☀ 7:46 AM
48-66°F Jet Lag
☾ 7:58 PM
✈ AA 35: Arrive Auckland 9:10 AM (body: 4:00 PM)
✈ NZ 637: Auckland → Queenstown 12:25-2:20 PM (body: 9:20 PM)
🏔 Queenstown (Arrival)
- 😴
Rest & recover from jet lag
- 🛒
Buy Sandfly repellent with DEET
- 🦅
Option: Kiwi Birdlife Park
See kiwi birds in nocturnal house | 1-2 hrs | Brecon St
- 🍴
5:30 PM - DINNER at The Bunker
5-course tasting menu | Hidden speakeasy, roaring fires
- 🌙
Booked: The Bunker 5:30 PM
🌙 Sleep in Queenstown - Lomond Lodge (33 Man St)
☀ 7:48 AM
48-66°F Equinox
☾ 7:56 PM
🏔 Queenstown (Adventure Day)
- 🧸
8:50 AM - Nevis Bungy + Swing
Pickup at 25 Shotover St | 134m bungy + 160m swing! ~4hr round trip
- 🍴
LUNCH at The Cow
Iconic since 1977, hand-rolled pizzas & pasta
- 🍴
5:30 PM - DINNER at Rata
Tasting menu | Michelin-starred chef Josh Emett
Afternoon Options: Shotover Jet, Skyline Gondola + Luge (walk-up), Kawarau Bridge Bungy, Underwater Observatory (giant trout at the pier)
🎉 Local Events
Ripe Wanaka Wine & Food Festival Highlight
11am-6pm @ Glendhu Bay (~1hr drive) | Sir Dave Dobbyn + 25 wineries
Tickets open Nov 1, 2025 → Remarkables Market
9am-2pm @ Remarkables Park | Local produce, crafts, live music
Queenstown Market
9am-4pm @ Earnslaw Park | 45+ local makers
🌙 Sleep in Queenstown - Lomond Lodge (33 Man St)
☀ 7:49 AM
48-66°F
☾ 7:54 PM
🏔 Queenstown → Omarama
- 📞
8:00 AM - Call to confirm flight is on
- ✈
9:00 AM - Milford Sound Fly Explore Fly
8:10 AM pickup at Station Building bus stop (Shotover St & Camp St) | ~4.5 hrs total
- 🚶
Foreshore Loop Track + Hidden Swing
~250m along track, take right fork to find swing
- 🏔
~1:30 PM - Return to Queenstown
- 🚗
Afternoon - Pick up rental car
🚗 Drive to Omarama - 2.5 hours
- 🏔
Option: Highlands Motorsport Park
Car museum, experiences & track in Cromwell | 1-2 hrs
- 🏔
Lindis Pass Lookout
Highest point on the drive | Tussock-covered alpine scenery
- 🏔
Ahuriri River Valley
Scenic braided river views along SH8
- 🏔
Clay Cliffs Paritea
Otherworldly eroded pinnacles | 15 min detour off SH8 | 30-45 min
- 🍴
Dinner at Boots and Jandals
🌙 Sleep in Omarama - BigSky Motel (Ref: 1GZWEQ)
☀ 7:34 AM
43-63°F
☾ 7:36 PM
🏔 Mt Cook + Lake Tekapo
🚗 Drive to Aoraki/Mt Cook - 1.5 hours
- 🚶
Hooker Valley Track
~5km return due to closed bridge #2 (normally 10km, 3 swing bridges, Hooker Lake with icebergs)
Bad weather alt: Blue Lakes & Tasman Glacier View Track (lower elevation)
- 🏠
Mount Cook Village
Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, The Hermitage Hotel views
- 🍴
Lunch
A few mediocre cafe-like options in the village
🚗 Drive to Lake Tekapo - 1.5 hours
- 🏔
Peter's Lookout (Lake Pukaki)
Iconic turquoise glacial lake views | Multiple viewpoints worth stopping
- ⛪
Church of the Good Shepherd
1935 stone church, iconic altar window frames lake & mountains
- 🍴
Dinner
Lots of options - pick what we feel at the time
