An Australia and New Zealand itinerary is fun, but challenging, to plan. These are distant places to travel to if you are coming from Europe, North America or South America.
Also, the area offers an embarrassment of riches in terms of natural beauty, culture, sports, cuisine and much more.
For this reason, if you invest the time and money to see them both on the same trip, you need to have a well thought out plan to maximize your time.
In this three week Australia and New Zealand itinerary I cover as many of the highlights as comfortably possible within that time frame.
Of course, depending on your particular taste you may want to skip some spots or linger longer in others. This will be a difficult task because there is so much on offer in this spectacular part of the world.
There will never be enough time to see everything you want but here goes our best effort.
New Zealand starting point
Start in either Australia or New Zealand and work your way across them for an ideal Australia and New Zealand itinerary. I decided on New Zealand as a first stop and debated which of New Zealand’s two main islands to start at.
I finally settled on the South Island due to its unparalleled natural beauty and interesting cities. But it was pretty much a toss-up. Both islands are stunning.
Learn as much as you can about both islands in order to choose which one to focus on.
For example, the north Island is the center of Maori culture, specifically in Rotorua a cultural center. It’s also home to the beautiful shores of Lake Rotorua, a major tourist destination.
South Island also boasts natural beauty in the glaciers of the town of Franz Josef, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Further south, Queenstown bills itself as the adventure capital of the world. You won’t have enough free time to explore both islands AND do justice to Australia as well in three weeks. Decisions! Decisions!
Once you decide, reserve a rental car. The best way to see New Zealand on your own is by private vehicle. You can book a guided tour with a local guide once you get to the various towns.
Of course, a fully guided tour from start to final destination is another option.
Christchurch to Queenstown: A New Zealand South Island road trip
A Christchurch to Queenstown road trip on New Zealand’s South Island will expose you to much of the legendary New Zealand scenery including the famed botanic gardens and glaciers. You’ll also explore tasty cuisine, interesting towns and exciting activities.
Driving in New Zealand, on the well maintained New Zealand roads, is a great way to explore the area.
The freedom and flexibility a car offers will let you create your own New Zealand South Island itinerary and let you go at your own pace.
There is something for everyone on this drive from Christchurch to Queenstown, most of which will be on New Zealand’s Route 6.
From hiking on glaciers to wine tasting at local vineyards to exploring temperate rainforests, New Zealand’s South Island runs a wide gamut of temperatures and geographies.
For the culture vulture, there are museums, historic villages and quaint frontier towns.
Christchurch: start your 3-week Australia and New Zealand itinerary
The largest city on the South Island of New Zealand, in the South Pacific, Christchurch is a charming, cosmopolitan town of over 400,000 people.
On February 22, 2011, a 6.2 earthquake hit Christchurch causing widespread damage and many deaths. You will see reminders of this disaster and the residents’ gritty resilience everywhere in the city.
If you arrive in Christchurch, you won’t need a car while you are there as walking Christchurch neighborhoods is fun and local transport is efficient.
A good place to begin to understand Christchurch is Cathedral Square, the heart of the city.
The cathedral itself was demolished beyond repair in the earthquake. But a temporary cathedral, designed to last 50 years, was built to serve the community until a permanent one could be built again on the square.
The interesting thing about this Transitional Cathedral is that it is the only cathedral in the world made almost entirely of fortified cardboard.
Christchurch Art Gallery
One of many galleries and museums in Christchurch, the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu, offers wonderfully imaginative artwork and revolving exhibitions.
The Canterbury Neighborhood
The area around the Canterbury Museum and Botanical Gardens is a great place to spend the day.
This neighborhood contains classically beautiful stone structures dating from the mid to late 1800s. The botanic gardens are among the most beautiful in the country.
The Avon River
The Avon River winds through the center of town. This serene and beautifully landscaped river is a major attraction and an iconic symbol of the city.
On a quiet and peaceful spot on the Avon River lies the memorial to the 185 people killed in the 2011 earthquake. The names of the victims are carved into a stone plaque and fresh flowers are positioned throughout.
