Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day One:
Auckland
Arrive in Auckland and settle into the time-zone,
and your luxury accommodation. Soak up the sights and sounds of the iconic
city of Auckland. For the best of the views, visit the 328-meter Sky Tower, or
otherwise hike up Mount Eden, a volcanic peak that casts views over the
Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, and the iconic Eden Park – home of the All Blacks. For
a different sense of perspective, you could choose to sail in the gloriously
protected water of the bay on a real America’s Cup Yacht. With the wind
ruffling your hair, and the skyline of Auckland as a backdrop, this is a
fantastic way to introduce yourself with what a holiday in New Zealand is all
about.
Day Two: Auckland
Today could be spent
living as a true New Zealander by journeying to one of the classic city escapes
from Auckland. To the east lie the Hauraki Gulf Islands, and the largest,
Waiheke Island, offers something for everyone, with both beautiful beaches,
fashionable streets and some excellent vineyards. Take a stroll on one of
island’s trails which take you from cliff top vistas into the cool and dense
envelope of the native forest. To the west, volcanic beaches and great surfing
await in Piha, a fantastic climax to an easy day’s road trip.
Day
Three: Northland and the Bay of Islands
Picking up your 4x4 hire
car, your first taste of rural New Zealand awaits. Today you drive north
through the lush vegetation, spectacular coastline, orchards of citrus trees
and roadside fruit stalls, bumpy volcanic peaks, and, of course, pastures of
sheep. Arrive in the Bay of Islands to find your spectacular panoramic
accommodation perfectly positioned to make the most of the evening sunshine.
Spotting dolphins playing in the ocean below you whilst unwinding on your
private deck or in a jacuzzi, sundowner in hand.
Day Four: Bay of
Islands
A stay in the Bay of Islands really is about exploring
the idyllic coastline that surrounds you. Lush fern filled valleys turn to
cliffs, bays, inlets and beaches, and into the crystal-clear waters of the
Southern Pacific. Choose from a range of activities including sea kayaking,
swimming with the resident dolphins, or sailing. Land lovers may choose to
admire the vistas on horseback, or by hiking. Otherwise, simply get onto the
beaches and soak up the Southern Hemisphere sunshine.
Day Five:
Rotorua
Driving to Kerikeri Airport in the Bay of Islands, you
will drop your hire car and board your flight to Rotorua. This flight will
take you deep into the volcanic heartland of the North Island, where
geothermal wonders, bubbling hot pools, exploding geysers, and lush
rainforest. Pick up your new hire car, and perhaps join an evening Maori
cultural display in a local Maori village. Rotorua is often considered the
heart of Maori culture in New Zealand, so there is no better place to learn of
their historic traditions and watch fascinating song and dance before settling
down to an authentic feast cooked beneath the ground on hot stones.
Day Six: Rotorua
Today would be best spent uncovering
the geothermal wonders of the region. To do so, visit Te Puia – a 70-hectare
park that contains the world famous Pohutu geyser, as well as mud pools, hot
springs and silica formation. Indeed, here you will also find the Kiwi bird,
and national schools of Maori wood carving, weaving, stone and bone carving.
The highlight of the experience is undoubtedly Pohutu geyser, an ancient
geothermal feature, and the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere.
She erupts twice every hour and sometimes reaches heights of 30 metres. Next,
travel to Whirinaki forest, where lush rainforest supports a great diversity
of wildlife including many rare birds. A network of trails makes walking and
mountain biking a joy amongst the awe-inspiring trees.
Day
Seven: Hawke’s Bay
A full day’s drive will delight as you
drive pass yet more steaming geothermal sites before skimming the eastern
shores of the majestic Lake Taupo. Here, you could enjoy an afternoon sail to
the ancient Maori rock carvings, or head out on a short hike in the Tongariro
National Park. Next, meander through the forested hills of Kaimanawa and Kaweka
before reaching the art deco treasures of Napier and the fertile and sunny
plains of Hawke’s Bay.
Day Eight: Hawke’s Bay
Spend a relaxing today investigating the architectural treasures of Napier
together with its Aquarium and dolphin displays and then explore some of the
famous vineyards of the region, perhaps having lunch at Sileni or Black Barn.
In the afternoon, you could potter in the pretty village of Havelock North and
take a scenic drive along the Tukituki River. Hawke’s Bay really is all about
appreciating the landscape, climate and culinary prowess of New Zealand.
Day Nine: Wairarapa
Depending on where you stay, take
time today to explore a working sheep farm and then to visit Martinborough,
famous for its pinot noir vineyards. If you stay in Martinborough make the
most of the accessibility of the vineyards, many by foot from the town centre.
The rolling rural pastures and the pleasant climate make Wairarapa an
all-together perfect end to your time on the North Island. Tomorrow you will
cross the Cook Strait, but today, raise a glass of pinot noir in toast to this
peaceful place.
Day Ten: Nelson and Abel Tasman
Drive South to Wellington to board your ferry across the Cook Strait. This
scenic cruise is one of the highlights to any holiday in New Zealand, as you
enter the peaceful serenity of the Marlborough Sounds. Having perhaps spotted
dolphins from your ferry, arrive into Picton and drive West towards Nelson to
reach your accommodation in the afternoon. Nelson is a charming city well
known for its art and craft prowess. Perhaps tour the galleries of the region
before settling down to dinner.
Day Eleven: Nelson and Abel
Tasman
Today would be a great day to venture into the true
wilderness of the Abel Tasman National Park. Preferably, you could join your
own private charter so that you get to see the major sights along the coast
and have time for a swim and sunbathe and a picnic lunch on a pretty-much
deserted beach. Either way, the Abel Tasman National Park is a mecca for
wildlife enthusiasts the world over. Here lush vegetation and hills of native
bush cascade into sheltered inlets of turquoise water and idyllic beaches. The
Park can only be reached by water or foot, and it is this isolation that makes
the Abel Tasman such a special retreat into nature.
