The below itinerary is only a suggestion, we offer tailor-made personal service and solutions to help you plan your perfect vacation. This itinerary is also available in the reverse direction.
Day 1 Arrive Auckland
Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival into Auckland, enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in the
in the heart of the city, between the vibrant Viaduct Harbour and the new Wynyard Quarter. A guaranteed early check-in time has been organized for this morning. Spend the afternoon enjoying the fashionable viaduct and vibrant marina areas, then take the rest of the day to explore the city at your leisure. If time permits, catch the complimentary shuttle to Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium and discover more than 30 exhibits featuring over 80 different species. In this topsy-turvy attraction, sharks and stingrays will swim over and around you as you walk through transparent tunnels.
Day 2 Auckland to Coromandel (175km / 108 mi)
This morning you’ll collect your rental car and drive east to the Coromandel Peninsula. Located on the other side of the Hauraki Gulf, you’ll pass through a heavily forested mountain range bordered on each side by coastline before reaching your end destination: the small seaside village of Pauanui. There are a couple of fish and chip shops, cafes and a white-sand beach that’s safe for swimming, but essentially this is a secret hideaway where Kiwi families take their holidays. The resident population of Pauanui is only around 741, but in peak holiday periods it can swell to 28,050.
Day 3 Coromandel Exploring
Take today to enjoy the Coromandel area at your leisure. At the top of your list should be Hot Water Beach – a sandy stretch where you can dig your own natural hot pool just steps from the ocean’s edge. It’s a truly unique Kiwi experience, and you’ll find plenty of other families have the exact same idea. After, take a visit to Cathedral Cove which was voted by New Zealanders as the most scenic beach in the country. You can either opt for a scenic one hour walk to the cove or take a 20-minute boat that leaves a nearby beach every half hour.
Day 4 Coromandel to Rotorua (249km / 154mi)
This morning head south through the beach resort of Whangamata to Waihi, home of the richest gold mine in New Zealand. Stop at the Gold Discovery Centre to try your hand at interactive exhibits, then take a short walk to the pit rim to view the massive open mine. Continue driving along the Bay of Plenty coastline through subtropical orchards of kiwi fruit and citrus, then cross the Kaimai Ranges into the idyllic countryside of the Waikato to the movie set of Hobbiton and The Shire. Duck into the hobbit holes and grab a drink at the Green Dragon Inn while learning all about the fascinating process of constructing the elaborate set. After the tour, you’ll get back on the road and continue on to Rotorua.
Day 5 Exploring Rotorua
Today we’ve included admission to Wai-O-Tapu: a geothermal wonderland loved by both the young and young at heart. Wai-O-Tapu means 'Sacred Water' in Maori, and you’ll see exactly why as you peruse hot pools ranging in colour from turquoise blue and rich green to gold and an almost olive tone. This dazzling kaleidoscope of natural colours is caused by the many mineral salts in the water, including arsenic, gold and silver. Wai-O-Tapu is also the home to steaming vents, huge volcanic craters, the world famous Champagne Pool and New Zealand’s largest bubbling mud pool – but the real highlight has to be the Lady Knox Geyser. Erupting with spectacular flair every day at about 10:15am, it will delight your kids and make for some great photo ops. The rest of the day is free to explore the many attractions of Rotorua.
Day 6 Rotorua to Queenstown (Flight)
This morning you’ll drop your vehicle off at the airport and catch your flight (not included) into Queenstown. Waiting to greet you are the majestic Remarkables Ranges and Lake Wakatipu, so keep an eye out as you get closer to see them glistening from below. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand, and it’s the place where bungy jumping began and where sledging and jet boating found their fame. So from white water rafting and horseback riding to mountain biking and hiking, let’s just put it this way: if it can be done in New Zealand, you can probably find it in Queenstown.
Day 7 Queenstown – Today you have the choice of one of five Excursions
Today you can personalize your Queenstown experience by choosing one of these five tours, all sure to leave you with lifelong memories:
1. Full Day Milford Sound Coach/Nature Cruise/Coach
Travel by coach from Queenstown to Milford Sound through sheer mountains, towering cliffs, rugged valleys and native rain forest. Once at Milford Sound board a catamaran for a leisurely cruise along the fiord, learning from the onboard Nature Guide, visiting the skipper in the wheelhouse or viewing wildlife like dolphins, seals and penguins. Lunch options are available for purchase (must be preordered) and complimentary tea and coffee is provided. After the cruise, return to Queenstown by coach.
Milford Sound Return Flight Upgrade (Approx $395 PP)
Upgrade your itinerary to include a return scenic flight to Queenstown. See magnificent views of the alps, glaciers, lakes and forests of Fiordland National Park from the air – it’s a quick and convenient way to return to Queenstown.
The flight shaves approximately 4 hours off a return by coach, however it is very weather dependent so it’s possible you will need to return by coach and have the upgraded price refunded to you.
2. Half Day Boutique Wine Tour
Spend an afternoon among the boutique vineyards and spectacular scenery of Central Otago. Enjoy tastings at four wineries in the Gibbston Valley, Cromwell and Bannockburn regions plus a delightful platter-style lunch at Carrick Winery Restaurant. Visit historic Old Cromwell Town (time and weather permitting) and take a stunning drive through the Kawarau Gorge to learn about the early pioneering history of the region and see the historic Kawarau Bridge and the original AJ Hackett Bungy jump.
3. Sheep Station to Sheep Station Cycle Tour & Walter Peak BBQ Lunch
Experience Queenstown’s surrounds with a cycle tour. Boarding a Spirit of Queenstown cruise to Mt Nicholas High Country Farm, disembark on the other side of Lake Wakatipu to begin your cycling journey. Ride at your own pace along a quiet country road, taking in views of the Southern Alps, Glenorchy and The Remarkables on the way. After cycling 14 kilometers (1.5 hours) to Walter Peak you’ll enjoy a barbecue lunch, then board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to return to Queenstown.
4. Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion / Shotover Jetboat Ride
Step aboard the TSS Earnslaw and enjoy a 40-minute cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station. On arrival, wander through gardens or enjoy tea/coffee in the Colonel’s Homestead, then take a tour of the grounds to view sheep, red deer and Scottish Highland cattle. Highlights of the experience are watching the farm demonstrator shear a sheep, sheep dogs working stock and a wool spinning demonstration. Take the TSS Earnslaw back to Queenstown, then transfer by coach to the Shotover River for the jet boat ride of your life.
5. Half Day Wilderness Safari - Jetboat & Forest Walk
Combine wilderness jet boating with a guided walk and back-country drive. Surrounded by breathtaking snow-covered peaks, hidden valleys, waterfalls and glacial valleys, you’ll take a thrilling jet boat through the ever-changing shallow channels of the Dart River’s braided system. Enjoy a guided walk through ancient native Beech forest where you’ll be fascinated by the unique flora and fauna, then journey by bus along a back-country route. Your driver will stop to view some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery and will share stories of the land on the way.
Day 8 - 9 Queenstown at Leisure
We’ve left today free so you can explore Queenstown at your leisure. Walk along the tranquil shores of Lake Wakatipu or take a scenic bike ride on the beautiful trails.
Day 10 Depart Queenstown
It’s now the end of your magical New Zealand adventure, and we’ve capped it off with a private transfer to Queenstown Airport.
