Current Itinerary for
New Zealand - February 2027
Updated May 6th, 2026
Kia ora koutou katoa
Welcome to our itinerary page for a trip to New Zealand in February 2027 – delayed due to Covid from December 2020 and for various other reasons. February is summertime in New Zealand. We have a number of friends who have expressed interest in joining us and the intent is for everybody to meet in Christchurch on or around February 13th, 2027, unless they want to join for the train trip across Australia.
We have broken the trip down into each location we will visit. Click on the photo to access the locations main tourism website. We have also included links to our likely accommodation choices and describe some of the options for activities or sightseeing. Be aware that although distances are not great, the roads can be narrow and winding.
We have provided some details on flight options for getting to New Zealand at the bottom of the page along with a high level budget. We are now looking at flights that avoid the Middle East and expect some of the fares to be higher because of the conflict and fuel shortage.
Feb 2nd (Tuesday)
Perth, Australia
Feb 6th (Saturday)
We’ve never visited Western Australia before and this is one end of the Indian Pacific railway journey that’s on our bucket list. Before departing on that epic trip, we will spend three days exploring the great city of Perth and its surrounding area. On day one we will explore Perth itself which is well known for its waterfront, cafes and restaurants, Aboriginal history and art. On day two, a cruise down the Swan River will take in Freemantle, known for its maritime history, convicts and mutineers. Also known for its craft breweries and market and sunsets over the harbour.
Day three will be a visit to Rottnest Island which is 18km off the coast. Home to 63 beaches and 20 bays, no cars are allowed so renting a bicycle is an option. Snorkelling or sea kayaking are a great way to see the coral reefs. The island is also home to the Quokka, a small marsupial.
Feb 6th (Saturday)
Indian Pacific, Australia
Feb 10th (Wednesday)
This is an epic four day, three night train trip across the Outback departing at 10am from the East Perth Terminal. It’s an an all inclusive experience with meals, wines and beverages and, to quote the website.
This incredible 4352 kilometre crossing is one of the world’s great rail journeys. An adventure of contrasts, it encompasses the towering majesty of the Blue Mountains to the barren expanse of the Nullarbor, and every goldmine, ghost town and grapevine in between. From inside and outside your cabin, you’ll be captivated by the vast beauty of this magnificent country
We’re including a YouTube video for you to watch to get a sense of whether you want to join us on this part of the trip.
Feb 10th (Wednesday)
Sydney, Australia
Feb 13th (Saturday)
The train from Perth arrives at 12:25pm so unless we add an extra day, this will be a very short visit. We are planning on staying right by the bridge and Opera House.
There should be time for a quick ferry ride from Circular Quay. The ferry gives you great views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Then there’s a wide range of restaurants near Circular Quay.
Feb 13th (Saturday)
Christchurch, NZ
Feb 16th (Tuesday)
We are arriving around Noon into Christchurch and we’ll pick up the rental vehicle and do a quick bit of sightseeing before a family and friends dinner.
Attractions include Botanical Gardens, Arts Centre, Gondola and zip lining and going punting on the Avon River. There are also some nice walks along the Avon River or Hagley Park.
Rainy day ideas include the Antarctic centre if the Canadians are missing the cold. There’s a tram ride that takes you through the City centre and drops you close to the Riverside Market area with lots of bars and restaurants.
There is also a choice of driving 1.5 hours to a small township of Akaroa. This is where some of the cruise ships dock and has some French inspired architecture. Here there are short walks along waterfront, a visit to an historic lighthouse or the Black Cat Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise – may see Dolphins, seals and penguins.
Ibis Hotel near the city centre or Rydges Hotel – about a 15 min walk to the city centre.
- Dux Dine
- King of Snake (Asian fusion)
- Twenty Seven Steps or Inati (fine dining)
- Black Betty Café
- Mr Brightside rooftop bar
- Riverside Market food court
Feb 16th (Tuesday)
Aoraki/Mount Cook, NZ
Feb 18th (Thursday)
It’s around a 4 hour drive to the National Park through patchworks of farming land. You will see sheep, cows and deer. The Verde Geraldine is a great place to stop for morning tea.
This should still leave time for a nice walk on Saturday with a full day on Sunday in case the weather is not ideal. We’ll stop at Lake Tekapo to see the colour of a glacial lake. The other places to see are the Church of the Good Shepherd, a 1-hour walk to lake edge or drive to the Mount John Observatory.
The two main walks are the Hooker Valley for views of Mount Cook, the highest peak in NZ (~3 hours). The Maori name is Aoraki which means ‘cloud piercer’. You can also climb to the Tasman Valley for a view of the Tasman Glacier moraine (~1 hour) . Either can be done as free-walking or as organised tours. You will cross raging rivers on swing bridges, potentially see some avalanches in the distance and the terminal lake of a glacier.
