Sample Itinerary #3:

Day 1 Arrive Auckland / to Paihia
Arrive Auckland International Airport. Make your way to the domestic airport to connect with flight to Paihia (Flight not included in quoted cost). Arrive at Paihia Airport, make your way to the rental car kiosk to take delivery of rental car a 1.6 litre Toyota Corolla or similar automatic with air conditioning. Make your way to your hotel for the next two nights.

Day 2 Return day trip to Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach
Breakfast at the hotel
Be collected from hotel for full day trip to Cape Reinga including BBQ lunch. Highlights of today's journey include the drive along mighty Ninety Mile Beach, the opportunity to walk out to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga with it's magnificent views over where the two oceans of the green Tasman Sea and the blue Pacific Ocean meet. The day also includes the magnificent Puketi Forest where you can take 20 minute walk through the huge Kauri trees and native bush. Lunch included today.

Day 3 Paihia to Auckland
Breakfast the hotel
This morning report for your Swim with the Dolphins cruise. This is the 'Ultimate Marine Adventure' to get up close to the Dolphins. Watch their antics and get fantastic photos. After the Dolphin Adventure stop off at Urupukapuka Island for great coastal walks, magnificent beaches and swimming.
Return to Paihia and begin your drive south to Auckland and your accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 4 Auckland
Breakfast at the hotel
Make your way to the wharf area for your morning cruise to Rangitoto Island. Rangitoto Island is an easy 30 minute cruise from Downtown Auckland. On arrival at the island be escorted by 4WD road-train on a journey of discovery. Learn about Rangitoto's fiery past and amazing growth flourishing amongst the lava of Pohutukawa and fern. Near the summit a 900 metre bush walk to the top will reward you will 360-degree views back over Auckland City and the whole Hauraki Gulf.

Day 5 Auckland to Rotorua (Marae Stay) via Waitomo
Breakfast at the hotel.
Make your way south via Hamilton to Waitomo where you will enjoy Black Water Rafting OR a guided tour of the glow-worm caves. (a) Rafting: The original, exhilarating, natural, underground "Glowworm Glide" or cave tubing trip. Spend 1 hour underground. (b) Glow-worm Caves: The highlight is a silent boat trip through the glowworm grotto when you glide quietly beneath the lights of thousands of glowworms which live on the cave ceiling.
Continue to Rotorua and your overnight Marae Stay including dinner & breakfast.

Day 6 Rotorua to Taupo
Breakfast on the Marae
Spend this morning exploring Rotorua before departing to Taupo this afternoon visiting Waimangu Thermal Valley enroute. Walk down the Waimangu Valley which is a unique thermal and volcanic eco-system then take scenic boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana to see the steaming cliffs. After this continue onto Taupo to your accommodation for this evening.

Day 7 Taupo to Wellington
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning enjoy a cruise OR kayaking on Lake Taupo. Lake Taupo is our largest lake and used for all watersports, recreational boating and fishing. The cruise takes you to view the historic Maori rock carvings and the kayaking is catered to your level of experience (no previous experience required though). This afternoon drive through to Wellington and your accommodation for one night.

Day 8 Wellington to Picton to Kaikoura
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning spend some time discovering our "Capital City". Perhaps visit Te Papa our National Museum or Parliament Buildings.
Make your way to the InterIsland Ferry terminal, returning your rental car here. Depart Wellington by ferry to Picton. Enjoy the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds as you enter into Picton. On arrival take delivery of your replacement rental car and drive south to Kaikoura and your accommodation for one night.

Day 9 Kaikoura to Geraldine
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning enjoy a Whale Watch Eco-Marine cruise. A unique opportunity to view the Giant Sperm Whales in their natural habitat. In addition to the Whales a typical trip could also see New Zealand Fur Seal, dolphin, Albatross, Penguins and other off-shore sea birds. After the cruise, continue south by-passing Christchurch to arrive in Geraldine and your Farmstay accommodation including dinner and breakfast for this evening.

Day 10 Geraldine to Queenstown
Breakfast with your hosts this morning
Begin your day's with a walk or tour around the farm before beginning your journey to Queenstown, and we would recommend a side tour into Mount Cook Village today. Continue to Queenstown and your accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 11 Queenstown
Breakfast at the hotel then a free day to explore this "Adventure Capital"

Day 12 Queenstown to Doubtful Sound and overnight Te Anau
Breakfast at the hotel, then begin your drive to Manapouri for your cruise on Doubtful Sound. 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". Lunch included today.
Make your way back to Te Anau (15 minute drive from Manapouri) and your accommodation for this evening

Day 13 Te Anau to Wanaka
Breakfast at the hotel this morning
Today your journey takes you back via Queenstown to Wanaka a small town nestled on the shores of Lake Wanaka. A nice side trip today is to Arrowtown a very pretty town located about 20 minutes drive north of Queenstown. Make your way to your accommodation for one night

Day 14 Wanaka to Fox Glacier
Breakfast at the hotel this morning
Today travel through Mt Aspiring National Park and Haast Pass to reach the West Coast. Arrive in Fox Glacier and make your way to your hotel for one night.
This afternoon enjoy Heli-hike from Fox Glacier. The Helihike is a marvellous way to experience walking on Fox Glacier as well the thrill of a helicopter flight. You visit the ice caves and other wonderful formations below the upper ice fall, allowing you to explore a part of the glacier that is otherwise very difficult to get to.

Day 15 Fox Glacier to Greymouth to Christchurch
Breakfast at your hotel
Depart Fox Glacier and continue your drive up the picturesque West Coast passing through small towns dotted along the way this morning. Arrive at Greymouth and return your rental car at the Railway Station. Board the Tranz Alpine Scenic train and depart Greymouth. The award winning Tranz Alpine train is rated as one of the top six scenic train journeys in the world with massive viaducts, spectacular river gorges and the stunning Waimakariri River valley. The highest point is 737 metres at the alpine village at Arthur's Pass. Arrive Christchurch where you will met and transferred to your hotel for the next two nights

Day 16 Christchurch
Up early this morning and be collected from hotel for Hot Air Ballooning. On board you will experience superb views over the blue Pacific Ocean, over 'the garden city' and across the patchwork coloured fields of the Canterbury Plains to the splendid Southern Alps.
Return to hotel for late breakfast
This afternoon be collected for half day Cycling tour, starting with drive to Winery for lunch. After lunch be fitted to your bikes and ride approximately 9 kilometres following roads lined with hedges past a mixture of dairy farms and lifestyle blocks with sheep and horses. Return to Christchurch via Otahuna Valley, past some orchards and berry farms. This route is flat and picturesque for cycling. Lunch included today.

Day 17 Depart Christchurch / New Zealand
Breakfast at the hotel
Be collected from hotel for transfer to airport to connect with departing flight.