Driving from Auckland to Wellington: 8 places to stop on the way
Don’t miss these beautiful spots on and Auckland to Wellington road trip.
Whanganui is a gorgeous little riverside town
Driving from Auckland to Wellington takes you right past some of the highlights of the North Island.
You can drive the whole distance in one day (I’ve made the journey several times) or take your time and stop at places like Rotorua, Taupo, and Hobbiton along the way.
If you’re considering a road trip from Auckland to Wellington, or Wellington to Auckland, here are my recommendations for where to stop.
I’m basing these recommendations on the assumption that you want to move fairly quickly south — if you have longer, you could detour to the Coromandel Peninsula, or spend even longer exploring other corners of the North Island.
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Your road trip essentials
If you need wheels, check out rental car prices on DiscoverCars
I use Gaspy to find the cheapest petrol stations (you’ll need to fill up at least once on this trip).
The best places to stop on the drive from Auckland to Wellington
From Auckland to Hamilton, there’s nowhere I would recommend stopping. This part of the drive is mostly on well-made motorways, a luxury in New Zealand, so relax and enjoy the drive.
Most of the best places to stop are clustered around the middle of the island — you can link these together in any way that makes sense to you, or study the map below for my suggested route
1. Hamilton Gardens
Auckland - Hamilton Gardens: 1 hour 50 minutes
One option as you head south through Hamilton is to stop by the Hamilton Gardens.
Open from 9am-5pm daily, the Gardens are free to visit.
The Hamilton Gardens focus on garden design rather than plants, so walking through the various enclosed gardens is an incredibly visual look at different histories, cultures, and philosophies through garden design.
Stroll through the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Surrealist Garden, or the Modernist Garden.
Other than the Hamilton Gardens, there isn’t a lot to stop for in Hamilton. I would use this as a chance to stretch your legs, then carry on.
2. Raglan
Hamilton to Raglan: 45 minutes
Raglan is a great small town to stop in if you want to spend one night somewhere.
While it’s a slight detour from the main Auckland to Wellington route, it’s well worth visiting Raglan for the laid-back surf vibes and epic scenery.
If you surf, there are multiple breaks in the area. Even if you don’t, the black sand Ngarunui Beach is a beautiful spot for walks and sunsets.
The town itself is small and cute, with artsy shops and cute cafes.
WHERE TO STAY IN RAGLAN
Somewhere nice | Bow Street Studios
Camping | Te Kopua Whanau camp is a cheap, spacious campground only a few minutes walk to the beach.
3. Tirau
Hamilton to Tirau: 40 minutes
Raglan to Tirau: 1 hour 20 minutes
Tirau is a small town on the route between Auckland and Wellington.
I usually stop here for a coffee and a snack; it’s also cool to admire the quirky corrugated iron sculptures the town is famous for.
Buildings include a giant dog, sheep, and ram, as well as a pukeko and praying mantis.
There are a number of cafes and gift shops to fuel you up for your road trip.
You can wander around and use the public bathrooms, but it’s not worth stopping here overnight. You probably only need an hour tops in the town.
5. Rotorua
Hamilton to Rotorua: 1 hour 30 minutes
Tirau to Rotorua: 45 minutes
Rotorua is one of the top destinations in New Zealand.
The area simmers with geothermal activity — you can see geysers spout water from the earth, bubbling mud pools, and brightly coloured pools through clouds of hot steam.
You could easily visit Rotorua’s highlights in a single morning or afternoon, stopping by Wai O Tapu, followed by a dip in the naturally heated Kerosene Creek (it’s free to access).
Both of these attractions are on the road to Taupō, heading south.
If you want to stick around for more than one night, you could also enjoy a Māori cultural experience, try the Rotorua Treewalk, relax at Secret Spot Hot Tubs or another hot pool, and go for a day walk to one of the many lakes in the area.
The town of Rotorua itself is a little touristy, but there’s enough to do in Rotorua and the surrounding area to keep you busy for 2-3 days if you have the time.
6. Taupō
Rotorua to Taupō: 1 hour
Taupō (pronounced “toe paw”) is a massive volcanic caldera in the heart of the North Island. The lake is vast and beautiful, providing a setting for different water activities.
Taupō’s volcanic past is also visible in the hot springs in the area.
For a stunning free activity, visit the Aratiatia Rapids — upstream from the famous Huka Falls — where you can see a dry gorge turned into a roaring river as millions of litres of water are unleashed from the Aratiatia Dam.
The water is released at 10am, 12pm and 2pm daily, with an additional opening at 4pm October-March.
The Aratiatia Rapids are just a short 10 minute detour off State Highway 1.
7. Tongariro National Park
On the drive from Auckland to Wellington, you’ll almost certainly end up on Desert Road.
Desert Road runs past Tongariro National Park, so stopping for a walk and to admire the scenery is an epic thing to do on this road trip.
