Lonely Planet Best Road Trips New Zealand

Lonely Planet Best Road Trips New Zealand by Lonely Planet is a practical, inspiration-packed travel guide for anyone dreaming of a New Zealand road trip, from quick long-weekend loops to longer adventures. Built for browsing and planning, it serves up 26 curated routes that let you choose your own pace, whether you’re chasing alpine scenery in the Southern Alps, soaking in Whitianga hot springs, or stopping for wildlife encounters around Kaikoura. Each drive comes with clear maps, turn-by-turn direction, timings, distances, and smart tips on when to go and how to link routes together. Along the way you’ll find standout stops, photo-worthy detours, and themed suggestions for coastal drives, food and drink, mountains, history, and volcanoes, plus a handy toolkit covering car hire and local driving know-how. Perfect for self-drive travellers, first-time visitors, and armchair planners comparing regions from Auckland to Queenstown. Pick a route, pack the snacks, and start mapping out your next escape.