The trans-tasman bubble is finally here and this means thousands of Aussies will be boarding planes to visit their Kiwi neighbours. It’s almost paralysing after a year of no international travel to try and figure out where to go first - Auckland to eat yourself into a coma; Wellington - the capital of cool and culture; Christchurch for its English charm or Queenstown for fun on the slopes and views like no other. 

So what about a road trip so you can get a bit of everything? Fly to New Zealand, land in one city, hire a car and drive to the next before flying home again. You can experience two places and all the fabulous stops on the way. Here are a couple of our favourites. 

Auckland to Wellington

Auckland and Wellington have such different charms so why not tick off both on an epic road trip? The drive takes eight hours straight and there are so many options for great stops for the day or overnight. Check out the incredible Hamilton Gardens (not just for the floral crowd - the surrealist garden and other fascinating new sections make this a hit with all ages), Hobbiton, Rotorua (that insane swirling geothermal terrain really should be on everyone’s bucket list) Taupo for lakeside action and of course the Wairarapa for its excellent vineyards. If you’re active, the Whanganui River has plenty to offer, as does the Ruapehu district - skiing in Winter, walking and biking in the warmer months. 

Dunedin to Christchurch 

While this is only a four and a half hour drive, there are so many points of interest you could easily drag it out over several days. Dunedin itself is magnificent and the coast in areas like Karitane and Aramoana are well worth stops on the way out. Of course you have to stop in Moeraki to see the boulders (and have a seafood lunch at Fleur’s) and Oamaru’s incredible Victorian Precinct and Steampunk Museum should not be missed either. Timaru’s Te Ana is mandatory for an insight into ancient maori art and make sure you save plenty of time for your final destination, charming Christchurch. The rebuild has made this city a total must-visit. 

So what are you waiting for? No matter what kind of road trip you’re looking for, New Zealand has it. International travel is only a few clicks away. Does it get any more exciting than that?