The Best of New Zealand Drive and Hike Holiday
About this trip.
A 25-day self-drive across both islands
Twenty-five days, 24 nights, both main islands. It's one of the longer itineraries in the catalogue and the pace reflects that: you drive between overnight stops in a hire car, then walk on foot once you arrive. The marketing calls it the Best of New Zealand, which is honest enough — the point is breadth rather than any one region or trail, a highlights loop taking in both the North and South Islands over the best part of a month.
What a Drive and Hike holiday involves
The self-drive format means you set your own rhythm between stops. Route notes, accommodation, and day walks are booked and sequenced in advance; the driving and the walking are done independently. It suits people who want the logistics handled but not the company — no coach, no group, no fixed daily timetable to keep.
Walks along the way are day walks rather than multi-day tramps, so you return to a bed each night and don't carry gear between accommodation. The walking is the texture of the holiday rather than its whole purpose. Driving days connect the stops; walking days are what you do once you've arrived somewhere worth staying.
Covering two islands in one trip
North Island and South Island are different countries in feel, and trying to take in both in a single holiday is ambitious but not unreasonable over 25 days — particularly if you aren't planning to return. New Zealand is small on a map and much bigger in practice, with slow coastal roads and a ferry crossing between the two islands that has to be factored into the schedule. A shorter trip would inevitably mean leaving one island out, which is the compromise this format is designed to avoid.
Bookings and logistics
The package covers 24 nights of accommodation, the suggested self-drive route, and the day walks along it, from £4,499 per person. International flights to New Zealand are not included and sit at the larger end of any travel budget from the UK; car hire, fuel, the inter-island ferry, and most meals are the other costs to plan for separately.
It's a serious block of time and a lot of ground to cover by road. For travellers who can give it the three and a half weeks it asks for, it's a sensible way to see a country that's genuinely difficult to take in on a shorter trip, and the self-drive structure means you can linger somewhere you like or press on somewhere you don't.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
