Auckland | Queenstown
Two weeks of scenic drives and adventures.
New Zealand
Jan 11, 2026 - Jan 26, 2026
Overview
| Region | Dates | Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Jan 11–15 | 4 |
| Queenstown | Jan 15–20 | 5 |
| Lake Tekapo | Jan 20–22 | 2 |
| Christchurch | Jan 22–23 | 1 |
| Picton | Jan 23–25 | 2 |
Day-by-Day Itinerary
| Date | Day | Location | Activities | Transport/Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10 | Sat | ✈️ In Transit | Depart Delhi 9:45 PM → Singapore → Auckland | Flight |
| Jan 11 | Sun | Auckland | Arrive 11:35 PM, check in | Auckland hotel |
| Jan 12 | Mon | Auckland | Explore Auckland – walking tour | — |
| Jan 13 | Tue | Auckland | Hobbiton day tour | Tour includes transport |
| Jan 14 | Wed | Auckland | Chill day in Auckland | — |
| Jan 15 | Thu | Queenstown | Morning flight to Queenstown, explore | Pick up rental car; Queenstown hotel |
| Jan 16 | Fri | Queenstown | Milford Sound + Lake Marian Track hike | Scenic stops: Gertrude Valley, Lake Gunn, Mirror Lakes, The Chasm |
| Jan 17 | Sat | Queenstown | Rob Roy Glacier hike + Isthmus Peak Track | — |
| Jan 18 | Sun | Queenstown | Bungee jump & Nevis Swing | — |
| Jan 19 | Mon | Queenstown | Winery tour / free day | — |
| Jan 20 | Tue | Lake Tekapo | Morning skydive, then drive to Lake Tekapo (3 hrs) | Stargazing at night |
| Jan 21 | Wed | Lake Tekapo | Mount Cook hikes, Sealy Tarns, lavender fields | Night sky viewing |
| Jan 22 | Thu | Christchurch | Drive to Christchurch (3–3.5 hrs) | Stop: Fairlie Bakehouse for pies; Dinner: Little High Eatery |
| Jan 23 | Fri | Picton | TranzAlpine train 7:00 AM → Picton 12:40 PM | Picton hotel |
| Jan 24 | Sat | Picton | Marlborough wine tour 🍷 | See wine itinerary below |
| Jan 25 | Sun | ✈️ Home | Fly Picton → Auckland → NYC (lands 2:25 PM) | — |
🍷 Marlborough Wine Tour (Jan 24)
| Time | Stop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | Depart Picton | 25–35 min drive to wine region |
| 10:15 AM | Cloudy Bay | Iconic Sauvignon Blanc (~1 hr) |
| 11:30 AM | Nautilus Estate | Pinot Gris, Chardonnay (~1 hr) |
| 1:00 PM | Wairau River Wines | Lunch + tasting reservation (~90 min) |
| 2:45 PM | Framingham Wines | Boutique, aromatic whites (~45 min) |
| 3:45 PM | Forrest Estate (optional) | Family-run, quiet tasting |
| 5:00 PM | Return to Picton | — |
🎯 Adventure Activities to Book
| Activity | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Skydiving | Wanaka (has hotel pickup) | GetYourGuide |
| Skydiving | Queenstown (no pickup) | GetYourGuide |
| Bungee + Nevis Swing | Queenstown | TBD |
| Shotover Jet | Queenstown | Viator |
| Shark Attack Hydro | Queenstown | Viator |
🚗 Transport Summary
- Rental car: Pick up Queenstown (Jan 15) → Drop off Christchurch (Jan 22)
- TranzAlpine train: Christchurch → Picton (Jan 23)
- Flights: Delhi → Auckland, Auckland → Queenstown, Picton → Auckland → NYC
Itinerary
Full Planning BoardIf the embed is restricted, use the Full Planning Board button above.
No trip photos yet.
Add images in src/content/trips/2026-new-zealand/photos/ for automatic trip gallery rendering.