Walk or Ride Around Town
Although Christchurch is a wonderfully walkable city, other transport options include the town’s hop-on-hop-off and the eco-friendly bicycle.
If you choose to cycle around town, you are guaranteed to love it. The streets are bike-friendly. You’ll really get to know the city with a great city sights tour. Explore the city and grab food for a picnic lunch at one of the beautiful parks.
After a couple of days in Christchurch, you’ll be ready to continue your South Island road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown. Here is where you make an important decision.
The TranzAlpine train runs from Christchurch on the east coast to Greymouth, New Zealand on the west coast. It is widely considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world.
The journey takes 4 and 1/2 hours through the stunning mountain scenery of the Southern Alps.
One option is to take this train from Christchurch to Greymouth and rent a car there to continue your Christchurch to Queenstown road trip.
Another option is to rent a car in Christchurch and drive yourself across to Greymouth.
The reason you want to go to Greymouth is that it’s the perfect place to get on route 6, a jaw-dropping beautiful route and follow the road south. There are also buses that leave Christchurch regularly for Greymouth.
Once you have your car and you’re at Greymouth, you are ready to continue your South Island tour.
Where to stay in Christchurch.
The glacier towns: on to your Australia and New Zealand itinerary
As many have said and all who’ve been there know, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on earth and the area around Route 6 is the perfect example.
Crystalline lakes reflect the sky like a polished mirror, lush green rain forests shimmer with dew, fur seals cavort on pristine shores and soaring, snow-capped mountains pierce the sky.
All these sights can be experienced within short distances of each other on scenic Route 6.
New Zealand’s South Island is truly an outdoor paradise and a Christchurch to Queenstown road trip is how to enjoy it.
Starting at Greymouth, head south on route 6 for about two hours. You will come to the small towns of Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier, New Zealand equivalents of the wild west.
The surrounding area forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage park hosting glaciers descending from the Southern Alps.
During the day, most travelers hike the many, well-marked trails or go on helicopter rides to get a birds-eye view of the glaciers. Some rides include glacier hiking. I took one of these exhilarating rides over the mountain peaks.
Landing and hiking on a glacier I saw some of the most spectacular views I’ve ever experienced. I felt my heart pound like never before when the helicopter soared off a cliff over a bottomless precipice.
This helicopter ride was my biggest adrenaline adventure on this Australia to New Zealand itinerary.
The other must-do experience in either of these towns is a temperate rain forest hike, geographically the opposite of walking on a glacier.
The humidity here is almost 100%. Surrounding vegetation is thick with exotic insects. Giant ferns and other bizarre plant-life loom overhead.
Everything is carpeted with a moist moss in every variation of green. It’s like walking in a film set of Jurassic Park.
During the day, this makes for a fascinating hike in alien-like surroundings. But if you go on a nighttime forest hike, the glow worms put on a “light show” for you.
Bring a flash light, walk deep into the forest on the hiking trail then turn off the light. You will see thousands of lightning bugs twinkling in the total, absolute darkness like stars over a moonless desert sky.
Wanaka
Continue south to the town of Wanaka on the shore of a lake created by a receding glacier.
The main street fronts the lake and has funky little cafes and restaurants with pretty lake views where you can idle with a glass of one of New Zealand’s crisp, white wines.
While in Wanaka, or anywhere else in New Zealand, be sure to sample one of the country’s signature dishes, lamb.
Once New Zealand had up to 80 million sheep. Since dairy production has become more profitable, however, the sheep population has decreased to about 30 million.
But lamb remains a local favorite in its many culinary iterations. One lamb dish I loved in Wanaka was lamb curry at The Spice Room, one of four, count them…FOUR Indian restaurants in town.
Another good option for lamb dishes is Public Kitchen and Bar with branches throughout the country.
Stop by the Visitor Information Center on Main Street and book something that will get your heart pumping. Try a helicopter flight, hand-gliding over the mountains or a 4WD safari tour.
