Auckland New Zealand greets nearly 4 million visitors annually. Some stay in the city, but more come to explore our country. We find an Auckland to Wellington drive is a great way to discover many of the North Island’s secrets.
As we live in Auckland, and our daughter lives in Wellington, we have made the drive many times, discovering plenty of options for an Auckland to Wellington road trip itinerary.
Along the way, we have enjoyed enchanting gardens, bubbling earth, geysers, volcanos, museums, clever cafés, huge corrugated iron animals, hobbit holes, and a spring that produces most of the country’s drinking water.
If you are ready to take the drive, read on. Below, we will help you clarify your best Auckland to Wellington Drive.
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Setting up an Auckland to Wellington road trip
While we have driven just about every possible route, we chose our most frequently driven two options (there is a bit of overlap in the centre of the island):
- Direct route from Auckland to Wellington
Drive time: 8 hours
Number of days: Best with 1- 2 days
Route: Auckland > Hamilton > Cambridge > Turangi > Waiouru > Taihape > Kapiti Coast > Wellington - Scenic / Explorative Auckland to Wellington road trip itinerary
Drive time: 10.25 hours
Number of days: Best with 3-5 days
Route: Auckland > Matamata (optional) > Blue Spring > Rotorua > Taupo > Turangi > Waiouru > Taihape > Wairarapa > Wellington
Our Auckland to Wellington driving map
The suggested stops in this article are featured on the map and colour-coded using yellow for the direct route and red for the scenic route, with the cities on both routes in orange. Grey represents coastal routes near the bottom of the article.
Can you drive from Auckland to Wellington in one day?
Yes, but why would you want to with so many fabulous places along the way?
We powered through our first Auckland to Wellington drive with only two stops (food and toilet). For us, this was not a good plan.
Car hire (rental) for your Auckland to Wellington road trip
Unless you are using your own vehicle, you will need to hire a car. We always rent from RentalCars. They offer a comprehensive list of multinational and local rental car agents, ratings on specific car types, and agency ratings. Importantly, they often have lower prices than going direct.
Whether you rent from them or not, it’s still the perfect place to begin your search. Compare options or reserve your car at RentalCars.com
Starting city: Auckland
New Zealand’s largest city is home to nearly one-third of the country’s population. We are amongst this crowd. Whether it is nature, culture, or culinary delights, Auckland has it all. We have written extensively about our city, with our key things to do in Auckland here.
Continue reading for Hamilton to Waitomo or skip to the Matamata to Taupo segment now
Hamilton to Waitomo Segment (Direct Route)
Hamilton
New Zealand’s fourth-largest city is home to the internationally acclaimed Hamilton Gardens, a must-see. Hamilton started charging a fee for non-city residents in 2024, but we think it’s worth it if you have never visited. We allocate at least 90 minutes here.
There are plenty of other things to do in Hamilton, but if we are headed to Wellington with less than five days to spend, we get back on the road after our stop.
Cambridge
Small town New Zealand at its finest; we love to come here for a weekend getaway. While there are plenty of things to do in Cambridge, when passing through on a drive to Wellington, we usually just stop for coffee, lunch or a walk up and down the main street.
Waitomo Caves or Blue Spring (optional- extra driving required)
Photo credit: Corin Walker Bain / 100% New Zealand
Unfortunately, these two are in opposite directions, and both are amazing.
- Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Spring
Access to Blue Spring / Te Waihou Walkway from Leslie Road is temporarily closed.
New Zealand exports about 9 million litres of water each year, and nearly 70% of that water comes from the Blue Spring. The easy walk lets you stretch your legs and brings you to colourful nature at its best. From end to end, the walk is 4.7 km and takes about 90 minutes each way, but it’s much shorter as an in and out from Leslie Road. - Waitomo Glowworm Caves
The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are one of the more popular North Island tourist attractions, and while they are between Auckland and Wellington, they are not on the route we are recommending. However, they are worth a visit if you have never seen the glowworm species found exclusively in New Zealand.
