New Zealand Grand Tour
20 Days
So here it is – the whole lot – both islands in all their glory.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Auckland
- Thermal Areas
- Maori Culture
- Wineries
- Art Deco
- Abel Tasman
- Glaciers
- Wildlife
- Mount Cook
Day 1 Arrive Auckland
Day 2
You will need today to find your feet and get over your jet lag. Explore the city centre, get out on the water, take in a museum, round off the day with a glass of wine overlooking the Viaduct Harbour – there is plenty to keep you entertained while you relax and adjust to New Zealand life.
Day 3 Drive Auckland to Rotorua
Pick up your hire car this morning from downtown Auckland and head south over the Bombay Hills, through the Waikato farmland to Rotorua.
There are several options for stops and detours today, whether it is the Hamilton Gardens, Hobbiton movie set or Waitomo Caves. The Waitomo Caves are one of New Zealand’s natural wonders – glow worms, limestone formations – there are a variety of ways to explore, walking, boats, cave tubing, adventure caving – depends on the cave – there is definitely something for everyone here – whether its open caverns or tiny squeezes!
Day 4 Rotorua
A day spent exploring Rotorua. Rotorua is a centre both rich in Maori culture and a geothermal / volcanic wonderland and plenty of opportunity for active adventure. You can’t miss its sulphurous smells, but there is a lot more to it than these!
Some of our ideas include: a helicopter trip to White Island, a scenic flight over Mt Tarawera, a visit to the Buried Village, a Maori cultural evening and hangi, a mountain bike ride or walk through the redwoods at Whakarewarewa, a soak in the Polynesian Spa or visit to the museum.
Day 5 Drive to Napier, Hawkes Bay
Start with the thermal reserves of Wai-O-tapu or Orakei Korako south of Rotorua, with their bright colours and bubbling mud, take a dip in a hot water river, cruise to the Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo, marvel at the mighty Huka Falls where Lake Taupo empties into the Waikato River, all before you arrive in the Art Deco Capital, Napier.
Day 6 Napier
A whole day in the Hawkes Bay Region – Art Deco, Gannet Colony, Biking and Vineyards – enough to satisfy the historian, the naturalist, the exercise addict and the bon viveur.
Day 7 Drive to Wellington
A pretty drive, through sheep country and tracing part of Classic New Zealand Wine Trail.
Bird lover or not, everyone will enjoy the experience of coming up close to our rare and native birds at the National Wildlife Centre at Mount Bruce. Have lunch or coffee and a wander around charming Greytown before heading over the Rimutakas into Wellington.
Day 8 Wellington
Our Capital City. Whether cities are your thing or not, you can’t help but be enchanted by our administrative and cultural capital, Wellington – it is buzzing, beautiful, cosmopolitan and vibrant.
Day 9 Nelson
Fly across the Cook Strait to Nelson – sunniest city in New Zealand (or a close contender)! Food, wine, craft beer, arts, beaches and mountains – Nelson has it all. Spend the rest of the day exploring this, the most liveable city in New Zealand, and its hinterland.
Day 10 Abel Tasman
Up to you how you visit the Abel Tasman – cruise, kayak, walk or a combination of all of these, guided or unguided the choice is yours – the golden beaches, the azure waters and lush bush – it is impossible to resist. You could extend your visit by staying a night or two in the Park.
Day 11 Drive to Punakaiki
Leaving Nelson pass through Murchison and on head through the Buller Gorge where the road narrows in places to a single lane and cuts into the rock face at Hawks Crag into Westport. Spend an hour at the seal colony at Cape Foulwind, walk out to the lighthouse. And then, the final drive down the stunning West Coast to Punakaiki. Spend the rest of the day at the Pancake Rocks – we hope to time your visit so it coincides with the high tide, so that you can see the Tasman Sea, spouting up through the blowholes, but high tide or not, the stratified limestone rocks, set among the flaxes is a sight you won’t forget. The Truman Track, just north of the tiny settlement, will introduce you to the nikau palms and West Coast rainforest before you emerge on the beach carved out by the crashing Tasman Sea breakers.
