Tailor-made Holiday · New Zealand
New Zealand: The Complete North to South Island Self-Drive
Tailor-made, always
Every trip built from scratch around your dates, pace and preferences.
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Rated Excellent on Trustpilot across ten years of LGBTQ+ luxury travel.
At a glance
Fourteen days, two islands, one rental car. The route runs from Auckland south through the geothermal landscapes of Rotorua, the Art Deco streets of Napier, and the harbour hills of Wellington, before crossing by ferry to the South Island and continuing through Nelson, the glaciers of Franz Josef, and the mountains around Queenstown to finish in Christchurch.
It covers the full length of New Zealand at a pace that lets the country actually land.
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New Zealand is one of the most straightforwardly welcoming destinations in the world for LGBTQ+ travelers. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2013, the culture throughout both islands is open without making a thing of it, and Wellington in particular has a progressive, politically engaged queer community that reflects its status as the capital. Auckland sets the tone on arrival with a lively LGBTQ+ scene centered around K Road.
Out Of Office handles the planning so you handle the driving. Accommodation is pre-selected and booked, the routing is optimised, and the itinerary is fully customisable around your pace and interests. All you need to decide is how long to linger.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
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Day 1: Auckland
On arrival in Auckland, you will be met and transferred by private vehicle and transferred to your accommodation in downtown Auckland.
Auckland is located on the spectacular sparkling Waitemata Harbor with major landmarks the Harbour Bridge, the Sky Tower and Rangitoto Island, the region’s youngest volcano all dominating the skyline. It’s a colorful, vibrant city, often called the ‘City of Sails’.
Visitors can enjoy the magnificent harbor, the many and varied activities of the city or walk and hike in the nearby hills where native flora and fauna abound.
Day 2 and 3: Whitiangia
Pick up a rental car for the rest of your journey through New Zealand.
Your drive south of Auckland follows the east coast through picturesque farmland and the beautiful seabird coast, home to thousands of migratory and shorebirds. Travel over steep volcanic mountains clad in dense rainforest to the Pacific Coast of the Peninsula with its many offshore islands.
Day 4 and 5: Rotorua
Continue along the coastal route to Tauranga and then inland to Rotorua.
Spend the next couple of days exploring. Visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to see the geyser known as Lady Knox explode. Then take to the water as you experience white water rafting at its best. Ride over a seven-metre drop on this grade 5 river. Even adventurous beginners are welcome!
Take a float plane to view Mount Tarawera from above. This dormant volcano created an 8km crater when it exploded back in 1886.
Day 6: Rotorua to Napier
Today make your way to Napier, a journey of approximately three hours. Depart Rotorua through farmland to Taupo then continue to Napier. The major highlight on the road from Taupo to Napier is the fantastic scenery. There’s a bit of everything – rugged hills, beautiful valleys, gentle plains and huge vistas.
Napier and her sister city Hastings are located in Hawkes Bay, a gentrified coastal bowl of market gardens, rich orchards and vineyards. As the climate is similar to the best grape-growing areas of Europe, a French Catholic mission first planted vines in 1850. Napier owes its distinctive Art Deco appearance to a disastrous earthquake that shook the area in 1931 and almost completely destroyed the city. Today it is known to have the largest concentrated collection of Art Deco buildings in the world.
Day 7: Napier to Wellington
Today you’ll head to Wellington.
Enjoy the clean, green Wairarapa scenery as you drive south. Carterton is a good place to shop for paua shell souvenirs, while Greytown has many beautiful examples of Victorian architecture and a quaint museum – take yourself on a self-guided walk. At Featherston, which has an interesting locomotive museum, you’ll turn left towards Martinborough.
After the town of Featherston, you’ll climb up and over the Rimutaka Range – great views in every direction. Once the mountains are behind you, it’s easy driving for the rest of your journey. You’ll wind through the picturesque Hutt Valley then a fast-moving motorway will whisk you into the city.
