DAY 1 - Arrive Auckland – “the City of Sails”
Arrive at Auckland International Airport. You will pick up a rental car from Europcar at Auckland International Airport, and self drive to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Hotel in Auckland.
DAY 2 - Auckland – Paihia in Bay of Islands
This morning proceed to Paihia. This fantastic tour to the Bay of Islands
takes you over the Harbour Bridge, past the beach-side homes of Hibiscus
Coast and the bush covered Waitakere Ranges. En route, see the magnificent
native Kauri trees. Overnight at hotel in Bay of Islands. (B)
DAY 3 - Bay of Islands – day at leisure
Enjoy cooked breakfast at hotel this morning. The rest of the day is free
to explore on your own. Overnight at hotel in Bay of Islands. (B)
DAY 4 - Cape Brett ‘Hole in the Rock’
Cruise – Auckland
After breakfast, proceed to the Maritime Building for “Hole in the
Rock” morning cruise. Board the luxury catamaran and cruise through
the “Piercy Rock” and onto the magnificent Grand Cathedral
Cave. After the cruise, depart Bay of Islands and travel to Auckland by
self drive. (B)
DAY 5 - Auckland – Waitomo – Rotorua
After cooked breakfast, self drive to Rotorua via Waitomo. Enjoy the Glowworm
Caves Guided Tour. Arrive in Rotorua – the Thermal City. Overnight
at Hotel in Rotorua. (B)
DAY 6 - Rotorua
This morning, after breakfast visit Te Puia (formerly Whakarewarewa Thermal
Reserve and New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute) And visit the
Agrodome Leisure Park and enjoy Sheep Show– an exciting show staging
the different breeds of New Zealand sheep. Then Rainbow Springs. See the
trout pool and a magnificent aviary where you will find the famous Kiwi
– New Zealand’s flightless native bird. Afternoon is at leisure.
Overnight at Hotel in Rotorua. (B)
DAY 7 - Rotorua – Wellington
After cooked breakfast at the hotel, depart the "thermal city"
of Rotorua and continue south through the large Kaingaroa man made forest
to reach the popular lake resort of Taupo. Travel along the shores of
Lake Taupo to Turangi, before traveling over the Desert Road - dominated
in the background by the three peaks of Ruapehu, Ngaurahoe and Tongariro
- to arrive at the small town of Taihape. Continue south through lush
farmland to reach the city of Palmerston North, famous for its agricultural
University, before arriving in the "capital city" of Wellington.
(B)
DAY 8 - Wellington – Picton – Blenheim
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Wellington Ferry Terminal for
Interislander Ferry to Picton. Collect a rental car at Picton ferry terminal
to self drive to Blenheim. Overnight at Blenheim. (B)
DAY 9 - Blenheim – full day Winery tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is free at leisure to explore Blenheim for
Winery/vineyard tour. (B)
DAY 10 - Blenheim – Abel Tasman (Motueka)
After breakfast at the hotel, self drive to Abel Tasman – Motueka.
Overnight at Motueka. (B)
DAY 11 - Abel Tasman (Motueka)
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is free at leisure to explore Abel Tasman.
(B)
Day 12 - Abel Tasman - Glacier region
After breakfast, depart Motueka for Glacier region. (B)
Day 13 - Glacier region
Today is at leisure to explore and enjoy what this beautiful region has
to offer. Perhaps take a scenic helicopter flight over the glaciers including
a snow landing or a guided glacier walk. (Optional sightseeing not included)
Overnight at Hotel in Fox Glacier. (B)
Day 14 - Glacier region - Queenstown
Depart the Glacier Region this morning and travel down the West Coast
past spectacular mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to the Haast
Pass, gateway to World Heritage Westland National Park. Follow the shores
of Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to the resort city of Queenstown. Overnight
at Queenstown (B)
Day 15 - Milford Sound Day Tour
Today, after an American breakfast, we go for a full day trip to Milford
Sound by self drive. Travel along the shore of Lake Wakatipu beneath The
remarkable mountain range before crossing the Southland Plains to Te Anau,
the gateway to the Fiordland National Park, now proclaimed a World Heritage
Park. Drive through beech forests and glaciated valleys before descending
the steep gradient Homer tunnel to the magnificent Milford Sound itself.
Take a cruise (weather permitting) out to the Tasman Sea and return in
time to enjoy the cascading waterfalls. We travel back to Queenstown via
the same route. Overnight at Hotel in Queenstown. (B)
Day 16 - Queenstown
Today is free at leisure to explore the endless optional attractions available.
Overnight at Queenstown (B)
Day 17 - Queenstown – Farm
Stay
Cooked breakfast at hotel. Depart Queenstown to self drive through the
Central Otago region for farm stay. (Farm stay location will be advised
at the time of booking) The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy hearty
home cooked dinner with your farm stay hosts. Overnight at farm stay.
(B, D)
Day 18 - Farm Stay – Christchurch
After breakfast at farm stay, travel across the Canterbury Plains to arrive
Christchurch. Overnight at the Hotel in Christchurch. (B)
Day 19 - Christchurch
Breakfast at hotel. Today is free at leisure to explore Christchurch by
self drive. Visit International Antarctic Centre where you can learn and
feel the atmosphere storm. Overnight in Christchurch. (B)
Day 20 Depart Christchurch
After breakfast, self drive to Christchurch airport for onward flight
to the next destination and drop off a rental vehicle. (B)