Highlights of New Zealand Australia and Fiji Itinerary

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand

We will meet you at the airport and drive you directly to your hotel to freshen up and unwind. Make the most of some free leisure time in the 'City of Sails' - simply relax or take this opportunity to explore the many sights of Auckland. This evening we suggest you head down to the viaduct for dinner.

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Accommodation: Auckland - 1 night

Today travel to the heartland of New Zealand’s North Island, Rotorua is host to some of the world’s most incredible geothermal forces. Today see the farming ventures that New Zealand's economy was synonymous with - the wooly sheep - 13 species are viewable here!  Then visit Te Puia's 70-hectare park in the beautiful Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley is right in the heart of the action. Restless forces boil to the surface in the enchanting, superheated mud pools and hot springs and geysers gush hot steam and water in spectacular fashion.

Some alternative excursions in and around Rotorua are:

Approximate Distance: 372 km | 232 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 nights

Embark on a magical journey, only 15 minutes from Rotorua, through untouched native New Zealand forest from an unexplored perspective. On a 3 hour guided eco-tour, experience 1 mile of forest suspended up to 22 metres (72 feet) high amongst ancient trees.

Mix thrill and wonder through an incredible network of trails, tree platforms, ziplines (flying fox), and swing bridges. The changing views are breathtaking as you experience the thrill of flying through changing landscapes from high above unexplored forested valleys, to tight openings through the forest sub-canopy, to amongst stands of giant long-forgotten trees.

Welcome to Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city and the South Island's capital.

Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Christchurch is our "Garden City," blessed with beautiful parks and gardens right in the heart of town. English heritage buildings sit side by side with innovative post-earthquake regeneration in this vibrant place.

After settling in, why not relax with a punting trip down the Avon River? Gliding gently along in a flat-bottomed boat, you will take in Christchurch's 'must-see' historic attractions and botanic gardens away from the hustle and bustle of the streets.

Accommodation: Christchurch Hotel - 1 Night

Pick up your comfortable Motorhome today and leave the city behind: the mountains are beckoning.

After driving through the Canterbury Plains, you'll reach the majestic and peaceful setting of Lake Tekapo amid the high-country splendor of the Mackenzie Basin. Nestled in Mt Cook National Park, Tekapo boasts amazing views of the Southern Alps - including Aoraki / Mount Cook, our tallest peak. Visit the little church sitting at the edge of Lake Tekapo - couples arrive from all over the world to take their wedding photos here, with the turquoise lake and snowy mountains in the background.

But it gets even better, recently earmarked as one of only three Grade 1 “Dark Sky Reserves” in the world, the Aoraki Mt Cook will show you an unforgettable night sky exposing the Milky Way Galaxy, Southern Cross, Alpha-Centauri and more.  Your expert guides will get an insight into our universe and beyond, through both telescope and specialized binoculars...

Approximate Distance: 334 km | 207 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 25 Minutes

Accommodation: Mt Cook National Park - 2 Nights

Take a 4WD adventure along a rugged back road to access awe-inspiring views over the Tasman Glacier and its gigantic moraine wall. Take the opportunity to view New Zealand's largest Glacier and the Tasman Glacial Lake and icebergs that have sheared away from the mammoth ice wall. 

Your professional guide has a wealth of knowledge of the Aoraki/Mt Cook area. Learn about its unique geology, local flora, and fauna and gain an entertaining insight into the rich pioneering history and stories of the past 150 years.

The drive to Queenstown is stunning, leading you over the rugged Crown Range on the highest main road in the country. Take your time and enjoy the scenic lookouts en route - your camera will get a workout.

The winding mountain road demands concentration & care, but more conservative drivers can take an alternative route along the Clutha River, Lake Dunstan, and the Shotover River. The vineyards of the Gibbston area and bungy jumpers at the Kawarau River Bridge are interesting distractions along the way.

The alpine resort of Queenstown is exciting, sophisticated, and fantastically scenic. It’s the place to source almost any kind of adventure including bungy jumping, jet boating, horse trekking, rafting, and river surfing. It’s also a destination for luxury experiences – gourmet food and wine, spa treatments, and leisurely games of golf.

Approximate Distance: 255 km | 159 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

Accommodation: Queenstown - 3 nights

The Road to Milford is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, then you’ll ease into a beech forest near the entrance to the Fiordland National Park. Look for the Avenue of the Disappearing Mountain and the Mirror Lakes.

The rough-hewn Homer Tunnel brings you into Milford Sound, an amazing 22km-long fiord dominated by Mitre Peak. A cruise on Milford Sound will be an essential component of your time in Fiordland. Tall waterfalls, vertical rock faces, and seals are some of the things you’ll remember. An underwater observatory is an option with most cruises.

