New Zealand Private Tours

Pick up your self drive rental car on arrival at Auckland International Airport. Transfer by self drive rental car to your hotel in the “City of Sails”. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: N/A
Overnight: The Langham Auckland

Enjoy a ½ day morning sightseeing tour of the “City of Sails” including a drive across the Auckland Harbour Bridge and view the Westhaven Yacht Marina and city centre as you return. Travel along Tamaki Drive with stunning views of the Waitemata Harbour and Rangitoto Island, an extinct volcano which dominates the Hauraki Gulf. Visit the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial in recognition of a former Prime Minister, and enjoy the vista looking back towards the city and across the harbour.

Return to the hotel afterwards. This afternoon is at leisure for Optional activities such as a harbour cruise on the Waitemata Harbour or a visit a nearby island in the beautiful Hauraki Gulf or take a ferry to Devonport, or perhaps go for a drive and explore some of the many beaches and parks around the greater Auckland area.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: The Langham Auckland

Depart Auckland this morning and travel South along the motorway to the Bombay Hills. Descend into the lush, green, dairy farming region of the Waikato Province, following the Waikato River for part of the way and on to the world famous Waitomo Caves.

After finishing a guided your at the caves, continue on to Rotorua via the prosperous town of Cambridge, well known for many thoroughbred horse studs in the area which have produced some of the top race horses. Drive over the bushclad Mamaku Ranges and arrive at the “Thermal Spa City” of Rotorua in the late afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or to go for an Optional soak in the thermal waters of the Polynesian Spa.

Enjoy a Maori Hangi & Concert this evening.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort

Enjoy a self drive morning sightseeing tour of some of the highlights of Rotorua including a visit to Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see boiling mudpools and geysers and learn about Maori culture. 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.

Return to your hotel. This afternoon is at leisure for Optional activities such as a soak in a hot pool, a 4WD safari to Mt Tarawera, a scenic flight, visit the Museum, or perhaps wander around the city centre and do some shopping, or maybe explore some of the surrounding region and take a drive to Lake Taupo.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort

Check out of your hotel this morning and drive to Rotorua Airport and drop off your rental car before boarding your departure flight and flying to Christchurch.

Pick up another self drive rental car on arrival at Christchurch Airport and drive to the hotel. Check in and the rest of the day is at leisure for optional activities such as a ride on the Christchurch Tram, a punt on the Avon River, or to visit the Canterbury Arts Centre.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton

Check out of your hotel and drive across the flat Canterbury Plains towards the foothills of the Southern Alps.

Drive across the Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth where you will have time for a break for lunch. Afterwards drive south and continue to Franz Josef Glacier. During the journey, watch out for the small settlements of Hokitika, Ross and Hari Hari, and beautiful lakes surrounded by native bush en route.

Upon arrive at Franz Josef Glacier and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Aspen Court Franz Josef

Check out of your hotel and drive to Queenstown this morning traveling through the small settlements of Fox Glacier and Haast at the mouth of the Haast River before following the river upstream to the “Gates of Haast” and over the scenic bush clad Haast Pass, the southern most route across the main divide.

Travel past the small settlement of Makarora opposite the Mount Aspiring National Park, and along the shores of Lakes Wanaka and Hawea before passing through the fruitgrowing area around Cromwell and on to the scenic Kawarau Gorge to arrive at picturesque Queenstown located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by mountains. Check in to hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Full day excursion to Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise on this world famous fiord which is dominated by Mitre Peak and the Bowen Falls. View waterfalls and dolphins, seals, and maybe some penguins as well as spectacular scenery. Return to Queenstown in the early evening and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Millennium Hotel Queenstown

Today is a free day at leisure with an opportunity to explore on your own or to experience the array of adrenaline Queenstown have to offer 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

Check out of the hotel and depart Queenstown for New Zealand’s highest mountain – Mount Cook. On Mount Cook, there is an optional scenic flight over the Southern Alps with a snow landing on the Tasman Glacier subject to the weather conditions on the day.

Depart Mt Cook and follow the shores of Lake Pukaki and drive on to Lake Tekapo and the “Church of the Good Shepherd” before descending Burkes Pass to Fairlie and across rolling hill country to the farming service centre of Geraldine and follow the long straight roads across the Canterbury Plains to the “Garden City” of Christchurch. Check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton

This morning, enjoy a self drive sightseeing tour of the “Garden City”, including Cathedral Square, Christchurch Cathedral, Hagley Park, Canterbury Arts Centre, Christchurch Antarctic Centre and a panoramic view from the Port Hills looking back over the city to the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps in the distance. The afternoon at leisure for you to explore the city.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton

Your arrangements conclude today with the drop off of your rental car at Christchurch International Airport prior to boarding your departure flight back home. Bon Voyage!

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A