17nts New Zealand self drive holidays

After a long flight, meet our local representatives at Auckland International airport who will assist you with your private transfer to your confirmed hotel.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your leisure.

• 5 nights double room breakfast included at VR Queen Street Hotel, Auckland.

Enjoy Auckland at your own leisure. Pre bookable optional excursions:

• Half day Discover Auckland City tour ( private or with a small group )
• Full day excursion Auckland to Hobbiton and Rotorua (Small Group Tour & Activity Add-Ons)
• Full day excursion Auckland to Ruakuri and Waitomo Caves.
• Hobbiton film set tour, lunch included.
• Half day excursion to Auckland's Waitakere Ranges and black sand beach.
• Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour. 

Full day free at leisure in Auckland.

Full day free at leisure in Auckland.

Full day free at leisure in Auckland.

Today you will embark an epic 648km rail journey through rural New Zealand.

The journey will take just over ten hours and you will be able to enjoy stunning landscapes.

See the scenic wonders of Middle Earth, soar over towering viaducts, across the high plains of the volcanic plateau, and beneath three mighty volcanoes.

• 2 nights Studio Room breakfast included at Mercure Wellington Central City Hotel & Apartments, Wellington.

 

Full day free at leisure to self explore New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

Wellington is a compact vibrant city nestled between a stunning harbour and picturesque hills. It is renowned for its arts, culture and outdoor activities. What not to miss while visiting Wellington city:

• Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum.
• Mount Victoria lookout.
• Zealandia with its nativewildlife and lush forest.
• Oriental Bay, Wellington's waterfront promenade.
• Cuba Street with its lively bars and restaurants.
• Red Rocks Reserve with its striking red rock formations and seal colony along the coastline.

Morning private transfer from your hotel in Wellington to Interislander ferry terminal.

Check-in at the Interislander ferry terminal and board your vessel for the journey (Please note: All passengers must check in 45 minutes prior to departure).

Travel by ferry across Cook Strait on Premium Class from Wellington to Picton, New Zealand's gateway to South Island. This 92 kilometre voyage has been described as one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world.

Premium Class will give you access to Kaitaki Superior Club Lounge providing comfortable seating, complimentary Wi-Fi, Sky television,  newspapers and magazines plus complimentary food and beverages.

CAR RENTAL: Collect your hire car at Picton Ferry Terminal Building on arrival.

Drive Picton to Nelson (+/- 133 kms/83 miles, about two hours non-stop drive time).

After today's ferry crossing to Picton, once you have collected your rental car proceed to drive to Nelson via Blenheim in the Marlborough wine rgion. Continue your drive through Mount Cullen to Havelock with marvellous lookout view points and stunning scenery.

Follow Cullen Point and Pelorus River, film locations from the Hobbit movies. Once you arrive in the Nelson region you will notice the roads become hilly.

• 1 night Standard Studio, Courtyard Area breakfast included at Harbourside Lodge, Nelson.

 

Scenic drive from Nelson to Punakaiki.   We recommend the following self drive route:  

• Lake Rotoiti
• Motueka
• Split Apple Rock
• Wharariki Beach
• Kahurangi National Park

 

• 2 nights Grand Ocean View Balcony room breakfast included at Scenic Hotel Punakaiki, Punakaiki.

   

Full day free at leisure in Punakaiki. Enjoy a sunset at nearby Hokitika Beach, check Dorothy Falls, Glow Worm Dell, Lake Kaniere, Hokitika Gorge, hike along West Coast Treetop Walkaway, visit Lake Mahinapua and the National Kiwi Center where you can also do Jade carving at this place.

Today you will be driving from Punakaiki to Franz Josef along the Great Coast Road, one of the most scenic roads in New Zealand.

Places of interest:

• Okarito, a small township located on a sand spit between the Tasman Sea and New Zealand's largest wetland, a perfect location for bird watching lovers.
• Hari Hari is a very small town with the widest high street in NZ's South Island.

   

• 2 nights executive studio on room only basis at Aspen Court, Franz Josef.

   

Free day at leisure. Franz Josef is one of the prettiest small towns in West Coast New Zealand's South Island. Only 500 people live here all year round but there are thousands of international visitors during summer months. Some of the top things to do while visiting Franz Josef are:

• Hiking the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk.
• A helicopeter flight over the Glacier.
• Visit the Glacier hot pools.
• Visit nearby Lake Matheson and Lake Mapourika and Peter Pool Walk.
• Roberts Point Track is another favourite hike.
• Canavans Knob hike trail offers magnificent views towards Franz Josef Glacier, mountains and the river at the start of the trail.
• Visit Fox Glacier Town, a small village about 30 minutes outside Franz Josef town.

 

Scenic drive Franz Josef to Queenstown. We recommend the following self drive route:

• Fox Glacier
• Bruce Bay
• Lake Paringa and Lake Moeraki
• Haast Pass Highway
• Mt Brewster Glacier
• Wanaka
• Lake Hayes

 

• 2 nights deluxe room breakfast included at Swiss-Belsuites Pounamu, Queenstown.

   

Free day at leisure in Queenstown. We recommend to pre book the following experience: Full Day Milford Sound Experience from Queenstown with a 2-hour cruise and lunch included. Milford Sound is without a doubt one of New Zealand's must see locations with Mitre Peak, rainforests, waterfalls, Fiordland National Park with its penguin, dolphin and seal colonies and so many spectacular landscapes you can enjoy all year round.

Scenic drive Queenstown to Lake Tekapo. We recommend the following self drive route:

• Kawarau River and Gorge
• AJ Hackett Bridge Bungy
• Cromwell town, between Kawarau and Clutha rivers )
• Lindis Pass
• Omarama town
• Lake Pukaki
• Lake Tekapo

While at Lake Tekapo, do not miss a star gazing experience at Mt John Night Observatory, the most Southern research observatory in the world. The viewing of planets, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies through powerful telescopes is just amazing.

• 1 night one bedroom unit room on room only basis at Mantra Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie district.

 

Scenic drive Lake Tekapo to Christchurch. We recommend the following self drive route:

• Burkes Pass
• Fairlie and Geraldine towns
• Rangitata River
• Canterbury Plains

 

• 2 nights superior room with breakfast included at Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square, Christchurch.

 

Free day at leisure in Christchurch. Enjoy this charming city and self explore by hop on hop off sightseeing bus. Hagley Park with its botanical gardens, Avon River and the Canterbury Museum are some of Christchurch's highlights.

Today is the last day of your amazing tailor made holiday in New Zealand. Self drive to Christchurch International airport where you will be dropping your car off. Return flight back to the U.K. Stop overs are permitted.