Auckland to Wellington Road Trip (7 days)

An Auckland to Wellington road trip doesn’t have to just be about getting from one end of the North Island to the other. 

With the right route, it can be a full-blown road trip adventure with beaches, hot springs, geothermal landscapes, volcanic hikes, and a few epic Lord of the Rings filming locations.

I’ve lived in both Auckland and Wellington and travelled between the two cities many times. And let me tell you, there’s a lot to see along the way if you slow things down a little!

In this guide, I’m sharing my ideal 7-day Auckland to Wellington road trip route, starting with a detour to the Coromandel Peninsula before continuing south to Rotorua, Tongariro National Park, and Wellington.

I’ll also show you how to adjust the itinerary if you have more or less than a week.

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Auckland to Wellington road trip map

Where to rent a car for your road trip

I use Discover Cars to compare prices on car rentals in New Zealand, but more often than not, I end up booking directly with Apex Rentals. 

I’ve rented multiple cars from Apex over the years and often find their prices to be the best around. They have depots in both Auckland and Wellington (and many other locations) and don’t charge one-way fees. 

Plus, if you’re continuing to the South Island, Apex includes the vehicle ferry ticket for Cook Strait ferry crossings when you book an interisland rental.

Auckland to Wellington Road Trip Itinerary Day-by-Day

Itinerary note: This itinerary starts in Auckland, but it doesn’t include any time in Auckland itself.

If you’re flying in from overseas, I’d recommend spending at least one day in Auckland before starting this road trip. That way, you can get a good night of sleep before picking up your rental vehicle and hitting the road.

Day 1: Auckland to the Coromandel

• Drive time: approx. 2.5 hours | 175 km
• Stay: 2 nights in the Coromandel

This road trip from Auckland to Wellington begins with a slight detour to the coast, but it’s a journey I think is well worth making.

The Coromandel Peninsula is your first stop, and it’s a gorgeous one at that. 

With white sand beaches and beautiful coastal walks, the Coromandel is one of the North Island’s best destinations.

When you arrive in the Coromandel, I recommend basing yourself in Hahei or Hot Water Beach for two nights. From these spots, you can easily visit the Coromandel’s most popular attractions: Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

On your first afternoon in the Coromandel, I’d plan to visit either Cathedral Cove or Hot Water Beach, depending on the tide timings when you arrive (Hot Water Beach, in particular, is best visited within two hours either side of low tide).

Then tomorrow, when you have a full day here, you can explore more places around the Coromandel.

Where to stay in the Coromandel

I like staying in Hahei, a charming beach town with close access to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

• The Church is my top accommodation choice in Hahei, with cosy cabins set among lush gardens.
  
  
• Or head to the Tasman Holiday Park, a lovely beachfront property with options for camping, cabins, and chalets.

Further reading: where to stay in the Coromandel Peninsula

Day 2: The Coromandel

Today is all about enjoying the Coromandel to its fullest.

If you didn’t visit Cathedral Cove or Hot Water Beach yesterday, I’d do those today. 

And if you have time, I’d explore even more of the Coromandel. 

Things to do in the Coromandel

• Visit Cathedral Cove, one of New Zealand’s most famous beaches.
  
  
• Dig your own hot pool in the sand at Hot Water Beach.
  
  
• Drive up to New Chums Beach to hike into one of the most beautiful beaches in the Coromandel.
  
  
• Have lunch at Luke’s Kitchen in Kuaotunu.
  
  
• Head to Otama Bay and Opito Bay for off-the-beaten-track beaches with squeaky white sand and clear water.
  
  
• Soak in the Lost Spring in Whitianga.
  
  
• Visit Lonely Bay Beach for a secluded beach cove with shelly sand.
  
  
• Go for a walk in Te Pare Point Historic Reserve just above Hahei Beach, where you’ll get incredible views.

Further reading: the ultimate Coromandel road trip

Day 3: The Coromandel to Rotorua (via Hobbiton)

• Drive time: approx. 3.5 hours | 232 km
• Stay: 1 night in Rotorua

You’ll leave the coast today and drive south to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua.

Rotorua is a small city with steam vents, bubbling hot pools, and the scent of sulphur creating a very unique atmosphere around town. 

