Driving Route : Queenstown - Wellington - Auckland
Start: Queenstown
Finish: Auckland
Recommended Length: 11 Days
Distance: 2,652 km (1,658 miles)
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Route Summary
Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.
| Travel time | Km | (Miles) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 Queenstown to Mt Cook Village |
3.25 hrs | 258 | 161 |
| Day 2 Mt Cook Village to Christchurch |
4.75 hrs | 375 | 234 |
| Day 3 Christchurch to Kaikoura |
2.25 hrs | 184 | 115 |
| Day 4 Kaikoura to Wellington |
5.25 hrs | 255 | 159 |
| Day 5 Wellington to Martinborough |
1 hr | 79 | 49 |
| Day 6 Martinborough to Napier |
4 hrs | 281 | 176 |
| Day 7 Napier to Gisborne |
4.25 hrs | 342 | 214 |
| Day 8 Gisborne to Whakatane |
5 hrs | 386 | 241 |
| Day 9 Whakatane to Tauranga |
1.5 hrs | 112 | 70 |
| Day 10 Tauranga to Coromandel |
2.75 hrs | 214 | 134 |
| Day 11 Coromandel to Auckland |
2 hrs | 166 | 104 |
| Totals for Driving Route | 36 hrs | 2,652 | 1,658 |
Alpine Scenery to Coastal Sands
This south to north route takes you from alpine scenery to coastal sands.
The country towns on the road to Mt Cook are a peaceful contrast to the activity of Queenstown.
Enjoy mountain walks before you move on to the many attractions of Christchurch.
Go whale watching in Kaikoura, then enjoy the vineyards of Marlborough.
A ferry trip takes you to Wellington for a drop of kiwi culture.
Focus on wine and food between Martinborough and Gisborne, then follow the coast around East Cape and the Bay of Plenty for surf and sunshine.
En route to Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula keeps you fascinated with its old gold towns and beaches.
More Driving Routes
View more Queenstown driving routes.
