New Zealand
Lakes, mountains and very few people.
- From Delhi
- 16–20 hrs, one stop
- Ideal length
- 12–16 days
- Best time
- Dec–Apr
- Good for
- Honeymoons · Families · Adventure
Why New Zealand
New Zealand is made for a road journey: Queenstown's lakes, Milford Sound, glaciers on the west coast, wine in Central Otago. We plan with a private driver or a well-paced self-drive.
Plan a journey to New ZealandMost visited places in New Zealand
The placesworth the journey.
Queenstown
Set on Lake Wakatipu beneath the jagged Remarkables range, Queenstown is the base for exploring the southern lakes. A gondola climbs Bob's Peak above the town, while the gold-rush village of Arrowtown and the vineyards of Gibbston lie a short drive away.
Our tip Ride the gondola in the late afternoon for the best light over the lake and mountains.
Milford Sound
Deep in Fiordland National Park, granite walls rise more than a kilometre straight from dark water, with Mitre Peak standing guard near the entrance. After rain, hundreds of temporary waterfalls pour down the cliffs, and fur seals, dolphins and occasionally penguins are seen from the boat.
Our tip Fly in from Queenstown by small plane or helicopter to avoid a long drive and to see the fiord from above.
Lake Tekapo & Aoraki/Mount Cook
Lake Tekapo owes its milky turquoise colour to fine rock flour ground by glaciers, and the small stone Church of the Good Shepherd frames it from the shore. An hour away, Aoraki/Mount Cook, the country's highest peak, rises above the Hooker Valley track and its swing bridges.
Our tip Tekapo lies within an International Dark Sky Reserve, so stay a night and book a guided stargazing session.
Rotorua
Steaming vents, bubbling mud pools and the Pohutu geyser, which erupts many times a day, make Rotorua one of the world's most active geothermal areas. It is also a centre of Māori culture, with a national carving and weaving school, a living village at Whakarewarewa and evening performances of song and haka.
Our tip Visit Te Puia in the early morning, when the geyser's steam is most visible in the cooler air.
Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
Around two hours south of Auckland, the Hobbiton set preserves the hobbit holes, gardens and Green Dragon Inn built for the films. Guided tours lead through gardens and lanes kept exactly as they appeared on screen, set within a working sheep farm in the rolling Waikato countryside.
Our tip Book the earliest tour, or an evening tour with dinner, as tickets sell out well in advance.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
Beneath the limestone hills of the King Country, a small boat glides in silence along an underground river through a grotto lit by thousands of glowworms, their blue-green light resembling a night sky. Nearby caves offer more adventurous options, including abseiling and black-water rafting.
Our tip Combine Waitomo with Hobbiton on a day trip from Auckland, or break the journey to Rotorua.
New Zealand itinerary
Six days in New Zealand
A South Island route from Queenstown and Milford Sound to the alpine lakes of Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
A starting point, not a package: we reshape the days around your dates, pace and who is travelling.
Shape this itinerary- Day01
Queenstown · Arrival
Connect through Auckland or Sydney for one of the most dramatic airport approaches anywhere, between mountains on both sides. A short drive brings you to your lodge for an early, quiet evening by the lake.
- Day02
Queenstown · Gondola and Arrowtown
Ride the gondola in the morning, then drive to Arrowtown to explore its historic main street. Continue to the vineyards of Gibbston for lunch.
- Day03
Milford Sound · Fiordland by air
Fly over the Southern Alps to Milford Sound for a cruise among the cliffs and waterfalls. Return to Queenstown by air in the afternoon.
- Day04
Lake Tekapo · Across the Lindis Pass
Drive north across the Lindis Pass, a journey of around three hours. Settle into Tekapo and join a guided stargazing session after dark.
- Day05
Aoraki/Mount Cook · The Hooker Valley
Drive an hour to Aoraki/Mount Cook to walk the Hooker Valley track to the glacier lake. For a gentler day, a scenic flight lands on a glacier.
- Day06
Christchurch · Departure
After a last walk along the lake shore, a private car takes around three hours across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. From here, flights connect home via Auckland, Sydney or Singapore.
Things to do in New Zealand
What we'd planfor you.
Milford Sound
Fjords by boat or scenic flight.
