Inspiring Landscapes
| From Christchurch to Auckland |
24 days |
View Prices |
Highlights:
- Viewing wildlife on Dunedin's Otago Peninsula
- Optional country farmstay on a traditional sheep farm
- Iconic Milford or Doubtful Sounds
- Queenstown & Wanaka, NZ's premier alpine resorts
- Fox and Franz Josef glaciers
- Spectacular mountains & coast on the TranzAlpine &
TranzCoastal train journeys
- Art deco Napier & the Hawkes Bay wine region
- Rotorua's mud pools, geysers, Maori culture
- The Far North's historic Bay of Islands & Kauri coast
- Christchurch, Wellington & Auckland
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Your tour will be organised over the dates you require.
All tour itineraries may be amended for any duration to suit you.
Tours are suitable for 1-4 persons and children 12 years and over.
We will help you have the best self drive vacation possible!
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrive Christchurch
Welcome to the 'Garden City'.
You will be met by our representative on arrival and receive your travel documents before transferring to your central city accommodation.
The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is exceptionally beautiful with its stunning parks and gardens, the Avon River meandering through the city centre and its dramatic harbour within the flooded crater of an extinct volcano.
Take a punt ride, enjoy walks around the city, visit the Arts Centre boutique craft shops, experience life on the southern continent at the International Antarctic Centre and be entertained at the Court Theatre or brilliant Art Gallery.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 - Christchurch - Dunedin
(approx 5:00 hours driving time)
Your rental vehicle will be delivered this morning.
Cross the edge of the sun bleached Canterbury Plains with its extensive farmlands and crop fields, passing delightful country towns and villages.
Call into Oamaru and visit the old port quarter with its fascinating preserved colonial white stone buildings. Stop at the beach settlement at Moeraki and investigate the unusual smooth spherical rocks scattered along the beach.
Arriving in Dunedin, you will experience the city's distinctive Scottish heritage. Visit Dunedin Museum with its outstanding natural history displays, wander through the Victorian Railway Station with its Royal Doulton mosaic floors and indulge yourself at the Cadbury Chocolate factory or historic Speights Brewery. Discover colonial history at classical Olveston House and Larnach Castle.
Drive to nearby Otago Peninsula and enjoy the delight of the world's majestic ocean wanderers at the Royal Albatross Centre. New Zealand fur seals, the rare yellow-eyed penguin, blue penguins as well as an abundance of other birdlife make this "the finest example of eco-tourism in the world" - Sir David Bellamy.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 - Dunedin
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 - Dunedin - optional Country Farmstay or Te Anau
(approx 4:00 hours driving time)
Travel through the lush sheep and dairy lands of Otago and Southland enroute to your optional country farmstay or the township of Te Anau, picturesquely sited on Lake Te Anau.
A country farmstay will allow you the opportunity to enjoy traditional New Zealand hospitality and experience life on a typical South Island farm.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 - optional Country Farmstay - Te Anau - Milford - Te Anau
(approx 5:30 hours driving time)
Farewell your farm hosts and drive to Te Anau, then deep into the Fiordland National Park with its primeval beech forests and mirror lakes. Emerge from the carved Homer Tunnel into spectacular Milford Sound where mountains rise vertically from the sea floor 1.2 kilometres into the sky.
Take a cruise and view hanging valleys, plunging waterfalls and captivating wildlife surrounded by sheer mile-high mountain walls, before returning to Te Anau.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 6 - Te Anau - Queenstown
(approx 2:45 hours driving time)
At the head of Lake Wakatipu look out for the historic train - the Kingston Flyer, before following the lake shore below the jagged Remarkable Mountains into Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.
This alpine town offers an amazing range of attractions including canyon jet boat rides, mountain biking, bungy jumping, helicopter flights, horse treks and 4WD expeditions.
