Is 14 days enough to see both islands of New Zealand?

Yes, if you accept you can't see everything. This itinerary covers the places most visitors rank highest — Hobbiton, Rotorua, Wellington, the ferry, the West Coast, Tekapo, Queenstown and Milford Sound — without any single driving day being unreasonable.

Can I really do this without hiring a car?

Yes. Each driving leg is a route we run as a private transfer, and the Cook Strait crossing is by ferry as a foot passenger. Many visitors tell us not driving is what made it feel like a holiday.

Which direction is better — Auckland to Queenstown or the reverse?

Both work. We suggest Auckland first because international arrivals are easier there, and finishing in Queenstown saves the most spectacular part of the trip for last.

Do I need to book everything in advance?

The fixed-time items — ferry, Hobbiton, Milford cruises — yes, weeks ahead in summer. The driving legs are more flexible, but booking transfers in advance means your driver is confirmed and rested for each long day.

14-day New Zealand itinerary

New Zealand itinerary: 14 days, both islands, no rental car

Two weeks is the classic New Zealand trip: long enough for both islands without rushing. This route starts in Auckland, crosses the Cook Strait by ferry, and finishes in Queenstown — and because every driving leg is a route we drive as a private transfer, you can do the whole thing without anyone in your group touching a steering wheel.

Day by day, with real distances

Day 1
Auckland → Auckland
Arrive, shake off the flight, and give yourself a day in the harbour city before heading south.
Day 2
Auckland → Hobbiton & Rotorua
168 km (104 miles)about 1 hr 58 min
South to Hobbiton for a midday tour, then on to Rotorua for the night — a travel day that doubles as a sightseeing day. (The Hobbiton–Rotorua hop is about an hour.)
Day 3
Rotorua → Rotorua
Geothermal valleys, Māori culture and a soak in a hot pool. Rotorua earns a full day.
Day 4
Rotorua → Taupō
81 km (51 miles)about 1 hr 4 min
An easy hour south to the shores of the country's biggest lake, with Huka Falls on the way into town.
Day 5
Taupō → Wellington
372 km (231 miles)about 4 hr 41 min
The long North Island leg, past the volcanoes of the Central Plateau and down the Kāpiti Coast to the capital.
Day 6
Wellington → Picton (Cook Strait ferry)
The Interislander or Bluebridge ferry across Cook Strait — one of the world's great ferry trips. Foot passengers are easy: we drop you at the terminal in Wellington and meet you at the other side in Picton.
Day 7
Picton → Nelson
133 km (83 miles)about 1 hr 47 min
Through the Marlborough wine country to sunny Nelson, the South Island's arts and beaches hub.
Day 8
Nelson → Greymouth
286 km (178 miles)about 4 hr 2 min
South-west through the Buller Gorge to the West Coast — wild beaches, rainforest and a very different New Zealand.
Day 9
Greymouth → Christchurch
244 km (151 miles)about 3 hr 24 min
Across Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. Many visitors ride the TranzAlpine train on this leg and have their driver meet them at the station — a beautiful option worth considering.
Day 10
Christchurch → Christchurch
A rest day in the Garden City — the Botanic Gardens, the riverside and the rebuild story.
Day 11
Christchurch → Lake Tekapo
226 km (141 miles)about 2 hr 51 min
Inland to the Mackenzie Country and that impossible blue lake. Stargaze tonight if the sky is clear.
Day 12
Lake Tekapo → Queenstown
256 km (159 miles)about 3 hr 9 min
Over the Lindis Pass to Queenstown, your base for the last three nights.
Day 13
Queenstown → Milford Sound (return)
287 km (178 miles)about 3 hr 44 min
The big finale. A long day — book a driver, watch the scenery, and let the day run around your cruise time.
Day 14
Queenstown → Queenstown Airport
A last morning by the lake, then fly home from Queenstown.

