Tours New Zealand

Auckland • Pauanui • Rotorua • Napier • Wellington

• Rotorua’s geysers, crystal springs and pools of boiling mud
• Wine country of Napier
• Wellington – New Zealand’s capital city
• Auckland – City of Sails

This Self-Drive tour offers an excellent insight into the diverse aspects of this fascinating country. From lively Auckland to the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua, and through the wine-growing region of Napier to the scenic capital city of Wellington.

Day 1: Auckland
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the shops, parks and other attractions of the city.

Day 2: Auckland – Pauanui (140 kilometres)
This morning, your rental car will be delivered to your hotel. Drive to Pauanui, a region renowned for its native pohutukawa trees on its west coast and beautiful sandy beaches on the east coast.

Day 3: Pauanui
Spend the day at your leisure to explore the city. The historical past of this region is evident in the mining relics, logging dams and Maori Pa sites that dot the landscape.

Day 4: Pauanui – Rotorua (180 kilometres)
En route to Rotorua, you could visit the magnificent Waitomo Caves. At Rotorua, the geysers and pools of boiling mud form the centre of New Zealand’s most intense thermal activity. In the evening, we recommend you attend a traditional Maori Hangi dinner and concert.

Day 5: Rotorua
Spend the day at your leisure discovering this thermal wonder-land. We recommend you visit the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, the native garden setting of Paradise Valley Springs and the entertaining and informative Agrodome Sheep Show.

Day 6: Rotorua – Napier (218 kilometres)
This morning you drive on to Napier, renowned for its Art Deco architecture and its wine industry.

Day 7: Napier – Wellington (334 kilometres)
Today you drive to Wellington, the capital city. Located on the shores of a magnificent harbour and surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills, this is one of the most scenic cities in New Zealand.

Day 8: Wellington
The day is free to spend at your leisure. You may wish to do some last-minute shopping before you drop off your rental car at the airport and board your onward flight.

Total distance: 872 kilometres.

Tour available as:

Self-Drive tour – Includes car and pre-booked accommodation.

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Christchurch • Dunedin • Te Anau • Queenstown

• Cruise on Milford Sound
• Mitre Peak and Bowen Falls
• Queenstown – the adventure capital
• Alpine village of Mount Cook

This Self-Drive tour highlights many of South Island’s scenic natural wonders. Admire the extensive parks and gardens of Christchurch and Dunedin; marvel at the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound; explore Queenstown and the many opportunities for adventure; and experience the beauty of the alpine village of Mount Cook.

Day 1: Christchurch
Arrive in Christchurch and transfer to your hotel. Spend the day at your leisure – you could take one of our recommended tours to help you discover this attractive city, considered to be the “most English city outside England”.

Day 2: Christchurch – Dunedin (365 kilometres)
This morning, your rental car will be delivered to your hotel. Drive south across the scenic Canterbury Plains via Timaru, Oomaru and Moeraki, and finally to Dunedin – the ‘Edinburgh of the South’.

Day 3: Dunedin – Te Anau (290 kilometres)
Spend the morning at your leisure. You could choose to enjoy a wildlife excursion on the rugged Otago Peninsula. In the afternoon, you drive to Te Anau, the natural gateway to the Fjordland National Park.

Day 4: Te Anau – Milford Sound – Queenstown (420 kilometres)
Follow the shores of Lake Te Anau to reach the beautiful Eglinton Valley. Drive on to Milford Sound, where you enjoy a fascinating fjord cruise which provides stupendous views of the majestic Mitre Peak and the spectacular Bowen Falls.

Day 5: Queenstown
Spend the day at your leisure enjoying the many sightseeing options Queenstown has to offer – vintage steamer lake cruises, mountain gondola rides or thrilling jetboat rides.

Day 6: Queenstown – Mount Cook – Christchurch(600 kilometres)
This morning you travel over the Lindis Pass to Mount Cook. Weather permitting, you may wish to take a scenic flight over Mount Cook. Later, you continue your drive through Lake Tekapo back to Christchurch.

Day 7: Christchurch
Spend the day at your leisure. You could do some last-minute shopping before you drop off your rental car at the airport and board your onward flight.

