Three Corners of New Zealand – A 10-Day Journey Beyond the Usual Route
Updated: 4 days ago
Taranaki · Christchurch · Queenstown
10 days | 9 nights | From NZ$3,535 per person, twin share
What happens when you bring together three very different corners of New Zealand?
A mountain that seems to follow you everywhere. A city where old and new sit comfortably alongside one another. And a lakeside town where the mountains are so close you can almost reach out and touch them.
Welcome to Taranaki, Christchurch and Queenstown.
It's not the most obvious combination for a 10-day New Zealand itinerary. And that's rather the point.
We've brought these three places together for travellers who want to experience more than the familiar highlights, without spending their entire holiday rushing between destinations.
Three nights in each. A few experiences we've chosen for good reason. And plenty of room for discoveries of your own.
This is one of our Great Kiwi Trips – a thoughtfully designed, researched and priced itinerary that we can arrange for you, or adapt around the way you'd prefer to travel.
Let's show you how it unfolds.
Day 1 · Kia ora, Taranaki!
Auckland → New Plymouth
Your journey begins with a flight from Auckland to New Plymouth, where Taranaki Maunga might already be making an appearance through the aircraft window.
Collect your rental car and settle into the easy rhythm of the region.
New Plymouth is a good place to begin. There's a waterfront made for wandering, a growing collection of cafés and restaurants, and a mountain that has a habit of appearing whenever you least expect it.
If you've arrived with a little energy to spare, head for the Coastal Walkway. The Tasman Sea stretches out beside you, with the city and surrounding countryside never far away.
Or simply find somewhere for dinner and enjoy your first evening in Taranaki.
You've got three nights here. There's no need to rush.
Day 2 · Art, Gardens and a Rather Remarkable Mountain
New Plymouth
New Plymouth has a creative side that surprises plenty of visitors.
Start with the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and the Len Lye Centre, whose mirrored exterior is an artwork in itself. Inside, contemporary art and the kinetic creations of Len Lye offer something a little different from the usual sightseeing.
Then make your way to Pukekura Park.
It's the sort of place where you might intend to spend half an hour and discover you've been wandering for two. Lakes, bridges, winding paths and gardens make it easy to forget you're in the middle of a city.
If the weather is clear, consider heading towards Taranaki Maunga for a closer look at the landscape that shapes this region.
And keep an eye out for the mountain throughout the day. It has a way of appearing between buildings, across farmland and at the end of streets.
Day 3 · Take the Long Way Around
Exploring Taranaki
Today, the rental car comes into its own.
Head south along the coast towards Ōpunakē, where small communities, rugged beaches and wide views give this part of New Zealand a character all its own.
You might discover a local gallery, stop for coffee in a town you'd never heard of or find yourself standing on a black-sand beach with hardly anyone else around.
There's also the possibility of exploring the countryside closer to the mountain, where short walks and scenic roads reveal another side of Taranaki.
We'll help you choose a route that suits your interests, but this is a day worth leaving a little room for the unexpected.
Sometimes the best part of a road trip is the place you hadn't planned to stop.
Day 4 · From the West Coast to the Garden City
New Plymouth → Christchurch
Time to leave Taranaki behind and head for the South Island.
Return your rental car at New Plymouth Airport and fly to Christchurch, where a private transfer takes you into the city.
Ōtautahi Christchurch has changed enormously over the years, and that's part of what makes it interesting.
Historic buildings stand alongside contemporary architecture. Street art brightens unexpected corners. New places to eat and explore continue to appear throughout the central city.
You'll have time to settle in before tonight's included experience.
Dinner aboard the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant.
Climb aboard a beautifully restored heritage tram and enjoy a meal as you travel through the city streets.
It's part restaurant, part sightseeing experience, and a wonderfully different way to spend an evening in Christchurch.
Day 5 · A Taste of Ōtautahi
Christchurch
Food can tell you a great deal about a place.
Today, we've included a Mahika Kai experience, introducing you to Māori food traditions and the connections between people, the land and the ingredients it provides.
It's a chance to discover stories and practices that have shaped life in this part of Aotearoa New Zealand for generations.
And it's exactly the kind of experience we enjoy including in our journeys – something that brings you closer to the place you're visiting.
Later, there's time to explore Christchurch independently.
Perhaps wander through the Arts Centre, discover the city's street art or find your way to Riverside Market.
Fair warning: deciding what to eat at Riverside can take longer than you expect.
Day 6 · Christchurch, Your Way
Christchurch
One of the things we enjoy about Christchurch is how quickly the scenery changes.
You can spend the morning wandering through the Botanic Gardens, enjoying a coffee beside the Ōtākaro Avon River, and find yourself looking out over the Pacific Ocean by lunchtime.
Start your day with a little exploring in the central city.
Perhaps take a punt along the Avon, where someone else does the navigating while you sit back and enjoy the gardens and riverbanks from a different perspective.
Or head towards the coast.
Sumner is one of Christchurch's seaside neighbourhoods, with a long sandy beach, cafés and an easygoing atmosphere. It's a good place for lunch, a walk along the esplanade or simply watching the surfers.
And if you're after a view, the Christchurch Gondola takes you high above the city, with sweeping panoramas across the Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour and the Southern Alps on a clear day.
