7 days New Zealand: Auckland + Rotorua + Milford Sound

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Auckland

   Paris-Auckland via Singapore or Dubai flight (25-27h total, Singapore Airlines/Air New Zealand/Qantas/Emirates, €1400-2800 return depending on season). NZeTA mandatory for French (NZD 17, valid 2 years) + IVL tourist tax (NZD 100 since October 2024). Online applications 72h before. Land Auckland Airport (AKL), 21 km from CBD. Time difference +11h winter / +10h summer (southern hemisphere). Transfer: Skybus Express (NZD 18, 45 min to CBD), taxi NZD 60-90, Uber NZD 40-65. Settle hotel Auckland CBD: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct (NZD 350-600 marina view), Hilton Auckland (NZD 300-500), Britomart boutique hotels (NZD 280-450). Evening first Viaduct Harbour walk + local dinner: Depot Eatery (New Zealand fusion cuisine NZD 50-80), The French Cafe (gourmet NZD 150-250), Giapo (artisanal ice cream NZD 12-20 - iconic artistic desserts).

   Tips

   • · NZeTA NZD 17 + IVL NZD 100 (Oct 2024) = mandatory formalities
   • · 25-27h flight via Singapore/Dubai, €1400-2800 return
   • · Time diff +11h winter / +10h summer (southern hemisphere)
   • · Skybus AKL-CBD: NZD 18, 45 min
   Auckland →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Auckland: Skytower + Waiheke vineyards

   Morning Auckland Skytower (328 m, 1997, tallest southern hemisphere building, observation NZD 39 or exterior Sky Walk NZD 152). Walk Queen Street (main artery) + Britomart (chic restos/boutiques quarter). Afternoon ferry to Waiheke Island (depart Auckland Waterfront, NZD 39 return, 40 min, Skyline view during crossing). Waiheke = vineyard island (16 wineries, Mediterranean insular climate): Mudbrick Vineyard (lunch + tasting NZD 80-150), Cable Bay Vineyards (sea-view terrace), Stonyridge Vineyard (mythical red Larose, premium cabernet sauvignon). Optional EcoZip Adventures zip-line (NZD 139/person). Back Auckland evening, dinner Soul Bar & Bistro (Viaduct, NZD 80-120) or Cassia (modern Indian cuisine NZD 70-110).

   Tips

   • · Skytower: 328 m, observation NZD 39 or Sky Walk NZD 152
   • · Waiheke ferry: NZD 39 return, 40 min, vineyards + beaches
   • · Mudbrick Vineyard: lunch + tasting NZD 80-150
   • · Stonyridge Larose: one of NZ's great cabernet sauvignons
   Auckland →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Auckland → Rotorua: geothermal + Maori

   Morning Auckland → Rotorua route (2h45, 235 km, Highway 1 then SH 5). Mandatory car rental (NZD 50-80/day, book 2 months ahead). Possibility Hobbiton stop (Lord of the Rings/Hobbit filming, 25 km from Matamata, 2h guided tour, NZD 89-99/person — book 1-3 months ahead). Arrive Rotorua around noon: geothermal + Maori culture capital. Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (NZD 32, spectacular coloured sources: Champagne Pool, acid green Devil's Bath, Lady Knox geyser 10:15am — geological wonderland). Afternoon Whakarewarewa Maori village (NZD 40, living Maori village in active geothermal zone — traditional habitat, haka dance). Evening Maori cultural show + hangi (steam-cooked-in-earth meal): Te Puia (NZD 135, signature) or Mitai Maori Village (NZD 125). Rotorua hotel: Pullman Rotorua (NZD 250-400), Holiday Inn (NZD 180-300).

   Tips

   • · Auckland-Rotorua: 2h45, 235 km. Car ESSENTIAL
   • · Hobbiton: 25 km Matamata detour, visit NZD 89-99, book 1-3 months ahead
   • · Wai-O-Tapu: NZD 32, coloured sources + Lady Knox geyser 10:15am
   • · Maori show + hangi: Te Puia NZD 135 or Mitai NZD 125
   Rotorua →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Rotorua → Queenstown (South Island) flight

   Morning return Rotorua car. Air New Zealand internal Rotorua → Queenstown (ZQN) flight (2h direct, NZD 250-450 return) — spectacular landing between Remarkables mountains. 0h time difference (same zone). Arrive Queenstown: world adventure capital, on Lake Wakatipu shore, framed by Remarkables (2,319 m). Settle hotel: QT Queenstown (NZD 350-550), Rees Hotel (NZD 300-500 lake view), Heritage Queenstown (NZD 200-350). Afternoon Skyline Queenstown (Bob's Peak gondola + luge, NZD 75 combo): Wakatipu + Remarkables panorama. Kawarau Bridge for bungy jumping observation (world's first commercial bungy site, opened 1988 by AJ Hackett — NZD 230 the 43m jump). Dinner Rata (gourmet, chef Josh Emett ex-Gordon Ramsay, NZD 110-160) or Fergburger (legendary fast food, NZD 18-25, queue often 30-60 min).

