Classic 14 Day Highlights of New Zealand Itinerary

Haere Mai and Welcome to the 'City of Sails' Auckland. 
Relax, you are officially on holiday! We have arranged for you to be met and transferred to your accommodation. The remainder of the day is yours to do as you please and to let the family get over the time difference as tomorrow is the start of your New Zealand Adventure. Take a stroll around our beautiful city, explore the highly acclaimed Waterfront Restaurant Quarter or choose one of the many activities available to give a more in-depth understanding of Auckland and the surrounding area.
 
Accommodation: Auckland - 2 Nights

Just 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland, across the beautiful Hauraki Gulf is a tranquil little paradise. Since the late 1970's Waiheke Island's benign climate has seen the growth of a flourishing wine industry. A "small is beautiful" philosophy yields low quantities of extremely high quality fruit, which is made into international award-winning wines. 

Take an in-depth tour of the wine-growing region on Waiheke Island with a guide on this full-day excursion. You'll learn about what makes the vineyards so successful and the characteristics of the local wine through guided commentary and visits to three top vineyards. Finish with a delicious lunch and glass of wine at an award-winning beachside restaurant. With round-trip transportation provided, you can take full advantage of the tastings without worrying about who will drive.

Its time to collect your rental car and head to nature's playground - the beaches of  Coromandel Peninsula. An impressive, heavily forested mountain range runs right up the middle of this peninsula - it’s bordered on each side by kilometres of spectacular coastline.

The idyllic seaside village of Hahei, (HA-hey) is a small settlement situated on the eastern side of the Peninsula.  Yes there are a couple of restaurants, cafes and fish and chippy but essentially this is a secret hideaway where Kiwi's take their holidays – it's all about the beach, where the waves are generally safe and the wide beach is ideal for a game of volleyball or to throw a Frisbee. 

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

​Accommodation: Hahei - 2 Nights

We are going to continue the same theme today - Relax!
Head to the beautiful Hot Water Beach, you will find hot water bubbling through the golden sand. People can be seen digging their own spa pool in the sand and relaxing in the natural hot springs - this is one experience that should be on your New Zealand bucket list and a truly unique Kiwi experience, perfect for a New Zealand Adventure Holiday.

We recommend you take the scenic boat trip to the spectacular Cathedral Cove and sit on one of the world’s best beaches for the afternoon - only 10 minutes away by boat or an hour's walk.  Alternatively, you can arrange to snorkel the fantastic Hahei Marine Reserve or explore the stunning coastline by kayak.

Rotorua is the Geothermal and Maori cultural center of New Zealand, Rotorua offers some really unique experiences. When you think about it, its obvious why early Maori settlers were attracted here, imagine living in a world without power and stumbling across an endless supply of boiling water making the usually laborious tasks of cooking, bathing and heating very easy - no effort required. The area quickly became a significant Maori stronghold and remains so today.

This evening, immerse yourself in the enchanting secrets of the historic geothermal valley at Te Puia and enjoy an unforgettable Māori cultural experience. Your Te Pō adventure begins with a delectable buffet at the renowned Pātaka Kai Restaurant & Bar, followed by a thrilling cultural performance, and a journey into the geothermal wonderland, home to the famous Pōhutu Geyser.

Approximate Distance: 215 kms | 134 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours

​Accommodation: Rotorua - 3 Nights

Redwoods Treewalk takes you amongst the 75-metre-tall Redwood trees in a one of a kind eco-tourism walk that provides a unique experience for visitors to Rotorua. It offers an accessible, low-level adrenaline experience for all ages that captures the beauty and spirit of this famous forest.

Next, take an interactive tour of the National Kiwi Hatchery, this is the largest and most successful Kiwi hatchery in the world. Discover everything about New Zealand's national icon through our interactive exhibits. Observe the Kiwi in the nocturnal house and learn what it takes to hatch a chick.

