Beyond the Gateways

Auckland in the North Island and Christchurch in the South Island are gateways to New Zealand for many visitors. Plan your journey according to how much time you have available.

North Island – Auckland

Short Drive

Northland
Whangarei 165 km from Auckland, 2.75-hour drive
Paihia [Bay of Islands] 236 km from Auckland, 4-hour drive
Kaitaia 320 km from Auckland, 5.75-hour drive

The Coromandel
Thames 114 km from Auckland, 1.75-hour drive
Whitianga 187 km from Auckland, 2.5-hour drive

Bay of Plenty
Tauranga 205 km from Auckland, 3.25-hour drive
Katikati 170 km from Auckland, 2.5-hour drive
Whakatane 298 km from Auckland, 5-hour drive

Waikato/Waitomo
Hamilton 126 km from Auckland, 2-hour drive
Waitomo Village 200 km from Auckland, 3-hour drive

Half Day

Taupo
Taupo 278 km from Auckland, 4-hour drive
Turangi 353 km from Auckland, 5-hour drive
Ohakune 380 km from Auckland, 5.5-hour drive

Rotorua
Rotorua 234 km from Auckland, 3.5-hour drive
Lake Rotoma 271 km from Auckland, 4-hour drive

Allow a Day

Eastland
Gisborne 499 km from Auckland, 8.25-hour drive
Opotiki 355 km from Auckland, 5.25-hour drive
Wairoa 435 km from Auckland, 6.25-hour drive

Hawke’s Bay
Napier 421 km from Auckland, 6.5-hour drive
Hastings 447 km from Auckland, 6.5-hour drive

Ruapehu
Whakapapa Village 345 km from Auckland, 5.5-hour drive

Taranaki
New Plymouth 357 km from Auckland, 6.25-hour drive
Hawera 417 km from Auckland, 6-hour drive
Stratford 387 km from Auckland, 5.75-hour drive

Whanganui
Whanganui 457 km from Auckland, 8-hour drive

Manawatu
Palmerston North 537 km from Auckland, 7.75-hour drive
Feilding 501 km from Auckland, 7.25-hour drive

Further Afield

Wellington
Wellington 658 km from Auckland, 9.25-hour drive
Upper Hutt 640 km from Auckland, 9.25-hour drive

Wairarapa
Masterton 646 km from Auckland, 9.25-hour drive
Greytown 653 km from Auckland, 9.5-hour drive
Martinborough 684 km from Auckland, 10-hour drive

South Island – Christchurch

Short Drive

Canterbury
Akaroa 94 km from Christchurch, 1.25-hour drive
Methven 106 km from Christchurch, 1.5-hour drive
Timaru 163 km from Christchurch, 2.25-hour drive

Kaikoura & Hanmer Spring
Waipara 66 km from Christchurch, 1-hour drive
Hanmer Springs 145 km from Christchurch, 2-hour drive
Kaikoura 183 km from Christchurch, 2.75-hour drive

Half Day

Mt Cook & Mackenzie
Fairlie (Mackenzie) 188 km from Christchurch, 2.75-hour drive
Mt Cook Village 331 km from Christchurch, 4.75-hour drive

Dunedin & Coastal Otago
Oamaru 247 km from Christchurch, 3.25-hour drive
Dunedin 362 km from Christchurch, 5-hour drive

West Coast
Greymouth 258 km from Christchurch, 4.25-hour drive
Franz Josef 395 km from Christchurch, 6.5-hour drive

Marlborough
Blenheim 308 km from Christchurch, 4.5-hour drive
Picton 336 km from Christchurch, 5-hour drive

Allow a Day

Central Otago
Cromwell 410 km from Christchurch, 6.25-hour drive
Alexandra 455 km from Christchurch, 6.75-hour drive

Nelson
Nelson 424 km from Christchurch, 6.25-hour drive
Motueka 452 km from Christchurch, 6.5-hour drive
Takaka 520 km from Christchurch, 7.5-hour drive

Queenstown
Queenstown 486 km from Christchurch, 7.25-hour drive
Glenorchy 529 km from Christchurch, 7.75-hour drive

Wanaka
Wanaka 424 km from Christchurch, 6-hour drive
Hawea 466 km from Christchurch, 6.5-hour drive

Further Afield

Southland & Stewart Island
Invercargill 579 km from Christchurch, 8-hour drive
Bluff 602 km from Christchurch, 8.75-hour drive

Fiordland
Te Anau 652 km from Christchurch, 9.25-hour drive
Manapouri 665 km from Christchurch, 9.75-hour drive