New Zealand Campervan Routes: Every Leg of the Road Trip
Quick summary: These campervan and motorhome route guides break New Zealand into individual legs, each covering a stretch of road once, so together they cover the whole country. Each guide includes distances and driving times, the best stops, where to stay overnight, what the driving is like, and the tours and experiences along the way. Link the legs together to build your own trip, or follow one of our ready-made itineraries.
South Island routes
| Route | Start and end | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough and Kaikōura | Picton to Christchurch | Around 335 km |
| Nelson, Tasman and Golden Bay | Picton to Nelson and Golden Bay | From around 110 km |
| Buller and Paparoa | Nelson to Greymouth | Around 325 km |
| Arthur’s Pass | Christchurch to Greymouth | Around 240 km |
| West Coast glaciers | Hokitika to Haast | Around 280 km |
| Haast Pass | Haast to Wānaka | Around 140 km |
| Mackenzie Country and Aoraki | Christchurch to Aoraki/Mount Cook | Around 330 km |
| Lindis Pass | Twizel to Wānaka and Queenstown | Around 145–210 km |
| Queenstown Lakes | Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Wānaka | Around 70 km via the Crown Range |
| Fiordland and Milford Sound | Queenstown to Milford Sound | Around 290 km |
| Southland and the Catlins | Te Anau to Dunedin | Around 430 km |
| Canterbury and Otago coast | Christchurch to Dunedin | Around 360 km |
| Central Otago | Dunedin to Cromwell | Around 225 km |
North Island routes
| Route | Start and end | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | Auckland to the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga | Around 440 km |
| Coromandel | Auckland to Tauranga around the peninsula | Around 380 km |
| Waikato and Waitomo | Auckland to Waitomo | Around 200 km |
| Rotorua and Taupō | Tauranga to Taupō via Rotorua | Around 140 km |
| East Cape | Ōpōtiki to Gisborne | Around 330 km |
| Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa | Gisborne to Wellington | Around 535 km |
| Taranaki and Whanganui | Taranaki, the Forgotten World Highway and Whanganui | Varies by route |
| Tongariro to Wellington | Tongariro National Park to Wellington | Around 325 km |
Crossing between the islands
The Cook Strait ferry links Wellington and Picton, carrying your motorhome across in around three and a half hours.
Are New Zealand roads suited to a large RV?
Yes, within limits. Every route in these guides suits a typical rental campervan or motorhome, but New Zealand roads are narrower and more winding than North American highways, with no long-distance freeways and many one-lane bridges. Vehicles here are sized to match, so expect something more compact than a large American rig.
How should you use these route guides?
Pick the region you want to explore, then follow the links at the end of each guide to the legs that connect to it. Distances are given for the main route without detours; add time for stops, side trips and photographs. For the full overview, see our complete guide to campervanning in New Zealand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each guide covers one leg of road, such as Queenstown to Milford Sound or Hokitika to Haast, without overlapping the others. Linked together, the legs cover every region of New Zealand reachable by campervan.
The drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound through Fiordland, the Mackenzie Country route past Lake Tekapo to Aoraki/Mount Cook, and the West Coast glaciers road are consistently rated among the most scenic drives in the country.
No. Distances are for the main route only. Allow extra time and kilometres for detours, short walks and photo stops, which are a big part of the experience.