Day Twelve:
Blenheim and Marlborough
Today’s drive is particularly pretty as
you head along the coast passing Nelson and then through wooded hills skirting
the edge of the Marlborough Sounds near Havelock. Stop here for a fantastic
lunch of the local Greenlip mussels before reaching the more expansive, drier
country of the Wairau valley around Blenheim. Vineyards here stretch for miles
with easily recognisable names such as Montana, Cloudy Bay and Stoneleigh. Stop
for wine-tasting in the late afternoon, as the sun cast golden hues over the
pastoral landscape.
Day Thirteen: Blenheim and
Marlborough
Another full day of exploring the world-famous
vineyards of Marlborough could await guests. One of the most exciting ways to
do this would be by riding The Golden Mile, a series of excellent vineyards
connected by easy and scenic bike trails. Otherwise choose from a variety of
activities to showcase the best of the region. For example, explore the local
museums that tell the history of New Zealand, or hike and kayak around the
Wairau Lagoon, where the site of New Zealand’s earliest human habitation, and
over 90 species of bird are found.
Day Fourteen:
Christchurch
Set out South East en route to Kaikoura. Spot
striking beaches, and the friendly faces of sunbathing seals before arriving
into Kaikoura for lunch. If you have some extra time at your disposal, join a
whale watching expedition in the rich, biodiverse waters just off the coast.
Made famous by David Attenborough amongst many other naturalists, Kaikoura is
home to an astonishing wealth of cetacean life, including sperm whales, orcas
and dolphins, as well as variety of other species including seals and
albatross. Whale watching boats really do offer a great perspective of this
‘maritime Serengeti’, however snorkelling and scenic flights are also available
upon request. Continue onto Christchurch in the evening, and perhaps explore
this fascinating city as it rebuilds in creative ways from the devastation of
the 2011 earthquake.
Day Fifteen: Arthur’s Pass
Today an easy drive will take you from the Canterbury Plains of Christchurch
into the start of the Southern Alps. The scenery from the road is some of the
best in New Zealand, and postcard images of the South Island will pass by in
their dozens, from pastures of grazing sheep to craggy cliffs and distant
snow-clad mountain peaks. The vistas reach their crescendo as you approach
Arthur’s Pass. Here, settle into your friendly and cosy luxury hotel, and
perhaps join one of the walking tours of this alpine environment before
tucking into a well-earnt hearty meal.
Day Sixteen: Arthur’s
Pass
Live like a true Kiwi local today by a tour of a real
working sheep farm. With 3000 sheep and 120 Angus cattle, experienced guides
will show you this typically New Zealand way of life, including traditional
blade-shearing demonstrations, and handfeeding of tame shape. Alternatively,
guests could hike or join an ecological guided tour of the area. The focus
really is on the great outdoors, and the alpine scenery provides a magnificent
playground in which to indulge oneself. In the evening, observe the stars of
the southern sky in this second-to-none setting where clean air and zero light
pollution reveal the entirety of the milky way.
Day Seventeen:
Franz Josef Glacier
Continuing west across the Pass, today’s
drive will eventually take you down to the coast. Here awaits a marvel of the
latitude, with the pristine glaciers of Franz Josef and Fox advancing close to
the sea. Settle into your luxury lodge, and take a trip into town to find a
charming town alive with Kea – a cheeky and comical West Coast Parrot. For
pure relaxation, why not indulge in the glacier hot pools that weave their way
through the lush rainforest.
Day Eighteen: Franz Josef
Glacier
Today can be adventurous in the most Kiwi of ways. One
of the delights of the Franz Josef Glacier is the opportunity to take a
thrilling helicopter ride onto the pale blue pristine ice formations, and hike
along with the help of a qualified guide. This adventure is deceptively safe,
and your well-trained guides will walk with you every step of the way. The
views are exceptional, and the experience is unlike anything you will have
tried before. It really is one of the highlights of a trip to New Zealand.
Day Nineteen: Queenstown
A scenic drive will take you
along the west coast of New Zealand, past a number of achingly pretty stops.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Mount Cook National Park, Haast, Mount
Aspiring National Park and Wanaka, before touching the wineries of Otago and
passing into the famously adventurous Queenstown. Set on the shores of Lake
Wakatipu, and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, New Zealand has saved the best
for last. Settle into your lake-side accommodation and revel in the alpine
surrounds.
Day Twenty: Queenstown
The choice of
activities on offer in Queenstown is truly staggering. In the winter, head to
the aptly-named Remarkables to find some of the best skiing in the Southern
Hemisphere. In the summer, choose from mountain biking, white-water rafting or
horse-riding amongst other activities. Many of these opportunities operate
year-round, allowing you to acquaint yourself with Fiordland in an adventurous
way. Queenstown itself is a beautiful and exciting home from home amidst all
the adrenaline. There is a youthful energy available, as well as a palpable air
of sophistication for those seeking outstanding hospitality, food and wine.
Day Twenty-One: Queenstown
On your last full day in
New Zealand, make the most of the adventurous capabilities of Queenstown in a
way that suits you. Another option, is to join a day cruise of either Milford
or Doubtful Sound to the South West of the city. These incredible fiords are
home to an extraordinary mix of wildlife, from orcas to penguins, and feature
some of the best scenery in New Zealand. In the evening, return to Queenstown
and raise a glass to this incredible country.
Day Twenty-Two:
Return Home
With memories to last a lifetime, drop your hire
car at Queenstown Airport and catch your flight home.