If you want to go for walks in Tongariro National Park, though, you’ll need to head down the opposite side of the park instead of taking Desert Road.
Make your way to the National Park visitor centre, and from there you can go on several short walks, some of which are accessible for people with lesser mobility.
Check out the Taranaki Falls walk for something slightly longer.
8. Whanganui
I have a real soft spot for Whanganui — it’s a quirky, cute town that feels like a smaller Wellington.
It makes a great place to stop for one night as you drive south, especially if you have a little extra time up your sleeve.
The town centre is lovely to stroll around, tucked into the elbow of the Whanganui River.
You can ride the Durie Hill Elevator, the oldest operating public elevator in New Zealand, up to a viewpoint.
My favourite thing to do here is check out the Glassworks. You can watch the artists at work from a mezzanine floor (it’s free to go in) and browse some beautiful glass art in the gallery.
The glass kina paperweights are stunning — I think they would make perfect souvenirs.
9. Mangaweka campground
If you happen to be travelling in a campervan, a great place to stop for the night is Mangaweka. Right by State Highway 1, the campground is cheap ($10 for a night) and beautiful.
It sits under tall white cliffs with a river running around the bottom.
Plus, there’s the Awastone - Mangaweka cafe, which has a stunning deck with a view.
10. Martinborough
It will add a bit of time to your journey, but head to Martinborough as one last stop before Wellington.
It’s a cute little town and a great pit stop for lunch — Poppies is the top spot for lunch and a wine tasting.
On your way south to Martinborough, I also like stopping in Featherston, which is just a cute little town.
A map and suggested routes
Auckland to Wellington in 3 days
You can make the Auckland to Wellington drive in three days.
Day 1: Auckland to Rotorua
Day 2: Rotorua to Ohakune, via Taupo
Day 3: Ohakune to Wellington
Auckland to Wellington in 4 days
Day 1: Auckland to Rotorua
Day 2: Rotorua to Taupo via Wai O Tapu or Waimangu
Day 3: Taupo to Tongariro National Park (stay in Ohakune)
Day 4: Ohakune to Wellington
Auckland to Wellington in 5 days
Day 1: Auckland to Raglan
Day 2/3: Raglan to Rotorua (stay two nights)
Day 4: Rotorua to Tongariro National Park, then on to Whanganui for the night
Day 5: Wellington
What’s the best way to get from Auckland to Wellington?
The fastest and easiest way to get from Auckland to Wellington is to fly. With Jetstar and Air New Zealand offering many flights on this route, it’s often the cheapest way as well.
With the cost of petrol what it is, driving 8+ hours can actually end up being more expensive than a flight.
However, driving allows you to stop at some of the North’s Islands key highlights, making for a fun road trip.
If you have 3-5 days, driving between Auckland and Wellington means you can explore geothermal wonders, volcanic mountains, and Lord of the Rings locations at your own speed.
Another option is to take the scenic Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington, although this is expensive (from NZ$239 one way), time consuming and limited in the stops you can make.
There are public Intercity buses that run from Auckland to Wellington frequently, which is the cheapest way to travel between the cities.
How long does it take to drive from Auckland to Wellington?
The drive from Auckland to Wellington is about 640 kilometres and takes roughly 8 hours non-stop.
I’ve driven the route before only stopping once on Desert Road, but I don’t recommend doing this.
The road between Auckland and Wellington is State Highway 1, but that doesn’t mean it’s big. In many places the road is a narrow ribbon of only two lanes.
In the interests of safe driving, take the road slowly and stop every couple of hours for a rest break.
There are some great places to stop overnight to break up the trip as well.
Can you take a train from Auckland to Wellington?
There is a train between Auckland and Wellington but it’s slow and expensive. It’s great for the scenic journey, and a solid option if you don’t like driving and want to reduce your carbon footprint.
However, if you’re on a budget, the bus is a better option, and flying will usually cost less and get you there much faster.
Is it better to fly into Auckland or Wellington?
Auckland is the main entry point to New Zealand and the best place to start if you want to explore the country’s biggest city, and be close to destinations like Rotorua and Taupo. It’s better to fly into Wellington if you want to skip straight to the capital city, then catch the ferry to the South Island.
Can you drive from Auckland to Wellington in one day?
It’s possible to drive from Auckland to Wellington in one day, but it’s a very long day of driving. I’ve made the trip several times, visiting Wellington for work and to catch the ferry to the South Island.
I usually stop mid way, somewhere along Desert Road.
There are also cute cafes for taking a break in Taihape, Huntington,
Is driving from Auckland to Wellington worth it?
Driving from Auckland to Wellington is worth it if you plan on visiting Rotorua, Hobbiton, Taupo, or Tongariro National Park. It’s not worth driving that far if you want to skip straight to Wellington. After the cost of petrol, a flight would probably be less expensive.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope this helped you plan your trip from Auckland to Wellington. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions about the drive.
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