10-Day Self-Drive Auckland to Wellington

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This morning, you'll pick up your rental car and then spend the day exploring Auckland. Sandy beaches, native bush and lush rainforests give way to a vibrant urban culture, humming with life. Spend time in the Viaduct Harbour, try your hand at sailing an America’s Cup yacht, or take the ferry to nearby Waiheke Island for a gourmet food and wine experience. From the top of Auckland's highest volcano, Mt Eden, take in soaring views of the gulf, or lose yourself in one of the national parks.

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Today, you'll drive south past the Bombay Hills and into the rolling farmland and pastures of Waikato. You’ll soon go through the town of Matamata where you can visit the fully intact Hobbiton film set used in the shooting of the Lord of The Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Continuing on, you’ll pass several small farming communities before telltale signs of steam and other geothermal activity signals your arrival into Rotorua.

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Peppered with natural hot springs, boiling mud pools and steaming geysers, Rotorua sits within one of the worlds most active volcanic regions. Home to several prominent Maori tribes, a visit to one of the Maori Villages should be high on your agenda. You can spike your adrenaline at Velocity Valley Adventure Park on stomach-dropping attractions such as static skydiving. Alternatively, you can head up the Rotorua Gondola for soaring lake views and ride the luge at night for an extra thrill.

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This drive today will take you through the thermal region just south of Rotorua, notable attractions here are Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu and Craters of the Moon. You'll continue on to Taupo and marvel at the lake - a giant crater formed following a volcanic eruption in the year 180 CE. As you approach the city, be sure to stop at Huka Falls before you follow the road as it climbs the rugged Ahimanawa Range before descending back down the Pacific Coast to art deco Napier.

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With its Mediterranean climate and Art Deco style, Hawke's Bay is an attractive holiday prospect, and today you'll explore this region to learn why. As the nation's first winemaking region, a visit to one of its 30 wineries is a must. Those into Gatsby will enjoy the chance to view prominent Art Deco landmarks on a 1930s Vintage Car Tour. If you're after some fresh air, hire a bike and take your pick of one of over 200 kilometres of cycling trails or head on down to one of the many beaches.

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As you leave the rolling countryside of the Hawke's Bay, you'll be greeted with some of the country's richest dairy farmland in the Manawatu Gorge. Continue on through the Wairarapa region and stop in the Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre, where you can see some of New Zealand native animals. As you drive south, a visit to historic Greytown is a must-do. Leaving state highway 2, you will cross over the Ruamahanga River into Martinborough wine country - your destination for the day.

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Today, your New Zealand vacation will cross the Rimutaka Ranges as you make your way to New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. Often compared to Melbourne, Wellington is a vibrant cultural hub. At one kilometre squared, the city centre (easily traversed on foot) has an international feel and is peppered with underground art shows, alleyway cafes and New York-style delis. Take in the boardwalk view as you stroll to Te Papa Museum or indulge your cinematic side exploring Weta Workshop.

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Wellington, the windy, cosmopolitan city, is a melting pot of art, culture, food and fashion. Quirky laneway bars, underground art shows, and hipster eateries make up its inner-city vibe, while a host of sandy beaches outside the urban bustle bring a cheerful holiday feel. Head to Te Papa Museum for a history lesson and a ticket to one of its many international exhibitions or jump aboard the Wellington Cable Car at Lambton Quay - the only running funicular railway in the country.