Full Steam Ahead
All aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw this old coal-fired beauty has been ferrying passengers around the lake for over a 100 years. Experience fascinating and love watching the stokers at work in the engine room and seeing the glowing fireboxes.

On arrival at Walter Peak High Country Farm on the western shores of Lake Wakatipu, you will get a real taste for rural New Zealand. Feel free to pet and feed the lambs (during Spring - Oct to December) and other farmyard animals, watch the sheepdog's round-up a flock of sheep, and see a shearing demonstration. The high country air works up a healthy appetite, so the trip includes morning or afternoon tea with fresh scones with jam.

Today you'll tour the Isle of Mou Waho, one of only five islands to be found in the vastness of Lake Wanaka. Accessible only by a 35-minute boat cruise, Mou Waho is an island nature reserve with a difference. With no predators or pests roaming here, New Zealand's rare & endangered species can live in peace, giving you the opportunity to observe them up close. Walking with a long-time local guide, the well-formed track leads you through the native bush to Tyrwhitt Peak.

Here you will find Arethusa Pool, a beautiful miniature lake with small islands within it. Impress your friends by telling them you have visited an island in a lake, inside an island in a lake, inside an island in the ocean! From Tyrwhitt Peak, you'll be spellbound by the 360-degree views of Lake Wanaka surrounding you, and the mountains beyond. Don't forget your swimwear: on a hot day, it's hard to resist a swim in Mou Waho's cool clear waters.

Approximate Distance: 70 km | 44 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour 10 mins

Be transported to the South Island's wild West Coast today on one of New Zealand's most breathtaking scenic drives. The views are impressive all the way, and once over the Haast Pass they change dramatically. There's beauty around every bend, with woodland walks and dramatic waterfalls along the route — perfect for picnic stops.

When the ancient forests and mountain passes give way to coastal views, you'll soon be nearing glacier country. Nestled in a rainforest clearing, Franz Josef Glacier lies at the heart of the Westland National Park.
 

Welcome to one of the most diverse and beautiful areas of New Zealand.

Approximate Distance: 350 km | 217 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 40 Minutes

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 2 Nights

The magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand’s West Coast glaciers. Tumbling down from the Southern Alps almost to the sea, its ancient icy faces contrast spectacularly with the surrounding rainforests.

There are many different ways to admire the glacier. You can walk to the terminal face, get a bird's eye view with a scenic helicopter flight, or take an exhilarating Heli Hike up to the bluest ice.

Whatever you choose, get ready to experience the most spectacular glacier environment anywhere in the world.

Excursions available in and around the Franz Josef area:

Begin your morning with a breathtaking coastal drive to Greymouth. You might like to pause in Hokitika for a spot of shopping - this town is home to many artisan carvers of the local pounamu (greenstone), which is sacred to Maori. A unique, locally carved greenstone pendant would be a special way to remember your trip.

From Greymouth it's time to cross the Southern Alps one last time as you set a course for your final destination, Christchurch. The drive takes you along the Great Alpine Highway, traversing Arthur's Pass and the epic Ōtira Viaduct.

The vast Canterbury Plains offer a final glimpse of New Zealand's rural landscapes before returning you to the South Island's largest city.

Make the most of your last night in New Zealand by exploring Christchurch's foodie scene. With everything from relaxed cafes to fine dining on offer, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot to mull over your memories of the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Accommodation: Christchurch Hotel - 1 Night

Approximate Distance: 375 km | 268 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 35 minutes

Today you depart New Zealand, 4 hours later you will land in the city crowned "The World's Most Liveable City" for seven years in a row, friendly Melbourne is the perfect place to begin your Australian self-drive adventure.

This compact, diverse metropolis is begging to be explored after settling into your comfortable accommodation. There are hidden charms around every corner, beautiful Botanic Gardens and chic city squares where you can soak up the atmosphere to your heart's content.

Here are some of our favourite things to do in Melbourne:

• Lose yourself in cobbled laneways lined with tempting coffee shops, chic boutiques and cozy bars.
• Admire the always-evolving street art covering every inch of Hosier Lane
• Take a tram to St Kilda beach's historic esplanade and drop into Acland St's irresistible cake shops.
• Make a sporting pilgrimage to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Grab a bite to eat at Queen Victoria Market - it's the largest market in the Southern Hemisphere
• Choose from a dizzying array of restaurants & eateries — you're in Australia's foodie capital.

Accommodation: Melbourne - 2 Nights

Discover amazing coastal scenery, adventure and wildlife on a full day coach tour along the famous Great Ocean Road.

