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"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this feather-bed civilisation, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints"

 

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) Scottish poet and author, from Travels with a Donkey 1879

route planning

Route Planning

Driving in New Zealand is not difficult.  Outside the cities, you will find our roads are not busy.  State Highways (between major towns) are one lane each way, with occasional passing lanes.  You can travel at a pace that is comfortable for you, but don't worry about holding-up traffic in our vehicles – they are quite capable of 'holding their own'.  Open-road speed limit is 100kmh and in towns is 50kph.  Our highways/roads go through our towns (not around them) and therefore you should reckon on an average speed of approximately 65kph on a journey.  If travelling East/West across the mountains or through passes, average speed for a journey will be much less.  Remember – motorhoming is about finding your own groove don't set strict targets – go with the flow.

First - Get a map (we will include one in your vehicle too)

Driving Route Suggestions from Christchurch

2 Days Christchurch – Methven – Christchurch  270km (3.5 hours)

3 Days Christchurch – Kaikoura - Hanmer Springs – Christchurch  "Alpine Pacific Triangle" 451km (5.5 hours)

4 Days  Christchurch – Akaroa – Arthurs Pass - Christchurch 514km (6 hours)

5 Days  Christchurch – Hanmer Springs – Blenheim – Kaikora – Christchurch  779km (10 hours)

5 Days  Christchurch – Greymouth – Fox Glacier – Wanaka – Mt Cook – Christchurch  1,250km (16 hours)

5 Days  Christchurch – Mt Cook – Queenstown – Dunedin – Oamaru – Christchurch  1,237km (16 hours)

9 Days  Christchurch – Oamaru – Dunedin – Invercargill – Stewart Island – Te Anau – Milford Sound – Queenstown – Mt Cook – Christchurch  1,859km (24 hours)

12+ Days  Christchurch – Oamaru – Dunedin – Te Anau – Queenstown – Wanaka – Franz Josef – Greymouth – Nelson – Blenheim – Kaikoura – Christchurch  2,261km (30 hours)

Other South Island Routes

The Southern Scenic Route  440km (10 hours) Dunedin – Catlins – Invercargill – Te Anau: wild coastline, sandy beaches, coastal fishing villages, native forest, southern hospitality, penguins.

The Alpine Pacific Triangle  (370km) Waipara Valley – Hanmer Springs – Kaikoura: thermal pools, rolling vistas & mountains, wine trails, whale watching & dolphins.

The Treasured Pathway  Picton – (260km) Farewell Spit: World-famous vineyards, artists galleries, coves & beaches, dolphins, kayaking & swimming.

The Great Alpine Highway  (255km 3-4 hours) Christchurch – Arthur's pass – Kumara (West Coast)

Driving Route Suggestions from Queenstown

North Island Routes

Driving Route Suggestions from Wellington

Driving Route Suggestions from Rotorua

Driving Route Suggestions from Auckland

Lord of The Rings Driving Routes

Billy Connolly 18 Day Tour (Auckland-Christchurch)

The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail (Blenheim – Napier)

The Pacific Coast Highway (421km 7 hours) Napier – Gisborne – Whakatane – Tauranga – Coromandel – Auckland)

The Twin Coast Discovery Highway

The Thermal Explorer Napier – Taupo – Rotorua – Hamilton – Auckland


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