Wellington - Taupo - Queenstown
Start Wellington / Finish Wellington
Recommended Length: 7 Days
Distance: 1176 km (735 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 Wellington to Martinborough |
1 hr | 79 | 49 |
| Day 2 Martinborough to Palmerston North |
1.75 hrs | 146 | 91 |
| Day 3 Palmerston North to New Plymouth |
3 hrs | 238 | 149 |
| Day 4 New Plymouth to Waitomo Caves |
2.25 hrs | 181 | 113 |
| Day 5 Waitomo Caves to Taupo |
2 hrs | 163 | 102 |
| Day 6 Taupo to Turangi |
0.75 hr | 47 | 29 |
| Day 7 Turangi to Wellington |
4 hrs | 322 | 201 |
| Totals for Driving Route | 14.75 hrs | 1,176 | 735 |
Heritage and Culture
Take a loop around some of the lower North Island's most interesting places.
Heritage and culture are likely to be your focus in Wellington, but over the Rimutaka Range in Martinborough thoughts will move to fine wine and food.
The cities of Palmerston North and New Plymouth offer authentic New Zealand rural experiences—they're also known for beautiful gardens.
In Waitomo you'll venture underground to see amazing cave decorations and glowworms, while Taupo and Turangi will keep you occupied with geothermal walks, hot springs and trout fishing. Return to Wellington via a procession of small, interesting towns.
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