New Zealand Highlights Tour

14 Day Tour

Day 1 Auckland (--D)

Arrive at Auckland airport. New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city, Auckland "City of Sails", will provide you with an entertaining start to your New Zealand experience with its variety of day time and evening activities. After booking into your hotel a chance to take in the city sights. Wander down to the water front where the Americas cup was held, or perhaps a look at Kelly Tarlton's underwater world, NZ's museum of Transport and Technology, the Maritime museum, a visit to the amazing Sky Tower (if heights aren't a problem) and a drive up Mt Eden. Evening: Auckland Hotel

 

Day 2 Auckland - Cambridge (B-D)

Depart Auckland and head South on the motorway over the rolling Bombay Hills and Pukekohe region. Dubbed the "milk bowl" of New Zealand, Waikato is renowned for its efficient pasture based dairy farming, horse studs, beef, deer, sheep and horticultural enterprises. You will have a farmstay tonight near the pretty town of Cambridge, in the heart of the Waikato. Here you will become acquainted with a typical New Zealand farm and friendly farming family. After getting to know your hosts and surroundings, take a short tour of the farm and enjoy a home cooked dinner. Evening: Farmstay

 

Day 3 Cambridge - Coromandel (B--)

Departing Cambridge travel to the Coromandel Peninsular. Settle in to a Resort at Pauanui for a two night stay. Set beside the sea, amidst native bush, this is one of New Zealand's premier beach holiday spots. Evening: Pauanui Resort

 

Day 4 Coromandel (B--)

Handy to golf, bush walks. sandy beaches, marinas and a lovely coastline, there are plenty of things to see and do. -Kiwi Dundee Tours are a great way to see this area. Evening: Pauanui Resort

 

Day 5 Coromandel - Rotorua (B-D)

In Rotorua you will visit the Agrodome for an entertaining exhibition of the New Zealand sheep industry and visit Rainbow Springs for a peek at the native flora and fauna, including large brown and rainbow trout. Another interesting place we will visit is Whakarewarewa thermal area where boiling mud pools and spouting geysers can be seen. There will be a great finish to the day attending Maori hangi (feast) and concert for the nights entertainment. Evening: Hotel Rotorua

 

Day 6 Rotorua - Taupo - Waipukurau (B-D)

Depart Rotorua and travel to Taupo. Passing the geothermal area of Wairakei, with a stop to view the famous Huka Falls on the outskirts of Lake Taupo. Lake Taupo is a popular holiday area, renowned for its fishing and recreational sports. Passing through Taupo travel on to Napier, the "Art Deco City" of New Zealand. Continue south to Waipukurau for a one night stay on a sheep and beef farm. Evening: Farmstay

 

Day 7 Waipukurau - Martinborough (B-D)

After time with your hosts this morning,travel to the Wairarapa - a large rural region with a very sparse population. Visit the Wine Village of Martinborough. High sunshine hours and low autumn rainfall have helped wine makers in this region win international awards. Many are boutique wineries and are distinguished from other New Zealand wine areas by the high proportion of red grape plantings and a reputation for quality pinot noir, among other varieties. There is plenty to see and do in this region. Evening: Martinborough Hotel

 

Day 8 Martinborough - Christchurch (B--)

Depart Martinborough heading to Wellington where we will have a short break to look around the capital city and National Museum -Te Papa, before boading our plane to Christchurch. Arrive in Christchurch, which is the South Island's largest city and is known as "The Garden City" because of the many beautiful parks and gardens throughout. The city retains much of the English tradition which surrounds its creation.Upon arrival we have a city sights tour which takes in many attractions of the beautiful City. Later visit a lovely private country garden and home for afternoon tea before returning to Christchurch for the evening. Evening: Christchurch Hotel.

 

Day 9 Christchurch - Fairlie farmstay (B-D)

Head south across the Canterbury Plains where a wide range of farming can be seen, including; sheep, deer, grain, small seeds, dairy and beef cattle. A chance to visit one of these many options. Later continue south to visit South Canterbury and on to the pretty farming district of Fairlie. Meet a farming family for a nights stay as guests on their farm. A home cooked dinner and chat with your hosts tonight. Evening Fairlie Farmstay

 

Day 10 Fairlie - Queenstown (B--)

After time looking around your host farm depart south and west to the rugged and vast expanse of the MacKenzie Country, home of New Zealand's highest mountain, Mt Cook. Continue south via the aqua-blue lakes of Tekapo and Pukaki . If th e weather is fine - maybe a flight over the Mount Cook region. Continue on via the fruit orchards of Central Otago to lovely Queenstown, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surround by imposing mountains. Evening: Hotel Queenstown.

 

Day 11 Queenstown (B-D)

Sights tour of Queenstown area where visits are made to the historic town of Arrowtown, a vineyard and winery, and a chance to see the site where bungy jumping was born - a chance for daredevils to take the plunge 150 feet towards the Kawarau River attached only by a giant rubber-band. Return to Queenstown where you have the rest of the day free to either relax, shopping, or to try some of the local activities such as taking a jet boat ride, or a lake cruise or an optional flight to Milford Sound in Fiordland. This evening we ride the gondola up Bob's Peak to see the Kiwi Magic film which is well worth watching. Enjoy the view from the Skyline Restaurant where you can enjoy this evenings meal and take in the breathtaking lake and mountain beauty surrounding you. Evening; Hotel Queenstown.

 

Day 12 Queenstown - Franz Josef (B--)

Head north to lake Hawea, with a visit to a high country station running fine woolled merino sheep and hereford cattle. After an insight into running livestock in this harsh but beautiful environment and a tasty morning tea, travel via the beautiful lakeland and the bush-clad Haast Pass to Franz Josef, on the high rainfall region of the West Coast of New Zealand. Evening: Hotel Franz Josef.

 

Day 13 Franz Josef - Christchurch (B--)

Drive up the untamed but beautiful rainforests of the West Coast to Greymouth and visit Shanty Town, a replica of an 1880s West Coast gold-mining town. Travel over the grandeur of the great alpine divide, over the steep inclines of Arthurs Pass, then descend to the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch for the evening. Evening Hotel Christchurch

 

Day 14 Christchurch - Home (B--)

Time in the garden city before transferring to airport for onward flight .