I booked a Wanaka River Journey and was glad I did. I opted for a jet boat ride piloted by a funny Maori guide on a beautiful river in one of the many national parks.
The tour included a wilderness walk to see waterfalls, forests and wildlife.
Learn more. See a comprehensive guide to New Zealand. Check out the 10 best places to visit in New Zealand’s South Island.
A great option for a lazy morning or afternoon in Wanaka is a wine tour. The tours showcase the region’s finest wineries nestled amidst stunning scenery.
Make sure to book a wine tour. You’ll love the scenery and history of the area. But most of all you’ll visit up to 6 different wineries one of which is sure to include a tasty wine-paired lunch.
The Wanaka wine region is said to be among the best in New Zealand. Certainly on a par with the Waiheke Vineyards near Auckland in New Zealand’s North Island.
The wine tastings, from light whites to sweet, dark ports, were delightful.
Of course, after one of these tours, with the generous samplings, you are exchanging emails and pledging ever-lasting friendship to everyone on the tour. Really a lot of fun.
Donate in Cardrona
Continue on New Zealand’s route 6 to the town of Cardrona.
Help end breast cancer by donating your money and your bra at the town’s innovative and attention-grabbing display to promote the fight against breast cancer.
Arrowtown
On to Arrowtown, where you can time-travel to New Zealand’s Gold Rush days of the mid-1800s.
The village is a pretty faithful — albeit touristy — reproduction of a Gold Rush town complete with history center, shops, and restaurants.
This is another interesting stop on your New Zealand road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown.
Queenstown
Further south, still on New Zealand’s route 6, is Queenstown, the city that bills itself the Adrenaline Capital of the World. If bungee- jumping, paragliding and skydiving is your thing, you came to the right place.
If chilling with a glass of sauvignon blanc while admiring the crystalline waters of Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu, is more your thing, you’re also in the right place.
You may want to return your rental car in Queenstown and proceed further south on a coach tour to the unmissable Milford Sound.
Whatever your preference, the one must-do activity in the Queenstown area is cruising to Milford sound to see penguins, fur seals and seabirds against a backdrop of majestic waterfalls and soaring, snow-capped mountains.
Te Anau
Continuing south en route 6 take route 94 all the way to Milford Sound. On the way, you pass a small town by the name of Te Anau.
Te Anau caters to the backpacker and travelers trade on the way to Milford Sound and has a population of about 2000.
Surprisingly, it was in this unlikely location where I had one of the tastiest creations I’ve ever eaten anywhere. Don’t miss Miles Better Meat Pies.
Hungry, I found a little shop and ordered a meat pie from the extensive menu expecting to get, well…a meat pie.
What I got was an unexpected surprise; a warm, flaky, lightly browned crust stuffed with large chunks of tender meat perfectly seasoned in a velvety sauce.
I’ve traveled to over 110 countries and have had the privilege of tasting delicious food all over the world.
But the meat pies I had in this little shop were so good I wanted to stop total strangers on the street, shove these little baked gems in their faces and say, “taste this…go ahead, TASTE IT!!!”
For a small town, Te Anau has over 30 restaurants many of which are highly rated. Learn about some of the best restaurants in Te Anau here, and hotel accommodations in Te Anau.
Milford Sound: a highlight on your Australia and New Zealand itinerary
A cruise in Milford Sound is a highlight. This is a nature cruise running several hours, lunch included. The Sound faces the Tasman Sea across from Tasmania off the coast of Australia.
Majestic mountains rise on either side of the calm waters. The ship does its best to get as close as possible to the thundering waterfalls and the abundant marine wildlife in their natural habitats..
If you’ve got the time, a full day trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound is ideal.
This was my first visit to New Zealand and an excellent start to a 3-week Australia and New Zealand itinerary. It’s a small country with a large variety of impressive sights and exciting activities to offer.
There really is something for everyone. A road trip from Christchurch to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island is an especially efficient way to maximize your visit. I cannot imagine a better introduction.
