(Accommodation: 2 nights Christchurch / 1 night Lake Tekapo / 3 nights Queenstown / 2 nights Fox or Franz Josef / 1 night Punakaiki / 1 night Hanmer Springs / 2 nights Kaikoura / 2 nights Wellington / 2 nights Rotorua / 2 nights Coromandel / 2 nights Auckland / 3 nights Paihia / 1 night Auckland)
Day 1: Arrive Christchurch: On arrival into Christchurch, you will be met by our representative and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.
 Day 2: Christchurch – Day at leisure: Christchurch , "The Garden City" has many well-tended parks, reserves and squares but the civic love of beauty is often more apparent in the fresh lawns and burgeoning gardens of the suburban streets. Optional tours and activities: City sightseeing tour; Banks Peninsula tour including vineyard visits; Museum visit (free entry);
Day 3: Christchurch – Lake Tekapo: This morning your rental car will be dropped off at your hotel.
From Christchurch travel across the Canterbury Plains to Fairlie and Burkes Pass, gateway to the high plains of the MacKenzie Country. Pass through scrub and tussock country to Lake Tekapo
Day 4: Lake Tekapo – Mount Cook – Queenstown: This morning continue south to Lake Pukaki. Here you have the option to drive to Mount Cook Village for a stop or continue to Queenstown.
Mount Cook (approximately 3760m) is both the highest and best known mountain in New Zealand. Rightly it gives its name to the National Park which surrounds it. In all 70,013 hectares of ice, snow, rock, subalpine scrub, tussock and riverbed make up this park. Continue onto Queenstown. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort that caters for all interests.
 Day 5: Queenstown – Day at leisure: A free day at New Zealand 's premier resort and an almost overwhelming selection of attractions to choose from. There are over 70 different optional activities available: including the Shotover Jet, bungy jumping, horse riding, golf, gondola and luge.
Day 6: Queenstown – Doubtful Sound day trip: This morning board your coach and travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the folling countryside to Pearl Harbour , Manapouri. Then board your vessel and cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri . After disembarking at West Arm, you travel underground by coach to see the remarkable Manapouri Power Station machine hall (visit optional and conditions permitting). Travel over Wilmot Pass , stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland's densest rainforest and to view the colourful alpine moss gardens. On reaching Deep Cove, board a spacious catamaran for a three hour cruise which takes in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound.
Day 7: Queenstown – Fox or Franz Josef: Leaving Queenstown and travel via Wanaka and the Haast Pass to the west coast.
 Day 8: Fox or Franz Josef – Day at leisure: Today is a free day. Optional activities: A walk through rainforest; Guided walk on the glacier; Scenic flight with a snow landing (weather permitting).
Day 9: Fox or Franz Josef – Punakaiki: Travel through dense bush north through Hokitika (known as the Greenstone capital) and Greymouth to Punakaiki. View the geographical oddities of the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki, where countless years of wind and water have weathered the coastline into pancake-like formations.
Day 10: Punakaiki – Hanmer Springs: Today travel onto Hanmer Springs, the South Island 's principal thermal resort. Nestled in the outlying spurs of the Southern Alps , it is surrounded by vast indigenous and exotic forests covering 17,000 hectares. The township is a fine base for walks of varying degrees of difficulty, or enjoy a view hours at the open air thermal pools.
 Day 11: Hanmer Springs – Kaikoura: From Hanmer Springs travel to the east, the Kaikoura Coast and Pacific Ocean .
Day 12: Kaikoura – Day at leisure: Kaikoura - which loosely translated from Maori means "to eat crayfish". Few places in the world can boast such natural marine wonders as those offered in Kaikoura. Optional activities: Whale Watching by either boat or plane; Swimming with Dolphins; Albatross Encounter.
Day 13: Kaikoura – Picton – Wellington: Return your rental vehicle to the depot at the Picton Ferry Terminal and board your vessel for the trip across Cook Strait. Enter the unchanged wilderness of the Marlborough Sounds, cruise across Cook Strait and into the harbour of Wellington .
On arrival into Wellington, you will be meet and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.
 Day 14: Wellington – Day at leisure: Wellington - Capital of New Zealand , is a cosmopolitan city. Of particular note is the " Government Building " built in 1876 which is the second largest timber building in the world. We recommend a visit to Te Papa Museum. Te Papa (meaning "our place") brings to life the stories of people who live here in New Zealand . There are stunning perspectives on the country's environment, history and culture. The museum is home to a fully functioning Marae (Maori meeting place).
Day 15: Wellington – Rotorua: You will be collected from your hotel this morning and transferred to the Wellington Airport by private vehicle.
Please note: Flight is not included. OPTIONAL: Drive from Wellington to Rotorua, include one or two nights in Napier
On arrival into Rotorua, make your way to the Rentals counter for the collection of your vehicle.
Rotorua is the centre of an extensive thermal region and geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming, sulphurous lakes give evidence of nature's frightening yet fascinating power. Rotorua and the surrounding lakes provide some of the world's best trout fishing. Here you can enjoy the culture and entertainment of our native Maori people.
Day 16: Rotorua – Day at leisure: There are many activities available to the visitor in Rotorua. You may be interested in some of the following (own expense):
Rotorua Museum; Guided Tour through Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve & New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute; Rainbow Springs park; Agrodome; Traditional Maori Village visit including Hangi Dinner and Concert.
Day 17: Rotorua – Coromandel Peninsula: Leave the thermal area of Rotorua and drive towards the coast. The scenery changes as you head on to the Coromandel Peninsula with its rugged natural bush scenery until reaching the seaside resort of Tairua.
Day 18: Coromandel Peninsula – Day at leisure: Optional tours: Guided bush walk including visits to former Goldmining sites.
Day 19: Coromandel Peninsula – Auckland: Auckland city, sprawling across the isthmus between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean , is noted for its extensive parks and beautiful gardens. The warm, sunny climate encourages sub-tropical growth of all kinds. Auckland is New Zealand 's trade capital and centre of greatest population.
Day 20: Auckland – Day at leisure: Optional tours: City sightseeing tour; Harbour cruise; NZL40 sailing; Bush & Country tour; Wine tour;
Day 21: Auckland – Paihia/Bay of Islands: Today travel north to the beautiful Bay of Islands . Travel through Whangarei which is the only city in the far north and is home to one of the most unusual museums in the world - the Claphams Clock Museum . From Whangarei, it is less than an hours drive to Paihia located in the Bay of Islands .
 Day 22: Paihia – Cape Reinga Tour: This is definitely not your average bus ride. Travelling to the very top of New Zealand your luxury air-conditioned coach will be driven along a quicksand stream and race through the waves of mighty Ninety Mile Beach !
At Cape Reinga you'll enjoy spectacular views including the meeting of the blue Pacific and deep green Tasman Sea . On the return journey visit the Puketi Forest to see awe-inspiring giant kauri trees hundreds of years old. Picnic lunch is included.
Day 23: Paihia – Day at leisure: We suggest taking one of the many half or full day cruises available to Cape Brett ‘ Hole in the Rock’ and the many surrounds islands. Or take a short water taxi ride to Russell, once the capital of New Zealand .
Day 24: Paihia – Auckland: Retrace your journey back to Auckland today, return your rental vehicle on arrival.
Day 25: Depart Auckland: You will be collected from your hotel today and transferred to the Auckland Airport .
From NZ$4682 per person sharing a double or twin room
Single room supplement: NZ$3295
(currency converter)
Valid for travel between 01 October 2009 and 31 March 2010.
This itinerary can also be booked in reverse or as a shortened version. Please contact us with your individual request.
Images Peter Morath, Mark Smith, Tony Brunt
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