14 Day Luxury New Zealand Self Drive Itinerary

‘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:

Accommodation: Auckland - 2 Nights

Waiheke Island is to Auckland as the Hamptons are to New York – the former being on a much smaller scale. Home to beautiful beaches and holiday homes, Waiheke Island produces some outstanding wines. Just 35 minutes by ferry from Auckland, across the beautiful Hauraki Gulf is this 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 internationally award-winning wines. 

Private Wine Connoisseur's Tour including lunch

Indulge your passion for fine wine in this exclusive tour to three of Waiheke's top wine producers. Taste a selection of premium wines and learn about them from the winemaker. Weather permitting, you may also tour the vineyard. You will be accompanied by experienced guides, who have completed a Bob Campbell Wine Diploma course, and are themselves a great wine enthusiasts.

Finish with a superb lunch at any one of the delightful vineyard restaurants. 

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

Thermal Explorer By Helicopter - Dual Landing - Mt Tarawera & Orakei Korako

Combine the thrill of landing on Mount Tarawera with a flight that includes spectacular aerial views of our stunning crater lakes, the renowned Tarawera Falls and vibrant Waimangu and Wai-O-Tapu geothermal reserves. Leaving Wai-O-Tapu we descend to follow the Waikato River to the hidden Valley of Orakei Korako. Once landed, you will ferry across the river and begin your land-based tour.

Experience hot springs, gushing geysers and the natural beauty of this geothermal wonderland. Your return flight takes in views of farmland and the Paeroa mountain range before flying over Rotorua City and returning to our lakeside pier.

Return your rental vehicle to Rotorua Airport and fly to Christchurch.

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

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 Night

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 next rental vehicle on arrival in Greymouth and continue on to west coast glacial village of Franz Josef Glacier. The village lies at the heart of the Westland National Park. Welcome to one of the most diverse and beautiful areas of New Zealand.

Accommodation: Franz Josef - 2 nights

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.

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 | 220 miles  Total Driving Time: 5 hours 

Accommodation: Queenstown - 3 Nights

The ideal way to get the full Milford Sound experience, this combination flight and boat cruise delivers the two best perspectives of this world-famous fiord. Flying over the spectacular alpine scenery of the Southern Alps, you'll land in Milford.

The 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.

Upon return to Milford you'll board your helicopter again to be whisked away for a remote alpine or glacier landing with magnificent views and plenty of time for photographs before returning to Queenstown.

This is no ordinary picnic! We take you on a breathtaking helicopter flight and expose you to the dramatic views and stunning beauty of Lake Wakatipu, the Queenstown region.

The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Skippers Canyon, the Southern Alps and beyond Then we will fly you to a remote spot, drop you off for a quiet wilderness champagne lunch and you can call us up on the radio when you're ready to come home.

Twizel is situated in the heart of Mackenzie Country, in some of New Zealand's most spectacular high country. Twizel is the closest town to Mt Cook and the Tasman Glacier, Lake Ruataniwha, scene of the world rowing championships, Lake Pukaki, Lake Ohau, Lake Benmore, Lake Tekapo, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki and Omarama the worlds gliding centre.

Twizel's fly fishing rivers and canals including the Ahuriri River and Tekapo River are brimming with world record rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon. The Mackenzie Basin is named after the legendary Scottish shepherd turned sheep rustler James Mackenzie.

Approximate Distance: 200 km | 124 miles  Total Driving Time: 2 hours 45 mins

Accommodation: Twizel - 2 Nights

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 snowfields, mountain lakes, and ranges.

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

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: 290 km | 180 miles  Total Driving Time: 4 hours

Accommodation: Christchurch - 1 Night

"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.