Use this simple itinerary & spend 5 wonderful days driving from Auckland to Wellington
Reportedly Auckland receives more than 4 million tourists every year, and majority of them also explore the countryside after visiting Auckland. While some of these tourists go on day trips (like the trip to Hobbiton), others plan road trips to the other major cities of the North Island. Of all the major road trips that begin in Auckland, the drive from Auckland to Wellington is the most popular. It is true that flying from Auckland to Wellington is always an option, but it is not always a feasible solution for group travelers; even for solo travelers, ditching the road route means missing the magic of New Zealand’s countryside. The beauty you experience is one of a kind and if you have the time, you should definitely add a road trip to your plans when visiting New Zealand. By doing so, you will be able to see the beauty of NZ upclose; from volcanoes to geysers, enchanting gardens and wonderful city attractions, NZ is mesmerising!
The drive from Auckland to Wellington is 640 km via State Highway 1. So, if you want to do the drive in one go without stopping at the numerous attractions on the way, you will be able to do the drive in 8 hours. However, in order to do the drive with the stops on the way, you will need 3 to 5 days. Our itinerary divides the drive into 3 days. Majority of people rent cars for pickup at Auckland Airport and use the vehicle for the drive. Opting for a one-way option is a practical choice since that way you will not have to return the vehicle in Auckland, you ‘ll be free to return the vehicle in Wellington. Note that, in case of a one way rental car, there is an extra fee.
Auckland to Wellington 3 day Itinerary
Day 1 Spend the day exploring Auckland
Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city and is also the most visited city in the country when it comes to tourism. We suggest you arrive a day before so that you will be totally fresh for your day in Auckland.
Auckland’s main attractions are:
- Sky Tower
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
- SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium
- Auckland Domain
- Auckland Zoo
- SkyCity Auckland
For the full-fledged one day in Auckland itinerary, check out our previous post.
Day 2 Leave Auckland and drive towards Paeroa
After spending a relaxing day in Auckland, it is time to get going. The first stop after leaving Auckland is Paeroa which is 1.5 hours drive via State Hwy 1 and State Hwy 2.
Paeroa, the antique capital of the country is a stop totally worth your time. Explore its many antique shops and don’t forget to visit its star destination, the giant Lemon and Paeroa bottle. Lemon and Paeroa is the soft drink brand that originated in Paeroa and was initially manufactured using carbonated mineral water from Paeroa plus lemon. Spend 2 or 3 hours here, however, if you want to spend half a day, here are a few attractions that you can visit:
- Karangahake gorge: It is related to the town’s gold mining history
- Historical Maritime Museum & Park
- Bullswool Heritage Farm
If you are spending half a day in Paeroa, it will be best to have lunch before hitting the road again. Kumar’s Something Special, One3One Restaurant Cafe & Bar and Karangahake Winery & Restaurant are a few highly rated restaurants where you can expect to get a good service & mouthwatering menu.
Drive from Paeroa to Hamilton
Hamilton is 76 km from Paeroa and the drive can be completed in 1 hour. Spend the rest of the day in Hamilton, which is New Zealand’s fourth largest city and is home to some really great attractions. First attraction on the list is the city’s internationally renowned Gardens; on reaching Hamilton, head towards its star attraction, Hamilton Gardens (it remains open till 7:30 PM). If you are interested in visiting Hamilton Zoo, visit it first as it closes around 430 PM and then go to Hamilton Gardens.
Spend the evening at SkyCity Hamilton, the place where you will be able to enjoy fun activities like bowling and delicious food at one of its many loved restaurants.
Where to stay in Hamilton?
Abbots Hamilton – Hotel and Conference Centre & Heartland Ambassador Hotel Hamilton are some good stay options for the night.
Extra tip: If possible, in the morning before leaving Hamilton, visit the 11 km riverwalk trail along the Waikato River and have a refreshing morning walk.
Day 3 Next stop is Matamata aka Hobbiton
Matamata is 67 km from Hamilton and you can reach it in 50 minutes via State Highway 1. Matamata is a world class destination, known internationally as Hobbiton, the fictional place from the Lord of the Rings books and movies. The sets where Hobbiton was created is now a destination where you can easily spend half a day. However, since it is on private land, no one is allowed to wander the sets on their own; everyone is supposed to join a guided tour. There is an entry fee but every penny is worth the experience.
Tours are offered daily 5 times at 9.30am, 10.45am, 12.00pm, 1.15pm & 2.30pm. Before hitting the road again, have something to eat at The Shire’s Rest Cafe. It opens everyday from 9AM to 4:30 PM.
A Quick stop at Te Waihou Walkway and Blue Spring
This lovely attraction remains open 24 hours a day, so no matter when you reach the place you will be able to explore it. You will reach it by evening which is a great time to enjoy the natural spring and its adjacent walkways.
