New Zealand 9-Day Self-Guided Tour

This time, our family of four embarked on a self-guided tour of New Zealand.

Day 1: Home → Auckland (Accommodation: Auckland City Hotel)

Afternoon & Evening: Explore Auckland

• Queen Street
• Sky Tower

Day 2: Auckland → Christchurch (Accommodation: 53 Southern Comfort Motel)

Morning: Explore Auckland

• University of Auckland

Afternoon: Auckland → Christchurch

• Flight NZ547, 14:00 Auckland International → 15:25 Christchurch International
• Pick up rental car in Christchurch
• Christchurch Highlights:
  1. Riverside Market
  2. Shopping at Countdown/Pak’nsave (preparing for South Island road trip)

Day 3: Christchurch → Lake Tekapo (Accommodation: Bluebird Apartment)

Morning:

1. Christchurch Botanic Gardens
2. Cathedral Square

Afternoon: Christchurch → Lake Tekapo Town (280km – 3.5h)

1. Church of the Good Shepherd
2. Astro Cafe at John’s Hill – the world’s most beautiful scenic café
3. Tekapo – Cowans Hill for stargazing (23:00-1:00)

Day 4: Lake Tekapo → Lake Wanaka – Queenstown (Accommodation: Bluewater Views Apartment for 3 nights)

Morning:

• Lake Tekapo → Mount Cook (105km – 1h)
  1. Hooker Valley Track
  2. Lake Pukaki

Afternoon:

• Mount Cook → Lake Wanaka (222km – 3h)
  • The Wanaka Tree
  • Evening: Wanaka → Queenstown (102km – 1.5h)

Day 5: Queenstown

Morning:

1. Explore Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and Viewpoint
2. Queenstown iSite – book Queenstown activities

Afternoon: Arrowtown (70km – 1h)

• Arrowtown exploration, recommended time 2-3 hours
• Stop at Ramshaw Lane On Street Parking
• Walk along Arrow River to Wilcox Green and return via Buckingham St
• Food recommendations: Wolf Coffee’s donuts, Arrow Thai Food

Afternoon: Arrowtown – Queenstown (21km – 0.5h)

• Food recommendations: Fergburger, Fergbaker, Mrs. Ferg Gelateria, Flame Bar & Grill, Rata (Michelin restaurant)

Day 6: Queenstown (Accommodation)

Morning:

• Skyline Gondola + Skyline Luge

Afternoon:

1. Skydiving at 15,000 feet (pre-book for good weather)
2. Deer Park Heights – Lord of the Rings filming location

Day 7: Queenstown → Dunedin (Accommodation: Alexis Motor Lodge)

Morning: Queenstown → Glenorchy (46km – 1h)

• Glenorchy Wharf – Lord of the Rings filming location
• Glenorchy Lagoon Scenic Walk

Afternoon: Queenstown → Dunedin (284km – 3.5h)

1. Dunedin Railway Station
2. Baldwin Street – the steepest street in the world
3. Octagon Square: First Church of Otago

Day 8: Dunedin → Christchurch (Accommodation: Christchurch Airport Motel)

Morning: Otago University

Afternoon: Dunedin → Timaru – Christchurch (350km – 4h)

• Moeraki Boulders
• Timaru – scenic coastal town

Evening: Return rental car at Christchurch Airport

Day 9: Christchurch → Auckland → Home

Flight NZ542, 12:00 Christchurch International – 13:25 Auckland International Shop at Auckland duty-free stores Return home.