Arrive at Auckland airport and a private vehicle will transfer you to your accommodation. Check in and rest of the evening is at leisure

New Zealand’s largest city and the first port of call for many visitors to the North Island, Auckland has plenty to tempt travellers—beautiful beaches, atmospheric neighbourhoods, and an abundance of cultural sites.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Auckland

After breakfast, travel north over Auckland’s Harbour Bridge and along the Hibiscus Coast. The journey continues through Whangarei, Northland’s only major city, before arriving in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Check in at the accommodation and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

The Bay of Islands encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula and includes the boutique towns of Opua, Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri. For those that love beaches and water activities, it's paradise. You can take a boat cruise, swim with dolphins, dive, fish or just relax in the sun.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Bay of Islands

Today, spend the day exploring the Bay of Islands.

You can opt to tour Cape Reinga. Cape Reinga offers the ultimate northern New Zealand experience. See two oceans collide and discover the place of leaping, where Maori spirits begin their final journey.

You can also opt to visit the 90 Mile Beach. Renowned for spectacular sunsets and boasting one of the best left hand surf breaks in the world, Ninety Mile Beach is an almost never-ending paradise. Ninety-Mile Beach is the fabled strip of sand that stretches from Ahipara to Scott Point, five kilometres south of Cape Maria van Diemen. Truth be told, it is actually 88 kilometres long.

If you wish to take a break from adventure, choose to visit the Northland town of Kerikeri. Dip into New Zealand history, browse art galleries and enjoy fresh local produce. This town is full of character, charm and flavour.

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Accommodation in Bay of Island

After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure. Later in the afternoon, drive back to Auckland.

Arrive in Auckland and check in at the accommodation. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Auckland

Bid farewell to the ‘City of Sails’ as you travel south to reach the market garden area of Pukekohe. Continue through Hamilton - New Zealand’s fourth largest city and the fertile Waikato region to the ‘Thermal City’ of Rotorua.

En route, you can opt to make a stop at Waitomo and enjoy a boat ride through the famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Glide through this underground complex, enjoying a light show put on by the millions of tiny bioluminescent insects hanging above.

Arrive in Rotorua, drive to the accommodation and check in. In the evening, you can opt to visit Te Puia Geothermal Reserve and see the boiling mud pools and cascading Pohutu geyser that makes Rotorua famous as New Zealand's "thermal city”.

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Accommodation in Rotorua

Leaving the Thermal City behind, drive to Taupo, home of New Zealand’s largest lake and the majestic Huka Falls. Take some time to explore Taupo and the lake before driving around the edge of Lake Taupo and into the Tongariro National Park.

Arrive in Tongariro National Park, drive to the accommodation and check in.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tongariro National Park is recognized for its natural beauty, geologic and volcanic importance, and significance to local Maori. 

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Accommodation in Tongariro National Park

Today, spend the day exploring Tongariro National Park and the many walking tracks in the area.

You can opt to hike to the world-famous Tongariro Crossing.

Start the uphill hike on a trail aptly named as Devil’s Staircase. You’ll walk through a volcanic crater that resembles a moonscape. Stop for lunch on the trail beside one of the bright turquoise crater lakes. Start your downhill hike following a trail through dense native bush—a contrast to the rocky volcanic plateau.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Tongariro National Park

Today depart the Central Plateau, head south through farmlands to the capital city, Wellington. Arrive in Wellington, drive to the accommodation and check in.

Spend the day exploring Wellington.

Marvel at Wellington’s legendary landscape; catch the cable car up to Wellington Botanic Garden; or head to the Mt. Victoria Lookout for panoramic views of the city and harbour. Then, make your way down to the waterfront, and learn about the country’s indigenous Maori culture and history at the innovative Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings, join a tour of local filming locations, or sign up for a Weta workshop.

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Accommodation in Wellington

Today, return your rental car in Wellington to take the Interislander ferry to Picton. Travel through the Marlborough Sounds and enjoy the scenic view from the ferry.

On arrival in Picton, collect your rental car and, continue through the Queen Charlotte Drive to Nelson. Drive to the accommodation and check in.

A small city at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, Nelson is known for having the most annual sunshine hours in the country. A popular jumping-off point for trips to Marlborough Sounds and nearby national parks, the city itself is also a fun place to hang out.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Nelson

After breakfast, spend the day exploring Nelson. Alternatively, you can opt to visit the nearby Abel Tasman National Park.

Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand's smallest national park- but it's perfectly formed for relaxation and adventure. A coastal paradise that you can walk through or explore by cruise boat, sailing catamaran, water taxi or sea kayak, you will love the way the Abel Tasman National Park mixes physical exertion with beach life. Bursts of hiking or paddling are punctuated by sun bathing, swimming and sedate snorkelling.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Nelson

Today, travel through the picturesque Nelson lake district to reach the rugged West Coast. You can opt to visit the pancake rocks at Punakaiki, en route to Greymouth.