If you purchase timed tickets in advance, you can allocate about 2 hours for your entire adventure (the tour is one hour). If not, you might wait up to half a day for a tour. Reserve your glowworm tour in advance here.
If you drove the Hamilton to Waitomo route, skip to the Turangi segment now
Matamata to Taupo Segment (Scenic Route)
Matamata (Hobbiton)
The Hobbiton Movie Set is probably one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, yet neither Jeff nor I have been there. Our girls rave about the opportunity to enjoy the last remaining intact set from the Lord of the Rings movies.
They talk of being surrounded by lush green pastures, the hobbit holes of the Shire, and guides that share stories and behind-the-scenes secrets. For fans, Hobbiton is a must-see. It is only available as a guided tour, and stopping here will add about half a day to your Auckland to Wellington drive. Reserve your Hobbiton tour in advance here.
Tirau
A creative solution to revitalizing a town: In the late 1980s, a Tirau resident designed and erected huge sculptures in corrugated iron. A great place to stop, stretch your legs, visit craft shops, have a coffee, or just walk around and admire the interesting corrugated creations. Unless it’s mealtime, we usually allocate about 30 minutes here.
Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Spring
We wrote about this in the section above, as it can be an easy add-on there, too.
Rotorua
A destination on its own, we can easily spend several days here. While we have written quite extensively on the vast variety of unique things to do in Rotorua, we include some of the highlights here:
- It’s a geothermal wonderland with bubbling mud, rising steam, and colourful mineral elements, creating a landscape that keeps visitors in awe.
- Adrenaline-pumping adventures like bungy, luge, zorb, giant swing, and mountain biking.
- It’s a place to rejuvenate with plenty of natural mineral spa baths and a forest of tall redwoods.
- There are also impressive Māori cultural discovery opportunities.
We recommend spending at least one night, ideally more. Being fans of 5-star accommodations offering a touch of luxury, our current favourite place to stay is the Pullman Rotorua. Reserve your stay at the Pullman here.
(Note: If Rotorua is your final destination, and you are looking for even more stops on the way, be sure to check out our road trip from Auckland to Rotorua.)
Orakei Karako
There are several fascinating places between Rotorua and Taupo, and Orakei Karako is our top recommendation.
What separates it from some of the other geothermal locations is the vast array of vivid colours, the vibrant terraces, bubbling mud pools, and silica formations. Plus, it is home to one of only two geothermal caves worldwide. Reserve your often-discounted entry here.
Taupo
Picturesque Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest lake and Australasia’s largest freshwater lake. Taupo is another place for some impressive scenery, adventure, or relaxation.
It’s probably best known for Huka Falls, where water plunges over the falls at more than 220,000 litres per second. It’s a must-see, even if you are just driving through. Allocate at least 30 minutes.
There are plenty of other things to do in Taupo, from walking along the lake to skydiving, seeing geothermal activity, and visiting famous glass works. If it’s skydiving you are after, you can often get discount skydiving experiences here.
Turangi Segment (Both Routes)
Turangi (the halfway stop on an Auckland to Wellington drive)
We believe Turangi is an easy place to spend the night if you are doing a multi-day Auckland to Wellington drive. A town famous for its fly fishing, it is also a base for those who are doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, as well as winter skiers.
This brings plenty of inexpensive, roadside motel-style accommodations. If you are like us and prefer something a little nicer, check out and reserve your suite at Creel Lodge in Turangi.
Waiouru: The National Army Museum
The museum took us through New Zealand’s fascinating military history, both with the UK and Australia. A little-known piece of trivia: the lifelike faces in the displays are created from casts made of museum staff members’ faces.
All New Zealand army recruits take their oath at the Tears on Greenstone Memorial (Roimata Pounamu) in the museum.
We spent about an hour here, but if you are a history buff, be prepared to stay a bit longer.
