Britomart-to-Viaduct wander
Land, shower, then walk the waterfront without putting a clock on the first afternoon.
Aotearoa / New Zealand · January & February
Muskaan
& Rishabh
A little adventure. A lot of us.
Your two-island honeymoon: volcanic landscapes, alpine water, sky-high thrills, bold meals, beautiful stays and enough unplanned time to enjoy being there together.
Milford Sound / PiopiotahiFiordland · on your South Island journey
17days
16nights
2one-way cars
1inter-island travel day
The honeymoon at a glance
Two islands.
One honeymoon.
Four nights in the North for Hobbiton, geothermal wonders and Māori culture. Then twelve nights in the South for lakes, fiords, wine country and adventure—with room to slow down.
- International flightMumbai → Auckland
Arrive Day 1
- Days 1–4 · North IslandAuckland → Hobbiton → Rotorua
Two nights in Auckland, two in Rotorua; Hobbiton on the drive between them
- Day 5 · Fly southRotorua → Queenstown
Plan a connecting flight via Auckland or Christchurch; confirm the schedule before booking stays
- Days 5–17 · South Island road tripQueenstown → Christchurch
Five nights around Queenstown, then Te Anau, Milford, Wānaka, Aoraki and Lake Tekapo
- International flightChristchurch → Mumbai
Depart Day 17
Your honeymoon, stop by stop
Open an island.
Then choose a town.
Binita-Sai Pick
Honeymoon pick
Highly recommended
Book early
Weather-flexible
Days 1–4 · 4 nightsNorth IslandTe Ika-a-Māui · Hobbiton & geothermal country3 stops · 2 bases
Days 1–2 · 2 nightsAucklandArrive + eat well
Curated activities
Honeymoon pick
Ponsonby afternoon + Cassia date night
Keep Day 2 easy: browse the neighbourhood, linger over lunch, then dress up for a modern Indian dinner at Cassia. Save the big thrills for Queenstown; collect the rental car on Day 3.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
EastPlant-based Asian · best easy first dinner Gorilla KitchenFully vegan · relaxed first-night fallback TemperoVegetarian-friendly dinner · mixed kitchen, reserve aheadA lively first-night dinner near the waterfront, with seasonal vegetable plates and pasta. Ask the team to guide you through the vegetarian dishes.
★ 4.5/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,275 reviews ↗A relaxed Italian night with pizza, pasta and a dedicated vegan menu when you want an especially straightforward choice.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor · 630 reviews ↗Make this the Indian date-night table in Auckland. Look for paneer kulcha, paneer kebabs and the mushroom main, or ask for the Journey menu adapted for two vegetarians. Use the current address: 58 Albert Street; older listings may show Federal Street.
Read diner reviews ↗Day 3 · en route, no overnightHobbiton / MatamataA little Middle-earth
Curated activities
Hobbiton Movie Set Signature Tour
The North Island’s unmissable movie-magic stop: Hobbit holes, Bagshot Row interiors and a drink at the Green Dragon. Allow around 2½ hours for the guided experience, including about 90 minutes of walking. It is sightseeing on uneven paths, not a hike.
Official tour details ↗One lovely stop, then Rotorua
Book a late-morning or early-afternoon tour with a generous driving buffer from Auckland. Continue to Rotorua afterwards and settle into the same hotel for two nights—no extra packing in Matamata.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
Have a light lunch before the tour and check the day’s vegetarian choices. The kitchen’s blackboard menu currently finishes at 2:30pm, so do not rely on a late lunch after an afternoon tour.
Days 3–4 · 2 nightsRotoruaGeothermal + Māori culture
Curated activities
Te Puia · geysers + Māori culture
Make Day 4 about the experience you will not repeat in the South. The Te Pō Combo brings together a guided geothermal-valley visit, Māori arts and crafts, dinner and a cultural performance. Keep the morning free instead of adding another thermal park.
Te Pō Combo details ↗Redwoods Nightlights
After dinner on Day 3, walk the illuminated suspension bridges among the redwoods. The 700-metre circuit takes around 40 minutes once on the bridges; allow for queues and a late sunset in summer. A short, atmospheric evening together, not a hiking day.
Nightlights details ↗Lunch & dinner shortlist
Your Day 4 dinner is part of the cultural evening. The buffet lists vegetarian and vegan dishes, including a tofu-and-vegetable curry. Tell the team your dietary requirements when booking and confirm which hāngī vegetables are prepared separately from meat.
A comforting dinner after the geothermal day: paneer, dal and breads in the lively Eat Streat area.