The landscape around Rotorua is what makes it worth visiting, in my opinion. Close to town are beautiful bush walks, natural hot pools, and geothermal parks to explore.

If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, you should stop by Hobbiton on the drive down to Rotorua. It’s quite fun to pretend you’re a hobbit and tour the movie set, followed by a complimentary drink at the Green Dragon Inn.

Another detour to consider making on today’s drive is the Putāruru Blue Spring, a crystal-clear spring that happens to be the source of around 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water. You can visit the spring via a short walk, or take the longer trail via the Te Waihou Walkway.

Once you arrive in Rotorua, it’ll likely be time for some relaxing activities after a day of driving. 

Things to do in Rotorua

• Go for a short walk around town. The lakefront is nice for a casual stroll, or head to Kuirau Park to see bubbling pools and steam vents for free. 
  
  
• Soak in a hot pool at the Polynesian Spa, or head to one of the free hot pools near Rotorua.
  
  
• Visit the Whakarewarewa Redwoods—I always like doing the 3.4 km Waitawa Walk here.
  
  
• Enjoy a good meal at one of Rotorua’s excellent restaurants. Sabroso is great for Mexican food and margaritas, or try the Fainting Goat for delicious share plates and pizzas.
  
  
• Another option for tonight is to book an evening Māori cultural performance and dinner at Te Pā Tū.

Where to stay in Rotorua

• Aura Accommodation is my go-to motel in Rotorua, with a convenient location in town and great hot pools onsite (not to mention the friendliest staff!).

Day 4: Rotorua to Tongariro National Park

• Drive time: approx. 2 hours 10 minutes | 170 km
• Stay: 2 nights in Tongariro National Park

Today you’ll make your way to Tongariro National Park, the North Island’s volcanic centre.

There are lots of good places to stop along today’s drive, so I’d get an early start to make the most of the day. For a quick breakfast in Rotorua, head to Ciabatta Bakery for a good breakfast sandwich.

This morning, I’d stop at one of the geothermal parks between Rotorua and Taupō. Waimangu Volcanic Valley is a great choice, or you could visit Wai-O-Tapu for a classic geothermal experience.

Then, just before you reach Taupō, stop by Huka Falls for a quick walk to see a beautiful blue river with powerful rapids.

Taupō makes the perfect stop for lunch. I’d head to Replete Cafe for a sit-down lunch, or you could grab some of their cabinet food for takeaway to enjoy by the Taupō lakefront. 

In Taupō, I always love walking along the lakefront path. You can walk from town along the path to reach a small beach with hot water bubbling up under the sand.

After enjoying some time around Taupō, continue driving south to Tongariro National Park, where you can settle in for the evening and get ready for a day of hiking tomorrow.

Where to stay in Tongariro National Park

• Plateau Lodge is a good spot in Waimarino / National Park Village. I quite like their studio pods, some of which have an outdoor bath on the deck.
  
  
• Or consider a stay in Tūrangi, which is located just north of Tongariro National Park. Creel Lodge is a fantastic place to stay in Tūrangi. 

Further reading: where to stay near Tongariro National Park

Day 5: Tongariro National Park

Tongariro National Park is a place of otherworldly volcanic landscapes and scenery straight out of the Lord of the Rings. 

It’s a dream destination for hikers and anyone who loves the outdoors.

For Day 5 of this itinerary, I’d plan to spend the day hiking.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the premier day hike in this area—in fact, it’s easily one of the best hikes in the North Island. 

If you plan to tackle the Tongariro Crossing, you’ll need to organise a shuttle in advance (you can’t park your own vehicle at the trailhead). You should also be prepared for a long, somewhat gruelling day hike, and know that it’s going to be crowded (it’s popular for a reason!).

One other thing I should mention is that the weather can be fickle in this area, and it’s possible that the conditions won’t be suitable for hiking on the day you’re there, so it’s worth having a backup plan.

If the Tongariro Crossing sounds too hard or busy for your liking, don’t worry—there are plenty of other day walks to enjoy in the area.

Tama Lakes is a fantastic alternative to the Tongariro Crossing. Or, for an easy hike, head to Taranaki Falls (which you can also combine with Tama Lakes if you decide you want to keep walking).

