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17 Days Kiwi Experience Self-Drive

from £739pp

Travelling the full length of this wild country you will enjoy spectacular natural scenery such as towering Mount Cook and breathtaking Franz Josef Glacier all at your own pace.


		Day
		1

Auckland – Omapere (285km/178miles)

Travel north along the eastern coastline, via Dargaville, to the beautiful region of Omapere where you will stay for the first night.
Standard: Copthorne Hokianga (Standard Room)
Superior: Copthorne Hokianga (Beachfront Room)


		Day
		2

Omapere – Bay of Islands (93km/58miles)

We recommend an early start today to allow plenty of time at the beautiful Bay of Islands. Explore the pretty villages of Russell and Kerikeri and take time to visit the Waitangi Treaty House. Check in to your chosen accommodation for the next two nights.
Standard: Copthorne Waitangi Superior: Pukematu Lodge (breakfast included)


		Day
		3

Bay of Islands

Enjoy an early morning dolphin and whale-watching cruise, a must for all nature lovers. Take a cruise to see the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, and enjoy superb views of the magnificent islands.


		Day
		4

Bay of Islands – Auckland (240km/149miles)

Head south to Auckland, known as the ‘City of Sails’. Explore the sights, such as Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. For a superb view of the city take a harbour lunch cruise.
Standard: Mercure Windsor Superior: City Life Auckland


		Day
		5

Auckland – Rotorua (385km/228miles)

Travel south to the Waitomo Caves. Take a barge to view the myriad glowworms overhead, or just admire the beauty and grandeur of the cathedral-like caverns. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Standard: Ibis Rotorua Superior: Millennium Rotorua


		Day
		6

Rotorua

Visit famous Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see the magnificent spurting Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling mud pools. A great way to see this region is by taking a scenic flight for a superb aerial view.


		Day
		7

Rotorua – Wellington (460km/288miles)

Travel to Taupo, visiting the Waiotapu thermal area en route, or take an exhilarating ride on the Huka Jet for a fabulous view of the Huka Falls. Enjoy a relaxing cruise on
Lake Taupo before continuing south to Wellington where you will overnight.
Standard: Mercure Wellington
Superior: InterContinental Hotel (Classic Superior)


		Day
		8

Wellington – Nelson (150km/94miles)

Drop off your hire car at the ferry terminal and board the Interislander ferry to Picton (ferry charge is included). The journey takes three and a half hours. On arrival at Picton collect your new hire car and travel east to Nelson, where you will spend the next two nights. The Nelson region is known as New Zealand’s sunniest spot and is the perfect place to experience the great outdoors. Tonight you have the option of a hotel stay or if you prefer you may enjoy a farmstay for an insight into rural life.
Standard: Farmstay (dinner & breakfast incl.) OR Monaco Hotel (Standard Room) Superior: Farmstay (dinner & breakfast incl.) OR Rutherford Hotel (Executive Room)


		Day
		9

Nelson

A full day to explore this delightful city surrounded by national parks. Some of the best walks in New Zealand are here to enjoy. Abel Tasman is known for its glittering gold sand beaches, turquoise water and spectacular ocean views. A range of wildlife inhabit the area, including penguins, and there’s a seal colony in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve.


		Day
		10

Nelson – Greymouth/Lake Brunner (319km/199miles)

Head for the west coast, visit Punakaiki, see the Pancake Rocks and blowhole at Paparoa National Park.
Standard: The Breakers (breakfast included)
Superior: Lake Brunner Lodge (dinner & breakfast included)


		Day
		11

Greymouth – Franz Josef Glacier (189km/118miles)

Travel south to Hokitika and visit the famous jade factory and local craft shops unique to this area. Continue south to Franz Josef Glacier. Westland/Tai Poutini National Park offers an extensive range of recreational opportunities, including glacier walks and heli-hikes. The small villages of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier are on the park boundary.
Standard: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (Graham Wing, breakfast included)
Superior: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (Douglas Wing, breakfast included)


		Day
		12

Franz Josef Glacier – Queenstown (348km/218miles)

Travel over the Haast Pass through breathtaking scenery to the alpine town of Queenstown where you will spend the next two nights. Standard: Copthorne Lakefront Superior: The Heritage (Deluxe Lakeview)


		Day
		13

Queenstown

Enjoy a full day exploring around Queenstown, where the awesome environment is used to great effect. Lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau are picturesque venues for kayaking, jet boating and sailing, while the rivers deliver high excitement in the form of white-water rafting, river surfing, canyoning and bungee jumping, while the historical goldmining townships of Central Otago lure you into horseriding, exploring the golden hills by mountain bike or taking a 4WD safari.


		Day
		14

Queenstown – Te Anau (186km/116miles)

Travel on to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park for two nights.
Standard: Kingsgate Te Anau Superior: Fiordland Lodge (dinner & breakfast included)


		Day
		15

Milford Sound

The silent grandeur of Milford Sound leaves many people speechless. Superlatives like ‘amazing, stunning, majestic’ rattle from their tongues, and then they go quiet, realising that words fall short of the scenery. Needless to say, an exploration of this World Heritage area (by boat, kayak or on foot) is a must. Famous walking tracks in the area include the Routeburn, the Milford, the Greenstone, the Hollyford and the Rees-Dart.

Optional Extra: Spend the night on board the Milford Mariner in picturesque Milford Sound. From £152 per person.


		Day
		16

Te Anau – Twizel (370km/231miles)

Travel inland and head north to Twizel, enjoying the scenic views en route.
Standard: MacKenzie Country Inn (Standard Room)
Superior: MacKenzie Country Inn (Deluxe Room)


		Day
		17

Twizel – Christchurch (397km/248miles)

From Twizel a sealed road leads right into the Mount Cook National Park. Glaciers cover fourty per cent of this breathtaking region and, with 19 peaks over 3,000 metres high, it is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook, or Aoraki as it is also known. The park is also part of the South Westland World Heritage Area – in recognition of its outstanding natural value. Continue on to Christchurch. Your hire car is booked until tomorrow but must be returned no later than the time it was picked up on day one.

Cruises and sightseeing tours shown in the itinerary are purely suggestions and are not included in the tour price.

Tour Prices - Price per person, in £'s from
Accommodation Grade	Standard	Superior
Car Grade	A - Economy	C - Compact
01 Jan 08-31 Jan 08 01 Feb 08-29 Feb 08 01 Mar 08-31 Mar 08 01 Apr 08-30 Apr 08 01 May 08-30 Jun 08 01 Jul 08-30 Sep 08 01 Oct 08-31 Oct 08 01 Nov 08-30 Nov 08 01 Dec 08-23 Dec 08 24 Dec 08-31 Jan 09 01 Feb 09-28 Feb 09 01 Mar 09-31 Mar 09	879 939 884 825 739 754 866 923 903 935 993 935	1497 1563 1519 1339 1212 1234 1371 1485 1540 1568 1625 1579
For price inclusions/exclusions see here. Prices for single rooms & for 3 or 4 adults sharing a car are on request. Minimum stays apply during special events & peak holiday periods, please call for details.