Taihape
If you loved the corrugated iron in Tirau, you won’t want to miss the giant boot welcoming you to Taihape.
Continue reading for Kapiti Coast or skip to the Wairarapa segment now
Kapiti Coast Segment (Direct Route)
Bulls and Sanson
When passing through the town of Bulls, be sure to read shop names and signs. The motto is “a town like no udder,” and puns are everywhere.
A few of our favourites are: Read-A-Bull (library), Social-A-Bull (town hall), Const-A-Bull (police station)
Sanson is the next town. It’s home to an old church-turned-cafe serving ‘Heavenly Coffee’. We found the Church Cafe to live up to this standard.
Kapiti Coast
Photo supplied by Nga Manu Nature Reserve
The beautiful Kapiti Coast offers plenty of things to do. If you choose to spend the night, we stumbled upon Raumati Sands Resort, close to the beach, with huge self-contained units offering lovely views. Reserve your stay at Raumati Sands Resort here.
Nga Manu
We loved this dense, green nature reserve with its easy-to-follow trails leading to a few aviaries, a nocturnal house, a bushwalk, and an impressive lookout point. A non-profit charitable trust, they have a successful breed and release program and are one of the places to see kiwi in New Zealand. If you want a more personal experience, check out this guided evening kiwi encounter. The tour was fabulous (although no photos allowed) and took us out to a private enclosure for Kiwi viewing in the evening. Reserve your night adventure here.
Paekakariki Hill Road Lookout
It didn’t take us long to know why this is often considered one of the most beautiful coastal roads in New Zealand. The well-paved, windy Paekakariki Hill Road took us first to a lookout, then down the other side. Even in the rain, the view was impressive all the way.
Barry Hadfield Nīkau Reserve
This shady bush with two short walks through a stand of Nīkau Palms is a bit of a local’s secret. The lower loop trail was easy and beautiful, allowing us to enjoy the canopy of Nikau Palms. The other trail is uphill, and while our friends called it very steep, the signage suggested it was suitable for children. We opted for the lower trail.
Kapiti Island
A short boat ride from the mainland, Kapiti Island is a nature reserve known for its rich Maori history and as a sanctuary for rare bird species. We have never been yet, but want to take one of their engaging guided tours that highlight the island’s ecological and cultural significance. The overnight option often spots kiwi. Reserve your overnight visit to Kapiti Island here or check for discounts on the ferry to Kapiti Island here.
If you drove the Kapiti Coast, skip to the Wellington segment now
Wairarapa Segment (Scenic Route)
Mangatainoko (Tui Brewery)
Tui has been brewed in Mangatainoko since 1889, although now it’s more of a microbrewery. The secret may be the water from the Mangatainoko River, or it may be the brewing process.
A lot has changed for Tui over the years, and we have written about our visits and tours of Tui Brewery here. The tour and tasting take about an hour, and there is also a lovely cafe.
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is another stunning New Zealand region worth exploring. We make different choices each time we drive through, and last time we opted to stay for several days on our way back up from Wellington to Auckland.
We wrote about all our favourite things to do in Wairarapa here, with a few highlights listed below:
- Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, Mt Bruce
Lush, native and teeming with bird life, we walked along well-manicured paths through the dense forest, passing a variety of bird and lizard aviaries, including one that was open-fly. The reserve is home to several rare and endangered bird species in their natural habitats, including kiwi, takahe, and kaka. Also found here is New Zealand’s only white kiwi, not an albino, it’s a genetic abnormality. The park offers a range of activities, from guided tours to feeding experiences. Plan to spend about 1-2 hours here. - Le Grá Vineyard and Winery, Masterton
Here, we relaxed with a tasting and a platter and walked away impressed with everything about our afternoon. The owner/hosts are personable and friendly. Le Grá is a lovely spot. - Cobblestones Museum, Greytown
This historic village is a fascinating early settler museum. - Stonehenge Aotearoa
Fascinating on different levels, Stonehenge Aotearoa represents the history of ancient stone circles combined with their power. It is a purpose-built stone circle created for its surroundings.
