ONE MONTH ITINERARIES FOR NEW ZEALAND

ARRIVE IN AUCKLAND

DEPART FROM AUCKLAND OR QUEENSTOWN

**TIP: For your travels between cities, consider taking one of InterCity’s bus passes.

**TIP: To get to downtown Auckland from the airport, take the SkyDrive bus (NZ$17) or, if you have purchased a bus pass with Intercity, book your transport with them.

AUCKLAND (3 NIGHTS)

• Book a free walking tour to learn more about the city and get your bearings around it.
• Discover the best New Zealand beers in Auckland's bars and microbreweries. Some suggestions: Urbanaut Brewery and Tap Room, Brothers Brewery, Brew on Quay, Good George North Wharf, Dr Rudi's Rooftop Brewing.
• Explore some neighborhoods like Britomart, Ponsonby, Kingsland, Viaduct Harbor or CBD.
• Try to find the best coffee in Auckland. Some of my favorites in CBD: The Receptionist, Remedy Coffee, Cosmo Coffee, Scarecrow.
• Take a ferry to Waiheke Island and do some wine tasting, hiking or relax on the beach.
• Enjoy one of Giapo's incredible ice creams.
• Climb to the top of one of Auckland's 53 volcanoes (Maungawhau, Mount Eden, Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill or Rangitoto Island - you must take a ferry for this one).
• If the weather is nice and warm, enjoy one of the beaches around Auckland.

THAMES (1 NIGHT)

• Take a bus to Thames.
• Explore the city, its cafes and restaurants.
• On Saturday, visit the Thames Market.
• Do a short hike.
• Buy the food and snacks you'll need for your overnight hike to Pinnacles Hut.

PINNACLES HUT (1 NIGHT)

• Hike the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk) to Pinnacles Hut and spend the night. Book your bunk bed in advance. (The hike can also be done in one day if there's no bunk bed available in the Hut).

**The next morning, leave the refuge early enough to make sure you don't miss your afternoon bus to Tauranga.

TAURANGA (1 NIGHT)

• Take an afternoon bus from Thames to Tauranga.
• If you still have energy, hike to the top of Mount Maunganui.
• Walk on one of the city's beaches like Maunganui Beach or go for a swim.
• Discover Tauranga's restaurants, cafes and shops.

ROTORUA (3 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Rotorua.
• Visit Whakarewarewa - The Living Maori Village.
• Relax in the area's natural hot springs.
• Visit Wai-O-Tapu National Park
• Walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest.
• Take a tour from Rotorua to the Hobbiton Movie Set.

TURANGI (2 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Turangi. 
• Book a return shuttle to the popular Tongariro Alpine Crossing*.

     *If you are taking a shuttle, you may need a booking to hike Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Check with your shuttle company or visit the Department of Conservation (DoC) website.

WELLINGTON (3 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Wellington.
• Explore the bars, cafes, restaurants and shops of Cuba Street.
• Enjoy delicious ice cream at Duck Island Ice Cream.
• Visit the Te Papa Museum.
• Hike to the top of Mount Victoria.
• Relax on the beach at Lyall Bay.
• If you're in Wellington on a Sunday, visit the Harborside Market.

NELSON (3 NIGHTS)

• Take the ferry from Wellington to Picton. From Picton, get on a bus to Nelson.

**Book your ferry ticket in advance.

• Book a day trip to Abel Tasman National Park.
• Discover the city's delicious cafes.
• Taste New Zealand beers in local bars.
• Relax on Tahunanui Beach.
• Hike to the Center of New Zealand.
• Visit one of the city's art galleries.

KAIKOURA (2 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Kaikoura.
• Book a whale, dolphin or sea lion watching tour.
• Enjoy fresh seafood or delicious fish & chips.
• For a good cup of coffee and really good baked goods and healthy meals, try BeeBox.
• Explore the city and admire the magnificent landscapes.

CHRISTCHURCH (2 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Christchurch.
• Book a free walking tour and learn more about Christchurch’s history.
• Hop aboard the historic tram to explore the city.
• Grab a bite at Riverside Market.
• Party or simply have a drink (or two) at one of the bars on Oxford Lane and Oxford Terrace.
• Visit the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

AORAKI / MOUNT COOK (1 NIGHT)

• Take a bus to Mount Cook (Aoraki).
• If you like adventure and if the weather is good, consider doing a 2-day/1-night hike and sleep in one of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park huts.
• Hike on the Hooker Valley Trail
• Hike around Lake Tasman.
• Admire the spectacular mountain landscapes.

WANAKA (2 NIGHTS)

**Getting to the mountains around Wanaka can be difficult. Consider renting a car or hitchhiking.

• Take a bus to Wanaka.
• Walk around Lake Wanaka or kayak on it.
• Take a picture of That Wanaka Tree.
• Admire the view from Roys Peak summit, at 1578 m above sea level.
• Explore the city's bars and cafes. Suggestions: Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar (for the food and the beers), The Coffee Shack (for the coffee).
• Rent a bike and ride it on the Glendhu Bay Track or other trails around Wanaka.

QUEENSTOWN (4 NIGHTS)

• Take a bus to Queenstown.
• Hike on Ben Lomond Trail which has an elevation of 1438 meters.
• Take a walk along Lake Wakatipu and admire the views of the mountains.
• Watch the sunset on Queenstown Bay Beach.
• Get your thrills on a jet boat or bungee jumping or skydiving.
• Try a burger at the famous restaurant Fergburger.
• MUST DO: Book a day trip including a cruise on Milford Sound, a stunning fjord.

AUCKLAND OR QUEENSTOWN (1 NIGHT)

• Fly from Queenstown to Auckland to take your return flight or stay an extra night in Queenstown to catch your return flight from there.