11 days in New Zealand Itinerary

The main tourist town in the Bay of Islands area, Paihia gives visitors a good range of accommodations, a convenient town center, long sandy beaches, and interesting architecture.

Get in touch with nature at Scuba & Snorkeling and Parasailing & Paragliding. Your inner history buff will appreciate Waitangi Treaty Grounds and The Stone Store & Kemp House - Kerikeri Mission Station. Explore Paihia's surroundings by going to Russell (Pompallier Mission and Printery & Tapeka Point Track). Next up on the itinerary: get close to the beloved marine mammals with a swim-with-the-dolphins experience, do a tasting at Byrne Northland Wines, and look for all kinds of wild species at Paihia Harbour.

To find more things to do, traveler tips, photos, and tourist information, you can read our Paihia trip planner.

Denver, USA to Paihia is an approximately 22.5-hour flight. The time zone difference when traveling from Denver to Paihia is 19 hours. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 19th (Thu) to allow time for travel to Rotorua.

Surrounded by lakes and featuring impressive areas of geothermal landscape, the city of Rotorua offers an otherwordly landscape and a welcoming, peaceful environment, with the culture of the native Maori people very much in the foreground.

Visiting Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Te Puia will get you outdoors. Step out of Rotorua to go to Taupo and see Huka Falls Walkway, which is approximately 1h 5 min away. The adventure continues: test the waters at a local thermal spa, do a tasting at Volcanic Hills Winery, identify plant and animal life at Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and take a memorable tour with Tours.

To see where to stay, other places to visit, traveler tips, and other tourist information, read Rotorua online trip builder.

You can do a combination of taxi and flight from Paihia to Rotorua in 4.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. In December, plan for daily highs up to 71°F, and evening lows to 59°F. On the 23rd (Mon), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Queenstown.

Sheltered in an inlet of Lake Wakatipu, the resort town of Queenstown enjoys a strong reputation for its adventuring and skiing opportunities.

Start off your visit on the 24th (Tue): look for all kinds of wild species at Kiwi Birdlife Park, then zoom along the surf with a waterskiing or jet-skiing adventure, and then race across the water with a speed boat tour. Here are some ideas for day two: take in the architecture and atmosphere at St Peter's Anglican Church, get the adrenaline pumping with an extreme tour, and then learn about winemaking at Peregrine Wines.

To find other places to visit, photos, traveler tips, and more tourist information, go to the Queenstown trip itinerary maker app.

Fly from Rotorua to Queenstown in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of car and ferry. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Wed) so you can travel back home.