Wellington (Ending city)
Our drive to Wellington ends in New Zealand’s capital city. Home to the government buildings, it is a lovely waterfront city with plenty of interesting things to do.
Once here, we tend to stay a while. Preferring 5-star luxury in the centre of town, we stay at Sofitel Wellington. Everything about it, from the welcoming staff to our large, tastefully decorated, comfortable room, made our stay easy. Reserve your stay at Sofitel here.
Read next: Wellington Activities: 37 Things to Do in the Capital of New Zealand
Have more time – extended Auckland to Wellington Itinerary options
Twice, we took two weeks to make the drive (once out to each coast). Both times seeing amazing new places and having plenty of time to relax. Here are the longer, super scenic routes:
Auckland to Wellington via the West Coast through Taranaki and Whanganui
Total drive time: 9.25 hours
Key stops: Auckland > Hamilton > Otorotonga > Waitomo > New Plymouth > Stratford > Whanganui > Kapiti Coast > Wellington
This was our most recent road trip, and I loved it. We spent a week enjoying New Plymouth and the rest of the Taranaki region.
For more details on where to stop on this itinerary, start here: Auckland to New Plymouth Coastal Road Trip: 10 Must-see Stops. You can continue from here to Wellington following our Wellington to New Plymouth road trip route in reverse.
Auckland to Wellington via the East Coast through Bay of Plenty and Napier
Total drive time with options: 19 hours
Key stops: Auckland > Paeroa > Karangahake Gorge > Tauranga / Mt Maunganui > Rotorua (optional) > East Cape (optional) > Napier > Wairarapa > Wellington
We have done this twice. Once, making every stop. The other time a more direct from Auckland to Napier and then Napier to Wellington.
Practical information about the Auckland to Wellington Drive
- In New Zealand, we drive on the left side of the road. If you are unfamiliar with driving here, we encourage you to read the NZTA for driving tips for overseas visitors.
- The speed limits in New Zealand tend to be lower than those in other countries. However, the speeding tickets are on par.
- New Zealand motorways and city roads are great (although locals often complain about potholes). Rural roads, however, are sometimes metals (gravel) or not as good of shape as you might expect.
Other ways to travel from Auckland to Wellington
There are other ways to travel between Wellington and Auckland. Here are a few options:
- Take a tour
This four-day option includes visits to Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Rotorua, and Lake Taupo. With two nights in Rotorua and the final in Wellington, it looks like a great option if you don’t want to drive yourself. Reserve your 4-day tour here. - Fly
Air New Zealand and Jetstar both offer daily flights. If you want to fly, check Expedia flights for the best prices. - Train
There is the Northern Explorer, an Auckland to Wellington train, which won’t save too much time but can be a good option if you don’t have access to a vehicle and don’t want to fly. Reserve the Northern Explorer here. - Bus
Check out some of the bus options here.
More for your North Island adventure . . .
Which Auckland to Wellington Drive Itinerary will you pick?
Disclaimer: We worked with local tourism boards and were provided with some complimentary entrances, tours, or media rates to assist in the writing of Albom Adventures. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
Slide
Loved this post! We did the drive from Auckland to Wellington a few months ago and had the most amazing time. Your recommendations for stops were spot on – the natural beauty of Lake Taupo was breathtaking and the fun we had at the Wine Museum in Martinborough was the perfect way to break up the long drive. Thanks for sharing, will definitely be back to read more of your travel tips!
Shaf
This is such a good selection of spots- I could definitely see myself spending a huge amount of time at Rotorua too!
Bri
This looks like such a cool drive! Thank you for sharing!
Kirsten
Such a detailed and insightful guide to the Auckland to Wellington drive! The scenic route seems like a dream with all those enchanting stops! I’ve been wanting to explore New Zealand, and your post just moved it higher on my travel bucket list! 🙂
Lisa Bundesen
We are heading to the South Island in June and hoping to get to the North Island next year for a road trip. Thanks for the itinerary – definitely helpful with our planning.
