NEW ZEALAND DISCOVERY - 12 days / 11 nights
(Accommodation: 1 night Auckland / 2 nights Rotorua / 1 night Napier / 2 nights Wellington / 1 night Kaikoura / 1 night Christchurch / 3 nights Queenstown)
Day 1: Arrive Auckland: On arrival in Auckland – New Zealand ’s City of Sails - you are met and transferred to your accommodation. If time permits we suggest a sailing cruise on the Waitemata Harbour or a visit to the Auckland Museum to see the world's finest display of Maori artefacts.
Day 2: Auckland - Waitomo Caves - Rotorua: Your rental car will be delivered to your accommodation this morning. Leave the big city behind and journey alongside the Waikato River - lifeblood to the fertile farmlands on the plain. At Waitomo follow your guide past amazing limestone formations before taking your place on the small boat and gliding silently into the glow worm grotto. Cross the Waikato River and continue to Rotorua - New Zealand ’s thermal wonderland and centre of Maori culture.
Day 3: Rotorua - Sightseeing / Maori Concert & Dinner: This morning visit Te Puia and enjoy a guided tour of this fascinating park. Some 500 pools and at least 65 geyser vents, each with their own name, are found on this site. Seven geysers are active, the most famous, Pohutu, meaning big splash or explosion. In front of visitors Pohutu can erupt up to 30 metres high, depending on its mood.
Tonight journey to a local Marae for a Maori Hangi (feast, food cooked in the ground) and cultural concert.
 Day 4: Rotorua - Napier: Travel south-east today to the Art Deco town of Napier. Napier also has the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world.
Day 5: Napier - Wellington: Wellington - Capital of New Zealand , is a cosmopolitan city with the most spectacular skyline of all major cities in New Zealand. The city has a strong Victorian influence which is testimony to Wellington 's early establishment as the country's centre of political life. Of particular note is the " Government Building " built in 1876 which is the second largest timber building in the world.
Day 6: Wellington - Day at leisure: Today time is at leisure to explore. We recommend a visit to Te Papa - New Zealand ’s national museum, or a ride on the Kelburn Cablecar - one of Wellington ’s earliest forms of transport. The city also boasts a vibrant nightlight and the bars, restaurants, and theatres are top class!
Day 7: Wellington - Picton - Kaikoura: Return your rental car to the ferry terminal and board the Interislander ferry. Leave the hustle and bustle of the big city and cruise across Cook Strait to the South Island. Collect your rental car at the Picton ferry terminal. You may like to stop in Blenheim - a burgeoning grape growing area.
Continue through grape country and over plains before heading south down the East Coast through salt mountains and river valleys to Kaikoura. The township of Kaikoura received its name from an early Maori explorer and translates roughly as kai (to eat) and koura (crayfish).
Day 8: Kaikoura - Christchurch: You may like to do a Whale Watching cruise or swim with dolphins this morning (own expense). Travel south along the coast - keep a watch for the seal colonies on the rocky coastline. Finally you cross the rolling farmland of the Canterbury Plains before reaching Christchurch - the Garden City. Christchurch has a vibrant city centre with numerous bars, cafes and excellent boutique shopping. Make time to explore Christchurch’s many attractions, most of which are easily accessible by foot, tram and bus.
Day 9: Christchurch - Mount Cook - Queenstown: Journey south over the patchworked Canterbury Plains to Mount Cook National Park. Pass alpine lakes and journey through tussock country to the resort of Queenstown. Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu Queenstown is a year-round alpine resort that caters for all interests. It enjoys a magnificent setting amid steep mountain ranges and pockets of native bush with the jagged peaks of the Remarkables Range rising from the lake.
 Day 10: Queenstown - Doubtful Sound tour: A day of natural wonder. Travel by scenic coach to Lake Te Anau and onto Manapouri where you board your cruise across to the West Arm of the lake. Here you board your coach and travel through dense rainforest. Once at Deep Cove board the catamaran for a 3 hours cruise of beautiful Doubtful Sound. On board there are excellent views of waterfalls, rainforest and mountains, and if sighted, there is a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins and fur seals basking on the rocks. Also rare Fiordland crested penguins are sometimes encountered on a seasonal basis. A visit is also possible to the Underground Power station (subject to operational procedures).
Day 11: Queenstown - Day at leisure: A free day to enjoy the many activities available in this region which include jet-boating excursions, golf, bungy jumping, paragliding, gold panning in old gold-mines, cruises on Lake Wakatipu, or simply relaxing beside the lakeside or shopping. You rental car will be collected from your accommodation this evening.
Day 12: Depart Queenstown: Return your rental car t o Queenstown Airport today.
Price is valid for travel between 01 October 2009 and 31 March 2010.
From NZ$2167 per person based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
Single room supplement: NZ$1384.
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- 11 nights accommodation
- 1 dinners (Rotorua)
- 11 days rental car (Auckland to Wellington, Picton to Queenstown)
- 1 transfer (Auckland)
- 4 sightseeing tours (Waitomo, Rotorua x2, Doubtful Sound)
- Ferry from Wellington to Picton
Do you like the itinerary, but would prefer a different accommodation and/or car category? Or would you like to take out some parts or add others - we will create an itinerary specifically taylored to your personal interests and requirements.
Rental Car
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Group ICAR - Toyota Camry or similar
2.0 - 2.4L automatic, 4 or 5-door. Air-condition, radio with CD player, air bag(s), central locking.
Seats up to 5. Luggage: 1 small and 2 medium suitcases.
Renter qualification: All intending drivers must present a valid full national driving licence, which has been held for at least one year . A current international driving licence must accompany driving licences issued in a language other than English. There is no extra charge for additional drivers. Minimum rental age and other requirements for additional drivers will be the same as for the renter. Additional authorised drivers must be notified to Thrifty and listed on the rental agreement.
Motor Vehicle Insurance: Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance (MVI) including third party and public liability, is included in our rates. An Accident Damage Excess (ADE) of NZD2813.00 does apply however. This excess may be reduced (at the renter's option) at the time of rental by purchasing Accident Excess Reduction.
Restricted Roads: Thrifty vehicles are prohibited from the following roads:
North Island: Ninety-Mile Beach (Northland) / South Island: Skippers Canyon Road (Queenstown)
Driving on these roads constitutes a breach of the rental agreement and the renter would be fully liable for any damage to the Thrifty vehicle or Third party property occurring as a result.
Fuel: Fuel is not included in the rates. Each vehicle is supplied with a full tank of fuel, which is refilled at the renter's expense on return. If the vehicle is not returned with a full tank, the renter will be charged for the fuel required to refill the tank at the prevailing rate applicable by Thrifty Car Rental at the time.
Airport / Ferry Terminal Service charges: Rentals initiated by or commencing from airports or Interislander ferry terminal locations are subject to a nominal Airport/Ferry Service Charge (AFSC), which the hirer will pay directly to Thrifty Car Rental. |
This itinerary can also be booked in reverse or as an extended or shortened version. Please contact us with your individual request.
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