There's no need to squeeze everything in.
We can help you choose the experiences that interest you most, whether that's exploring the city, heading for the hills or spending an afternoon beside the sea.
That's the advantage of having three nights here.
Day 7 · The Road Through the Mountains
Christchurch → Lake Tekapo → Aoraki/Mount Cook → Queenstown
Today is one of the great scenic journeys of the South Island.
And the good news? Someone else is doing the driving.
Join your small-group journey south from Christchurch, travelling through the Canterbury countryside and towards the Mackenzie Basin.
The landscape opens into wide plains and distant mountains before the remarkable turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo come into view.
Then the scenery becomes even more dramatic.
You'll travel towards Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, where the Southern Alps rise above an extraordinary alpine landscape.
There'll be opportunities to appreciate the scenery and capture a few photographs along the way.
It's a full day on the road, but this isn't simply a transfer between two cities.
The journey is very much part of the holiday.
By evening, you'll arrive in Queenstown, nestled beside Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by mountains.
Day 8 · A Quieter Side of Queenstown
Queenstown & Bob's Cove
Queenstown is famous for adventure.
But you don't have to jump out of a plane, race down a mountain or throw yourself off a bridge to discover why people love this part of New Zealand.
Today, we're taking you somewhere a little quieter.
Your included guided nature walk at Bob's Cove introduces you to native bush, sheltered lake waters and some wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.
Along the way, your guide shares stories about the landscape and its natural history.
It's a different side of Queenstown, and one that's easy to overlook when you're surrounded by advertisements for adrenaline activities.
Back in town, the rest of the day is yours.
Perhaps wander along the lakefront, browse the shops or find somewhere to enjoy a drink while the evening light settles over the mountains.
Day 9 · Queenstown, Without the Rush
Queenstown
Your final full day is deliberately open.
You might take a trip to Arrowtown, where historic streets, small shops and reminders of the gold-mining era reveal another chapter of the region's past.
Or perhaps you'd prefer to stay in Queenstown.
Wander through the gardens, find a quiet spot beside Lake Wakatipu or take a stroll along the waterfront, where the mountains seem to change colour throughout the day.
And then there's Fergburger.
Yes, there's usually a queue. Yes, it's become something of a Queenstown institution. And yes, we'd probably suggest trying it at least once.
Sometimes a good burger really is part of the travel experience.
If you're looking for somewhere to spend your final evening, Queenstown has plenty of options – from relaxed neighbourhood restaurants to places where the view is almost as memorable as the food.
Or perhaps you'll find somewhere entirely unexpected.
After all, some of the best holiday memories are made when you haven't planned every minute.
Day 10 · Haere rā, Until Next Time
Queenstown → Auckland
Enjoy your final morning in Queenstown before your private transfer to the airport and flight to Auckland.
Ten days ago, you began on the west coast of the North Island.
Since then, you've discovered a volcanic landscape, a creative city, Māori food traditions, the Southern Alps and a quieter side of Queenstown.
Three very different corners of New Zealand.
And perhaps a few places you'd like to return to one day.
What's Included in This Journey?
We've brought together the accommodation, transport and experiences to make travelling between these three destinations straightforward.
Your journey includes:
Nine nights' accommodation – three nights each in New Plymouth, Christchurch and Queenstown.
Domestic flights from Auckland to New Plymouth, New Plymouth to Christchurch, and Queenstown to Auckland.
Three-day rental car in Taranaki, including our selected enhanced insurance cover.
Private airport transfers in Christchurch and Queenstown.
Dinner aboard the Christchurch Tramway Restaurant.
A Mahika Kai cultural and food experience in Christchurch.
A guided scenic journey from Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
A guided Bob's Cove nature walk in Queenstown.
Your personalised Great Kiwi Trips itinerary, travel arrangements and local support.
International flights, meals not specifically included, optional experiences and personal expenses are additional.
What Does This 10-Day New Zealand Journey Cost?
From NZ$3,535 per person, twin share.
This starting price is based on two adults travelling together, with accommodation, transport and experiences priced for selected dates in low seasons 2027.
It's a genuine starting point, not a promise that every departure date will cost the same.
New Zealand travel prices change with the seasons, and accommodation availability can make a considerable difference.
Your final price will depend on when you travel, where you'd prefer to stay and any changes you'd like us to make.
And that's where the personal part comes in.
Could We Change the Itinerary?
Absolutely.
Perhaps you'd like another night in Taranaki, giving you more time to explore the region.
Maybe you'd prefer a boutique hotel in Christchurch, a room overlooking Lake Whakatipu or a different experience in Queenstown.
Or perhaps this journey has given you an idea for something entirely different.
That's exactly what we hope it will do.
At Great Kiwi Trips, we don't expect you to fit into a predetermined holiday.
We use our local knowledge to design and book independent New Zealand journeys around the people taking them.
The itinerary above is a starting point – thoughtfully researched, realistically priced and ready to become your own.
Your New Zealand Journey Starts Here
Three Corners of New Zealand is just one example of what we can bring together.
If it's caught your imagination, we'd be delighted to help you make it happen.
And if it's sparked a completely different idea, we'd love to hear that too.
Tell us how you'd like to travel. We'll take care of bringing it together.
