Leisurely New Zealand

Twenty-four nights across both islands of New Zealand in a motorhome, with three-night stops built in and a deliberately slow pace.

Auckland takes the first two nights, with the Sky Tower and Waiheke, then the Coromandel for three, with Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. Rotorua follows for two in the geothermal belt, then Tongariro National Park for two by way of Lake Taupo, with the Alpine Crossing optional: nineteen kilometres between three volcanoes and generally rated the best day walk in the country.

Hawke’s Bay takes three nights, with the vineyards and Napier’s art deco streets, and a night parked at a vineyard available. Wellington follows, then the ferry to Nelson and two nights at Abel Tasman, with Marlborough and another vineyard night after it. Kaikoura comes next, with the seal colony, the crayfish and an included whale watching cruise, then Greymouth and two nights at Franz Josef, with a helicopter over both glaciers optional.

Twenty nights of maui Ultima motorhome hire with the inclusive pack, four nights of four-star hotel accommodation and the Kaikoura whale watching tour are included; the one-way motorhome fee is payable locally, and campsites and international flights are extra. Twenty-five days at this pace is the most relaxed New Zealand itinerary in the range, and the three-night stops are where it differs from the others. Whale sightings cannot be promised, and the vineyard nights are available only with the maui vehicles. For a first trip to New Zealand with a month to spend, this is the itinerary in the range that does not ask anyone to hurry.