I’d also plan to visit Tawhai Falls, a gorgeous waterfall (known as “Gollum’s Pool”) accessed via a short 15-minute bush walk.

Day 6: Tongariro National Park to Wellington

• Drive time: approx. 3 hours 45 minutes | 300 km
• Stay: 1-2 nights in Wellington

On the final driving day of this road trip itinerary, you’ll make your way to Wellington, New Zealand’s charming little capital city.

Wellington is my favourite city in New Zealand, although I’ll admit that I’m biased because I lived here for over four years. It’s known for its great cafe scene, creative culture, and often-windy weather.

There aren’t many stops I’d recommend on today’s drive to Wellington. Instead, I’d just try to get a somewhat early start so you can spend time exploring Wellington this afternoon.

Depending on your schedule, you might only have time for a one-night stay in Wellington.

That said, if you have time to spare, I’d stretch that to two nights—there are so many things to do in Wellington, and I think you’ll be grateful for some extra time here!

Things to do in Wellington

• Get a coffee at one of Wellington’s excellent cafes. Customs is a favourite spot of mine for a coffee and fancy toast.
  
  
• Visit the Te Papa Museum, New Zealand’s National Museum. I’m not normally a museum person, but I absolutely love Te Papa—the natural history and Gallipoli exhibitions are absolutely incredible.
  
  
• Walk along the Wellington Waterfront to Oriental Bay.
  
  
• Hike up to the Mount Victoria summit for panoramic views over Wellington.
  
  
• Take the cable car to the Wellington Botanic Gardens.
  
  
• Eat and shop your way along Cuba Street.
  
  
• Visit Zealandia to look for native birds.

Further reading: how to spend one day in Wellington

Where to stay in Wellington

• The Sojourn Hotel on Ghuznee Street is a great place for a central city stay, with parking available close by.
  
  
• The Copthorne Hotel in Oriental Bay has some rooms with fantastic views over Wellington Harbour.

Day 7: Spend the day in Wellington or depart

Day 7 depends on your schedule—you’ll either depart today or have another day in Wellington. If it’s the latter, see above for lots of ideas on how to spend the day.

If you’re departing Wellington today, you might either plan to fly out of Wellington Airport, or take a Cook Strait ferry to Picton and continue your road trip on the South Island. 

Continuing on to the South Island? Then you might like these itineraries as you plan the next leg of your journey:

• Christchurch to Queenstown road trip (via the inland route)
  
  
• Picton to Queenstown road trip (via the West Coast)

How to adjust this Auckland to Wellington road trip itinerary

• If you have fewer days, you could skip the Coromandel Peninsula and drive straight from Auckland to Rotorua via Hobbiton. You could also take a night off Tongariro National Park, but only if you’re not planning to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
  
  
• Have more days? Add another night in Rotorua, add a buffer night in Tongariro National Park in case of bad weather, or add an extra night in Wellington.

The best time of year to drive from Auckland to Wellington

You can do this road trip year-round. 

That said, if your trip falls within late autumn through early spring (roughly May through October), you shouldn’t attempt the Tongariro Alpine Crossing unless you go with a guide.

For the easiest conditions, I’d plan this road trip between late spring and early autumn (November through April). 

Auckland to Wellington drive FAQs

How long does it take to drive from Auckland to Wellington?

The drive from Auckland to Wellington takes just under 8 hours and covers a distance of about 650 km, not accounting for any detours, stops, or traffic.

While you could technically do this drive in a day, I really don’t recommend it (believe me, I’ve done it a couple of times when I was moving between both cities, and it’s not pleasant!). 

Instead, break up the drive with at least an overnight stay along the way (or ideally, stretch it out over multiple days, like the itinerary in this blog post!).

Where is the best place to stop between Auckland and Wellington?

Taupō or Tūrangi are the best places to stop if you only have one night for a stay between Auckland and Wellington.

Thanks for reading my Auckland to Wellington road trip itinerary!

I truly hope this has helped you plan your trip.

As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me—I really love hearing from you!

More New Zealand itineraries for you

• A 7-day North Island itinerary (Auckland to Auckland loop)
  
  
• Auckland to Queenstown road trip (14 days)