There are also more passive pastimes - wilderness safaris, historic steamer lake cruises, gondola cableway, superb golf courses and gardens as well as uncovering gold-mining artifacts in the quaint town of Arrowtown.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7 - Queenstown
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 8 - Queenstown - Wanaka
(approx 1:45 hours driving time)
Journey past photographic Lake Hayes through the Kawarau Gorge and see remnants of the 1860s gold rush. En route stop at the boutique vineyards famous for their pinot noir, before arriving at Lake Dunstan, developed for hydro generation and recreation.
The lakeside resort of Wanaka is the gateway to the Mount Aspiring National Park with its beautiful scenery, hiking trails and river adventures. Take a walk in the Park, enjoy a lake cruise, visit the Warbirds Warbirds Museum, get lost at Puzzling World.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 9 - Wanaka
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 10 - Wanaka - Glacier Country
(approx 4:00 hours driving time)
Drive above the lake edge of dramatic Lake Hawea before crossing the isthmus and following the upper reaches of Lake Wanaka over the Haast Pass into the ancient rainforests of the timeless West Coast.
With bush clad mountains on one side and the Tasman Sea on the other, you enter the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
This is home to two ice-age glaciers, Fox and Franz Josef, which grind their way from the high snowfields of the Southern Alps through the rainforests almost to sea level. Take a guided walk onto the glacier or scenic helicopter flight.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 11 - Glacier Country - Hokitika
(approx 3:00 hours driving time)
The scenery is dramatic and ever changing as you travel north through primeval forests, across racing torrents and past serene, bush clad lakes.
Formerly an 1860's gold rush setlement, Hokitika still has the feel of a frontier town, where you can find your own treasures of gold and jewellery in the cheerful shops.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 12 - Hokitika - Greymouth - Christchurch
(approx 5:00 hours driving time & train)
A short distance from Hokitika drop off your rental vehicle in Greymouth, and board one of 'the top six train journeys in the world'.
Before doing so you may wish to make a short detour north to explore the pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki.
Then travel on the TranzAlpine train through the rainforests right to the mountain walls where you disappear deep inside the earth to emerge surprisingly at Arthur's Pass high in the Southern Alps. Follow the rivers and ravines on your descent to the wide Canterbury Plains and the garden city of Christchurch.
Arriving in Christchurch you will be transferred to your central city accommodation.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 13 - Christchurch
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 14 - Christchurch - Picton - Wellington
(approx 8:15 hours train & ferry)
This morning following your transfer to the railway station, your adventure continues with the TranzCoastal train journey.
Today will be a day of contrasts as the TranzCoastal takes you firstly across undulating farmlands, then along the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline through the marine playground of Kaikoura, then through Marlborough's inviting wine country to the seaside resort of Picton.
In Picton board your ferry cruise to the North Island for the start of a whole new adventure. Your rental vehicle will be waiting for you at the Wellington ferry terminal.
Wellington is New Zealand's capital city with its unique parliament building, known as The Beehive. Visit Te Papa Tongarewa the spectacular national museum for an insight into New Zealand culture and psyche. Take in the views of the magnificent harbour ringed by hills from the top of the Cable Car.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 15 - Wellington
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 16 - Wellington - Napier
(approx 5:00 hours driving time)
Enjoy the drive northwards and observe the changing vistas of some of New Zealand's most substantial agricultural areas, before reaching the heart of the Hawkes Bay wine growing district and the city of Napier with its classic and colourful art deco architecture. Follow the wine trails, sample award-winning vintages or visit Cape Kipnappers gannet colony.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 17 - Napier
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 18 - Napier - Taupo - Rotorua
(approx 4:00 hours driving time)
Today you pass through Taupo situated on sparkling Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake, where you can take in the scenic views of the smoking volcanoes in the Tongariro National Park, before the short journey to Rotorua.
Stop at Huka Falls and see the mighty Waikato River rage between narrow rock walls. Steam arises around you as you travel through the Wairakei geothermal area to Rotorua.