Great Ocean Road - One of the World's Greatest Drives

Experience and enjoy the breathtaking Great Ocean Road: every twist and turn exposes you to stretches of broad, uninterrupted beaches, dramatic coastlines and the lush rainforest of the Otway Ranges. This remarkable scenery provides an amazing backdrop for a day that will be etched in your memory forever.

Visit Australia’s oldest surviving lighthouse at Apollo Bay, enjoy a typical Aussie BBQ lunch, take a rainforest walk in the Otway Ranges and see the world famous limestone rock stacks — the 12 Apostles – at the western end of the Great Ocean Road.

There are plenty of opportunities to see the native wildlife in its natural habitat including koalas and a variety of Australian birdlife.

Bid farewell to the city and fly to Australia's Red Centre for your first glimpse of magnificent Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is also known. Ayers Rock stands 348 metres above the ground and reaches over 700 metres underground. Uluru is also home to the World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is of extreme importance to the local Aboriginal people.

Field of Light Art Installation

The experience begins with a convenient hotel pick-up and short transfer to the remote desert location with majestic views of Uluru. You're welcomed at an exclusive dune top just after the sun has set on the horizon. Savour a selection of outback canapes with sparkling wine or beer as your host provides insight into the light installation that awaits you. As darkness falls, 50 000 glass spheres gently come to life. Covered under a sky brilliant with stars, Field of Light beckons you to explore and lose yourself momentarily in the rhythms of coloured light.

Accommodation: Ayers Rock - 2 Nights

Experience the beauty of these great Australian landmarks with an amazing aerial view. The incredible rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuta are a must-see from the air.

On this flight, you’ll fly by Uluru and across to the spectacular domes of Kata Tjuta for a view that will leave you speechless. Due to the sacredness of this area, so much of it is off-limits from the ground, so the only way to really appreciate this amazing landscape is to see it from above. You will not be disappointed.

Fly onwards to Sydney, the oldest and grandest of Australia's big cities. Blessed with a glorious natural harbour, golden beaches and a blissful climate, this incredible metropolis offers a stunning introduction to East Coast Australia.

Sydney Harbour Dining Cruise

Tonight's Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Harbour shows off Sydney in style. Sparkling wine in hand, enjoy spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as you dine.

Accommodation: Sydney - 2 Nights

Enjoy some free time to discover Sydney in depth, at your own pace.

Take a ferry to Manly for a laid-back beach day, or cruise to Taronga Zoo, where both animals and visitors alike can enjoy jaw-dropping harbour views.
Adventurers can climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge or tackle the Bondi to Bronte walking trail along the rugged sandstone cliffs.

Foodies will love visiting the Sydney Fish Market, where you can pile your plate high with freshly caught & cooked seafood and take your haul outside to eat on the pier.

However you choose to spend your day, Sydney is guaranteed to win your heart.

Welcome to Viti Levu

Covering an area of 10,400 sq km, Viti Levu or Great Fiji is the largest of the Fijian islands. Roughly circular in shape with a mountainous interior, Viti Levu is thought to be the oldest of Fiji's 300 plus islands. 

On arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation on the Coral Coast

The Coral Coast around the south-east of Viti Levu is the main tourist destination with nice beaches and large resorts. The garden valley of Sigatoka along the South Coast marks the beginning of the East with its jagged mountains which raise the clouds, bring rain and make green the land around Suva, the capital, on the southeast side of the island. 

Accommodation: Viti Levu - 3 Nights 

The Coral Coast is a stunning 80km stretch of coastline between Sigatoka and Suva, on the southern shores of the main island of Viti Levu. Lined with sleepy villages and unspoilt beaches, the Coral Coast offers a wide variety of cultural activities and fun outdoor activities for everyone.

From game fishing, diving, river jet boating, cave and waterfall tours,surfing and rafting. The Coral Coast offers activities and adventures to suit the whole family.

Inspired by a traditional Fijian village, the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has superb facilities set among coconut palms and 35 acres of native flora. Make your family holiday, wedding or business event memorable with warm Fijian hospitality beside world-class Natadola Beach.

Enjoy non-motorised watersports, dive among brilliant coral, relax in our pool or sophisticated spa, or enjoy 18 holes on our PGA-endorsed golf course. All rooms offer Cleopatra baths for a true luxury retreat.

Vinaka Vakalevu!

After the most amazing trip, today you will be transferred to Nadi Airport to meet your onward flight

We know you will enjoy your holiday and our promise is to make your travels as enjoyable, hospitable and hassle-free as possible. On this final day of your holiday, we say farewell and Vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much). You'll be departing today from Fiji with a camera full of photos, and huge smiles on your faces when recalling your South Pacific holiday!