14 Days NZ Both Islands
The canonical first-time New Zealand family trip — Auckland harbour, Rotorua geothermal country, Wellington and Te Papa, then south to Queenstown adventure, an overnight on Milford Sound, and Wanaka's lakeside calm. Both islands, all the icons, 14 nights.
Plan to save
Your weekly savings target
A$443 / week
to save before you go · A$11,935 total · 27 weeks until you leave
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Your stop-by-stop itinerary
6 stops across 14 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of NZ Both Islands.
Stop
01
Auckland
2 nightsFly into Auckland Airport (AKL), pick up hire car
Highlights
- Sky Tower (optional skywalk for brave families)
- Auckland Museum free entry and Māori cultural performance
- Waiheke Island ferry day trip (vineyards and beaches)
- Rangitoto Island volcanic hike
- St Heliers Beach afternoon
Local tips
- Pick up the hire car straight from the airport — you'll need it for the whole North Island leg
- Waiheke Island is 35 min by ferry and feels like a different world
- Book the Māori cultural performance at Auckland Museum ahead — session times are limited
Suggested stayFamily hotel near Viaduct Harbour
Stop
02
Rotorua
2 nightsDrive from Auckland (2.5 hrs)
Highlights
- Te Puia geothermal park and kiwi sanctuary
- Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland
- Hobbiton movie set day trip from Matamata (~1 hr drive)
- Skyline Gondola and Luge Rotorua
- Redwood Forest walking or mountain biking
Local tips
- Two nights is tight — prioritise Te Puia and one other geothermal site, then Hobbiton
- Book Hobbiton online weeks ahead — it sells out year-round
- The town smells of sulfur — totally normal and the kids will find it hilarious
Suggested stayFamily lodge near the geothermal parks
Stop
03
Wellington
1 nightDrive from Rotorua via Taupō (5 hrs) — or fly AKL → WLG (1 hr) and collect car in Wellington
Highlights
- Te Papa Museum of New Zealand (free, world-class)
- Weta Workshop guided tour (Lord of the Rings props)
- Mount Victoria lookout
- Wellington Cable Car
- Cuba Street food scene for an early dinner
Local tips
- One night is a transit stop before flying south — prioritise Te Papa and an early dinner
- Drop the North Island rental car in Wellington and collect a new one at Queenstown Airport
- Book the Weta Workshop tour ahead — limited places and unmissable for any film fan
Suggested stayFamily hotel on the waterfront
Stop
04
Queenstown
4 nightsFly Wellington → Queenstown (1h 20m), pick up South Island hire car
Highlights
- Skyline Gondola and luge runs (kids adore the luge)
- Lake Wakatipu cruise on TSS Earnslaw
- Arrowtown heritage gold-rush village day trip
- Shotover Jet or Kawarau Bridge for the brave
- Fergburger — mandatory stop
Local tips
- Book accommodation well in advance — Queenstown fills up year-round
- The luge at Skyline is worth every dollar — allow 2+ hours
- Use Queenstown as the base for day trips to Arrowtown and Glenorchy
Suggested stayFamily apartment in central Queenstown
Stop
05
Milford Sound
1 nightDrive from Queenstown via Te Anau (4 hrs)
Highlights
- Overnight cruise on the sound
- Kayaking beneath waterfalls
- Mitre Peak at sunrise with no other tourists
- Underwater Observatory
- The stunning Homer Tunnel drive
Local tips
- Staying overnight is transformational — you get the sound to yourself at dawn
- Check road conditions — winter snow can close the Homer Tunnel
- Fill the petrol tank in Te Anau before continuing — very few stations past it
Suggested stayMilford Sound Lodge
Stop
06
Wanaka
4 nightsDrive from Milford Sound via Te Anau and Queenstown (4-5 hrs)
Highlights
- Lake Wanaka and the iconic 'That Wanaka Tree' photo stop
- Puzzling World illusions museum (brilliant for kids)
- Roys Peak hike — do the first lookout if the full peak is too much
- Mount Aspiring National Park day walks
- Lakefront dinners and gentle wind-down days
Local tips
- Wanaka is quieter and more relaxed than Queenstown — a perfect final stop
- Puzzling World is a must-do with children — allow 2 hours
- Drop the rental car at Queenstown Airport on departure day (1 hr drive)
Suggested stayHoliday cottage on the lake
Real cost estimates · calibrated 2026, not glossy estimates
What it costs
All-in for a family of 4.
Here’s what NZ Both Islands costs across the four components SaveToRoam tracks. Flights are shoulder-season ex-Australia; travel insurance and personal extras vary.
| Component | Family of 4 |
|---|---|
Flights Return economy flights ex-AU (mid-shoulder estimate) NZ$605 per person | NZ$2,420 |
Accommodation 6 stops | NZ$5,370 |
Activities & local transport Activities & local transport (estimated) NZ$838 per person | NZ$3,352 |
Daily food & local transit 14 nights × family of 4 | NZ$3,360 |
Trip total Insurance & personal extras separate | NZ$14,502 ~A$13,197 |
What it covers
The ~A$11,935 estimate is all-in for a family of 4 — accommodation across 6 stops, shoulder-season flights from Australia, activities and local transport, and daily food. Travel insurance and personal extras vary, so we keep them separate.
What you get
When you use this template, SaveToRoam creates your trip with all 6 stops, every cost component pre-loaded, and a personalised savings plan with a weekly target. You choose your dates — we handle the maths.
Fully customisable
This itinerary is a starting point. Once it's your trip, add stops, swap hotels, adjust nights — your savings target updates automatically.
Read up on NZ Both Islands
Cost guides and saving how-tos for this destination — written from the same research that calibrates this itinerary.
Cost GuidesBoth Islands Loop: Queenstown to Auckland for AU$13,195
North Island adventure, South Island pure scenery, or the 14-day loop that hits both. Three templates, three different trip lengths — pick your New Zealand style.
Cost GuidesNorth Island in 7 Nights: Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington from AU$7,347
Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, and Wellington in 7 nights for an Australian family of 4. SaveToRoam template seeds NZ$8,928 (~AU$7,347) including mid-shoulder flights.
Cost GuidesSouth Island in 10 Nights: Christchurch to Wanaka from AU$10,460
Christchurch, Queenstown, Milford Sound, and Wanaka in 10 nights for an Australian family of 4. SaveToRoam template seeds NZ$12,710 (~AU$10,460) including mid-shoulder flights.
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