Wellington is compact, cultured and full of character. Nestled between the harbor and the hills, the downtown area is ideal for explorations on foot. Enjoy cafes, restaurants, museums and all kinds of shops. Dance, theater and musical performances are a Wellington speciality. As New Zealand’s capital, this city is rich in political history.
The Wellington region is an area of immense diversity and character. Victorian architecture graces the steep hills surrounding one of the finest harbours and beautiful coastlines in the country. Today Wellington is a vibrant cosmopolitan and sophisticated city.
Day 8 and 9: Nelson
Board the Interislander ferry from Wellington across the Cook Strait to Picton – widely considered one of the most scenic ferry crossings in the world, particularly as the ship threads through the Marlborough Sounds.
Drive on to Nelson, a small city at the geographic centre of New Zealand with a disproportionately strong arts and food scene. Use the two days to explore Abel Tasman National Park on the doorstep: golden beaches, clear water, and coastal walking tracks accessible by water taxi.
Day 10: Franz Josef
A long but rewarding drive down the West Coast, with the Tasman Sea to your right and the Southern Alps building to your left.
Franz Josef Glacier Village sits at the edge of Westland National Park, where glaciers descend from the mountains through rainforest to almost sea level – a combination that exists almost nowhere else on earth. A helicopter flight over the ice is the way to see it properly. The village is small but has decent restaurants and an outdoor hot pool that earns its keep after a day on the road.
Day 11 and 12: Queenstown
Discover the rugged scenery along one of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring highways. Your journey will take you via the Haast Pass, the southernmost pass that connects the communities of the East and West, is humbling. Marvel at the vast rainforests to the clearest waterfalls that eclipse this untouched landscape. Enjoy breathtaking sights, from high mountain peaks to the blue lakes of Hawea, Wanaka, Dunstan, and Wakatipu.
The first people to discover Queenstown’s rare beauty were Maori pounamu (jade) hunters. Then came the gold miners, in search of another kind of treasure. Today Queenstown is treasured for its magnificent scenery, adventure opportunities, and luxury lifestyle. While Queenstown is renowned for adventure, you’ll also find mellow, relaxing attractions. In recent years, the region has acquired wineries, golf courses, art galleries, exceptional restaurants, and fabulous day spas.
Day 13 and 14: Christchurch
Travel through the rugged and beautiful landscape of Otago. Cross the Lindis Pass into the Mackenzie Country, you might like to visit the Mount Cook Village at the base of New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki / Mount Cook (optional).
Another recommended stop is the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Tekapo, before continuing to your destination of Christchurch.
Further information
Navigating Both Islands
The two islands are connected by the Interislander ferry, which runs between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South. The crossing takes around three and a half hours and is worth treating as part of the trip rather than a logistical interruption. The route takes you out of Wellington Harbour, across the Cook Strait, and through the Tory Channel into the Marlborough Sounds.
A practical note on the rental car: some rental companies don’t allow vehicles to be taken across on the ferry, and will have offices at both the Wellington and Picton terminals instead. Out Of Office handles all of this as part of the booking, including the ferry crossing, the vehicle swap if needed, and the timing to make sure the day works around the sailing rather than the other way around.
The two islands drive differently. The North Island is more open, the distances between stops longer, and the roads generally faster. The South Island is more dramatic in every sense, so expect narrower roads, more mountain passes, more weather. The Interislander runs up to eleven sailings a day so there’s flexibility, but daytime crossings in peak season fill quickly and booking ahead is essential.
The ferry crossing also marks a natural shift in the character of the trip. The North Island is geothermal, cultural, and green. The South Island is glacial, alpine, and vast. The two feel like different countries in the best possible way.
Our Experts
New Zealand is one of the most magical places in the world. If you love out-of-this-world landscapes, this island nation is definitely worth adding to your bucket list.
Breathtaking landscapes, awe-inspiring environments - New Zealand impresses at every turn. The vibrant Māori culture on display here is also so special.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.