We’re staying at the Hermitage Hotel and our room will have a view of Mount Cook. This is also the best place for the nicest restaurant. This area has minimal light pollution so if the skies are clear it’s worth taking in the night sky.
Rainy day activities include the Aoraki Visitor Centre, Sir Edmund Hillary Museum, Coliseum Theatre or the Planetarium tour.
You can also stay in the Chalet or Motels.
Feb 18th (Thursday)
Queenstown, NZ
Feb 23rd (Tuesday)
It’s time to head to Queenstown which is advertised as the adventure capital of the world. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Mount Cook. A good stop on the way is for souvenirs at Omarama. You can also walk at Lindis Pass and see the tussock hills.
Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and styles itself the Adventure Capital of the World so if you want to Bungy Jump, Zip Line or throw yourself off of something else – this is the place. There is also a trip up the Skyline Gondola or the Kiwi Birdlife Park.
Some recommended activities include a speedboat trip down the Dart River, visit an old gold-mining town called Arrowtown and pan for gold along with numerous wineries which would include the tasting menu at Wild Earth. The Gibbston Valley is especially known for Pinot Noir wines.
The scenic drive to Glenorchy (~1.5 hours each way) goes past several of the shooting locations for the Lord of the Rings that can be found in the area plus some nice golf courses.
This is a time to look into an all day plane and cruise tour to Milford Sound. We will keep an eye on the weather to see when it will be clear and not too windy.
Rainy day activities include a Lake Wakatipu cruise, Onsen hot pools – private 4 people, Mini golf, Wine tours or a helicopter tour.
- Rata or Botswana Butchery
- Fergbaker
- Stratosfare or The Cow Pizza or Erik’s Fish & Chips Food Truck
- Eichardt’s Bar or Flame Bar & Grill
Wanaka, NZ
We’ll drive through Wanaka on the way to the Haast Pass and the West Coast. The drive to Wanaka, crossing the Cadrona Pass, is just 1 hour and will pass the “famous” longest bra fence.
Wanaka is situated on the south end of Lake Wanaka and close to Mount Aspiring National Park. There are a number of walks/hikes in the area including Roy’s Peak which would take half a day.
It is a tourist town so there are plenty of other things to do including Lavender farms. It is also possible to fly to Milford Sound over the Alps which is an incredible trip if we prefer that to the trip from Queenstown.
No overnight here
Feb 23rd (Tuesday)
Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, NZ
Feb 25th (Thursday)
Time to head over to the lush West Coast via the Haast Pass. The route has numerous short walks and waterfalls to see on the way which will extend out the 3 hour drive. These include the Blue Pools walk (~1 hr), a 1 hour walk to the Blue Pools at Makarora with Beech trees and a glacier-fed swimming hole or the Thunder Creek Falls or the Fantail Falls. Haast Pass Lookout is a 30 minute round trip.
Knights Point Lookout after the Pass is on the way, elephant seals can often be seen basking on the sandy beaches at the far end of the point.
We will also visit Lake Mattheson which has a circular walk (~1 hr, around the lake is 2.5 hours), via a viewpoint that provides a mirror reflection of Mount Cook in the water. There is a drive down to Gillespies Beach to see view of Southern Alps, including Mount Cook (Aoraki).
We can also stop at the White Heron Sanctuary for a guided boat tour to New Zealand’s only nesting site, viewing birds from across the river.
The drive into the Franz Josef glacier viewpoint shows how far the glacier has receded with markers indicating its position over the last 100 years or so.
Rainy day activities include the Lake Matheson walk, Village shops, Te Koha Gallery – Māori carving and jade, Franz Josef – Wildlife centre, 40 min HELIMAX movie, or the West Coast Wildlife Centre to see kiwi birds.
Feb 25th (Thursday)
Punakaiki, NZ
Feb 27th (Saturday)
We continue up the West Coast for about 3.5 hours drive to Punakaiki – home of the pancake rock formations shown at the top of the page. This is one of our favourite places in New Zealand and we always stay at the same hotel overlooking the beach.
The rocks contain blowholes which explode when the weather conditions are right so we need to time a visit for high tide and keep our fingers crossed.
The area also has a number of bush walks where you’ll really get a feel for the rain forest environment and the famous New Zealand ferns. Truman Track walk (~1 hr) and Pororari River Track (~1 hr).
The area is also known for its greenstone (or jade) and you can carve your own jewelry in Hokitika. Here we can walk for ~1 hr to see the Hokitika Gorge. You can also stop at Shantytown, just south of Greymouth, a replica gold rush town.
Feb 27th (Saturday)
Nelson, NZ
Mar 1st (Monday)
We head for our final destination on the South Island which is Nelson, a holiday destination. The 3 hour drive from Punakaiki is through rain forest and gorges with sights like the Pelorus Bridge, a location for The Hobbit, Buller Gorge Swingbridge (~1 hr walk) and Pelorus Bridge walk.
