12D Majestic New Zealand Self Drive Holiday

ITINERARY

DAY 1 AUCKLAND

Upon arrival, collect your rental vehicle and self-drive to your accommodation.

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, set between two harbours with gentle sandy shores on the east and black sand, and wild surf beaches on the west. Home to sheltered, sparkling blue waters dotted with beautiful emerald islands, we recommend getting out on the water when you are here.

DAY 2 AUCKLAND - WAITOMO - HOBBITON - ROTORUA

Auckland-Waitomo: 195km (approx 2hrs, 30mins) / Waitomo-Matamata: 102km (approx 1hr, 20mins) / Matamata-Rotorua: 67km (approx 55mins)

Journey through the rolling green hills of Waitomo and enjoy a tour through an underground wonderland of caves decorated with galaxies of glowworms. Continue to Matamata for a charming tour of unique, character Hobbit homes, gardens and the watering hole just as you see in the movies. Finishing off a visually fulfilling day, continue Rotorua, a bubbling and steaming destination like nowhere else.

DAY 3 ROTORUA

Rotorua is surrounded by a fascinating geothermal landscape with its unique steam vents, spouting geysers and bubbling mud pool set alongside freshwater lakes and majestic native forests. It is also a region immersed in fascinating Maori myths and legends. Today you'll visit one of the local geothermal attractions before a sensory evening display in the forest.

DAY 4 ROTORUA - CHRISTCHURCH

Depart on your domestic flight to Christchurch. (Airfare is NOT included).

Flight Time Rotorua to Christchurch is approx. 2 hours

Christchurch is set between the deep blue Pacific Ocean and the mighty snow-capped Southern Alps. This is a vibrant, ever-changing city with inner city parks and gardens delightfully interwoven by the meandering Avon River.

DAY 5 CHRISTCHURCH - GLACIER REGION

Christchurch - Glacier Region: 240-380km (approx 3.5-5hrs)

Depart across the Canterbury Plains, a fertile patchwork made with every shade of green, through the spectacular scenery of Arthurs Pass National Park and on to the West Coast. New Zealand’s rugged West Coast is a wild and untamed place known for its rivers, rainforests, glaciers and geological treasures. Here, mighty rivers of solid white ice, relics of the world’s last ice-age, tumble down the rocky valleys.

DAY 6 GLACIER REGION

A temperate climate at a low altitude make Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers among the most convenient to visit in the world. Steep valleys bear scars from where glaciers have retreated and advanced over millennia and here, the ice age is still underway.

Today is a free day to add your preferred activity. Make a visit to Punakaki's Pancake Rocks or, for an absolute bucket list experience, take to the air on a scenic flight with a glacier landing and a thrilling hike across the icy wonderland. Overnight: Glacier Region

DAY 7 GLACIER REGION - QUEENSTOWN

Glacier Region - Queenstown: 350km (approx 4hrs, 35mins)

Travel through wilderness towns, waterfalls and river scenery on today’s scenic journey to Queenstown. We recommend stopping for a break, and to stretch the legs, at Makarora’s Blue Pools.

DAY 8 QUEENSTOWN

Magnificent vistas and majestic mountains dominate this compact alpine resort town and with such an expansive natural physical environment it is not surprising that Queenstown has been described as the Adventure Capital of the World. Today is a free day to add some of the endless optional activities on offer.

DAY 9 QUEENSTOWN - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Highlights:

Milford Sound Cruise

Fiordland is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. Today's stunning journey takes you past mirror lakes, spectacular waterfalls and water-sculpted rocks. Venture into Milford Sound, a New Zealand treasure carved by ice age glaciers and famously described as the eighth wonder of the world. After a big day out, reflect on memories of a lifetime on your return to Queenstown.

DAY 10 QUEENSTOWN - LAKE TEKAPO/MT COOK

Queenstown – Tekapo/Mt Cook: 256-266km (approx 3hrs, 15mins)

Today’s journey takes you to a scenic wonderland with golden tussocks, snow-capped mountains and turquoise lakes. Hug the shores of beautiful Lake Pukaki to a rugged land of ice and rock, home to Aoraki Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Overnight: Tekapo or Mt Cook

DAY 11 LAKE TEKAPO/MT COOK - CHRISTCHURCH

Tekapo/Mt Cook - Christchurch: 230-230km (approx 3-4hrs)

Be sure to stop for a while at Lake Tekapo where the ‘Church of the Good Shepherd’ takes pride of place against the backdrop of a vivid blue glacier-fed lake. Then continue north east where braided rivers and familiar plains will signal your arrival back into Christchurch.

DAY 12 CHRISTCHURCH

Arrangements conclude today with the return of your rental car to Christchurch Airport.