Ultimate Guide to Travel around New Zealand (2025)
Ten Weeks Traveling Around New Zealand: A Journey Through Aotearoa
New Zealand was always going to be special. After all, it’s where we got married on New Year’s Eve 2016, standing on a beach, surrounded by waves, and making a lifetime commitment to adventure.
So returning to Aotearoa for a ten-week driving tour of both islands was like coming home. And let’s be honest—there are far worse places to “come home” to than a country where fjords meet glaciers, beaches meet rainforests, and there are way more sheep than people. Follow along for the Ultimate Guide to Travel around New Zealand (2025)!
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It’s everything we’d tell our friends—so let’s be friends!
From the northernmost tip at Cape Reinga to the dramatic fjords of Milford Sound, we explored it all. The North Island was a mix of Māori culture, rolling farmland, and cities packed with history and charm. The South Island? Pure outdoor magic. And through it all, we got to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and eat our weight in fish and chips.
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come in our New Zealand blog series that covers the Ultimate Guide to Travel around New Zealand (2025):
Northland to Wellington (West Coast North Island)
Our first weeks were spent soaking in Northland’s wild coastlines, Māori heritage, and iconic landmarks like the Cape Reinga Lighthouse and the ancient kauri trees of the Waipoua Forest. We marveled at the quirky Hundertwasser Art Centre, walked 90 Mile Beach, and spent time with wonderful friends who introduced us to local history, culture, and plenty of home-cooked meals.
Heading south, we explored Auckland’s hidden speakeasies, sipped wine in the rolling hills of Martinborough, and wandered the streets of Wellington, a capital city that punches way above its weight in charm, culture, and coffee. Oh, and we may have geeked out over some Lord of the Rings film locations.
Two Weeks in the South Island – The Best Way to Travel Around the South Island of New Zealand.
The South Island blew us away. From the moment we arrived in Picton via ferry, we knew this was going to be something special. Highlights? Driving through the rugged West Coast, crossing swing bridges in Buller Gorge, standing before the glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox, and soaking in Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown.
We road-tripped through jaw-dropping landscapes, made some Irish friends at a pub in Queenstown, and sampled the best Pinot Noir in Marlborough. And yes, we even braved the swinging bridges and canyon hikes that tested our nerves (and balance).
The South Island of New Zealand is straight out of a dream!
The East Coast – Coromandel & Bay of Plenty
We slowed things down in Coromandel, staying in Tairua with an old friend who had hosted our wedding in 2016. Bingo at the Fishing Club with the spicy ladies of town? Check. Watching the local Rugby team? You bet. We even watched King Charles’ Coronation in this tiny New Zealand town, just to add to the experience.
We wrapped up our North Island journey in Rotorua, where we took in the famous Redwoods Treewalk, soaked in geothermal hot springs, and experienced a powerful Māori cultural evening complete with a traditional hangi feast cooked underground.
Full blog coming soon!
New Zealand: A Place That Sticks With You
Spending ten weeks in New Zealand gave us the time to really connect—not just with the landscape but with the people, the culture, and even the small-town quirks that make this country so incredible.
And while we could write a single post covering it all, that wouldn’t do New Zealand justice. So stay tuned—over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into the details, sharing itineraries, travel tips, and the best-hidden gems we found along our Best Ways to Travel Around New Zealand.
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting New Zealand, let us tell you this: Make it happen. It’s worth every mile.
Jana & Steve’s 2016 Wedding in New Zealand
