Fly Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland Airport (AKL) on an overnight nonstop if you can — it’s usually about 13–14 hours in the air, and the easiest version of this day is an evening departure from LAX so you land in Auckland in the morning. After immigration, customs, and baggage claim, plan on another 30–60 minutes before you’re curbside. The least-fuss option is a taxi or rideshare into the city; it’s roughly 25–35 minutes to Auckland CBD depending on traffic, and the flat, no-stress first-day move is worth it after a long-haul flight. If you’re feeling human, drop bags at your hotel and get outside right away.
Start with an easy walk around Viaduct Harbour, which is the quickest way to shake off the plane and get your bearings. Wander the marina, Silo Park, and the edge of the Wynyard Quarter; this is all flat, simple, and very much a “first day in Auckland” kind of stroll. If you want coffee, this area has plenty of options, but the main goal is just to stretch your legs and see the harbor. From there, head by taxi, rideshare, or bus up to Auckland War Memorial Museum in Parnell — about 10–15 minutes from the waterfront. Give yourself 1.5–2 hours for the galleries and the Māori and Pacific collections, plus time to step outside for the views over the city and Waitematā Harbour. Entry for international visitors is typically around NZ$28–35, and it’s one of the best first stops in the country because it gives context before you head deeper into the trip.
For lunch, book Amano in Britomart — it’s polished without feeling stiff, and it’s exactly the kind of place that makes an arrival day feel pleasantly sorted. Expect about NZ$30–50 per person for a proper lunch with wine or a shared plate or two, and it’s best to reserve ahead if you want a table at a good hour. Afterward, keep the afternoon light and make your way to Sky Tower in the Auckland CBD for the easiest big-picture city view. It’s a short walk or quick rideshare from Britomart, and 1–1.5 hours is enough for the observation decks and a coffee break nearby. Aim for late afternoon so the light softens and the harbor starts to glow.
For dinner, stay simple and central with a waterfront meal in the CBD — think the Viaduct or Commercial Bay area, where it’s easy to wander in, eat well, and not overthink anything after a long travel day. If you want a slightly more wine-led, destination-feeling dinner without complicating logistics, this is the night to lean into that Waiheke Wine & Dine mood at an Auckland waterfront restaurant rather than trying to ferry out to the island on day one. Good practical move: book dinner for an early slot, around 6:00–7:00 pm, so you can get back to your hotel and crash before jet lag catches up. If you’re staying farther afield, a taxi from the CBD back to your hotel is the easiest end to the night.
Arrive in Rotorua on the InterCity coach and head straight to Te Puia in Whakarewarewa, where it’s worth getting there early before the tour groups thicken up. Expect about 2 hours here: the geothermal activity is the headline, but don’t rush past the Māori carving and weaving schools — those workshops are one of the best parts of the visit. Tickets typically run around NZ$50–70 depending on the package, and morning is usually the most comfortable time to wander the steaming paths before the day heats up.
From Te Puia, it’s a short hop into Rotorua CBD for a relaxed stroll through Government Gardens. This is the easy reset point of the day: lakeside air, manicured lawns, and the old-world feel around the historic grounds. Give yourself 30–45 minutes, then walk or grab a quick ride into the center for lunch at Atticus Finch on Tutanekai Street — a dependable local favorite for modern plates, good salads, burgers, and sharing dishes, usually NZ$25–45 per person. It’s a sensible stop, not a long one, so you don’t lose the afternoon.
After lunch, head to Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest on the Tikitapu/Whakarewarewa edge for one of Rotorua’s signature walks. The classic loops are easy to do at your own pace, and the towering trees make it feel much farther from town than it really is. Plan on 1.5–2 hours if you want a proper wander; parking is straightforward and free at the main trailheads, and the forest is usually open all day. If you’re feeling energetic, choose a loop that keeps you on the wider, flatter tracks so you still have enough left in the tank for the spa.
Finish with Polynesian Spa on the Rotorua lakefront — this is the day’s best slow-down moment. Book ahead if you can, especially in summer, and budget roughly NZ$40–80 depending on whether you choose the basic pools or a more private experience. After soaking, it’s an easy walk or short drive into the CBD for dinner at Eat Streat, where you can pick your mood from a string of casual spots rather than committing to one big meal. It’s lively without being fussy, and a good place to end the day with something simple before you rest up for the next leg.
Catch the earliest sensible flight out of Rotorua Airport so you land in Wellington with enough daylight to enjoy the city properly; on a good connection, you’ll usually be downtown by late morning, and that timing matters because Wellington is a city best explored on foot, not rushed. Once you’re in town, head straight to Lambton Quay for the Wellington Cable Car — it’s a short, classic ride and a nice reset after flying, with one-way tickets usually around NZ$6–10 and frequent departures. At the top in Kelburn, step out for the view over the harbor and city, then continue directly into the Wellington Botanic Garden, where the paths are easy, the slopes are gentle, and the plantings feel extra lush in early summer. Give yourself about 1.5 hours here to wander through the rose and begonia sections, pause at the duck pond, and enjoy the slow downhill feel of the place.
