New Zealand Self Drive

 

New Zealand Selfdrive 

15 Nights / 16 Days - North & South Islands

DAY 1 ARRIVE AUCKLAND On arrival in Auckland, „The City of Sails‟, you will be met by local representative and privately transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 2 AUCKLAND SIGHTSEEING After breakfast, this morning enjoy Auckland city tour including Victoria Park Market, Westhaven Marina and the volcanic crater of Mt Eden for views of the city and harbour. Also visit Sky Tower - the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, offering breath-taking views for more than 80 kilometres in every direction. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 3 AUCKLAND - WAITOMO - ROTORUA After breakfast, travel south through the fertile Waikato region to arrive at Waitomo. Enjoy a guided tour of the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. On completion continue over the Mamaku Ranges to reach the „Thermal City‟ of Rotorua. This afternoon, visit Polynesian Spa and relax in the soothing thermal waters. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 4 ROTORUA Proceed for Rotorua half day morning tour. Visit Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see boiling mudpools and roaring geysers. Following this, visit Rainbow Springs to see New Zealand‟s trout, birds and wildlife before continuing to the Agrodome for a New Zealand farm show featuring sheep dog demonstrations, cow milking and an introduction to the stars of our sheep industry. The afternoon is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 5 ROTORUA - WELLINGTON After breakfast, travel south to reach the popular lake resort of Taupo before continuing on the Desert Road, dominated in the background by the three peaks of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Continue south through farmland before arriving in the „Capital City‟ of Wellington. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 6 WELLINGTON After breakfast, enjoy a half day Wellington city tour with Hammonds. Highlights of the tour include the famous Beehive and Parliament Buildings, Old Saint Paul‟s Cathedral, exquisite Lady Norwood Rose Gardens, various buildings exemplifying classic early Wellington architecture. Also enjoy breathtaking 360 degrees views of Wellington city, the hills and the harbour from the summit of Mount Victoria and drive around the rugged and pure scenic bays of Wellington harbour. The remaining day is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 7 WELLINGTON - PICTON - KAIKOURA After breakfast, journey across Cook Strait, which separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and into the Marlborough Sounds with its sparkling clear waters and lush forests before

arriving in Picton. Travel south through the town of Blenheim, before reaching Kaikoura, a town steeped in Maori history and legend. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 8 KAIKOURA – CHRISTCHURCH After breakfast, today leave Kaikoura behind as you turn inland and travel through North Canterbury to reach the „Garden City‟ of Christchurch. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 9 CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK After breakfast, travel across the fertile Canterbury Plains to Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd before continuing on to New Zealand‟s highest mountain - Mt Cook. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 10 MT COOK – QUEENSTOWN After breakfast, depart Mt Cook and follow the shores of Lake Pukaki south through the historic Central Otago region to the „Alpine Resort‟ of Queenstown. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 11 MILFORD SOUND EXCURSION After breakfast, follow the southern arm of Lake Wakatipu to Lumsden, and onward to Lake Te Anau. Enter the Eglinton Valley and travel through the Homer Tunnel to reach Milford Sound. Enjoy a scenic cruise on this world famous fiord, dominated by Mitre Peak and the cascading Bowen Falls. Return to Queenstown. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 12 QUEENSTOWN After breakfast, today is at leisure to explore the endless optional activities (not included). Queenstown offers bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, gondola rides and much more. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 13 QUEENSTOWN - GLACIER REGION After breakfast, depart Queenstown and travel via Lake Wanaka and through the historic Haast Pass, gateway to the World Heritage Westland National Park. Continue up the West Coast past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to the glacier region of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 14 GLACIER REGION - GREYMOUTH - CHRISTCHURCH After breakfast, travel north to Greymouth and board the world famous Tranz Alpine train. Ascend through lush beech forests past the alpine village of Arthur‟s Pass before crossing the spectacular Southern Alps. Travel over Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 15 CHRISTCHURCH SIGHTSEEING

After breakfast, proceed for a city tour include Canterbury University, Riccarton House and Bush, Mona Vale, Hagley Park, Botanical Gardens, Museum and Botanical Gardens, the Sign of Takahe, and the seaside suburb of Sumner. Return to Christchurch via the Port Hills, the Port of Lyttelton and the Lyttelton tunnel travelling back to the city centre where the tour concludes. Overnight at the hotel.

 

DAY 16 DEPARTURE DAY After breakfast, your arrangements conclude today with a departure to  airport .Return with best Memories .