Wonderland Uncovered
| From Auckland to Christchurch |
16 days |
View Prices |
Highlights:
- Glowworms, limestone caves at Waitomo
- Rotorua's mud pools, geysers, Maori culture
- Nelson's beaches, Abel Tasman National Park, arts & crafts
- Franz Josef & Fox glaciers, the spectacular Southern Alps
- Queenstown, NZ's premier alpine resort
- Optional country farmstay on a traditional sheep farm
- Iconic Milford or Doubtful Sounds
- Dunedin's Scottish heritage & wildlife
- Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch
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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 Auckland
Welcome to the 'City of Sails'.
You will be met by our representative on arrival and receive your travel documents before transferring to your central city accommodation.
New Zealand's largest city 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 2 - Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua
(approx 6:00 hours driving time)
Your rental vehicle will be delivered this morning.
Begin your journey travelling to Rotorua New Zealand’s cultural capital, via the Waitomo Caves where you can take a subterranean boat excursion to see the glowworms amongst the sculpted limestone caves.
In Rotorua you can stand on active volcanoes, massive craters, see boiling mud pools, exploding geysers, a traditional Maori village buried by volcanic ash and the sacred green and blue lakes, as well as experience traditional Maori culture and entertainment.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 - Rotorua
Activity: Evening Maori Cultural Experience including Hangi (Dinner)
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 - Rotorua - Taupo - Wellington
(approx 6:30 hours driving time)
Travel through expansive exotic forests and pass enthralling thermal activity before arriving at Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake.
Enjoy the scenic views as you head across the Tongariro National Park with its live smoking volcanoes.
Our capital city Wellington is set on a magnificent harbour ringed by hills. Take in the views from the top of the Cable Car, visit Te Papa Tongarewa the spectacular national museum, and see Parliament Buildings with its unique 'Beehive'. This is a vibrant cosmopolitan city offering a myriad of restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 - Wellington
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6 - Wellington - Picton - Nelson
(approx 5:10 hours ferry and driving time)
Today you cross by ferry to the South Island for the start of a whole new adventure.
From Picton take the Queen Charlotte Drive around the beautiful coastline of one of Marlborough's legendary sounds.
In Havelock at the head of Pelorus Sound, feast on local mussels for which the area is renowned and uncover treasures in the art, craft and collectables shops.
The Nelson region is an area of great beauty with a Mediterranean-type climate, sunny golden beaches and crystal clear bays, boutique wineries, apple orchards, a vibrant craft and art community and the famous World of Wearable Art museum.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 - Nelson
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 8 - Nelson - Punakaiki - Hokitika
(approx 5:00 hours driving time)
It is an outstanding drive through forested mountain scenery and the rugged Buller Gorge. Visit Westport on the Tasman Sea coast with its seal colony at Cape Foulwind, before exploring the pancake rocks and blow holes at Punakaiki.
Formerly an 1860's gold rush settlement, 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 9 - Hokitika - Glacier Country
(approx 3:00 hours driving time)
The scenery is dramatic and ever changing as you travel south through primeval forests, across racing torrents and past serene, bush clad lakes.
Nestled between the sea and the high alps, remnants of the ice-age, Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier, descend right into the forests allowing you to take a guided walk or helicopter landing flight on the rivers of ice.
Nearby at Lake Matheson, you may experience the classical reflections of New Zealand's two highest peaks, Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, in the mirrored waters.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 10 - Glacier Country - Queenstown
(approx 5:45 hours driving time)
Your journey continues through the South Westland World Heritage Area, a place of incredible beauty and natural value, over Haast Pass to Lake Wanaka and through the old gold workings of the Kawarau River Gorge into Queenstown.
Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown on the shore of Lake Wakatipu is a vibrant ski town in winter and a buzzing summer adventure playground.
The amazing range of attractions includes 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, boutique pinot noir wineries, superb golf courses and gardens as well as uncovering gold-mining artifacts in the quaint gold-mining town of Arrowtown.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11 - Queenstown
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 12 - Queenstown - optional Country Farmstay or Te Anau
(approx 3:00 hours driving time)
Take in the magnificent landscape 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 13 - optional Country Farmstay - Te Anau - Milford - Te Anau
(approx 5:30 hours driving time)
Te Anau is within easy reach of the delights of the Fiordland National Park.
Travel through the Eglinton Valley, the Homer Tunnel and down the Cleddau Canyon to Milford Sound deep in the Park, to board a cruise and view captivating wildlife surrounded by sheer mile-high mountain walls before returning to Te Anau
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 14 - Te Anau - Dunedin
(approx 4:15 hours driving time)
Savour the lush sheep and dairy lands of Southland and Otago before arriving in Dunedin, where you will experience the heritage of its Scottish founders.
Visit Dunedin Museum with its outstanding natural history displays, wander through the Victorian Railway Station with its Royal Doulton mosaic floors and discover colonial history at classical Olveston House and Larnach Castle high on the peninsula, before checking out the playful penguins and Royal Albatross Colony.
Accommodation: Bed & Breakfast
Day 15 - Dunedin - Christchurch
(approx 5:00 hours driving time)
For the early part of the trip you will be accompanied by sweeping seascapes. Stop at Moeraki and see the large, smoothed rock spheres embedded on the beach.
Call into Oamaru and visit the old port quarter with its fascinating preserved colonial white stone buildings, before crossing the edge of the sun bleached Canterbury Plains with extensive farmlands and crop fields.
Christchurch is a delightful mix of Gothic, Victorian, Georgian and contemporary architecture set amongst superb public and private gardens and wide leafy avenues with its picturesque Avon River gently meandering through the business and residential districts.
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 16 - Christchurch
Spend your last day in 'The Garden City' shopping for those last minute gifts and unique New Zealand products 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 |
$6082 |
POA |
$8943 |
| Car - Intermediate |
$3344 |
$6236 |
$4852 |
$9099 |
| Car - Full Size |
$3576 |
POA |
$5084 |
POA |
| 4WD - Intermediate |
$3620 |
POA |
$5128 |
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
- Evening Maori cultural experience with hangi (dinner)
- Cook Strait ferry crossing
- Optional country farmstay
- 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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