Does anyone knows how long does it take to drive from the south to north for both islands in NZ?

Question

I am planning to drive the campervan and go round NZ. I need a rough guide on how much to travel per day basis. My campervan will be taking the ferry across christchurch to wellington. From wellington, i am planning to drive to Auckland. Anyone has any idea? Ta!

Answer 1

I am not sure how long you want to take traveling but I spent a month traveling around the whole South Island when I was a child. But you can do it in shorter time and that was the whole island.

In regards to the ferry, I think that you mean taking the ferry across the Cook Strait from Picton to Wellington (as this is the main ferry).

Christchurch to Picton is about 5 hours straight driving.

The normal (Interislander) ferry between Picton and Wellington is a 3.5 hour crossing.

Wellington to Auckland is a 9.5 hours of straight driving.

I recommend that you check out http://www.aa.co.nz/travel/MainMenu (in the bottom right corner there is a "Times and Distance" Calculator that might be useful for you.

Answer 2

Why oh why are you taking a campervan across on the ferry?
'Tis far cheaper to go to a $2 shop, buy 5 or 6 "Chinese laundry bags, put your stuff in them at the Wellington ferry terminal, carry them over on the ferry (a 3 hr 20 min trip) leaving one van in Wellington and picking up another in Picton. A reputable van company will count this as a continuous hire and may perhaps even discount your hire for you. They don't like all their vans ending up in the South Island and most tourists to NZ seem to go North/South, not the other way round. Talk it over with the van company.

Travel times; tourists never stay long enough to see what they ought to see - not what their guide book says they must see, (there's a big differenece) so look at the official travel time maps, double the times and use them as a minimum.
For ordinary driving, not sightseeing, it's all day Auckland to Paihia/Russell via Waipoua Forest. Don't take a campervan any further north than Paihia or Kerikeri. Take the bus to Cape Reinga -an all day return trip.
Half a day direct back to Auckland but stop at Waiomio Caves just out of Kawakawa, on the way. DON'T go to Waitomo Caves - they're full of tourists, and if you've seen Waiomio, there are no better caves except for the ones at Te Anau.
Half a day Ak to Rotorua and again to Taupo and again to Napier or Wellington. Or half a day to Taranaki and another to Wgton. Also allow more than half a day from Napier to Wgton

From Picton, a full day to Christchurch via Kaikoura, or Maruia Springs in the Lewis Pass, or a full day to Westport or Greymouth. From Wesport it's a full day to Karamea and return.
From Greymouth it's a full day to the Glaciers or Haast. Also allow a full day from the Glaciers or Haast to Queenstown.
From Christchurch it's a full day to Akaroa and return. It's a full day to Dunedin or Queenstown. It's a full day from Dunedin to Qtn.
Again, don't you dare take the campervan from Qtn to Milford - take a bus - it's a full day for the return trip.
Better still, forego Milford and go to Te Anau, then onto Doubtful Sound. It's far superior to Milford and there's no tourists (well, not many). Another all day return trip.
Allow half a day from Qtn to Te Anau, Te Anau to Invercargill and Qtn to Invercargil, and Dunedin to Ivc.
At Hampden, (1hr 15 min north of Dunedin) where the Moeraki Boulders are on the beach, there is a Park Over Property for campervans, where campervans can park securely off the road,---call in and see me.

Answer 3

If you have seen Lord of the Rings, North Island is The Shire. South Island is everything else.

Answer 4

Approximately 10 + 9 hours at the speed limit.

Have a look at the links below for more info accessed at NZ Tourism