Arrive in Greymouth, drive to the accommodation and check in.

Greymouth is a town with a history of jade hunting, gold mining and dramatic river floods. Sample the beer and listen to wild west coast stories.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Greymouth

Bid farewell to Greymouth and continue south along the West Coast to reach the glacier region of Franz Josef. Drive to the accommodation and check in. Later visit the Glacier Hot Pools of Franz Josef.

The Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools—situated within a local rain forest—offer a scenic way to recharge. Unlike typical spring-water hot pools, heated by the Earth and emerging from a naturally occurring vent, the Franz Josef Glacier Hot Pools unconventionally draw on the nearby glacier’s ice-cold water and then artificially heat it to about 212ºF (100°C). A towering canopy of native trees surrounds all six pools, cloistering you from the worries of everyday life.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Franz Josef

Spend the day exploring Franz Josef.

Towering peaks, crevasse-filled glaciers, and sparkling waterways define the World Heritage area around the town of Franz Josef. Spend your day hovering over ice formations in a helicopter, strap on crampons for a hike to the glacier, paddle over tranquil waters that lead you on a secluded rainforest walk, or visit the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary for a glimpse of New Zealand’s national bird.

Make sure to head out on a scenic evening cruise and capture majestic panoramic photos of the Southern Alps reflected in the lake and lit by sunset’s alpenglow.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Franz Josef

Depart the Glacier Region and drive through spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to Haast Pass, gateway to World Heritage Westland National Park. Follow the shores of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to Queenstown. Arrive in Queenstown, drive to the accommodation and check in.

Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu overlooking jagged mountain peaks, Queenstown, New Zealand, is one of those rare places where the real-life scenery is even more magical than the postcards. From high-flying adventures to mountaintop lookouts and lake cruises, the small town of Queenstown has a lot going for it.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Queenstown

After breakfast, spend the day exploring Queenstown on your own.

Queenstown is paradise for thrill-seekers, with a seemingly endless array of pulse-raising pursuits on offer here. Get into the spirit of things by kicking off your day with an out-of-the-ordinary activity. Brace yourself for a bungee jump over the Nevis River, free-fall from a height of up to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) during a tandem skydive, go rafting on the rapids of the Shotover River, ride the Skyline gondola up Bob’s Peak, enjoying fabulous views of Queenstown, the Remarkables mountain range, and Lake Wakatipu. Dine at the restaurant at the top and—if you’re still hungry for adventure—fly down the luge track to the bottom of the mountain. 

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Queenstown

Depart Queenstown for a short drive to Te Anau. Arrive in Te Anau and check in at the accommodation. Rest of the day is at leisure.

The picturesque township of Te Anau is the main visitor base for the glacier-carved wilderness that is Fiordland National Park. Te Anau is also the perfect place to stay when visiting Milford Sound.

With its soaring cliffs, dramatic glacial valleys, and thundering waterfalls, it’s easy to see why Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most visited sights. This natural wonder is the star attraction of Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and wildlife haven for dolphins, seals, and penguins. Naturally, the best way to explore the fjord is by boat. Opt to take a cruise on this world-famous fiord, dominated by Mitre Peak and the cascading Bowen Falls.

Alternatively, you can visit the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, one of New Zealand's most mesmerizing natural wonders, boasting a labyrinth of grottoes, tunnels, dramatic rock formations, and underground waterfalls. Adventure abounds as you cruise across Lake Te Anau, scramble through the caves, and marvel at a glittering canopy of tiny glowworms.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Te Anau

After breakfast, depart from Te Anau and drive through historical Central Otago to the Scottish influenced city of Dunedin. Arrive in Dunedin, drive to the accommodation and check in. Rest of the day is at leisure.

The southern city of Dunedin charms travellers with its Scottish architecture, vibrant student culture, and artsy vibe. From visiting colonial-era churches to hiking up the steepest street in the world, you’re sure to fall in love with this charming city. 

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Dunedin

Today, spend the day exploring the town of Dunedin.

Spend your morning sightseeing in Dunedin’s city centre, including highlights of the Octagon, followed by a visit to the gardens of Larnach Castle. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Otago Peninsula. Peer at rare yellow-eyed penguins and visit nesting grounds of the northern royal albatross in Otago Peninsula.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Dunedin

After breakfast, depart from Dunedin and travel north to the Garden City of Christchurch. Arrive in Christchurch, drive to the accommodation and check in. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Christchurch, known for its English heritage, is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is also known as the "Garden City" because of its many beautiful parks, gardens and tree-lined streets. It is one of the world’s most unique destinations, combining urban regeneration and innovation with heritage, culture and exhilarating activity.

Where to rest your head ?

Accommodation in Christchurch

After breakfast, a private vehicle will transfer to Christchurch airport to catch your flight back home

Where to rest your head ?

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