Total distance: 1,675 kilometres.

Tour available as:

Self-Drive tour – Includes car and pre-booked accommodation.

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Auckland • Queenstown • Auckland

• Queenstown – New Zealand’s activity and adventure capital
• ‘Funyakking’ on the Dart river
• Rafting on the Shotover river
• Auckland – City of Sails

This tour takes you to some of the irresistible attractions of Queenstown – a city renowned for adventure. Experience adventure for fun and relaxation while enjoying the breathtaking landscapes as you ride on two of the region’s most stunning rivers.

Day 1: Auckland
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the many exciting facets of the ‘City of Sails’. Overnight in Auckland.

Day 2: Auckland – Queenstown
Today you take a short flight to picturesque Queenstown. Situated more than 300 metres above sea level and surrounded by striking mountain peaks, it is known for its scenic beauty and has developed into a tourist resort for all seasons. Overnight in Queenstown.

Day 3: Queenstown
A day to enjoy the dramatic landscape of the Dart river in a ‘Funyak’ – an inflatable canoe. A short scenic ride takes you to Glenorchy from where you ride a jetboat upstream amidst towering peaks and glaciers to the Funyak put-in point. Paddle downstream in your Funyak, exploring the Rockburn Chasm on the way, before returning back through the backcountry roads of ‘Paradise’ – the mystical landscape of ‘Middle-earth’. Overnight in Queenstown.

Day 4: Queenstown
Today you enjoy the thrill of rafting on the Shotover river. Make your way to the Queenstown Rafting Office from where you begin your adventure with an unforgettable coach trip along old goldminers’ trails to Skippers Canyon. Commencing from Deep Creek over peaceful waters at first, you head towards the exhilarating rapids of the lower canyon, experiencing some memorable rapids, including the 170-metre Oxenbridge Tunnel. Overnight in Queenstown.

Day 5: Queenstown – Auckland
The morning is at your leisure perhaps to catch up with some souvenir shopping before you take your flight back to Auckland and the return flight home.

Tour available as:

Air and minivan tour – Including minivan, rafting, English-speaking driver guide, flights and pre-booked accommodation.

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Auckland • Nelson • Awaroa • Torrent Bay • Nelson • Auckland

• The Abel Tasman National Park
• Spectacular coastal scenery
• Auckland – the ‘City of Sails’

The Abel Tasman National Park is a sub-tropical region, which includes thousands of hectares of native forest, beautiful golden sand beaches and clear coastal waters. This walking tour provides a first-hand experience of the many beautiful and fascinating aspects of this region.

Day 1: Auckland
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the ‘City of Sails’. Overnight in Auckland.

Day 2: Auckland – Nelson
A short flight takes you to Nelson. Located at the top-end of the South Island, this area has one of the largest national parks – the Abel Tasman National Park. You may opt to go for a swim, sail or simply relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of the place. A number of award-winning wineries and gourmet food industries can be found in this area. Overnight in Nelson.

Day 3: Nelson – Awaroa
Today you embark on the Abel Tasman guided walk. An early morning start sees you travel to Kaiteriteri, where you join the cruise up the coastline. Walk for about 10 – 15 kilometres from Totaranui, north to Anapai Bay and then to Awaroa. The track closely follows the coastline, which is home to a wide variety of marine life. Overnight in Awaroa.

Day 4: Awaroa – Torrent Bay
This morning you walk over the Tonga Saddle. Enjoy a guided visit to an abandoned granite quarry. Stop briefly at Bark Bay, where you can relax on the beach, explore or swim in the lagoon. Continue your walk to Falls river.
View native forests, headlands and estuaries before ending your 15-kilometre walk at Torrent Bay. Overnight in Torrent Bay.

Day 5: Torrent Bay – Nelson
The final day of your walk covers a distance of 13 kilometres and weaves in and out of the coastline before you reach Marahau to connect for the return journey to Nelson. Overnight in Nelson.

Day 6: Nelson – Auckland
The morning is at leisure before you take your flight back to Auckland and the return flight home.

Tour available as:

Air, minivan and walking tour – Including minivan, English-speaking driver guide, flights and pre-booked accommodation.

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