★ 4.5/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,947 reviews ↗
Days 5–17 · 12 nightsSouth IslandTe Waipounamu · alpine lakes & fiords6 stops
Days 5–9 · 5 nightsQueenstown + GlenorchyThrills + lake road
Curated activities
Arrive + lakeside evening
Settle in on Day 5 and leave the evening open for the waterfront and a good dinner. With five nights here, give the wine ride and Glenorchy their own days, and book NZONE early in the stay so there is room for a weather change.
Bike the wineries · Gibbston Valley
Take an e-bike from Arrowtown or Gibbston, ride between cellar doors, then use the included shuttle back to Queenstown. The ¾-day version is the sweet spot.
See the ride options ↗NZONE tandem skydive
Make this the headline adrenaline moment: up to 15,000 feet above Queenstown’s lakes and mountains.
Official skydive details ↗Arrowtown slow afternoon
Historic lanes, galleries and a long lunch—an easy contrast to Queenstown’s adrenaline.
Glenorchy road + Dart River Wilderness Jet
Pair the famously scenic lake drive with a two-hour jet-boat experience instead of a long trail.
Official experience details ↗Lunch & dinner shortlist
odd saintVegetable-led lunch or dinner · mixed kitchen YonderStrong vegetarian menu · lively dinner room Margo’sVegetarian Mexican · fun celebration dinnerA colourful date-night table. Ask for the separate veggie menu: mushroom bao, dumplings and Fijian tofu curry are the dishes to look for.
★ 4.7/5 · Tripadvisor · 2,890 reviews ↗A comforting curry-and-naan dinner after the big adventure day. There is a substantial vegetarian selection; ask the team for their paneer, chickpea and dal recommendations and specify your preferred spice level. Choose the central Queenstown branch, not Frankton.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor ↗Days 10–11Te Anau + MilfordBinita-Sai PickGlowworms + fiord
Curated activities
Evening glowworm caves
A small, strange, quietly memorable night on the lake.
Milford coach + small-boat cruise
Let someone else drive and give the fiord a full day.
Milford kayak add-on
Worth considering, but keep the booking movable around conditions.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
The Fat DuckVegetarian dinner options · mixed kitchen DittoVegetarian takeaway · confirm sauces Paradiso PizzeriaReliable vegetarian pizza · easy tour-night dinnerA cosy dinner after Milford. Vegetarian choices are more limited than the full menu, so confirm the seasonal main when reserving.
★ 4.5/5 · Tripadvisor · 2,099 reviews ↗Days 12–13WānakaBinita-Sai PickPlay + feast
Curated activities
Kayak + lakeside picnic
A slower day together before the alpine drive.
Mountain-bike loop
Active without turning the day into an endurance test.
Wildwire via ferrata
Climb beside a waterfall for the trip’s most distinctive adventure—vertical fun rather than a long trail.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
KikaCreative vegetarian sharing plates · mixed kitchen Big FigPlenty of plant-forward adventure fuel · mixed kitchen MowgliVegetarian Indian · mid-trip spice resetWood-fired pizza and house-made pasta for a leisurely evening. Vegan cheese is available; check the cheese and sauce on vegetarian pasta.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,709 reviews ↗An easy Indian dinner after kayaking or biking, with plenty of vegetarian choices. A useful alternative to Mowgli when you want curries and breads rather than another pizza night; check this branch’s menu before booking.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor ↗Days 14–15Aoraki / Mount CookAlpine views + dark sky
Curated activities
Tasman Valley 4WD experience
Reach glacier country with a guide and vehicle, adding only a couple of short viewpoint stops.
Dark-sky stargazing
A guided night under the Aoraki Mackenzie sky—quiet, memorable and very honeymoon-worthy.
Scenic glacier flight
The easy alpine splurge; keep the booking movable until the weather call.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
Alpine RestaurantBroadest village choice · request vegetarian in advance Old Mountaineers CaféVegetarian lunch option · mixed kitchen, check hours The MoraineVegetarian occasion menu · reserve and brief themAn en-route lunch option on the Wānaka–Aoraki drive, not a quick village dinner. Dinner menu includes pumpkin risotto; confirm vegetarian stock and cheese. Check lunch choices and hours before stopping.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,119 reviews ↗Day 16 · en-route stopLake Tekapo / TakapōTurquoise water + a slow lunch
Curated activities
A lovely summer stop
January and February suit lakeside sightseeing and a relaxed lunch. Come for the turquoise water and mountain backdrop; the famous lupins usually peak earlier, in November–December.
Season guide ↗ · Lupin season ↗Lakefront + Church of the Good Shepherd
A short lakeside wander, a photo together by the little stone church, then lunch. No long trail needed.
Tekapo Springs soak
If the drive is running comfortably, pause at the lake-view pools. There is an adults-only hot pool and cooler pools for a warm summer day. Keep it to a short visit before continuing to Christchurch.