Just south of Rotorua lies Wai-O-tapu, a wonderland of stunning geothermal activity. Wai-O-Tapu means 'Sacred Water' and it is easy to see why as the hot pools range in colour from turquoise blue, rich green and gold to an almost olive/yellow, make the water at Waiotapu a dazzling kaleidoscope of natural colour caused by the many mineral salts in the water including arsenic, gold, and silver. This is the home to the world-famous Champagne Pool, seen by many as the most beautiful example of geothermal activity around. The highlight is the Lady Knox Geyser that spectacularly erupts daily at around 10.15 am.

Shhh here’s a little Secret: Go for a soak in a free natural hot pool. Just past the 1st entrance of 'Waiotapu Thermal Park' is another about 500 meters (1640 ft) further down the road, take this second entrance, and drive another 500 metres (1640 ft) down this tiny winding road and you'll come across a small bridge. Make your way down the bank into the steamy stream.

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

Hop on board one of Christchurch's heritage trams to explore the city from a unique vantage point. The Christchurch tramway weaves through the city, down streets closed to other vehicles, and past some of the city’s key attractions such as the iconic Botanical Gardens, Cathedral Junction, the Avon River, Gothic-style Arts Centre, and New Zealand’s most beautiful street – New Regent Street.

Accommodation: Christchurch - 2 Nights

A short 20-minute drive from Christchurch city will see you in the quirky portside town of Lyttelton. The town itself is well worth a stroll, as it’s brimming with boutiques selling locally made art and delicacies. Ferries depart Lyttelton mid-morning and return mid-afternoon, leaving you just the right amount of time to walk, explore and enjoy a picnic lunch on the island. Quail Island is uninhabited and it’s a great place to discover at your own pace. Pass the island’s shipwrecks, former leper colony, and early European quarantine station. Stop to swim and build sandcastles on the island’s beaches and keep an eye out for NZ’s native birds who call the island home – including the white flippered penquins.

Approximate Distance:  12 km | Total Driving Time: 20 mins (each way)

On the way to Mt Cook, a picnic at Lake Tekapo is recommended. This superb high country location offers some stunning photo opportunities and is a great place to let the kids go for a swim. Golden tussock grass carpets the surrounding hillside and roll away into the distance where the Southern Alps frame the horizon. The charming 'Church of the Good Shepherd' sits alone on its shores and the views to our highest mountain, Mt Cook, are remarkable.

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

​Accommodation: Mt. Cook - 1 Night

Travel via the Lindis Pass and Gibbston Valley to Queenstown. During your drive you might like to stop in the charming historic gold mining town on Arrowtown or visit one of the many beautiful vineyards in Gibbston Valley. We've all heard the endless hype about it being the adventure capital of the world, and there are certainly enough crazy activities here to challenge the strongest, but Queenstown offers much more. Take some time to explore the township this afternoon and wonder the shores of Lake Wakitipu. Framed by the stunning Remarkables mountain range the landscape is sure to take your breath away.

Approximate Distance: 270 km | 168 miles  Total Driving Time: 3 hours 30 mins

​Accommodation: Queenstown - 3 Nights

All aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw this old coal-fired beauty has been ferrying passengers around the lake for over a 100 years. Kids find the 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. Kids can 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. 

The gondola whisks you smoothly up 450 meters (1,746 ft) as Queenstown drops away below. Breathtaking views from the top extend almost 360 degrees; from Coronet Peak around to the Remarkables, with Cecil and Walter Peaks on the other side of beautiful Lake Wakatipu. Treat yourself to a gondola ride and luge for some fast paced fun! You have the choice of two 800 meters (2,624 ft) tracks winding down through trees; choose either the scenic track if you want a leisurely trip or take the advanced track if you want to be more adventurous and enjoy the challenge of banked corners, a tunnel, bends and dips. - Mum and Dad, the Luge (or fancy Go-cart) has been designed so you can take charge and control speed and direction while the young ones sit in front - loads of fun!

Haere rā and Bon Voyage!

Sadly, Your New Zealand Holiday is at an end, drop your vehicle at Queenstown airport and catch your onward flight. Have a good homeward journey, farewell, and we hope you leave with many happy memories from your New Zealand self-drive adventure.