For lunch, go to Logan Brown in the Cuba Quarter — it’s one of the city’s polished, dependable restaurants, good for a slightly elevated midday meal without feeling stuffy. Expect roughly NZ$45–80 per person depending on whether you do a main and drink or go a bit bigger; bookings are smart, especially in December. From Kelburn, it’s easiest to take the cable car back down and then walk or grab a short taxi/rideshare into Cuba Street, which keeps the day flowing smoothly instead of burning time on hills. After lunch, don’t over-plan the rest of the afternoon; Wellington rewards a slower pace.
Head to Te Papa Tongarewa on the Wellington Waterfront and give it 2–3 hours if you can — it’s the city’s must-see museum, and the exhibits are strong enough to hold your attention even if you’re not usually a museum person. The Māori galleries, natural history displays, and earthquake exhibits are especially good, and admission to the permanent collection is free, which makes it an easy, no-stress stop. When you’re done, drift back toward Cuba Street for a late-afternoon wander: this is the place for a flat white, a gelato, or a bit of browsing in the little stores and vintage shops along the strip. It’s a nice way to end the day with some local energy before turning in, and it gives you plenty of flexibility if you want an early dinner or an easy night after a full travel day.
Take the Wellington Airport to Queenstown Airport flight as early as you can manage; it’s one of those routes where the first half of the day basically disappears into transit, so an early departure is what preserves the rest of the itinerary. Once you land, grab a shuttle or taxi into town and drop your bags near Queenstown Bay or the Town Centre so you can start walking immediately. If the weather is clear, the arrival itself is part of the payoff — those first views of the mountains and lake usually make people stop mid-sentence.
Start with Queenstown Gardens for an easy reset after flying. It’s a flat, relaxing loop right by the water, with big views across Lake Wakatipu and out toward The Remarkables. Give yourself about 45 minutes to wander the paths, sit by the lakeshore, and shake off the travel day without trying to “do” too much. It’s especially nice before lunch because the town can get lively once the day-trippers and summer visitors fill in.
Head into the Town Centre for Fergburger, where the line is part of the experience but best tackled before the true lunch rush if you can. Expect roughly NZ$20–30 per person, and plan on about 45 minutes total once you’ve ordered and found a place to eat. If you want a slightly calmer post-burger sit-down afterward, walk a few minutes to The Bathhouse Cafe in the Queenstown Mall area for coffee, a cold drink, or a quick dessert — it’s a good local pause point with easy access back to the waterfront. From there, it’s an easy transition to the gondola base for Skyline Queenstown at Bob’s Peak; allow about 2 hours for the ride up, the views, and a little time to linger over the lookout. The gondola usually runs from late morning through evening, and in December it’s smart to go with enough daylight left to actually see the lake color shift and the mountains sharpen in the afternoon sun.
End the day back around Queenstown Bay for the Earnslaw cruise + lakeside dinner area. If you want the classic version, time a short cruise on the TSS Earnslaw if it’s operating when you’re there, then stay on the waterfront for dinner; if the boat schedule doesn’t line up, a lakeside stroll gives you the same calm finish. For dinner, this part of town has plenty of easy choices within a few minutes’ walk, so you don’t need to overplan — just keep an eye on sunset, since the best Queenstown evenings are the unhurried ones. After dinner, you’ll be perfectly placed for an early night and a proper final day in town tomorrow, with the lakefront and Mall area making the easiest base for any last-minute wandering.
If you’re flying out today, keep the pace gentle and stay close to town: start with Queenstown Gardens at the Queenstown Bay end of the lake for an easy final wander and a few last photos before the day gets travel-heavy. It’s one of those places that feels especially calm early, with the lake flat, the light soft, and hardly any pressure to “do” anything. From there, head a few minutes into the Queenstown Town Centre for breakfast at Devil Burger — it’s casual, quick, and solid for a low-effort brunch bite, with most plates landing around NZ$15–25. If you’re staying central, it’s all walkable; otherwise, a short ride-share or local bus is the easiest way to keep things simple.
Next up is Kiwi Park Queenstown on Brecon Street, which is a smart final-day stop because it’s compact, distinctly New Zealand, and doesn’t eat up your whole morning. Plan on about 1.5 hours here; it’s usually open daily, though hours can shift seasonally, so it’s worth checking the same morning if you’re traveling in the shoulder season. The kiwi nocturnal house is the main draw, and the native bird and conservation side gives you a better feel for the region than a purely scenic stop would. Afterward, head back toward the waterfront for a Lake Wakatipu waterfront stroll along the Queenstown Bay edge — easy, flat, and perfect for one last slow loop without committing to anything strenuous.
For a relaxed midday break, swing into Patagonia Chocolates in the Queenstown Mall for coffee, gelato, or something sweet; budget roughly NZ$10–20 per person depending on what you order. It’s one of the easier ways to mark the last few hours in town without overthinking lunch, and it’s close enough to everything that you won’t lose time in transit. If you have a little extra room before heading out, this is the right moment to sit outside for a few minutes, watch the street life, and let the lake-and-mountains view do the heavy lifting.
For your Queenstown to Los Angeles journey, head to Queenstown Airport with plenty of margin — I’d aim to arrive at least 2 hours early, and a little more if you’re checking bags or connecting through Auckland. The airport is close to town, so the transfer itself is straightforward, but weather and holiday traffic can make things less predictable than they look on paper. If you have time before leaving the center, do one last slow pass through the Queenstown Bay edge or grab a final lakeside photo, then head out without cutting it too close.