If you’re looking for even more South Island options, check out these 10 underrating things to do in New Zealand South Island.
Queenstown has an efficient international airport and can be an ideal point from which to either return home or continue your adventure elsewhere, especially Australia.
If you liked this article, check out this other post about areas that are in the region:
10 Melbourne experiences that won’t cost a fortune.
On to Australia
There are endless ways to approach a stint in Australia, a wonderland of spectacular scenery, unique wildlife, ancient aboriginal cultures, cosmopolitan cities, fine cuisine (and tasty street food), innovative art and the friendliest people I’ve ever met.
Alone of all the races on earth, they seem to be free from the ‘Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ syndrome, and roundly proclaim that Australis is, in fact, the other side of that fence.
Douglass Adams
Sydney and Melbourne: great anchor cities to explore from
Continue your 3-week Australia to New Zealand itinerary by hopping from Queenstown, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia a three hours flight away.
Sydney’s stunning architecture — including the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House — majestic bay and wildlife preserves are worth a solid two to three full days.
If you love wine and wine tours, make sure to explore the many vineyards in the area.
A good way to go from Sydney to Melbourne, your next stop, is by night train. NSW Trainlink offers train service in the area.
Take an evening train from Sydney’s Central Station, sleep comfortably during the 11-hour trip and arrive refreshed to Central Station in Melbourne, ready to explore Australia’s second-most populous city.
Australia has the friendliest people I’ve ever met.
Talek Nantes
To get your bearings in Melbourne, Australia quickly, head to Federation Square’s tourist information office as soon as you get off the train.
This is one of the most well-staffed and efficient tourist information centers I’ve ever seen. Here you can get your maps, reserve tours and obtain just about any information a visitor could possibly want.
My favorite sections of Melbourne include it’s food markets, museums, ethnic neighborhoods and foodie heavens offering all sorts of delights.
Even more delightful are the alleyways and arcades winding through the city.
Get an alleyway map from Federation Square Tourist information and explore the restaurants, cafes, quirky vintage stores and other independent retail stores along the alley and arcade walks.
Make sure to keep an eye out for street art, a Melbourne specialty.
The people are immensely likable — cheerful, extrovert, and unfailingly obliging. They have a society that is prosperous and increasingly egalitarian. The beer is cold. The sun nearly always shines. Life doesn’t get much better.
Bill Bryson
The Great Ocean Road is an unmissable day trip from Melbourne. Take a full day bus tour down this 151 miles (243 km) road and have lunch overlooking the 12 Apostles.
If you love Australian wildlife, don’t miss Phillip Island where you’ll see cute little penguins emerge from the sea and walk in unison to their roosting areas. This is a unique sight to behold.
Melbourne and the surrounding area merit a good three to four days.
Best places to stay in Sydney and Melbourne.
Tasmania will surprise you
Next fly out to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania and prepare to be amazed. Whatever you imagine Tasmania to be, forget it.
Hobart has innovative museums and a regional cuisine that is both innovative and exciting. It is also the site of the old Port Arthur’s prison with its sad and fascinating history.
If you have more time, take a day tour outside the city to enjoy the majestic cliffs and dramatic landscape of the Tasmanian countryside.
There is enough in Tasmania for you to slow travel the remaining six days here before you head home.
Don’t miss Kangaroo Island and Adelaide, Australia
Another option is to fly to Adelaide and take a ferry to Kangaroo Island where, as the name implies, you will see your fill of kangaroos many of which you can hand feed.
The most stunning sight in Kangaroo Island is an odd formation called the Remarkable Rocks.
Where to stay in Adelaide.
After Kangaroo Island, you can return to Adelaide to see the highlights and have one last interesting meal before heading back home via any one of Australia’s connecting cities.
This is just a sampling of a possible 3-week Australia and New Zealand itinerary. How would YOU plan this trip?
Make sure to stock up on valuable reference material for your trip
What have we missed? What you you add to this 3-week Australia and New Zealand itinerary?
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