Queenstown beside Lake Wakatipu and mountain ranges

From coast to high country

New Zealand Destinations That Stay with You

Five distinct regions, each with its own light, pace and reason to take the longer road.

Wide Canterbury landscape with the Southern Alps beyond

Gateway to the South

Christchurch & Canterbury

Region: Central South Island Best For: Open roads, alpine day trips and city-nature balance

Begin amid Christchurch’s gardens and evolving neighbourhoods, then follow the plains toward braided rivers, foothills and the immense outline of the Southern Alps.

Christchurch city and gardens
High-country roads and lake country
Banks Peninsula harbour views

Queenstown lakefront beneath mountain peaks

Alpine energy

Queenstown & Central Otago

Region: Lower South Island
Best For: Mountain scenery, adventure and seasonal colour

A dramatic meeting of lake, peak and lively town, with quieter roads leading into historic Central Otago landscapes.

Lake Wakatipu outlooks
Arrowtown character
Central Otago backroads

Mist over a geothermal landscape near Rotorua

Earth in motion

Rotorua & Taupō

Region: Central North Island
Best For: Geothermal scenery, forests and lakes

Steam, mineral colour and expansive water create a journey shaped by powerful natural forces and regional cultural context.

Geothermal terrain
Redwood forest trails
Lake Taupō horizons

Auckland waterfront with islands across the gulf

City meets island

Auckland & Waiheke Island

Region: Upper North Island
Best For: Waterfront culture, neighbourhoods and island time

Discover New Zealand’s largest city through its harbours, volcanic viewpoints and diverse neighbourhoods, then trade the urban rhythm for Waiheke’s beaches and coastal paths.

Two-harbour city views
Creative food and neighbourhood scenes
Waiheke beaches and walking

Edge of the wild

Fiordland & Southland

Region: Far South Island
Best For: Wilderness, water and quiet roads

This is a landscape of scale and atmosphere: rainforest, waterfalls, long valleys and weather that transforms the view from one hour to the next.

Fiord viewpoints
Te Anau lakeside calm
Remote Southland scenery

Waterfalls descending into a Fiordland valley