THE ROAD TRIPS

North Island Thermal Explorer Highway

The detours are exciting on this 767-kilometre circuit in the heart of the North Island, which starts and finishes in Auckland. In Rotorua, stroll 20 metres above the forest floor at the Redwoods Treewalk and stop off at Waitomo Caves for an underground boat ride through grottos illuminated by glittering glow-worms. The journey will take about six days to catch all the highlights, including Lake Taupo and the active geysers at the Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave.

South Island Alpine Lakes Itinerary

Glaciers, lakes, mountains and canyons: the 611-kilometre Alpine Lakes Itinerary, from Christchurch to Queenstown, takes in just about every natural wonder New Zealand is famous for. Allow at least four or five days to make the most of this remarkable route, which scales the country’s highest peak, Aoraki (Mount Cook), and leads to Lake Tekapo, where the incandescent lightshow of aurora australis is revealed in the night sky.