North of Nelson are the golden sand beaches of Kaiteriteri and there is a boat cruise to Split Apple Rock. There are many wineries, craft brewery tours and a nature reserve walk.
Nelson also has a thriving art culture and craft markets for any shopping desires, including at Mapua Wharf, the Hogland glassblowing and the Art Gallery.
There are also picturesque journeys along Queen Charlotte Sound and the Takaka Drive.
Mar 1st (Monday)
Wellington, NZ
Mar 2nd (Tuesday)
We will now fly from Nelson to Wellington rather than take the day to drive to Picton and get the ferry. On arrival at Wellington, we will stay at the airport hotel so we can drop our bags and go into downtown.
The main sights would be the cable car and the Beehive, the common name for the Parliament building. Then maybe drive to Mount Victoria lookout and a tour of the Weta workshop, Peter Jackson’s company. There is also Zealandia, a walking bush walk in the Wellington suburbs.
There is also the Te Papa Museum where you can experience an earthquake!
Mar 2nd (Tuesday)
Napier, NZ
Mar 2nd (Tuesday)
We will catch an early morning flight to Napier and pick up another rental car. This will give us the day to explore Napier, take in some wineries before a 2 hour drive to Taupo. We especially like Elephant Hill winery.
Napier is one of the Art Deco cities in the world. After an earthquake destroyed the city, it was re-built in the style of the times. We will look to do a classic car tour of the town.
The driving in this area is through green farmland, native forests and small country towns.
No Overnight Here
Mar 2nd (Tuesday)
Lake Taupo/Rotorua, NZ
Mar 5th (Friday)
Rotorua is the centre for the geothermal springs and also has a significant Maori cultural presence. However, the sulphur smell from the hot pools is pervasive so we will likely stay an hour away in Lake Taupo with its views of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand’s largest active volcano. The lake itself is formed from the crater of another volcano that erupted 5,000 years ago. Huka Falls is situated close by.
It is worth waiting to arrive at Rotorua for the geothermal experience. The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is the best we’ve seen with Craters of the Moon Geothermal Park. You can wander around on boardwalks and see the steam vents, mud pools, and boiling hot water pools. Aratiatia Rapids; Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave; Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park (Lady Knox Geyser at 10.15am)
Whakarewarewa Maori village is also a great cultural activity including a traditional Hangi meal where the food is cooked underground. Te Pā Tū Maori Village – The Living Maori Village; Te Puia is home to the Pohutu geyser, which erupts up to 30 meters (100 feet) every hour. The Mitai Maori Village Cultural Experience; This 30-minute jade carving lesson in Rotorua.
Mar 5th (Friday)
Auckland, NZ
Mar 8th (Monday)
Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand and known as the City of Sails. A 3 hour drive from Rotorua, stops along the way could include Hobbiton at Matamata or a bit further afield, the Glow Worm caves at Waitomo.
Once in Auckland, there is plenty to do including a visit to Goat Island for watching the fish through a glass bottomed boat. Auckland Domain and Wintergardens (~1 hr walk), Sky Tower; this half-day sightseeing tour which includes a stop at Mt Eden or a Viaduct Harbour walk (~1 hr). Rainy day activities include the Weta workshop, Aquarium or Stardome Observatory.
Numerous waterside bars and restaurants will allow to us relax after a busy few weeks going through New Zealand.
Auckland is the best departure point as most international flights originate from here meaning no internal flights required. Bear in mind you will cross the international date line if you fly across the Pacific so we can leave on Sunday and arrive same day in Toronto.
There are numerous hotel options in Auckland
Trip Extensions
We are possibly looking at flying through Tokyo or Hong Kong which also provides an option if you want to extend the trip prior to arriving.
Flight Options
The quickest route to New Zealand is to fly trans-pacific.
Air New Zealand have services to Auckland via Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and a recently added flight from Chicago and they may add a flight from New York. However, most of these require a transit through the US, which might be an ethical concern, and a change in AKL. We’ve flown United via SFO to CHC before which is an efficient route offered through the NZ summer.
Air New Zealand via Vancouver and Auckland (Business) – $10,200
Air New Zealand via SFO (Business) – $9,185
United via SFO (Business) – $9,591
Sydney opens up more options as there is a AC flight from Toronto direct with a refueling stop in Vancouver. We’ve also seen some good pricing on Qatar via Doha but that’s a longer flight.
We might be looking at Tokyo (AC then ANA/JAL/Qantas) to Sydney or Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific). Once we know intended time and preferences, we can start to plan flight routings.
For cost, getting a fare to NZ/Aus for less than $10k will be a good deal at the moment.