Queenstown
Lakes, wine and gentle adventure.
Glaciers
Helicopter landings on the west coast.
Road journeys
Private driver or an unhurried self-drive.
Best time to visit New Zealand
December to February for summer; March and April for autumn colour; June to August for skiing.
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- : Good
- : Quieter
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Longer journeys including New Zealand
Starting points,not packages.
Where to stay in New Zealand
Queenstown
Lodges on the lake edge or up in the hills towards Arrowtown, with the widest choice of restaurants in the south. Active families and first-time visitors use it as the hub for day trips.
Lake Tekapo
A handful of quiet retreats facing the lake and the Southern Alps, under some of the darkest skies anywhere. Couples and honeymooners come for the stillness.
Rotorua
Lakeside lodges with private geothermal pools, close to the cultural villages and redwood forest. A sensible North Island base for families combining Hobbiton and Waitomo.
What to eat in New Zealand
Central Otago lamb and pinot noir
Slow-roasted lamb and the region's pinot noir, poured at a cellar door in Gibbston or the Cromwell basin, make the classic long lunch of the south. Wineries here offer thoughtful vegetarian dishes as a matter of course.
Hāngī
Meat, kūmara and vegetables are wrapped and steamed for hours over heated stones in an earth pit, then shared after a welcome ceremony at a Rotorua cultural evening. Vegetarian portions can be cooked separately if requested in advance.
Green-lipped mussels and Bluff oysters
Plump green-lipped mussels from the Marlborough Sounds are on menus year-round, while Bluff oysters from the far south are a winter delicacy that New Zealanders wait for each autumn.
Café culture
New Zealanders claim the flat white, and even small country towns have a café serving it well alongside fresh, seasonal plates. Vegetarian, vegan and allergen labelling is clear almost everywhere, which helps Jain travellers check ingredients.
Travel tips for New Zealand
Getting there from India
One stop from Delhi, usually via Singapore or Australia; plan for around sixteen to twenty hours.
For travellers from India
There are no direct flights from Delhi, so travel usually connects through Singapore, Sydney or Melbourne, taking around seventeen to twenty hours in all. Indian travellers need a visitor visa, which we recommend applying for at least two to three months ahead. New Zealand's biosecurity rules are among the strictest in the world, so all food, including packaged snacks, must be declared on arrival.
Visas & entry
Indian passport holders need a visa for New Zealand. Rules and processing times change, so we confirm the current requirements when you book, prepare the document checklist with you, and help schedule any appointments.
Good to know
Driving is on the left, as in India; we can still arrange private drivers throughout.
New Zealand tour packages from Delhi
Every New Zealand holiday package we plan is private, and built around your dates, your pace and the people travelling with you.
Our New Zealand tour packages from Delhi and across India include return flights, hand-picked hotels with partner privileges where available, private transfers, guided sightseeing where it adds something, visa assistance and 24×7 support while you travel. A typical first visit takes in Queenstown, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo & Aoraki/Mount Cook, Rotorua, over 12–16 days.
We plan New Zealand honeymoon packages, family holidays for children and grandparents, milestone celebrations and corporate or incentive trips, with vegetarian and Jain meals arranged in advance. Tell us what you have in mind and a travel designer will shape the itinerary with you.
How long for New Zealand?
Twelve to sixteen days, mostly on the South Island.
What is the best time to visit New Zealand?
December to April for summer and early autumn; June to August for skiing.
Can we combine New Zealand with Australia?
Yes, with at least eighteen to twenty-one days in total.
What is included in your New Zealand tour packages from Delhi?
Every New Zealand package is private and planned around you. It usually includes return flights from Delhi, hand-picked hotels, private airport transfers, sightseeing with private guides where it matters, visa guidance and 24×7 support while you travel. Vegetarian and Jain meals can be arranged in advance.
How many days are enough for New Zealand?
12–16 days is ideal for a first visit. Our starting itinerary, six days in new zealand, covers Queenstown, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo & Aoraki/Mount Cook without rushing.
How do I book a New Zealand holiday package with TRIPPLANNERS?
Share your dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel through our enquiry form, call 011 4550 0000 or WhatsApp +91 98116 16005. A travel designer will come back with a private proposal and refine it with you until it is right.
