Portal about Study and Tourism in New Zealand

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PORTAL OCEANIA 

It is very hard to suggest a route to a tourist without knowing how long and how much money a person has available to travel in New Zealand, or what  the person likes to do. Anyway, with our experience gained during almost seven years travelling around the islands, we will try to give here the best indication (based on our particular taste). Note that many places that are absolutely spectacular are out of this list. The reason is that some of these spectacular places in NZ, depend on whether factors such as tide, wind, and even vary with the season of the year, such as ski tours in winter . 

Some of the tours you cannot miss in NZ can be found in incredible places page. 

There is a big difference depending on the style of trip each person likes to do. For example choosing contemplative walks or adventures tours, and there are some people that would not miss a radical tour for nothing in this world. Another important thing to remember is the time wasted time in the first and last day of arrival/departure with the transfers and routines in the airport plus the jet leg from the trip . 

 We have prepared here a basic route for you to travel in NZ and to unfold the way you like. You should consider staying at least 21 days for those who have never been to New Zealand. In case of tourism, New Zealand is really and simply fantastic.

7 Days or less 

• 1º day - Arrival in Auckland

• 2º day - Sightseeing Auckland and tours (Tower, Museum, Aquarium-Kelly Tarltons)

• 3º day - Tours - Auckland Bay (Waiheke or Rangitoto)

• 4º day - Rotorua - (by Waitomo Caves)

• 5º day - Rotorua - (tours)

• 6º day - Rotorua - Auckland - (shopping in Auckland)

• 7º day - Bye Bye New Zealand!

10 days 

• 1º day - Auckland - Arrival

• 2º day - Sightseeing Auckland and tours (Tower, Museum, Aquarium- Kelly Tarltons)

• 3º day - Tours - Auckland Bay (Waiheke or Rangitoto)

• 4º day - Wellington - arrival by airplane

• 5º day - Wellington - tours

• 6º day - Wellington - Taupo (by bus or car)

• 7º day - Taupo - Rotorua (tour at Waimangu Valley)

• 8º day - Rotorua - tours

• 9º day - Rotorua - Auckland (tour at Waitomo Caves)

• 10º day - Bye Bye New Zealand!

14 days 

• 1º day - Auckland - arrival

• 2º day - Auckland - Queenstown - Tours

• 3º day - Queenstown - tours

• 4º day - Queenstown - tour to Milford Sound.

• 5º day - Queenstown - Tour to Glaciers (Fox/Franz Joseph) with airplane or helicopter)

• 6º day - Glaciers - Greymouth - Christchurch

• 7º day - Christchurch - Tours

• 8º day - Christchurch - Wellington

• 9º day - Wellington - tours

• 10º day - Wellington - Rotorua.

• 11º day- Rotorua - tours.

• 12º day - Rotorua - Auckland tours.

• 13º day -  Auckland - tours.

• 14º day - Bye Bye New Zealand!

21 dias

• 1º day - Auckland - Arrival

• 2º day - Auckland - Queenstown - tours

• 3º day - Queenstown - tours

• 4º day - Queenstown - tours to Milford Sound.

• 5º day - Queenstown - Glaciers (Fox/Franz Joseph) with airplane or helicopter

• 6º day - Glaciers - Greymouth - Christchurch

• 7º day- Christchurch - tours

• 8º day - Christchurch - Wellington

• 9º day - Wellington - tours

• 10º day - Wellington - Taupo.

• 11º day - Taupo - tours.

• 12º day - Taupo - Napier.

• 13º day - Napier - torus.

• 14º day - Napier - Rotorua.

• 15º day - Rotorua - tours + Waimangu Volcanic Valley.

• 16º day - Rotorua - Whakatane - leave very early and visit White Island.

• 17º day - Whakatane - Mt. Maunganui

• 18º day - Mt. Maunganui - Auckland

• 19º day - Auckland - tours

• 20º day - Auckland - tours

• 21º day - Bye Bye New Zealand.

Travelling over 21 days the suggestion is to spend more time in each city and explore the places around. Some good tours to include in your route are: Coromandel Peninsula, Tongariro National Park, Nelson and Northland. 

Important Note: most routes above were based travelling by car, but it is possible using public transportation like train or bus or even with several tour operators in NZ doing tours like the ones here described. One of the differences is that we include some time to rest and sightseeing in each city and many tours do not. Another very important factor to consider is that New Zealand is small in width but not in length. Therefore, it is not wise to go and return doing the same route by road so you will lose time. In other words, plan to travel to maximise the trip with different routes or transport. The roads are good but can be tiring, because New Zealand is quite mountainous, and would be long trips for the driver, or who are travelling by bus. In the South Island, strongly advised to do the tours by train the Tranz Alpine from Christchurch to Greymouth (vice versa) and also the Tranz Coastal Train, Christchurch to Picton. The crossing of the Cook Strait with the ferry is very nice but time consuming (more than three hours) and the tip is to consider doing it by plane (35 minutes), the cost is only slightly bigger than the ferry.