Official pool details ↗Leave Aoraki in the morning; allow roughly 1¼ hours to Tekapo and another 3 hours to Christchurch, plus stops. Keep Tekapo to lunch and one gentle activity. Sleep in Christchurch tonight; stargazing stays on the Aoraki nights, so there is no late-night drive.
A table by the lake · lunch
Your easy lunch stop: vegetarian café dishes and something sweet to share. Check the day's lunch and cabinet choices.
★ 4.6/5 · Tripadvisor · 400 reviews ↗A sit-down lunch with lake views. Request vegetarian sushi or tofu dishes with no fish dashi, bonito or fish-based sauces; do not assume miso soup is vegetarian.
★ 4.4/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,412 reviews ↗Days 16–17ChristchurchFinal table + easy finish
Curated activities
Gardens + Riverside Market
A spacious final morning with plenty of edible souvenirs.
Christchurch Gondola + city tram
One last panorama and an easy city loop before the flight home. Allow time for the gondola only if your departure schedule permits.
Lunch & dinner shortlist
The Lotus-HeartFully vegetarian · dependable final dinner PortershedFully vegan · relaxed lunch stop The Monday RoomDietary-led sharing menu · reserve and brief themMake this your final date-night dinner. The seasonal menu includes vegetarian risotto and a vegan main; reserve a table before the trip.
★ 4.6/5 · Tripadvisor · 1,292 reviews ↗A lively final-night Indian meal: share samosa chaat, then order paneer or aloo gobi with breads. Tell the team the whole meal is vegetarian; choose à la carte rather than assuming the shared set menu suits two.
★ 4.6/5 · Tripadvisor ↗Good to know before you go
Tips & little things.
A few things to pack, check and do earlier—so the little surprises stay good ones.
Pack for more than summer
January and February can be warm, but Aoraki, boat decks, gondola viewpoints and evenings by the lakes can feel chilly. Each of you should bring a fleece or light puffer, long trousers and a warm layer in the day bag.
Summer weather ↗A rain jacket earns its space
Bring a hooded waterproof jacket as well as a warm layer—they do different jobs. Keep it handy for Milford rain, cruise spray and sudden showers. Comfortable shoes with grip and a waterproof pouch for phones are useful too.
Official packing advice ↗Long daylight ≠ late opening
Many smaller-town shops close around 5–5:30pm, and cafés often finish earlier. Restaurants have their own kitchen hours, even when the bar stays open. Aim for dinner around 6:30–7:30pm, check last orders and buy road snacks before leaving town.
Local travel guide ↗Cool air, strong sun
Do not judge the sun by the temperature. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, and reapply sunscreen as directed—especially on the wine-bike day, lake outings and boat decks. Carry refillable water bottles.
Summer sun advice ↗The tiny Milford souvenir to avoid
Sandflies can make a lakeside pause less romantic. Bring insect repellent and cover ankles and arms when they are biting, particularly around Milford and Fiordland. Put repellent in the day bag, not the suitcase.
DOC’s Milford guide ↗Prepare before the scenic drive
Download offline maps and save booking confirmations. Top up fuel and buy water and snacks in town rather than counting on a remote stop. Drive on the left, allow extra time for winding roads, and use proper pull-offs for photos.
Live road conditions ↗Keep a little breathing room
Check the forecast and operator messages the night before. Skydiving and scenic flights can move with the weather, so avoid putting them in the final available slot. On transfer days, one lovely stop and an unhurried dinner are enough.
Check the forecast ↗Snacks from home? Declare them
New Zealand takes biosecurity seriously. Declare all food—including packaged snacks, spices and homemade food—and relevant used outdoor gear as requested on the arrival declaration. Clean soil off shoes before packing. Declaration does not guarantee an item can enter; check the rules before bringing it.
Official biosecurity rules ↗Your day-bag essentials Warm layer · rain shell · sun protection · water · snacks · insect repellent · charged phone
Book in this order
The scarce pieces first.
For a January or February trip, “we’ll decide later” is most expensive in Fiordland and Aoraki.
- 01
International flights: Mumbai to Auckland, then Christchurch back to Mumbai. Check the Day 5 Rotorua–Queenstown connection before fixing the nights.
- 02
Aoraki, Te Anau and Queenstown rooms.
- 03
Connecting domestic flights on one booking; Auckland–Rotorua and Queenstown–Christchurch rental cars.
- 04
Hobbiton, Milford, NZONE Skydive and Te Puia’s Te Pō Combo.
- 05
Gibbston wine-and-bike day, Wildwire, Dart River and three destination dinners.