(per adult)
$2,795.00
(per adult)
Highlights
• Auckland
• Waitomo Caves
• Rotorua
• Rotorua Attractions
• Lake Taupo
• Napier
• Wellington
• Inter-Island Ferry & Picton
• Hanmer Springs
• Christchurch
• 7 Night Four Star Hotel Accommodation
• 8 Day Car Hire SDAR Car – Toyota Corolla or similar
Day One Auckland
Arrive Auckland and collect your rental car at Auckland Airport, drive into Auckland City and check into your central city Auckland Hotel. Remainder of the day and evening at leisure. Should time permit join a half day ( 3 hour ) Auckland City Sightseeing tour, see optional extras opposite. Evening Accommodation Heritage Hotel Auckland or similar
Day Two Auckland – Waitomo Caves – Rotorua
Travelling by road from Auckland to Rotorua, travelling south from Auckland through the lush Waikato farmland to your first stop at Waitomo. A guided tour of the Waitomo Caves by boat into the famous Glowworm Grotto, is included in this tour package. Wander through subterranean caverns and see spectacular limestone rock formations. From Waitomo the road travels through the Mamaku Hills , the lush Waikato Plains and the Fitzgerald Glade to Rotorua arriving mid afternoon. On arrival check into your evenings accommodation.
Evening Accommodation Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar
Day Three Rotorua
Today tour this geothermal wonderland, known as Rotorua. Today is one of leisure for you to explore this amazing geothermal world. Not only will you have time to explore the township, the lake and the beautiful Government Gardens but you will also have the opportunity to visit several of the attractions that are located in and around Rotorua, such as Te Puia, the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Maori Arts and Craft Institute, the thermal valley with the famous Pohutu Geyser, and boiling mud pools. Rainbow Springs and the famous New Zealand kiwi bird. Agrodome, with a tour of a working farm. Watch a sheep being shorn, hand-feed the animals and a sheep dog trial. If you wish to visit Hobbiton it is only an hour’s drive from Rotorua and you can either self-drive and do the guided tour once you reach Hobbiton or upgrade and do the half day coach tour from Rotorua to Hobbiton which departs Rotorua daily at 1.20 pm. Please note Hobbiton is a very popular attraction and should be pre-booked to avoid disappointment. This evening there is the option of visiting Tamaki Maori Village for an evening of Maori Culture and a hangi dinner. The admission to any of these attractions can be purchased at the time of booking, see extras opposite
Evening Accommodation Millennium Hotel Rotorua or similar
Day Four Rotoura – Napier
Travel from Rotorua to Napier by road. At your leisure departure for the 1 hour journey to Lake Taupo, a huge volcanic crater lake, travelling through extensive exotic forests and geothermal areas. Don’t forget to stop at Huka Falls for some amazing photo opportunities or experience the Jet Boating on the Huka River, see options available in the booking menu opposite. From Lake Taupo travel the Taupo to Napier Road to Napier City, located centrally on the East Coast of the North Island in the heart of the Hawkes Bay and is famous for its Art Deco buildings in the downtown area of the city. If you have an interest in wine, the Hawkes Bay region is both the oldest and a famous wine growing regions in New Zealand and you can visit one or more of the many wineries that are in the area and taste some great wines.
Evening Accommodation Scenic Hotel Te Pania, or similar
Day Five Napier – Wellington
This morning is at leisure in Napier and the Hawkes Bay Region, you can explore the township and its art deco buildings or wander the seas shore. On departing Napier you will drive south on State Highway 2 to Woodville where the surrounding hills are covered with wind turbines and then onto Masterton. After passing through Masterton again if you are interested in wine you could consider a short detour to the township of Martinborough at the heart of the wine growing region on the Wairarapa. From Masterton you will continue south through the Rimutaka Hills and then through the Hutt Valley to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand.
Evening Accommodation James Cook Hotel Wellington or similar
Day Six Wellington – Picton
This morning is at leisure, should time permit join a half day ( 3 hour ) Wellington City Sightseeing tour, see optional extras opposite. Or just explore Wellington City at your own pace. Mid-afternoon you will depart Wellington by Inter-Islander Ferry, a drive on and drive off ferry service (cost of which is included in the tour price), crossing Cooks Straight and through the scenically beautiful Marlborough Sounds to Picton, located in the heart of Queen Charlotte Sound. Weather permitting this 3 hour ferry journey will provide you with some wonderful photo opportunities. On arrival in Picton you will drive off the ferry into this quaint township, where everything will be in walking distance from your evenings accommodation.
Evening Accommodation Picton Beachcomber Inn or similar
Day Seven Picton – Hanmer Springs
Today you will depart Picton and drive south initially to Blenheim in the heart of the Marlborough Region, the most famous region in New Zealand for its wines, especially its Sauvignon Blancs you can visit one or more of the many wineries that are in the area and taste some great wines, or have lunch at one of the many winery restaurants that you can visit on route. From Blenheim you will continue south on the Inland Road through St Arnaud and then onto State Highway 6 through to Murchison, following the Buller River and Buller Gorge for part of the route. From Murchison you will travel on State Highway 65 through to Springs Junctions and then joining State Highway 7 to travel through the Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs, a beautiful Alpine township nestled on a plateau at the foot of the Southern Alps. The township has some wonderful hot springs that have been created by the geothermal activity in this area.
Evening Accommodation Heritage Hanmer Springs or similar
Day Eight Hanmer Springs – Christchurch
Depending on your timetable you can have the morning at leisure to soak in the Hot Thermal pools or visit Thrillseekers Canyon, which you will pass on both entering or departing Hanmer Springs; here you can watch the bungy jumping from the Ferry Bridge or even have a go. Time permitting you can jet boat through the gorge on the Waiau River. See optional extras opposite for bookings. The drive time to Christchurch is just under two hours and travelling south you will travel through the Waipara Region another top wine growing region in New Zealand with several very good winery restaurants where you can stop for lunch. On arrival in Christchurch, known as the Garden City of New Zealand you can return your rental car at your leisure to either Christchurch Airport or a downtown location, at which time your tour will conclude.
Please Note:
The tour pricing is on a twin share basis with up to two adults and two children travelling (children will be sharing the same hotel room as their parents). Should a single person be travelling, then the single person supplement will apply. See extras available on the booking menu
The tour price includes the one-way vehicle relocation between Auckland an Christchurch and the Inter-Islander ferry crossing between Wellington and Picton for the vehicle and to four passengers.
By adding optional extras at the time of booking you will receive a 10% discount on the extras as well as on the actual booking.
Important Information Regarding Your Vehicle Rental:
1. The vehicle included with this rental is a Standard Size SDAR car, Toyota Corolla or similar
2. There are options to upgrade the vehicle size at the time of booking, see extras available on the booking menu
3. The vehicle comes equipped with Satellite Navigation
4. The standard size vehicle can carry up to 5 people, and up to two large and two small suitcases
5. The vehicle rental has a NZ$575.00 insurance excess for any vehicle damage, regardless of fault. There is the option to purchase vehicle collision damage wavier, reducing the excess to $0, see extras available on the booking menu.
