12 Day Must Do New Zealand Vacation Package

12 Day Must Do New Zealand Vacation Package
1

Welcome to Auckland

‘Haere Mai’ … Welcome to New Zealand

Relax you are now officially on holiday and everything has been taken care of! 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

Some Activities and sightseeing options if you have time:

Explore Waiheke Island    Island Kayaking Adventure    America’s Cup Sailing
Auckland's Sky TowerRelax on the BeachRangitoto Island Cruise & Walk
West Coast Wine TourWhale and Dolphin SafariMuriwai Surf Beach


Accommodation: Auckland - 1 night

Auckland
Accommodation:
Set in Auckland in the heart of the Viaduct Harbour, QT Auckland offers accommodation with a restaurant, valet parking, a fitness centre and a bar. With free WiFi, this 5-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service. All guest rooms come with air conditioning, a Chromecast, a Nespresso machine, wireless Bose speakers, a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer. At the hotel all rooms include a private bathroom with free toiletries.
QT Auckland

2

Waitomo Glowworm Caves - Rotorua

It’s hard to believe when you drive through the idyllic peaceful countryside of the Waikato, that hidden beneath its surface lies a labyrinth of Glowworm Cave networks that house formations and creatures that are simply out of this world. 

If you are interested in seeing galaxies of beautiful glowworms, then this small group personalized Spellbound Tour allows you to spend 40 minutes under glowworms. This tour is one of the most unhurried glow worm tours in New Zealand, with plenty of time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness - intensifying the effect of thousands of softly shining glow worms.

Sir David Attenborough on the BBC series 'Life in the Undergrowth' described the spellbound Cave as an “Astonishing Cave” And “one of natures most Magical Illuminations!” - This is an easy adventure everyone will enjoy.

A Gross Fact... about the New Zealand Glowworms

Approximate Distance: 330 km | 205 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 15 mins

Accommodation: Rotorua - 2 Nights

Glowworm Caves
Accommodation:

Rotorua’s designer 5 star Boutique Hotel and Spa offers stylish luxury accommodation, with accommodation to suit most groups of travellers from hotel rooms to 2 bedroom family apartments situated amidst the exciting attractions and experiences Rotorua has to offer. With excellent facilities such as the restaurant, heated pool, gym and mineral bathing facilities. 

Regent of Rotorua

3

Hobbiton & Maori Cultural Evening

Setting off from Rotorua, travel through the lush farmland of the Waikato and King Country regions. You will journey to the emerald pastures and rolling hills of The Shire, where Hobbiton was brought to life on a private farm in Matamata. This idyllic village blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Set to the scale of a 3ft Hobbit you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a magical world of smoking chimneys. 

This Evening Enjoy: Te Po Evening Maori Concert & Hangi Dinner

Approximate Distance: 70 km | 43 miles  Total Driving Time: 1 hour (each way)

Hobbiton

4

Fly to Christchurch

Return your rental vehicle to Rotorua Airport and fly to Christchurch where you will collect your next rental vehicle on arrival.

After checking in, why not step back to Edwardian times with a relaxing Private Punting Trip down the Avon River? It's a wonderful introduction to the "Garden City". Gliding gently along the river in a flat-bottomed boat, you will take in Christchurch's 'must-see' historic buildings and Botanic Gardens away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.

Some other Activities Options for Christchurch

Easygoing Cycling Tour  Punting the Avon River  Lyttelton Harbour Wildlife Cruise
Māori Cultural EveningFrench Akaroa TourSouthern Alps Ballooning
Christchurch GondolaClearwater GolfArthur's Pass TranzAlpine Hike


Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 Night

Romantic Punt on the Avon River
Stay in the heart of Christchurch, the Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch offers chic accommodation with city views. Just 10 m from New Regent Street, the Rendezvous Hotel offers easy access to the Avon River as well as local restaurants and cafés. Christchurch Botanic Gardens is 3 minutes’ drive away.
The Heritage Christchurch

5

TranzAlpine Rail Journey - Franz Josef Glacier

Travelling via Arthur's Pass to Greymouth on the West Coast. Climb aboard the TranzAlpine. This rail journey is truly something special. Enjoy thrilling vistas over deep gorges as you travel alongside the ice-fed Waimakariri River and traverse the mighty Southern Alps, where spectacular views of the chiseled alpine landscape will take your breath away at every turn. Ranked among the world’s top 6 train journeys, these tracks flow through some of New Zealand's most splendid countryside from the Southern Alps to Greymouth. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see natural grandeur on such a scale. 

Collect your rental vehicle on arrival in Greymouth and make your way to the west coast glacial village of Franz Josef.

Approximate Distance: 175 km | 109 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 2 nights

Tranz Alpine Train
Rainforest Retreat is centrally located in the heart of Franz Josef Village , Secluded yet handy to every local activity. Nestled in six acres of idyllic native bush at the foot of precipitous mountains the Rainforest Retreat is a inviting place to stay. Each unit was built exclusively to embrace its beautiful, secluded, natural environment providing guests with choices of either forest floor or mid canopy bush views.
Rainforest Retreat

6

Twin Glacier Helicopter Flight with Landing

From Franz Josef Village fly over both the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, soaring first over the townships and then following the ice flow high up into the upper reaches. This 30-minute helicopter flight with an expert alpine pilot takes you over the twin glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, with a snow landing at the head of either one.