Planning this trip without a car

Book the Cook Strait ferry, Hobbiton and your Milford cruise before anything else — they're the fixed points everything else hangs off.
Foot passengers on the ferry keep this trip simple: your driver drops you at one terminal and another meets you at the other, so there's no vehicle to queue or pay for on the crossing.
This route runs one way (Auckland to Queenstown), so there's no backtracking. Domestic flights home from Queenstown are frequent.

Every driving leg above is a route we run as a private transfer — fixed price agreed before you travel, your own driver, door to door. Tell us your dates and we'll map the whole trip for you.

FAQs

Is 14 days enough to see both islands of New Zealand?: Yes, if you accept you can't see everything. This itinerary covers the places most visitors rank highest — Hobbiton, Rotorua, Wellington, the ferry, the West Coast, Tekapo, Queenstown and Milford Sound — without any single driving day being unreasonable.
Can I really do this without hiring a car?: Yes. Each driving leg is a route we run as a private transfer, and the Cook Strait crossing is by ferry as a foot passenger. Many visitors tell us not driving is what made it feel like a holiday.
Which direction is better — Auckland to Queenstown or the reverse?: Both work. We suggest Auckland first because international arrivals are easier there, and finishing in Queenstown saves the most spectacular part of the trip for last.
Do I need to book everything in advance?: The fixed-time items — ferry, Hobbiton, Milford cruises — yes, weeks ahead in summer. The driving legs are more flexible, but booking transfers in advance means your driver is confirmed and rested for each long day.

Other services we offer

A private transfer is only part of what we do. The same NZTA-licensed drivers and vehicles cover tours, hourly hire, airport and cruise work, corporate travel and group bookings throughout New Zealand.

Private, luxury & multi-day travel
Private touring, chauffeur hire, honeymoon travel and a driver for your whole New Zealand trip.
Explore private travel
Arriving in New Zealand
First-time visitor guides to landing at Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and Dunedin.
Read the arrival guides
Island & region guides
What each part of New Zealand is known for, how long the drives really take, and how to travel it without a rental car.
Explore destinations
Visiting New Zealand
Driving on the left, kilometres to miles, money and tipping, the seasons, and travelling without a rental car.
Read visitor info
Airport shuttle alternative
Private airport transfers instead of a shared shuttle — your group alone, direct to the terminal, price agreed first.
Compare the options
City taxi, upgraded
A fixed-price private car instead of the taxi rank — city-by-city guides across New Zealand.
See your city
Suburb airport transfers
Local detail on the run to Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington Airport from your own suburb.
Find your suburb
Private day tours & sightseeing
Keep the same driver for the day and shape the route around what you'd like to see in and around New Zealand.
See private tours
By-the-hour driver hire
A driver and vehicle held for a block of time — best when your travel starts and finishes in the same town.
Book hourly hire
Airport transfers
Flight-tracked pickups and drop-offs at every main New Zealand airport, door to door.
Airport transfers
Cruise port transfers & shore days
Met at the terminal in Auckland, Tauranga, Akaroa or Picton — back on board well before all-aboard time.
Cruise transfers
Ski field transfers
Winter-ready vehicles and alpine drivers for Queenstown, Wānaka, Mt Hutt and Ruapehu — gear included.
Ski transfers
Corporate & executive travel
Business accounts, client and staff runs, event movements and consolidated invoicing.
Talk to us
Groups, fleets & rental car alternative
Multiple vehicles on one booking for larger parties, or a driven alternative to hiring a car.
Rental car alternative
What transfers and taxis cost
Plain answers on what moves the price of an airport run in New Zealand, and how a fixed total compares with a meter.
Fares & costs
Weddings, balls & big occasions
Private transport for weddings, school balls, corporate events, funerals, large groups and accessible travel.
Occasion transport
Concerts & event transport
Ride there and ride home for the big nights — concerts, festivals and events across New Zealand.
Event transport

Please note: by-the-hour driver hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town. If you're finishing somewhere else, book a private transfer or a day trip so your fare covers the driver's travel.