Day 12 Drive from Punakaiki to Franz Josef
Travel down the Wild West Coast, stopping in the coastal town of Hokitika, greenstone (jade or pounamu) capital of New Zealand, or the historic gold mining town of Ross arriving in Franz Josef late afternoon.
Day 13 Franz Josef
Your choice – walk to one of the varying viewpoints or take a scenic helicopter flight with snow landing or join a heli-hike where you fly up onto the glacier and spend a couple of hours on a guided walk, through ice caves and glacial formations before climbing back on board your helicopter and returning to Franz.
You are not far from the Okarito Lagoon, so for a complete change of pace, you may choose a bird watching tour, kayaking trip or visit to the white heron sanctuary. You can even join a night time kiwi walk.
Day 14 Drive from Franz Josef to Queenstown
Head over the hill from Franz to Fox Glacier. If you got an early start and it is a clear morning, walk around Lake Matheson and see the reflection of Mount Cook. The dense bush gives way to the dry scenery as you pass over the Haast Pass and into the Makarora Valley into Wanaka. Spend an hour by the lake before heading over the Crown Range to Queenstown, passing the Cadrona Hotel. Again, we have heaps of suggestions for walks, pitched to your ability, which will break your drive and get you into this country.
Day 15 Queenstown
Adventure, adrenalin but so much more. When it comes to crazy adrenalin fuelled adventures – if you dreamt it – you can probably do it here. But if this isn’t your thing, we have heaps of suggestions for scenic drives, walks, winery visits, scenic flights, mountain biking, 4WD tours, Lord of the Rings film sites. Take a trip to Arrowtown, head up the Lake to Glenorchy. You do what you want at your pace. Round off the day in one of the many world class restaurants, drinking some of the best pinot noir in the world – or if you are into “best in the world” don’t go past a Ferg Burger!
Day 16 Queenstown
Another day to explore more of this region – or just relax! Sometimes a dies non is what you need. It is a holiday!
Alternatively take a trip to Milford Sound. It is a long but rewarding day – we recommend joining a tour to get the most out of it – coach – cruise – fly. The drive in is as impressive as the cruise itself and a scenic flight back to Queenstown is a great way to round off your day.
Day 17 Mount Cook
Head out through the Gibbston Valley, through Cromwell and over the Lindis Pass to the McKenzie Country and along the blue blue waters of Lake Pukaki.
Aoraki Mount Cook at 3724m is New Zealand’s highest mountain. It is unlikely that you will be looking to climb it, but time spent walking the many trails, particularly the 2.5 hour return up the Hooker Valley to Hooker Lake with its soaring alpine views is the best way to appreciate the area.
Day 18 Drive Christchurch
Head back down the shores of Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo. No trip here is complete without a drive to the Mount John Observatory. The view – the café here must have one of the best in the world! Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Monument to the Working Dog – when you see how much work they do, and how much work they save you – they most certainly deserve a monument. Drive through the Canterbury farmland, the dairy hub of New Zealand into Christchurch.
Day 19 Christchurch
This is a city on the up – coping remarkably well with the savage effects of the recent earthquakes. Visit the Transitional Cathedral, the Re:Start Mall, the Canterbury Museum, or the Antarctic Centre.
Day 20 Home
Some alternatives you may consider:
• Some alternatives you may consider.
• Fly to the South Island from Napier or Rotorua.
• Spend a couple of nights in Taupo and walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
• Fly to Christchurch from Wellington and take the Tranz Alpine Train to Greymouth to start your West Coast adventure.
• Travel up to Kaikoura from Christchurch for whale watching or dolphin swimming.
• Stay in Wanaka instead of Queenstown.
• Base yourself in Te Anau (closer to Milford and Doubtful Sounds) for a couple of nights and do an overnight trip on Doubtful Sound.
• Fly back from Queenstown
Remember – our knowledge, your journey – so mix and match bits of these itineraries so that they suit you! Nothing is fixed. We will talk and email as much as you wish until you get what you want– this is YOUR holiday.