10 – Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs (Skiing, Adventure activities, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa)
• Day 11 – Hammer Springs to Christchurch (Wineries, shopping, Christchurch Botanic Gardens)

Total: 11 days, ten stops, 1400 km

Christchurch To Queenston (via Dunedin)

• Day 1 – Christchurch (Christchurch gondola, International Antarctic Centre, Punting on the Avon)
• Day 2 – Oamaru (Steampunk HQ, Little Blue Penguins, Heritage attractions)
• Day 3 -4 – Dunedin (Moeraki Boulders, heritage architecture, world’s steepest street)
• Day 5 – Invercargill (World’s Fastest Indian, Tuatara, The Catlins)
• Day 6 – 7 – Te Anau and Milford Sound (Te Anau, Great Walks of New Zealand, Milford and Doubtful Sounds)
• Day 8 – 9 Queenstown (AJ Hackett Bungy, Skiing and snowboarding, Skyline Queenstown)

Total: 9 days, ten stops, 950 km

Whether you want to explore different cities, see unique sights, or tick some cities off your bucket list, today’s guide has a route for you.