The Rotorua region is alive with bubbling mud pools, boiling lakes, shooting geysers and beautiful lakes. Visit a marae and learn about ancient Maori history and customs, participate in a traditional Maori concert, enjoy a lake cruise.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 19 - Rotorua
Activity: Evening Maori Cultural Experience including Hangi (Dinner)
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 20 - Rotorua - Waitomo - Auckland
(approx 6:00 hours driving time)
Continue your journey to Auckland New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city, via the Waitomo Caves where you can take a subterranean boat excursion to see the glowworms amongst the sculpted limestone caves.
'The City of Sails' is spread around 48 dormant volcanoes. With its scenic harbours and beaches, Auckland is host to a huge range of water sports especially around the islands of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park.
Relax on a harbour cruise or ferry ride to delightful Devonport, visit eclectic Viaduct Basin site of the America's Cup village, enjoy the amazing views and Auckland skyline from atop the Sky Tower.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 21 - Auckland - Bay of Islands
(approx 4:15 hours driving time)
Cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge to leisurely North Shore and follow the Hibiscus Coast stopping en route for beach rambles.
The beautiful Bay of Islands is one of our most popular holiday regions with its bush clad islands, transparent waters and white sandy beaches.
This is the cradle of European civilization in New Zealand and you can visit many fine historic buildings and sites including the Treaty House and Kerikeri's famous old stone store.
Take a cruise out through the fascinating Hole in the Rock or experience swimming with dolphins in this stunning maritime playground
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 22 - Bay of Islands
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 23 - Bay of Islands - Waipoua Kauri Forest - Auckland
(approx 5:00 hours driving time)
Return down the Kauri Coast passing the long indented Hokianga Harbour with its turbulent bar which has claimed many a vessel.
Follow the Wairoa River from Dargaville to Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand's largest harbour with 3000 kilometres of shoreline and once the busiest waterway in the country shipping out kauri timber and gum.
See New Zealand's largest living trees in the Waipoua Forest and visit the Kauri Museum at Matakohe to learn about the gum-diggers.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 24 - Auckland
Last minute shopping is definitely on the agenda. A visit to Parnell's boutiques will delight, before you return your rental vehicle and catch your departure flight.
Tour Price (per person)
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| Style |
Quality |
Superior |
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Share Twin
(NZ$) |
Single
(NZ$) |
Share Twin
(NZ$) |
Single
(NZ$) |
| Car - Compact |
POA |
$9515 |
POA |
$13899 |
| Car - Intermediate |
$5322 |
$9743 |
$7634 |
$14126 |
| Car - Full Size |
$5694 |
POA |
$8012 |
POA |
| 4WD - Intermediate |
$5760 |
POA |
$8076 |
POA |
Prices are valid to 31 May 2011.
Whats Included:
- Meet & Greet and transfer to hotel on arrival
- Automatic compact, intermediate, full size car or intermediate 4WD
- Quality style - Quality Bed & Breakfasts/mid-range hotels
- Superior style - Superior Bed & Breakfasts/superior class hotels
- Optional country farmstay
- TranzAlpine & TranzCoastal train journeys
- Transfers from and to railway station
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
- Evening Maori cultural experience with hangi (dinner)
- New Zealand touring information - distances, times and directions, map
Prices are in New Zealand dollars and include 15% GST (Government Goods & Services Tax). Click Here for an online currency converter to convert prices to your own currency (approximate only).
POA - Price on application.
Prices are available for three and four persons travelling together in an automatic full size car, intermediate 4WD or people mover/minivan. Please enquire.
A revision fee of NZ$40 per amended itinerary day is charged for any part of the itinerary which you require to be changed. Additional days in the arrival and departure cities do not incurr a revision fee.
Optional country farmstay dinner - NZ$60 per person, additional charge.
1 June 2011 - 31 May 2012 prices provided on request.
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North & South Island - Auckland to Christchurch
South & North Island - Christchurch to Auckland
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Special Interest
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