Travel: New Zealand Road Trip
Just made it back from a nearly three week road trip around New Zealand. Here’s a summary of my route & activities.
I landed in Auckland and walked to my Airbnb to get settled. Once I dropped my bags and had a power nap, I wandered through Albert Park and the Auckland Art Museum.
The museum was a great introduction to the city and culture.
The dress exhibition area was amazing. This was temporary but it was gorgeous and made me think of my aunt & mom back at home.
Then I strolled along Queen Street and the waterfront. It was a gentle, breezy introduction to the city and a perfect way to shake off travel fatigue. I got dinner at Parasol & swing sitting on the roof before cocktails at Caretaker.
Day 2 — Monday, February 5
I eased into the morning with fresh Wild Wheat Bread and a visit to The Flowerhouse for coffee.
This coffee shop was in a dried flower house and it was a gorgeous spot to kick off the day.
Then picked up my rental van and stocked up on supplies. The first place I drove was the Auckland Botanical Gardens.
They were peaceful and lush—an ideal place to wander.
The next spot I hit was Hunua Falls. This was a very very short walk form the car park to see the gorgeous falls.
I moved along to Karangahake Gorge and did a tunnel hike.
You could do it without a torch or headlamp but it was a unique hike that reminded me a lot of the Blueridge tunnel back in Virgina.
I pivoted up north east then to Hahei beach. I ended the day at The Vessel for dinner, a cozy and artsy spot that felt like the right beginning to a road-trip vibe.
Day 3 — Tuesday, February 6
The day began on the water with a sunrise kayaking tour, a calm and refreshing way to start the morning. Afterward, I visited the Government Gardens Thermal Area and soaked at Hot Water Beach, a surreal experience of digging into warm sand and letting the natural minerals do their thing. The Redwood Memorial Grove Track offered cool shade and giant trees—short, sweet, and soothing.
Day 4 — Wednesday, February 7
I grabbed breakfast at Patrick’s boutique bakery before heading to the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. The colorful pools, steaming vents, and bubbling mud felt otherworldly. I hiked Haku Falls, a beautiful forested loop, then relaxed at Hippaptaua / Reid’s Farm by the river.
Day 5 — Thursday, February 8
This was my big hiking day: the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The volcanic landscapes, emerald lakes, and sweeping ridgelines made it one of the most dramatic hikes I’ve ever done. Long, challenging, and absolutely worth it.
Day 6 — Friday, February 9
I spent the day wandering between cafés and breweries—Moomaa for coffee, Brew Union Brewing for a laid-back drink—and explored a nearby town, enjoying the slower pace after the previous day’s trek. I treated myself to Duck Island ice cream before resting at Evans Bay Harbor.
Day 7 — Saturday, February 10
I watched the sun rise from Mount Victoria, then indulged in pastries from Shelly Bay Baker and explored the botanical garden. After a stop at Kathmandu for some gear, I boarded the ferry to the South Island. Dinner at Fidelio Café and Wine Bar rounded out the evening before settling into my Airbnb.
Day 8 — Sunday, February 11
I made my way to the ferry meeting point for a full-day wine tour. Surrounded by rolling vineyards, crisp whites, and friendly winemakers, I sipped my way through the region. Dinner at a local Thai spot capped off a wonderfully relaxed day.
Day 9 — Monday, February 12
I started with coffee at CPR, then took a magical glowworm cave tour—dark tunnels glittering with blue bioluminescence like a starry sky overhead. A warm pie from the West Coast Pie Company made the perfect post-tour treat before I continued on to Fox River.
Day 10 — Tuesday, February 13
I visited the famous Pancake Rocks, where layered stone formations meet dramatic waves. After a peaceful morning café stop, I walked through Callery Gorge, a scenic path with mossy walls and emerald water, and later explored the Sentinel Rock Track for sweeping glacial valley views. I spent the night in Paringa.
Day 11 — Wednesday, February 14
After breakfast at Spiked Café, I visited Thunder Creek Falls and Fantail Falls—both quick, stunning roadside gems surrounded by dense rainforest. Doughbin provided a hearty lunch before I detoured to the lakeside lookout known as “That Wakana Tree.” I wandered through Cromwell and stopped by Penny Black, then enjoyed a casual brewery dinner before reaching my lodging in Te Anau.
Day 12 — Thursday, February 15
Today was all about Milford Sound. The drive alone was breathtaking—valleys, cliffs, waterfalls. The cruise through the fiord was serene and massive in scale, with mist, towering rock faces, and seals lounging on rocks. I stayed in Lumsden and ended the evening with some quiet freedom camping nearby.
Day 13 — Friday, February 16
I stopped in Queenstown for breakfast and spent time wandering through shops and lakeside paths. After returning my van, I headed back to Auckland for pizza and an easy night in an Airbnb, starting the transition back to “regular life mode.”
Day 14 — Saturday, February 17
I took the ferry to Waiheke Island, where the island’s laid-back energy immediately took over. A final wine tour—which left me overdue for a nap in the best way—and a tasty stop at The Brewers Cooperative made for a wonderful last full day.
Day 15 — Sunday, February 18
I checked out, grabbed one last coffee in Auckland, and enjoyed a slow final wander through the city. Then it was time to head to the airport and say goodbye to New Zealand—a trip full of mountains, coastlines, food, and perfect small moments.