🚗 Drive to Ashwick Flat - 45 min
Evening: Dark sky watching at the lodge (Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve)
🎉 Local Events
2026 Maadi Regatta Begins Major
Mar 23-28 @ Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel | 2000+ rowers, largest school sports event in Southern Hemisphere
Moon-Pleiades-Uranus Conjunction
Tonight! Crescent Moon passes within 1° of Pleiades star cluster | Best viewed with binoculars
Dark Sky Project Tours
Mt John Observatory | 90min guided stargazing with 16" telescope
Book ahead → 🌙 Sleep in Ashwick Flat - Mackenzie Country Lodge
☀ 7:35 AM
43-63°F
☾ 7:35 PM
🏔 Mackenzie Country Lodge
- ♨
Option: Tekapo Springs
Hot pools with mountain & lake views, day spa
- 🚶
Option: Cowans Hill Walk
Short steep climb, 360° panoramic views, great sunset spot
- 🚗
Option: Lake Pukaki & Peter's Lookout
45 min drive, iconic turquoise glacial lake views
- 🚣
Option: Kayak on Lake Tekapo
Rentals from Paddle Tekapo
Evening: Dark sky watching at the lodge (Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve)
🎉 Local Events
Maadi Regatta Continues
8am-5pm @ Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel | Day 2 of racing
Tekapo Springs "Soak in the Stars"
90min guided stargazing + exclusive hot pool access | $109/person
Book ahead → 🌙 Sleep at Mackenzie Country Lodge
☀ 7:36 AM
52-66°F
☾ 7:33 PM
🚗 Ashwick Flat → Kaikoura
- 🥪
Fairlie Bakehouse
NZ's famous pie shop - Pork Belly & Crackling, Salmon & Bacon, Venison
🚗 Inland Scenic Route 72 to Christchurch - 4 hours
Route 72: One of AA's "101 Must-Do's for Kiwis" - Mt Somers, Rakaia Gorge, Southern Alps foothills
- 🍴
Lunch stop in Christchurch
Riverside Market or Botanic Gardens area
🚗 Drive to Kaikoura - 2.5 hours (with detour)
- 🏔
Gore Bay Tourist Drive + Cathedral Cliffs
21km scenic detour off SH1 - dramatic eroded clay formations
- 🍴
Dinner
Lots of options - Slam Club, The Pier Hotel (crayfish)
- ⛳
Evening option: Mini Golf
Emporium Brewing, Kaikoura
🌙 Sleep in Kaikoura - Te Mahuru Retreat (233 Schoolhouse Rd)
☀ 7:38 AM
52-70°F
☾ 7:30 PM
🏙 Kaikoura → The Bottle House
- 🦦
9:30 AM - Swim with Seals
Kaikoura - snorkel with wild fur seals (book ahead!)
🚗 Drive toward Blenheim - 1.5 hours
- 🦦
Ohau Point Seal Colony
Wild seal colony viewpoint
- 🦞
Lunch: Karaka Lobster
Check if Nin's Bin still open as alternative
🌙 Sleep at The Bottle House (AirBNB, 75km south of Blenheim)
☀ 7:39 AM
57-64°F
☾ 7:28 PM
🏙 The Bottle House → Wellington
- 🕑
10:00 AM - Depart The Bottle House
🚗 Drive to Blenheim - 1 hour
- 🍷
11:00 AM-12:30 PM - Wine & Lunch in Blenheim
The Wine Station or Fidelio Cafe & Wine Bar
🚗 12:30 PM - Drive to Picton - 30 min
- ⚓
2:15 PM - Interislander Ferry
Try to sit in atrium | Arrive Wellington 5:45 PM
- 🍴
🎉 Local Events
Tomorrow: CubaDupa 2026! Free
Mar 28-29 @ Cuba Street | NZ's largest free street festival - 140+ acts!
