DAY1
Auckland Arrival
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Car pickup at airport. Drive to hotel. Evening Sky Tower.
Dinner
Trip Highlights
What Makes Self-Drive Scenic Special
Auckland to Queenstown drive
Premium car rental
Boutique B&Bs
Customisable route
Stargazing Tekapo
Pancake Rocks
Hotel Category — Deluxe
Where You'll Stay
3★ Deluxe / 4★ Hotels
Day-Wise Plan
Your Itinerary
Tap any day to view detailed activities, sightseeing and meals. Every day is fully customisable.
DAY2
Auckland → Hobbiton → Rotorua
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Drive 2 hrs to Hobbiton. Continue Rotorua. Evening Te Puia.
Breakfast
DAY3
Rotorua → Wellington
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Long drive (8 hrs). Stay Wellington. Evening Te Papa museum.
Breakfast
DAY4
Wellington → Picton (ferry) → Nelson
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3-hr ferry across Cook Strait (cars on board). Drive Nelson.
Breakfast
DAY5
Nelson → Greymouth via Pancake Rocks
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Drive west coast. Pancake Rocks blowholes at Punakaiki.
Breakfast
DAY6
Greymouth → Franz Josef
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Drive coast to glacier town. Optional helicopter glacier landing.
Breakfast
DAY7
Franz Josef → Wanaka via Haast Pass
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Spectacular scenic drive. Stop at Thunder Creek Falls. Reach Wanaka.
Breakfast
DAY8
Wanaka — Free Day
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Free day. That Wanaka Tree photo, Roy's Peak hike, Puzzling World.
Breakfast
DAY9
Wanaka → Queenstown
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Short drive. Queenstown hub. Skyline Gondola.
Breakfast
DAY10
Milford Sound Day Trip
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Long drive (4 hrs each way). Cruise on Milford Sound. Spectacular fjord experience.
Breakfast
DAY11
Queenstown → Mt Cook → Tekapo
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Drive via Lindis Pass. Stop Mt Cook viewpoint. Reach Tekapo. Stargazing at Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve.
Breakfast
DAY12
Tekapo → Christchurch
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Final drive 3 hrs. Return car at Christchurch airport.
Breakfast
DAY13
Departure Christchurch
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Transfer airport.
Breakfast
What's Covered
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ What's Included
- 12 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- Premium car rental (12 days, unlimited km)
- Full insurance + GPS
- Cook Strait ferry (with car)
- Milford Sound cruise
- Hobbiton entry
- All hotel pre-bookings
✕ Not Included
- International airfare
- NZ visa + IVL
- International Driving Permit (₹1,000 in India)
- Fuel (~NZD 350)
- Helicopter glacier landing (NZD 350)
- Lunches & dinners
- Personal expenses
Visa Requirements
Visa Information for Self-Drive Scenic
Entry Requirements for Indian Passport Holders
New Zealand Visitor Visa + IVL
Visa FeeNZD 246 (~₹12,800) total
Processing Time20-25 working days
Important: International Driving Permit needed. NZ drives on left (like India) — easy adaptation.
Photo Gallery
A Glimpse of Self-Drive Scenic
Frequently Asked
Questions & Answers
Long drives tiring?+
Roads scenic but distances real. Average 3-4 hrs/day driving. Take breaks every 2 hrs.
Watch for what?+
Wildlife crossings (kea birds, sheep). One-lane bridges common. Don't drive at dusk/dawn in rural areas.
Other Options