Sample Itinerary #2

Day 1 Arrive in Auckland
Be met on arrival and transferred to central city hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the "City of Sails"

Day 2 Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
Breakfast at the hotel this morning.
At 9.00am a representative from the rental car company will meet you at hotel reception.
Take delivery of your rental car a 1.6 litre automatic, air conditioning, Toyota or similar.
Begin your drive to Coromandel, on arrival make your way to your accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 3 Coromandel
Breakfast at hotel
Be collected from accommodation for full day on the peninsula including regenerating Kauri forests, site of 1890's gold mining town, old gold mining sites now inhabited by thousands of glow-worms, lunch (included) beside river, across farmland into semi-tropical rainforest, beside creek down valley past volcanic rock walls. Lunch included today. Be returned to your hotel.

Day 4 Coromandel to Rotorua
Breakfast at the hotel, then begin your drive to Rotorua. Make your way to your accommodation for this evening. This afternoon Entry and guided tour of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve for a touch of NZ Culture with weaving, carving, weaponry and musical instruments. This evening be collected for traditional Maori welcome, cultural performance and Hangi (feast).

Day 5 Rotorua to Napier
Breakfast in hotel dining room
Depart Rotorua for drive via Taupo to Napier in the sunny Hawkes Bay. This area is renown for its Art Deco buildings and Wineries. Make your way to your accommodation for this evening.

Day 6 Napier to Wellington
This morning be collected for morning sights tour including food & wine, artists in studios and garden or coastal walk.
This afternoon drive to Wellington our "Capital City", and to your accommodation for this evening.

Day 7 Wellington to Picton to Queen Charlotte Sound
Breakfast at hotel. This morning visit Te Papa the museum of New Zealand, the waterfront and Parliament Buildings at your leisure.
Make your way to the InterIsland Ferry terminal returning your rental car here. Board the ferry to Picton and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you enter the Queen Charlotte and Marlborough Sounds.
At Picton connect with launch to accommodation in Queen Charlotte Sound

Day 8 Queen Charlotte Sound
Breakfast at the hotel
Be collected for your full day including guided walk OR sea kayaking in the Queen Charlotte area of the Sounds. The scenery is splendid today and expect to see dolphins in the sheltered bays. Lunch is included today.

Day 9 Queen Charlotte Sound to Picton to Kaikoura
Breakfast at the hotel then launch back to Picton. Collect replacement rental car then begin your drive to Kaikoura, passing through the wine area of Blenheim. There are several great wineries to stop at for
optional lunch. Continue to Kaikoura where the "Mountains meet the sea" and your accommodation for one night.

Day 10 Kaikoura to Christchurch
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning experience a Whale Watch Eco-marine Cruise from Kaikoura. Then continue your journey south via the Waipara Wine area to Christchurch our "Garden City". On arrival make your way to your accommodation for this evening.

Day 11 Christchurch to Queenstown
Breakfast at the hotel
Before departing this morning, visit the Botanical Gardens, Avon River and the Canterbury Arts Centre. Afterwards continue driving south to Queenstown. Wee recommend side trip to Mount Cook Village enroute. On arrival in Queenstown, make your way to your accommodation for the next three nights.

Day 12 Queenstown
Breakfast at the hotel, then a free day to explore central Queenstown and Arrowtown and to enjoy optional activities such as:
Shotover Jetboat ride, Cruise on the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw, Ride up the gondola, visit the worlds most southern wineries, bungy jump.

Day 13 Return day trip to Doubtful Sound
Breakfast at the hotel, then be collected from hotel for day trip to Doubtful Sound. Departing from Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm. Travel by coach over Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound where you board the Catamaran for a three hour cruise to Tasman Sea. View the waterfalls, rainforest and mountains, you may see the bottlenose dolphins, fur seals or the Rare Fiordland crested Penguins in season. On the return trip the engines are turned off for you to enjoy the "Sounds of Silence". Retrace your steps back to Manapouri where you disembark from the vessel. Be returned to your hotel in Queenstown. Lunch is included today.

Day 14 Queenstown to Fox Glacier
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast begin journey through to the Haast Paws and the Haast Wilderness area to Fox Glacier.
On arrival at Fox Glacier, check in for heli-hike guided walk onto Fox Glacier. Involves flying in helicopter to the upper reaches of the glacier, walking on and down the glacier for approximately 2 hours before being collected by helicopter and returned to Fox Glacier village and your accommodation for this evening.

Day 15 Fox Glacier / Greymouth / Arthurs Pass
After breakfast continue drive up the West Coast with stops at Hokitika and Greymouth. From Greymouth turn inland to the Arthurs Pass National Park. On arrival in the area make your way through to the Wilderness Lodge Arthurs Pass. The next two nights including daily dinner and breakfast are at the Wilderness Lodge Arthurs Pass where your hosts are both acclaimed conservation and wildlife experts.

Day 16 Arthurs Pass
After breakfast you will have your own guide to take you on a choice of the excursions available in the area. Examples are:
a) Walks on the 3,000 hectare property to explore beech forests, shrublands, and alpine valleys
b) Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
c) River and lake canoeing
d) Walks within the Arthurs Pass National Park from Otira
e) Fly fishing

Day 17 Arthurs Pass to Christchurch / depart New Zealand
Depart from Wilderness Lodge after breakfast bound for the Christchurch. On arrival in Christchurch make your way to the airport, returning your rental car here. Check in for your outbound flight in the International Terminal. If you have time visit the International Antarctic Centre which adjoins the airport complex and well worth the visit.

Itinerary 1    |    Itinerary 2    |    Itinerary 3
Itinerary 4    |    Itinerary 5    |    Itinerary 6

Other custom trips include:
Mid-Life Adventures