• Drive to the Northland’s Bay of Islands, and 90 mile beach
• Vibrant city stays in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch & Queenstown
• Rotorua hot pools and Maori cultural performances
• Stunning lakes surrounded by mountains at Lake Taupo, Wanaka and Te Anau
• Cook Strait ferry ride between the islands
• Snow-capped mountains and volcanoes in Tongariro National Park and Mt Cook National Park
• Fiordland National Park and Milford Sounds cruise

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland! Meet your private driver who will give you an information pack including maps and driving instructions, then take you to your hotel.  

Day 2: The day is yours to explore the ‘City of Sails’. Maybe cruise the harbour or take a wine tour. We can recommend plenty of exciting things to do.

Day 3: Cross the harbour bridge and head north to the blue waters of the Bay of Islands. The trip from Auckland takes around 3.5 hours but give yourself some leeway for stops and sightseeing.

Day 4: You have the day to discover the gems of the Bay of Islands, take to the water on a dolphin cruise or explore the history. We recommend a visit to Waitangi Treaty Grounds and seeing a cultural performance.

Day 5: Cross rural Northland to the Hokianga Harbour, where you’ll head south along the Kauri Coast. Head south into the Waipoua Forest, home to giant Kauri trees.  Allow time for one of a number of short walks available in the area.

Day 6: Pass back through Auckland and onto the rolling green farmland and the rich dairy pasture of the Waikato.  Continue to Rotorua, with its natural hot springs, boiling mud pools and steaming geysers, sitting within one of the worlds most active volcanic regions.

Day 7: Your day in Rotorua could be spent immersed in culture or sampling the many adventures to be had. We recommend an evening at Mitai Maori Village, to give you an awe-inspiring introduction to the indigenous Maori culture.

Day 8: Today is filled with fantastic scenery including Lake Taupo home to New Zealand’s largest lake, the Desert Road and the Kapiti coast to Wellington.

Day 9: Cross the Cook Strait by ferry and get your camera ready for the amazing Marlborough Sounds scenery as you near Picton. The journey between Wellington and Picton takes around 3 hours and has been described as ‘one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world’.

Day 10: Drive across the ‘dry hills’ of Marlborough and head towards one of the most spectacular coastlines of the South Island, the Kaikoura Coast. Here you can book yourself onto New Zealand’s only marine based whale watching tours, or an Albatross Encounter.

Day 11: Today you travel down the coast before heading inland through the North Canterbury wine region – the Waipara Valley and on to Christchurch.

Day 12: Explore the ever-changing city of Christchurch, or maybe take a day trip to Akaroa. You can drive an hour in any direction to ski, mountain bike, wine taste, whale-watch, bungy jump or play golf!

Day 13: Today you’ll enjoy a scenic drive through the heart of the South Island, crossing the vast Canterbury plains and the MacKenzie Country.

Day 14: Leave the alpine region of Mount Cook National Park and travel past Twizel, one of the locations for the Lord of the Rings films. Drive through the Waitaki Valley following the Waitaki River to the east coast, where you’ll turn south for Dunedin.

Day 15: Discover the diverse wildlife that make their home on the Otago Peninsula, follow the coast to New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle. On your way back be sure to head to the Peninsula to see the largest mainland Albatross colony in the world.

Day 16: Travel through the rich farmland of South Otago and Southland to reach Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.

Day 17: Journey along the road to Milford Sound with some of the most beautiful and iconic scenery in the country. From crystal clear lakes and towering mountains to lush glacier formed meadows, this area is dramatic and unyielding.

Day 18: Travel through rolling Southland countryside then follow Lake Wakatipu where the mountain range towers over your approach into the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown.

Day 19: The day is yours to discover all the scenic spots and fun adrenaline activities on offer in Queenstown. Take a leisurely lakeside stroll or ride the gondola for breath-taking views, or head down the Gibbston Valley wine trail to sample some of the region’s best Pinot.

Day 20: Take the Crown Range Road to Wanaka, the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park and stunning Lake Wanaka, before travelling the spectacular Haast Pass to the West Coast. Allow time for photo stops along the way!

Day 21: Discover the Franz Josef Glacier and view the incredible sight of this frozen river as it winds its way through ancient carved valleys. To see the ice from a viewpoint you can walk along the valley floor to the terminal face without a guide. However, to go on the glacier itself you must take a licensed helicopter tour.

Day 22: Drive north along the stunning West Coast Road to Greystone, approximately 2 hours. Drop your rental car off and board one of the world’s great train journeys, the TranzAlpine Scenic Train to Christchurch. From the comfort of your carriage see lush beech forest, deep river valleys and the spectacular peaks of the Southern Alps.

Day 23: Depart Christchurch today with a private transfer to the airport for your flight home.