Visiting family in Bengaluru these summer holidays? Add a week in Mysuru and the Coorg hills. It is cool, green and an easy drive, and the kids will love it.
At a glance: a Coorg and Mysuru holiday from New Zealand
Fly Auckland to Bengaluru, from NZD $992 per person (checked 5 October 2026, prices change daily). Spend a night or two with family, then drive about three hours to Mysuru for the palace, zoo and Chamundi Hill. Carry on to Coorg, Karnataka’s coffee country, for waterfalls, elephants and estate stays. December and January are cool and dry, the best months of the year for this trip. Eight days is plenty. Book school-holiday flights by early November.
Why Coorg and Mysuru suit Kiwi families this summer
Many New Zealand families fly to Bengaluru every December to see parents and grandparents. The visit is wonderful, but two weeks in a city apartment can feel long for children. Mysuru and Coorg are close enough to drive, far enough to feel like a real holiday, and gentle enough for grandparents to come too.
The timing works. Term 4 finishes no later than Friday 18 December 2026, and Term 1 2027 does not start until between 28 January and 3 February, depending on the school. That gives you five to six weeks. In South India, December and January are the dry season. Mysuru is warm by day and comfortable at night. Coorg, up in the Western Ghats, is cooler still, with crisp mornings and clear skies. It is the opposite of a sticky Indian summer.
And it is not a long-haul add-on. No extra flights. One car, one driver, one loop from Bengaluru and back.
Getting there: Auckland to Bengaluru
Bengaluru is the gateway. Our lead fare today is Auckland to Bengaluru from NZD $992 per person, checked 5 October 2026, prices change daily. Flights are one-stop through a hub such as Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda airport is modern and calm, and the drive to the city takes about an hour.
From Wellington, Christchurch or Queenstown, we add a domestic leg to Auckland on the same ticket. If you are starting in the South Island, our Queenstown to India route flights explains the connection options.
Mysuru is roughly three hours south-west of Bengaluru by road on a good expressway. Coorg’s main town, Madikeri, is about another three hours west of Mysuru through farmland and then hills. Times vary with traffic and stops, so treat them as a guide and leave early.
A sample 8-day Coorg and Mysuru plan
This is the shape we suggest to most families. Swap days around to suit naps, grandparents and festivals.
Day | Where | What to do |
1 | Bengaluru | Arrive, settle in with family, sleep off the flight. Confirm your car and driver for the week. |
2 | Bengaluru to Mysuru | Drive down after breakfast. Afternoon at Mysore Palace. If it is a Sunday or public holiday, stay for the evening illumination, when thousands of bulbs light the palace. |
3 | Mysuru | Early trip up Chamundi Hill for the temple, the giant Nandi statue and the view over the city. Afternoon at Mysuru Zoo, one of India’s oldest and best kept. Evening at Devaraja Market for spices and sandalwood. |
4 | Mysuru to Coorg | Head west. Stop at the Tibetan monastery at Bylakuppe near Kushalnagar, then Dubare Elephant Camp on the Cauvery river. Reach your homestay or estate near Madikeri by evening. |
5 | Coorg | Abbey Falls in the morning, then Madikeri town, the fort and Raja’s Seat for the sunset view across the valleys. |
6 | Coorg | Slow day. Coffee estate walk, a Kodava lunch, and a drive to Talakaveri, the source of the Cauvery, if the family is up for it. |
7 | Coorg to Bengaluru | Long drive back, five to six hours with stops. Leave early and break the trip at Mysuru or Srirangapatna for lunch. |
8 | Bengaluru | Rest, shop, more family time. Or fly home if this is the end of your trip. |
5 practical tips for a Coorg and Mysuru holiday with family
1. Hire a car with a driver for the whole loop
Do not self-drive. A car with a local driver for six or seven days is the normal way to do this trip, and good value by New Zealand standards. The driver knows the roads, the toll gates and the lunch stops. Book an SUV or people mover for grandparents and children, and ask for child seats if you need them. Your Bengaluru family will know a trusted operator.
2. Choose a homestay or estate in Coorg
Coorg is famous for homestays on working coffee estates. You get home-cooked Kodava food, a verandah with a view, and hosts who will organise estate walks. For families, ask for connected rooms or a cottage. In Mysuru, a comfortable hotel near the palace keeps things simple.
3. Pack for two climates
Mysuru days are warm, so light cotton and sunhats. Coorg mornings and evenings in December and January can be properly cool, so bring a light jacket or jumper for everyone, closed shoes for waterfall paths, insect repellent and any children’s medicines you rely on at home. A small torch is handy at estates.
4. Time the palace for a Sunday
Mysore Palace is impressive any day, but the evening illumination on Sundays and public holidays is the memory children keep. Build your Mysuru days around it if you can.
5. Keep the days short
The temptation is to see everything. Resist it. One main outing in the morning, lunch, and a slow afternoon suits grandparents and young children far better. This is a holiday from the holiday.
When to book your school-holiday flights
Mid-December is one of the busiest fortnights of the year out of Auckland, and the return in late January is just as tight. Fares to Bengaluru step up as the cheaper seats sell. Our advice:
Book by early November for travel in the week after 18 December. October is better.
Depart midweek if the school finish date allows. It is usually cheaper than the Friday or Saturday rush.
Return before 28 January for the widest choice of seats and to be home before the earliest Term 1 start dates.
Put the whole family on one booking so seats stay together.
Check documents now. New Zealand passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you fly, and check SafeTravel, the New Zealand Government travel advisory.
Students, teachers, lecturers and education staff: MannPass is free to join and takes NZD $25 off selected return flights from New Zealand to India. It is valid for 30 days from verification, renewable, and cannot be combined with other promotions. If a teacher in the family is booking the trip, it is worth a look.
Why book your Bengaluru flights with Mann Travel
Mann Travel is based in Papatoetoe, Auckland. Our team books flights from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown to Bengaluru and across India every day. We speak Hindi, Punjabi and English, we are available 24/7, and we are group and family specialists. That matters when you are coordinating grandparents, children and a cousin flying in from Christchurch. We can also arrange hotels in Mysuru and Coorg. Ask our team about flexible payment options when you enquire.
Let’s take you home to Bengaluru these summer holidays.
Search live fares at manntravel.co.nz/flights or call our Auckland team on 09 973 1940. Tell us your school finish date and we will find the right flights around it.
frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Coorg and Mysuru from New Zealand?
December and January. It is the dry season, with warm days in Mysuru and cool, clear weather in Coorg. It also lines up with the New Zealand school summer holidays.
How far is Coorg from Bengaluru?
Madikeri, the main town in Coorg, is roughly five to six hours by road from Bengaluru with stops. Most families break the journey in Mysuru, which is about three hours from Bengaluru.
Is Coorg suitable for young children and grandparents?
Yes, if you keep the days short. Homestays, estate walks and the elephant camp are easy. Some waterfall paths have steps, so take it slowly and wear closed shoes.
How much are flights from Auckland to Bengaluru?
Our lead fare today is from NZD $992 per person, checked 5 October 2026. Prices change daily and rise in the school holidays, so book early.
Do I need a visa for India from New Zealand?
Yes. New Zealand passport holders need an Indian visa or an OCI card. Apply through the official Indian visa website well before you travel.
Fares are from Auckland, per person, checked on 5 October 2026 and change daily. They depend on the airline, date and fare type. Road times are approximate and vary with traffic. Always check live prices before booking.