Lorraine Caputo
Oh, that looks like such a delightful road trip!
(And thanks for the info on alternative transport to places!)
Eliza
That sounds like amazing day trips I will love to take. The views are gorgeous.
Rylee
Try is itinerary is amazing!! Officially adding this to my bucket list, I cannot believe how beautiful this area is. Thanks for all the helpful pointers
Marga
This itinerary is so helpful! Especially with the map. Can’t wait to visit someday and see it all for myself!
Linda
We definitely will need to rent a car to enjoy all the great stops between Auckland and Wellington. We would want to plan a few days and stop to enjoy the sights. Then we would not have to make a choice between things like Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Spring. Love all the amazing natural beauty.
Rhonda Albom
Good news, those are the same place. Te Waihou Walkway leads to Blue Spring.
Amanda
What a wonderful itinerary! There is so much to see and do in New Zealand & driving this beautifully planned route would be a great way to see some of it!
Sara Essop
I’d love to do the Auckland to Wellington drive. I didn’t realise that there are so many treasures en-route and I’d love to see them all!
Maryanne
I have driven in the opposite direction from Wellington to Auckland through the Taupo/Matamata route and found it really good. Next time I will take the Hamilton route. Great list of things to see on this road trip – thanks!
Stefanie
I have never been New Zealand but it is on my list. There is so much great information in this post! Thanks
Melanie
I have been lucky enough to do this drive when my sister was living in NZ, and now I want to go back and do the super-scenic long drives you mentioned at the end. NZ is really the most beautiful place with so many cool spots to visit. Great inspo! 🙂
Tony Mason
Kiora Ronda
I am extremely interested in finding out about the South Island as my wife and I are interested in doing a self drive New Zealand experience. Your post about the North Island is fantastic so am looking forward to seeing your post about the South Island.
Peter
You missed the best pun of all.
Grab a milkshake in Bulls-the only place in the world where you can get milk from Bulls.
Rhonda Albom
Good one! Thanks for adding it.
Brock
yes. was very helpful
Eric
Need to get back to NZ and explore more of the North island. We only spent 2 days in Auckland the rest of our time on the South island. Have heard great things and it looks like there’s some great road tripping to be done. Thanks.
Joanne | Travel Visa Australia
Thanks for the for sharing your experience with us. I always love to read a road trip article and find it fun and inspiring!
Melissa Rogers
I had NO idea there was that much to see between Auckland and Wellington! You have me hooked on Matamata aka Hobbiton!
Jen
This is such a great resource. New Zealand is high on our list and we love doing road trips around countries. Thanks for all the info!
Katy
Fantastic post Rhonda. I have done this trip a few times and haven’t managed to see all these spots. Next on the list is Turangi. PS one of my good friend’s from London is married to Richard O’Brien’s son and I have heard all about the tribute – it was nice to read about it here too
Rhonda Albom
wow, what a small world.
Lauren Pears
Wow, what an amazing road trip! I would love to visit the north island for those glow worm caves and hobbiton!
Angela
Clever cafes and hobbit holes sound like a perfect pairing for a road trip… count me in! I used to have Australia above New Zealand for some reason but the scale has tipped and New Zealand is now at the top of my list.
Greg
So much natural beauty between the two cities! Love the color of the water in Auckland and all of the scenery in the sights on the way
Michael Hodgson
Brilliant itinerary! Have bookmarked this for a future return visit to New Zealand. Can never visit too much — Christchuch was amazing. Auckland super fun. Waitangi Treaty Grounds moving. Last visit there was simply a jumping off to get to Fiji for a sailing adventure back to New Zealand … another adventue unto itself. And always LOVE your photos … a highlight of opening your posts.
Handmade Jewelry Haven
I never cease getting excited every time I click your link and today was no different!