Waitomo Glow Worm Caves
After an exceptional morning in Matamata’s Hobbiton, now drive towards Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. The caves are located at a distance of 89 km from Hobbiton and the drive can be completed in 1 hour 15 minutes.
This is another must visit destination of North Island that falls on the way from Auckland to Wellington. Though most people cover it on the return journey, since we are talking about a one way trip, it is better to cover it after Hobbiton even if it is a bit off the route.
It is a natural attraction in Wiatimo and is noted for its population of Arachnocampa luminosa, a glow worm species found only in NZ. Go on a boat ride through the glow worm grotto & have an enchanting afternoon.
Spend the remaining day in Rotorua
Rotorua is about 139 km from Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and is about 1 hour 55 minutes drive by car.
Make your evening in Rotorua memorable with Maori Evening Show
Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland that has numerous natural attractions, Even for people who reach the city in the evening. Book Maori Evening Experience to make best use of your evening in Rotorua.
Afterwards, if you feel like you can also go zip lining through the forest. For that you will also need to make booking in advance with Rotorua Canopy Tours. Mud Spas, Treewalk Light Displays and Stargazing, there is a lot that you can see & do while spending a night in Rotorua.
Where to eat & stay the night in Rotorua?
Rotorua Downtown Backpackers – BBH, Base Backpackers Rotorua (Hot Rocks) & Rock Solid Backpackers – TBG are a few good budget stay options in Rotorua. For food, there are many good restaurants that you can choose from; we suggest you try any one of these two highly rated food places : Atticus Finch or Sabroso Restaurant.
Day 4 Explore Rotorua’s day attractions
Start your day with an amazing sunrise at Lake Rotorua (or any of the surrounding lakes of Lake Okareka, Lake Rotomahana and Lake Tarawera). After that have an early breakfast and spend 3 to 4 hours (or a half day) in Rotorua before heading towards Wellington.
- Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland
- Te Puia
- Champagne Pool
- Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Places to see on the drive from Rotorua to Wellington
- Lake TaupoTaupo is located 1 hours drive from Rotorua via State Highway 5. Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest lake.
- Waiouru: The National Army MuseumLocated 2 hours drive from Taupo, Waiouru is a great spot if you are interested in New Zealand’s military history.
- Quick stop at TaihapeThe giant boot that welcomes you to Taihape makes it a great photo top.
- Stay the night at BullsThe drive from Taihape to Bulls is about 55 minutes long. A town like no other, a walk through Bulls is as entertaining as it could get. The town’s shops, library (Read-A-Bull) and town hall (Social-A-Bull) has really interesting names just like the town’s slogan “a town like no udder”.
Where to stay the night at Bulls?
Lancewood Lodge, Junction Motel Sanson and Highden Manor Estate are 3 accommodation options in Bulls that you may consider for the night stay.
Day 5 Continue driving towards Wellington
Here are a few more stops for day 5. Have an early breakfast and leave Bulls for Tui Brewery.
Tui Brewery
The drive from Bulls to Tui Brewery can be easily completed in 57 to 60 minutes. In case you didn’t get the time to have breakfast and don’t want to wait that long, stop at Church Cafe in Sanson known for its coffee and baked potatoes.
Enjoy Tui Brewery’s 1 hour tasting tour. After the tour, do visit the cafe, it offers delicious food and a lively atmosphere.
Stonehenge Aotearoa
Did you know that even New Zealand has an ancient stone circle? This mix of history and mystery makes Stonehenge Aotearoa a fascinating stop. The drive from Tui Brewery to Stonehenge Aotearoa is 1 hour 10 minutes long via State Highway 2.
Arrive in Wellington
Wellington is 92 km from Stonehenge Aotearoa and the drive can be completed in 1 hour 18 minutes. You will reach Wellington in the afternoon, so the best thing will be to check into your hotel (which we are assuming you have booked beforehand) and have something to eat. The Dwellington, InterContinental Wellington and Wellesley Boutique Hotel are some good stay options we recommend.
Even if you reach Wellington by later afternoon, you will have lots of things to keep you occupied.
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- Wellington Cable Car
- ZEALANDIA
- Wellington Botanic Garden
- Beehive
- Wellington Zoo
- Wellington Museum
- Cuba Street
- Wellington Harbour
Out of these you can visit a few attractions the same day like Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa as it closes at 6 PM. You can spend an hour or so shopping at Cuba Street. Wellington Cable Car timings are usually till 8 PM or 9:30 PM depending on the day (Monday to Thursday: 7:30am-8:00pm; Friday: 7:30am-9:00pm; Saturday: 8:30am-9:00pm; Sunday & Public Holidays: 8:30am-7:00pm). The rest of the attractions you can explore the next day.
Here are a few things that you can do at night in Wellington:
- Browse the eclectic night markets
- Night tour of Zealandia
- If you feel like in Wellington you can try a zoo sleepover
- Stargaze at Space Place.
- Catch some local theatre.