Tel: +65 9111 7338
|
Email: travel@luxexplorer.com
New Zealand is a country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones. These islands are one of Earth’s most peculiar bioregions, inhabited by flightless birds seen nowhere else such as a nocturnal, burrowing parrot called the kakapo and kiwi. Kiwi are not only one of the national symbols – the others being the silver fern leaf and koru – but also the name New Zealanders usually call themselves.
Christchurch – Greymouth – Fox Glacier – Queenstown – Milford Sound – Queenstown – Dunedin – Mount Cook – Christchurch – Picton – Wellington – Taupo – Rotorua – Waitomo – Auckland
Type: Independent Private Travel
Pick-up self drive rental vehicle on arrival at Christchurch International Airport. Self drive by rental vehicle to your hotel in the “Garden City”.
Meals: N/A
Overnight: Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton
Check-out of your hotel and depart Christchurch for Fox Glacier.
Drive across the Canterbury Plains and cross the scenic Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth. At Greymouth, time for a rest and lunch stop before the continuation south to Fox Glacier. Pass through the small settlements of Hokitika, Ross and Harihari and several beautiful lakes surrounded by native bush en route.
Arrive at Franz Josef Glacier and drive to the viewing point to observe the Franz Josef Glacier before continuing south over the short distance to Fox Glacier. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Bella Vista Motel Fox Glacier
Drive to Queenstown this morning traveling south following the coastline through the small settlement of Haast at the mouth of the Haast River before following the river upstream to the “Gates of Haast” and over the scenic bushclad Haast Pass, the southern most route across the main divide. Travel through the settlement of Makaroroa opposite the Mount Aspiring National Park, and along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea before passing through the fruit growing area around Cromwell and through the scenic Kawarau Gorge to picturesque Queenstown nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Full day self drive excursion to Milford Sound with cruise. Drive alongside the shores of Lake Wakatipu beneath the towering Remarkables mountain range and across the flat Southland Plains to Te Anau, gateway to the Fiordland National Park, now proclaimed a World Heritage Park.
Pass through Beech forests, glaciated valleys, the Homer Tunnel with its 1:10 gradient and stunning scenery to reach the majestic Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise on this world famous fiord which is dominated by Mitre Peak and the Bowen Falls. View waterfalls, seals, dolphins, and maybe some penguins. Drive back to Queenstown via same scenic route.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Free day at leisure with self drive rental vehicle and an opportunity to explore on your own or to experience some of the many Optional activities available here such as jetboating, bungy jumping, whitewater rafting, gondola ride up Bob’s Peak, TSS Earnslaw cruise across Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak Sheep Station, 4WD safaris and many more options.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown
Depart Queenstown and self drive from Queenstown to Dunedin via the Kawarau Gorge and fruit growing area around Cromwell. Cross Lake Dunstan and follow the Clutha River through Central Otago and pass through the towns of Alexandra, Roxburgh and Lawrence to arrive in the Scottish influenced city of Dunedin.
This afternoon enjoy a self drive ½ day sightseeing tour along with Otago Peninsula with visits to the Albatross Colony, Natures Wonders with the Yellow Eyed Penguins, and the grounds of Larnach Castle, built by William Larnach in the nineteenth century and the only castle in N.Z. Check in to your hotel and relax at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Check-out of hotel and self drive to Christchurch via Mount Cook.
Depart Dunedin and travel north to Oamaru and then inland following the Waitaki River into the MacKenzie High Country and on to New Zealand’s highest mountain – Mount Cook. There is time here for an optional scenic flight over the Southern Alps with a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier subject to the weather on the day.
Depart Mt Cook and follow the shores of Lake Pukaki and on to Lake Tekapo and the “Church of the Good Shepherd” before descending Burkes Pass and across the flat straight roads of the Canterbury Plains to arrive at the “Garden City” of Christchurch in the late afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton
Today, we depart Christchurch and travel north through the sheep farming district of North Canterbury by self drive rental car and follow the spectacular Kaikoura Coast to the wine growing region of Marlborough, famous for the Savignon Blanc and Chardonnay wines that come from here.
Pass through Blenheim and arrive at Picton in time to board the ferry to Wellington. Drop-off rental vehicle and board ferry. Enjoy the beauty of the Queen Charlotte Sound in the Marlborough Sounds before entering Cook Strait and crossing to the North Island and entering the harbour of Wellington, the Capital city. Pick-up another self drive rental car on arrival at Wellington Ferry Terminal. Self drive from the ferry terminal to your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Bolton Hotel Wellington
Depart Wellington and travel north along the west coast of the North Island by self drive rental car before heading inland and climbing up and onto the Central Volcanic Plateau and passing alongside the Tongariro National Park, home to two of New Zealand’s active volcanoes, Mounts Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.
Follow the eastern shoreline of Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand and formed in an extinct volcanic crater the size of the Republic of Singapore, to arrive at Taupo at the northern end. Continue on following the Waikato River via the spectacular Huka Falls and the Wairakei Geothermal Valley and travel through the exotic man-made pinus radiata forests of the Kaiangaroa before arriving at the “Thermal Spa Resort” of Rotorua in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort
Enjoy a self drive ½ day morning sightseeing tour of some of the highlights of Rotorua including a visit to Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see boiling mudpools and geysers. Also visit the Paradise Valley Springs to see New Zealand trout, birds and wildlife before continuing on to the Agrodome where you will watch a New Zealand Farm show featuring sheep dog demonstrations, cow milking and learn about the New Zealand sheep farming industry and the different breeds of sheep.
The afternoon is at leisure for you to further explore the wonders of Rotorua.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort
Transfer to Auckland via the world famous Waitomo Caves. Depart Rotorua and self drive over the bushclad Mamaku Ranges and through the lush green dairy farming region of the Waikato, via Cambridge and Otorohanga and arrive at Waitomo. Take a guided tour through the caves and continue on to Auckland following the Waikato River for part of the way. Rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore the “City of Sails”on your own with rental car.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: The Langham Auckland
Check out of hotel and self drive to Auckland International Airport. Your arrangements conclude today with the drop-off of your rental car prior to boarding your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A