Beautiful sights!
Thank you for sharing this recap!
– Lisa
Ferna
I would take the road trip to see all of these than the train or fly over. I’ve seen so many stunning photos of Auckland and Wellington but not with all of these spots you visited. It’s my first to see waitomo glow worms cave so spectacular. I’d take the route the same way you did just to see this waitomo glow worms.
Taylor
this made me desperately miss New Zealand!! awesome info
Dylan
Awesome road trip! I’d love to do this someday especially to see Hobbiton. So cool!
tif
These are great suggestions!! If i did this drive i would totally stop in hobbiton!! That is a bucketlist item for me and something i can’t wait to do!
Erica Edwards
This post brings back so many wonderful memories! I used to be a tour guide in New Zealand and many of these stops were on my tour route. I had my first skydive at Lake Taupo, my first dip in natural hotsprings in Rotorua and my first spelunking experience in the glow worm caves of Waitomo 😍 Somehow I never made it to Hobbiton… I guess it’s a good enough excuse to go back !
Rhonda Albom
Hobbiton is quite a bit more commercial than any of the places you mentioned, but yes, it is a good excuse to come back – if you need an exchuse.
Ryan Biddulph
That East Cape is eye-popping! The homeowner took us for a ride from Opotiki. 3 hours of stunning views and quite an intense ride too. We loved Wellington. Different feel to it, as the place was somewhat similar to San Francisco. Chill, low-key, neat buildings and a hilly terrain too. Will not forget the flight in; those were some strong winds, fitting for the Windiest City on Earth.
Ryan
Rhonda Albom
I agree, I love the East Cape, and even though we added it into our personal around the North Island itinerary, it’s not part of the one on this page.
Janna
I’ve been wanting to visit New Zealand for the longest time and your photos clearly show that I must plan a visit soon! I like that you showed your itinerary. It will definitely help when I plan my trip. Thanks for sharing
Rhonda Albom
A road trip between Auckland and Wellington is a great way to explore the North Island.
Sandy N Vyjay
The Auckland to Welling road trip indeed has all the trappings of an epic trip. The stops have something unique to offer. So many places, I am sure one would never feel the drive to be long or tedious. Some of my favourite and must visit places here would be Hobbiton, Stonehenge, and Rotorua, these places look spectacular, I am sure the experiences are to be cherished for a long, long time.
Rhonda Albom
You did pick some of the best spots, although the Army museum caught me by surprise, being far more interesting than I expected.
Al Perez
if you’re just driving one-way, i suggest to do it from wellington to auckland because the rental car is almost free. i only paid $3 for an suv and it stayed with us for 3 days. i think it’s because you are returning it to auckland for the company since most people rent a car headed south. 🙂
Barb
Funnily enough, I was just looking into visiting NZ one day and then I came across your blog. NZ looks like a beautiful country, so doing this road trip is certainly the best way to explore the country. I like how many details you provide to the visitors. Thank you for all the ideas!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, New Zealand is beautiful. There is a lot more to New Zealand than just this portion of the North Island. Many of the most beautiful spots are on the South Island.
Claire
Wow, I can’t believe there is all of this to see between the two cities! Or that you did the whole drive with just one toilet stop the first time! The glow worm caves look amazing, as you say actually there is more here than on a simple road trip – this is a whole holiday in itself! Hobbiton is definitely on my list, after getting a taste of hobbit houses in Guatemala I really want to see the ‘real’ thing!
Rhonda Albom
Remember, when we did the whole thing in on go, we didn’t make any other stops, so it was eight solid hours of driving.
Paul Pietrangelo
Just to let you know Rhonda, I may no longer be able to write my blog. This thing called widget took over my blog and I can’t get into my blog. I’ve had some friends try to help but to no avail. But I’ll still be able to check on you. You won’t be able to get rid of that easy. LOL See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Jill Chapman
Well, I certainly would love to do this someday!