   Tips

   • · Rotorua-Queenstown flight: 2h, NZD 250-450 return Air New Zealand
   • · Spectacular landing between Remarkables (2,319 m)
   • · Kawarau Bungy: world's first commercial 1988, NZD 230 43m
   • · Fergburger: legendary fast food, 30-60 min queue
   Queenstown →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Milford Sound excursion (NZ signature)

   FULL DAY excursion Milford Sound from Queenstown — absolute signature New Zealand experience. 2 options: bus + cruise (Real NZ, JUCY Cruise, NZD 240-330/person, depart 7am, return 7:30pm, 12h day) — 4h bus outbound commented with photo stops (Te Anau, Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel) + 1h45 fjord cruise. Small plane + cruise (Air Milford, NZD 470-650, 35 min return flight, faster, spectacular aerial view). Milford Sound fjord: 16 km long, 1,200 m cliffs, Mitre Peak (1,692 m, iconic rocky pyramid), Stirling Falls (146 m), Bowen Falls (162 m) waterfalls, wildlife (seals, dolphins, rare endemic Fiordland penguins). Rainfall: one of the world's wettest spots (6,000-8,000 mm/year, 200 rain days). Under rain, multiple waterfalls are most impressive — under sun, colours pop.

   Tips

   • · Milford Sound: NZ SIGNATURE, full 12h day from Queenstown
   • · Bus + cruise: NZD 240-330/person (Real NZ, JUCY)
   • · Plane + cruise: NZD 470-650/person (Air Milford)
   • · Mitre Peak 1,692m + Stirling Falls 146m + Fiordland penguins
   Milford Sound →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Queenstown: adventure + Aoraki/Mt Cook day-trip

   Option A — Aoraki/Mt Cook day-trip (NZ's highest peak 3,724 m). Route Queenstown → Mt Cook (3h, 270 km via Twizel and Lake Pukaki — iconic glacial turquoise lakes). Arrive Mt Cook Village, Hooker Valley Track (10 km return, 3h, NZ's most iconic flat trail, view Aoraki + glaciers + glacial lake). Lunch Hermitage Hotel (peak view). Back Queenstown. OPTION B — Adventure Queenstown: Nevis bungy jumping (134 m height, NZ's highest, NZD 320), Shotover jet boat (jet boat in canyon, NZD 159/30 min), paraglide (Skytrek, NZD 270), helicopter Milford from Queenstown (NZD 570). Evening wine bar The Bunker or Pub on Wharf. Queenstown dinner.

   Tips

   • · Mt Cook day-trip: 3h drive, iconic turquoise Lake Pukaki
   • · Hooker Valley Track: 10 km return, 3h, NZ's most iconic trail
   • · Adventure: Nevis bungy NZD 320, Shotover jet NZD 159
   • · Milford helicopter from Queenstown: NZD 570 (alternative)
   Aoraki/Mt Cook →Queenstown →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Queenstown morning + Paris return

   Free morning Queenstown: last Lake Wakatipu walk, historic steamer TSS Earnslaw (1912, cruise NZD 32/hour) or souvenir shopping. Brunch Vudu Cafe or Bespoke Kitchen (NZD 25-40). Return car ZQN airfield. Queenstown → Auckland flight (2h, NZD 200-400) + international connection Auckland → Paris CDG via Singapore/Dubai (25-27h return). 4-5h Auckland margin (international transit, severe NZ exit agricultural controls: forbidden agricultural products, strict biosecurity). -11h time difference back to France. End of trip. Souvenirs: carved Maori stone (pounamu Greenstone jade, NZD 50-300), Manuka honey (UMF 10+: NZD 30-80 per jar, world-class quality), Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine (Cloudy Bay, Brancott, NZD 25-60), kiwi plush (national bird, NZD 15-30), merino wool (Icebreaker socks NZD 30-50).

   Tips

   • · Queenstown-Auckland flight: 2h, NZD 200-400
   • · 4-5h Auckland margin (strict NZ exit biosecurity)
   • · Souvenirs: pounamu jade (NZD 50-300), Manuka honey UMF 10+
   • · NZ wines: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc NZD 25-60
   Queenstown →

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