Full lineup → Wellington Night Market
Every Friday @ Civic Square | 50+ food stalls
🌙 Sleep in Wellington - Quest 265 Lambton
Parking: Call ahead or park offsite at HSBC Tower / Plimmer Tower
☀ 7:40 AM
57-64°F
☾ 7:26 PM
🏙 Wellington → Tongariro
- 🚦
Cable Car to Botanic Gardens
- 🏛
Maybe explore Victoria University
🚗 Drive to Tongariro National Park - 4 hours
Clear weather? Take SH1 (Desert Road) instead - longer but stunning volcanic scenery with Mt Ruapehu views
- 🚶
Option: Silica Rapids Walk
2.5 hr loop near Whakapapa | Milky blue thermal pools
🎉 Local Events
CubaDupa 2026 - Day 1 Free
12pm-12am @ Cuba Street, Wellington | NZ's largest free street festival
Lineup: Riiki Reid, Mokomokai, Dick Move, Lou'ana, Gut Health + 140 acts
Full lineup → 🌙 Sleep in Tongariro - Discovery Lodge (SH47)
☀ 7:41 AM
50-70°F
☾ 7:24 PM
🌋 Tongariro → Taupo → Rotorua
- 🚶
Taranaki Falls Loop
6km, 2 hrs - 20m waterfall over ancient lava, Mt Ruapehu views
- 🚶
Tawhai Falls (Gollum's Pool)
500m, 20 min - LOTR filming location!
🚗 Drive to Taupo - 1.25 hours
- 🍴
Lunch in Taupo
Lakefront dining options
- 💧
Huka Falls
NZ's most visited natural attraction - 220,000 liters/second!
🚗 Drive to Rotorua - 1 hour
Optional stop: Orakei Korako - "Hidden Valley" geothermal park, less crowded alternative
🌙 Sleep in Rotorua - Rimu Cottage (182 Central Rd, Hamurana)
☀ 7:42 AM
55-72°F
☾ 7:22 PM
🌋 Rotorua
- 🏠
1:00 PM - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
- 🎲
Skyline Rotorua
Gondola + Luge rides with lake views
Mini Golf Options: Mini Golf with Rabbits (152 Fairy Springs Rd) | Lumberjax Indoor (Motion Entertainment) | Volcanic Hills Winery
- 🌲
8:20 PM - Redwoods Treewalk Nightlights
Elevated walkway through 120-year-old redwoods with lantern lights
🎉 Local Events
Kuirau Park Market (Saturday)
Was yesterday - 7am-1pm | 50 stalls, food trucks
🌙 Sleep in Rotorua - Rimu Cottage (182 Central Rd, Hamurana)
☀ 7:44 AM
55-70°F
☾ 7:19 PM
✨ Waitomo → Auckland
🚗 Drive to Waitomo - 2 hours (via Putaruru)
- 💧
Putaruru Blue Springs
Crystal clear blue water, 1.5hr walk along Te Waihou Walkway
- 🍴
- ✨
12:30 PM - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Boat ride through grotto lit by thousands of glowworms
🚗 Drive to Auckland - 2.5 hours (via Hamilton)
- 🌻
Hamilton Gardens
Award-winning themed gardens, free entry
🎉 Local Events
World of Cultures Festival Free
Mar 21 - Apr 5 @ Various Auckland venues | Multicultural music, dance, food
Rotorua Farmers Market (morning)
Was yesterday - 9am-1pm @ Te Manawa
Auckland Night Market - Mt Wellington
Tonight! 5pm-11pm | International street food
Locations → 🌙 Sleep in Auckland - InterContinental (1 Queen St)
☀ 7:45 AM
Departure
☾ 7:17 PM
✈ Fly to Fiji
- 🚗
Drop off rental car
Omega Rental Cars - Auckland Airport
- ✈
3:00 PM - FJ 410 Flight to Fiji
Arrival Day: Kayak/SUP at Wailoaloa Beach, sunset at Urban Sugar Beach Club |
Full Fiji guide → 🎉 Local Events
World of Cultures Festival (Auckland)
Continues through Apr 5 | Check morning activities before flight
Easter Weekend Begins
Good Friday is Apr 3 - Fiji town shops will close
🌙 Sleep in Fiji - InterContinental Fiji
🏝 Fiji - Premier Expedition Day
🎉 Local Events
Coral Coast Jazz Festival
Possibly early April - check closer to date
🌙 Sleep in Fiji - InterContinental Fiji
🏝 Fiji - Good Friday (Public Holiday)
⚠ Note: Nadi Town largely closed. Book tours by January 2026!
🎉 Local Events
The Fijian Crosswalk Arrives Cultural
200km walk from Suva ends in Nadi | Crowds gather to welcome cross bearers
🌙 Sleep in Fiji - InterContinental Fiji
🏝 Fiji - Grand Finale & Fly Home