Rhonda Albom
I hope you get a chance to visit New Zealand
Candy
I would love to visit the Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Spring. I also had no idea NZ exported so much water from this Blue Spring. And the tea plantation and garden looks like a great place to explore too 🙂
Rhonda Albom
The exportation of water has become a political thing lately. I am not sure it will continue forever.
stevebethere
What a fab tour Rhonda the Corrugated figures in Tirau made me smile heheh!
Have a tanfastic week 🙂
Rhonda Albom
They made me smile too, and I only shared the dog and sheep. They are everywhere in the town.
Paul Pietrangelo
Wow, what a trip. Every time you show me great pictures of New Zealand, I just want to go. See ya Rhonda.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
One day Paul, I will have you convinced. There are ships that come here. In fact, we are sailing from LA to Auckland next month.
Shweta
New zealand is really a fab place for a road trip. We drove from Auckland to Wellington stopping at Rotorua and Lake Taupo on the way, but your fab post and different itinerary suggestions made me realise there is so much more to see and do!
Rhonda Albom
I think you did what many people do. Next time perhaps you will choose a different way.
Leah
I wish I had this post about six years ago when I made this exact drive! Of the places you mentioned, I went to Waitomo, Taupo, and Rotorua. This is still one of my favorite trips of all time.
Rhonda Albom
Same here, I wish we had done the research and made the interesting drive years ago. We have just gone straight through too many times.
Tom Bourlet
Ooh the Karangahake gorge looks amazing. I haven’t yet made it over to New Zealand, not through lack of wanting to, but a few more places to tick off first (Sri Lanka is next). I never knew there was a stone henge in New Zealand, that’s bizarre and amazing in equal measure!
Rhonda Albom
For a tiny little country, New Zealand really packs in quite a bit. As for Karangahake, check out more of my images here: Karangahake Gorge Walks: Windows out of Old Gold Mines
California Globetrotter
Hamiliton looks and sounds like a great place to stop! Everything on her does, to be honest! I can imagine that NZ is like living in a fantasy world because everything looks awesome!!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – it did seem a bit like a fantasy world when we first moved here 16 years ago, now it’s just the fabulous place that we live.
Sreekar
Wow. So many great options on the trip to choose from. Would love to do Taihape and Stonehenge ? replica. The variety on the trail seems amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
Exactly right, the variety is amazing, and if you allocated enough time you can do it all. The Stonehenge is not a replica, but rather a purpose-built stone circle. You can read about it here: Stonehenge Aotearoa: New Zealand’s Powerful Stone Circle
Jerry and Fiona
Who doesn’t love a good road trip? New Zealand sounds like a great place to see some quirky sights. I love all the names of places in the town of Bulls. I also like the corrugated tin artwork, for I have never quite seen that.
The blue waterfall at Taupo looks amazing? Are there many hot springs to visit in New Zealand?
Rhonda Albom
The geothermal region of Rotorua, Taupo and everywhere in the middle is filled with hotsprings, plus there are some on the South Island.
Anna
New Zealand has such a wonderful nature. Waitomo Glow Worms Cave looks absolutely stunning! I´ve also heard that the most charming places are in between, would love to do the drive. Thanks for the Wanderlust!
Rhonda Albom
It’s very true, New Zealand is filled with charming little hide-a-ways and hidden secrets.
beatravelling
I did the trip in two legs, by bus, and it was amazing, even though I wasn’t able to stop wherever I wanted to. Could easily have done it again, but this time at my own pace 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Where did you stop along the way?
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – I’d be out and about and probably take longer … in the old days I’d have whizzed through … but one misses so much. They all look quite delightful … and I’d love to do the trip – cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
We are the same, we used to drive straight through, now we take our time and enjoy.
Comedy Plus
I’m not much of a city person, so I’d be out in the country side soaking up the wide open spaces.
Great photography as always.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ♥
Rhonda Albom
I am a bit of both. I love the city, but also love the escape the rural areas.