At the landing site above the icefalls, step out to marvel at the phenomenal glacial beauty of the crevasse-filled landscape below. Your helicopter tour soars above the magnificent carved valleys of the Southern Alps, and includes round-trip hotel transport to the tour base.

Glacier Hike

7

Queenstown

Take your time heading south today: you won't want to miss the spectacular scenery as it transforms from rugged coastal mountain ranges and mirror lakes to the winding Kawarau River Gorge. You will finally emerge into the lush green farmland surrounding Queenstown, your destination for tonight.

Approximate Distance: 355 km | 221 miles  Total Driving Time: 5 hours 

Accommodation: Queenstown - 2 Nights

Queenstown
Accommodation:
Views over the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu and breathtaking peaks of the Southern Alps set the scene at QT Queenstown. This lush lakeside resort features luxury accommodation with a side of the signature QT quirk. The rooms are equipped with a TV with cable channels. Some rooms have views of the mountain or lake. The rooms are fitted with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.
QT Queenstown

8

Milford Sound - Coach/Cruise/Fly

For the most engaging way to experience the riches of Fiordland National Park. This option includes three modes of transport (land, sea & air) making this the ‘holy grail’ of combination tours.

Coach: Board a luxury coach for a journey into beautiful Fiordland. The Road to Milford is one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. The first part is relatively mild farmland, and 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 and through the rough-hewn Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound.

Cruise: Enjoy a scenic cruise of the entire length of Milford Sound viewing the spectacular waterfalls and famous Mitre Peak. Grand, brooding, serene and wild, Milford Sound draws visitors from all over the globe to cruise its length. The purpose-built cruise boat offers excellent viewing of waterfalls, rainforest, mountains, and wildlife with large windows, spacious decks, and comfortable lounges.

Fly: Experience the “Absolutely Stunning” scenery as you fly over Sutherland Falls and over beautiful Milford Sound and lakes Te Anau and Lake Manapouri on your way back to Queenstown.

Fly and cruise at Milford Sound

9

Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is part of UNESCO's Te Wāhipounamu (The Place of Greenstone) World Heritage region. Here in Mackenzie Country you'll find Australasia's highest mountain - Aoraki / Mount Cook (3,724m) - nestled in the splendid Southern Alps.

Known to Māori as Aoraki or Cloud Piercer, this magnificent mountain is surrounded by over 150 peaks along with countless glaciers, ice and snow fields, mountain lakes, and ranges.

Approximate Distance: 265 km | 165 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Mount Cook - 2 Nights

Mount Cook

A stunning destination surrounded by the silent splendor of the Southern Alps and with spectacular views of Aoraki/Mount Cook and the surrounding National Park World Heritage area. There is a selection of properties within the Terrace Road campus from Hotel to Chalet and Mountainview Motels - all budgets and standards can be catered for.

Hermitage Hotel Mount Cook

10

Free Day to Explore Hooker the Valley


Mt Cook National Park

This is a Fantasy Land of Ice and Rock. Mt Cook National Park, known for its exquisite alpine beauty and is home to the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mt Cook. Its Maori name, ‘Aoraki’ means ‘cloud piercer’ and at 12,016ft (3,755m) it towers above the surrounding snow-covered peaks in the park. Tonight enjoy a Star Gazing Tour - this area also has World Heritage status as a SkyPark for the purity and lack of light pollution.

Some highly recommended excursions around the National Park.

Tasman Glacier by Boat   Hooker Valley Walk   Glacier Helicopter Landing   
Hooker Valley

11

Mt Cook to Christchurch

To make the most of your time in the mountains, why not embark on one of New Zealand's finest short walks before you depart for Christchurch?

The Hooker Valley Track is a stunning 11 km (6.8 miles) trek leading to the terminal lake of the Hooker Glacier. The trail winds through the Hooker Valley in the shadow of Aoraki /Mount Cook, crossing the mighty Hooker River on old-fashioned swing bridges. Reaching the lake, you are rewarded by unsurpassed vistas of Aoraki / Mount Cook's south face and the surrounding glaciers.

This afternoon head via beautiful Lake Tekapo, across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch

Approximate Distance: 330 km | 205 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours 30 mins

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 Night

Lake Tekapo
Stay in the heart of Christchurch, the Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch offers chic accommodation with city views. Just 10 m from New Regent Street, the Rendezvous Hotel offers easy access to the Avon River as well as local restaurants and cafés. Christchurch Botanic Gardens is 3 minutes’ drive away.
The Heritage Christchurch

12

Bon Voyage!

"Haere rā" Goodbye! and Bon Voyage! Today we say farewell. Return your rental vehicle at Christchurch Airport where you will board your onward flight, taking with you the magical memories of a truly exceptional New Zealand holiday.

Bon Voyage

Profile picture for user Elizabeth
What Elizabeth says about this tour: this is the best paced trip to enjoy all the highlights as well as a few special treats for wildlife lovers. The kayak trip to the White Heron at Okarito Lagoon in South Westland is so well done. A Helihike at Tasman Glacier will also be other worldly - not to mention the Waitomo glowworms and Hobbits! Have fun and enjoy this is a fantastic list of 'Must Do's for New Zealand.
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