Arrive Auckland in the North Island and pick up rental car.

Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is known as the city of sails. Sprawling between two harbours (the Waitemata and the Manukau) and nestling around the beautiful island-dotted Hauraki golf, Auckland provides residents and visitors with one of the most beautiful aquatic playgrounds in the world.

Auckland contains nearly a quarter of the country’s population and is the largest Polynesian city in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the country’s business and industrial centre.

Balance of day at leisure.

Recommended Stay: Stafford Villa B&B (Superior). Aachen House B&B (suite) (Deluxe)

Auckland | Whangamata (2 hours & 30 mins)

Drive south taking State Highway 1 over the Bombay Hills, turning east to Thames, the Gateway to the Coromandel. From here drive to Whangamata. This popular seaside holiday resort and town is located on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. Its ocean beach attracts thousands of holidaymakers during the summer while many more explore the sheltered waters of the harbour. Offshore, the waters are an anglers and scuba diver’s delight. Charter launches and boats are available for hire. Behind the town, the hills and forest offer many interesting bush walks and picnic spots.

Recommended Stay: Colleith Lodge B&B (Superior). Brenton Lodge B&B (Deluxe)

Whangamata | Rotorua (2 hours & 45 mins)

Leave Whangamata and travel south from the Coromandel Peninsula. Pass through Waihi and popular summer seaside spots of Tauranga and Mount Maunganui before turning inland just after the town of Te Puke. Travel south along the shores and lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua before arriving in the city of Rotorua.

Recommended Stay: Swiss Lodge B&B (premium room) (Superior). The Springs B&B (Deluxe)

Rotorua

Day at leisure to explore the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve (known as “Whaka” to the locals) where you view the spectacular geysers and boiling mud pools.  Next you can attend a show at the Agrodome, focusing on the New Zealand sheep industry, then onto Rainbow Springs – a natural spring forms a series of crystal clear pools where trout grow to a giant size. In the afternoon visit New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute Rotorua.

Optional: Hangi & Concert with Tamaki Tours

Rotorua | Christchurch in the South Island

Drop off rental car. Fly Rotorua / Christchurch (cost of flight not included). Transfer by private car from Christchurch Airport to B&B. Christchurch is known as one of the most English Cities outside of England itself, with its Gothic Architecture, neat hedgerows and verdant parks and gardens. With a population of almost 300,000 Christchurch is New Zealand’s third largest urban area.

Recommended Stay: Elm Tree House B&B (Superior). The Charlotte Jane B&B (luxury suite) (Deluxe)

Christchurch | Greymouth | Hokitika (4 hours & 10 mins)

Transfer to the Railway Station by private car and board the Award Winning Tranz Alpine Train for a scenic rail journey through the heart of the mighty Southern Alps.  Cross the huge and fertile patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains. Wind over massive viaducts, through spectacular gorges and river valley before heading across the country’s greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps. The scenery is spectacular with high snow capped mountains all around. Skirt lakes and follow rivers before descending through the lush beech forest into the town of Greymouth. Arrive in Greymouth and collect rental car. Drive down the West Coast to Hokitika, where you may like to stop to visit the glassblowing factories or one of the greenstone factories where Pounamu, a local jade greenstone is crafted into ornaments and jewelry.

Recommended Stay: Kapitea Ridge Dinner Bed & Breakfast (superior room) or (Deluxe room)

Hokitika | Franz Josef (3 hours & 10 mins)

Continue driving south through forests and farmland, with views of the Alps to the east and the Tasman Sea to the west, until you reach the twin rivers of ice, Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.

Recommended Stay: Westwood Lodge (Junior Suite) B&B (Standard) or (Deluxe)

Optional touring can include: Guided Walk excursion exploring the lower reaches of the Franz Josef Glacier; Franz Josef Glacier Valley Interpretive Walk for those not agile enough to walk on the ice; or a Mount Cook Ski-plane flight (40 minutes).

Franz Josef | Queenstown (7 hours & 45 mins)

Travel south to Haast, then over the Southern Alps at their lowest point, the Haast Pass, and follow Lakes Hawea and Wanaka to the popular summer resort of Wanaka.

Travel south along State Highway 6 to Luggate and alongside the Clutha River and the rugged Kawarau Gorge to the South Island’s premier resort, Queenstown.

Recommended Stay: Browns Boutique Hotel B&B (Superior).  Mount Vista Boutique Hotel B&B (Deluxe)

Queenstown

Day at leisure.

Optional touring can include: Shotover Jetboat. Nothing you have experienced will have prepared you for “The World’s most exciting Jet Boat Ride!” Over a million visitors have ridden aboard the famous “Big Red” boats through the towering, rocky canyons of the South Island’s river of gold. Your driver will put your Shotover Jet through its paces …especially when the boat spins through a full 360 degrees at speed in its own length, or as it career around the jagged rocky outcrops, missing them only by a hair’s breath. Or a wonderful alternate tour option would be to take a Milford Sound & The Glaciers Helicopter tour with “Over The Top” Helicopters that includes a Glacier Landing. Truly the highlight of any Queenstown visit!

Evening Option: Cruise on the old steamboat TSS Earnslaw and have dinner at Walter Peak Station.

A cruise from Queenstown across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak on the vintage Steamship, TSS Earnslaw. During the cruise guests may purchase a pre-dinner drink and listen to the pianist play a few old favourites. Once at Walter Peak, guests are greeted and escorted through the beautiful lakeside gardens to the gracious Colonel’s Homestead where and evening carvery buffet is served amidst elegant surroundings. On cold nights open fires create a cozy atmosphere.

Depart Queenstown

Drop off rental car and fly to next destination