15-day Self-driving Tour in North and South Island of New Zealand
Day 1 Arrival in Auckland
Upon arrival at Auckland Airport, take a rental car directly from the airport to the hotel where you will stay. "Sailing Capital" Auckland is New Zealand's largest and most vibrant city.
Here you will enjoy a series of exciting international metropolis experience. Auckland is dotted with 48 volcanic cones, fertile valleys and islands, which make it a world-famous wine country.
Discover endless charms of the world's most livable and worthwhile city in Auckland's expansive shops, colorful nightlife and unparalleled culinary delights. Then go to the downtown area of Auckland for sightseeing: climb Mount Eden, the highest peak in the city to watch the vestiges of the caldera and view the city's beauty; the Harbor Bridge, Queen Street, Princes Wharf, Angel Bay and etc.
Day 2 Auckland - Waitomo - Rotorua
In the following morning, you will say goodbye to the " Sailing Capital" and drive along the southern highway through Hamilton, New Zealand's fourth largest city, and the fertile Waikato area to reach Waitomo. There you will be guided to tour the world-famous Ruakuli cave, which will provide the most attractive underground cave experience since its reopening Waitomo after 18 years. Under the guidance, you will have a close contact with glowing fireflies, extremely skillful cave structure, winding underground rivers and the solemn Maori site. In the end, you will pass through the Mamako mountains full of grass and trees, and arrive in the "Geothermal Capital" – Rotorua.
Day 3 Tour in Rotorua
Today you can visit the Egrodome Ranch, watch the lively shearing show, and feed lovely little animals by hand, or take the cable car to the top of Ngongtaha and overlook the splendor of Rotorua. In the afternoon, visit the Te Puia geothermal area, visit the steaming mud pool and world-famous Pohutu Geyser Fountain in Rotorua. In the evening, you will enjoy the cultural treasures of Te Puia- Maori traditional feast Te Po. This is a feast combining cultural story telling, entertainment, leisure and Maori food into one. After a formal Maori welcome ceremony, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular singing, dance and fireball performances, or take a bath in the world's TOP10 Polynesian geothermal hot spring pool to relieve and relax.
Day 4 Rotorua - Taupo
On this day you will leave Rotorua for Wai-O-Tapu. You can enjoy the world-famous champagne lake, geyser fountains, bubbling mud pools, steam floors, vast views, huge craters, siliceous terraces and other special views. Continue south, go through the vast man-made forest - Kane Garua Forest, and you will reach the prestigious lakeside resort - Taupo. Lake Taupo is filled with two previous calderas and is New Zealand's largest lake. At the same time, Taupo is also the magnificent Huka waterfall, Taobo bungee jumping, and can provide unparalleled lake fishing experience.
Day 5 Lake Taupo - Wellington
Leaving Taupo in the morning, proceed to Turangi along the shore of Taupo and then pass Luopechu, Nauruhe and Tongariro to reach the town of Tehapi. Continue south, go through the fertile farmland to North Palmerston, known as the Agricultural University, and finally arrive in New Zealand's capital – Wellington.
Day 6 Wellington
After breakfast, tour in Wellington city, enjoy the exterior scene of Capitol, Cuba Street, Wellington City Gallery, Old St. Paul's Church and other attractions. After lunch, take the red tram ride from the Lambton Street of city center to the mount top, visit Botanical Garden and Carter Observatory, and from the top of the hill overlook the Harbor of Wellington and the University of Victoria. There is also a cable car museum on the top of the hill introducing the knowledge of cable cars and the construction history of this cable car. Watch interesting astronomical images at the Carter Observatory and enjoy a century-old golden telescope.
Day 7 Wellington - Picton - Christchurch
On this day, the vehicles you rented shall be returned to the car rental company and then board the inter-island ferry across Cook Strait to Picton. You will cross the long and narrow channel of South and North Island in New Zealand--- the Cook Strait. In Picton drive your newly rented vehicle to forward south through Blenheim to Kaikoura, the world-famous whale watching resort. Take a yacht or plane to watch the huge sperm whale; watch dolphins, seagulls and royal albatros in close proximity in the natural habitat; play with the darker dapple dolphins and continue southwards to the most English-style New Zealand city --- "The Garden Capital” Christchurch.
Day 8 Christchurch - Mt Cook
Arrive at Lake Tekapo through Mackenzie Mountains, visit the Good Shepherd Church built in 1935 by local stone and oak. Then continue to visit the Cook Mountain National Park in the World Heritage List. Mount Cook of 3,764 meters is Oceania's highest peak. The park covering an area of over 70,000 hectares, with stunning mountain scenery, is the location of the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere - (optional activities: snow planes and helicopter flights).
Day 9 Mt Cook - Queenstown
Continue to head for one of the World Heritage Sites - Mount Cook National Park. The park covers an area of more than 70,000 hectares, with stunning mountain scenery, among which stands the highest peak of Oceania - 3,764 meters high Mount Cook. In the park, there are also 140 peaks above 2,000 meters and the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere - the Tasman Glacier. Optional activities in the park include snow planes and helicopter flights. Enjoy spectacular sights in Mount Cook, you will continue to travel south to Cromwell in the Central Otago area, and after a short journey to the resort, Queenstown. Take the Peak Tram in the evening to climb Bobborough for Queenstown views, and enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner at the top of the hill.
Day 10 Queenstown
After breakfast, head for the Arrow Town, a gold rush flushing town bustling with noise in the past. Walking along the Arrow River, one will feel the lives of thousands of Chinese miners with ancient buildings standing on both sides of the street. Queenstown between majestic mountains can offer a wide variety of adventures and leisure activities, from extreme sports to leisure excursions. Here you can drive jet boat ride, experience passionate water rafting, go on a wine exploration trip, or be a gold rusher to rush gold in the sand; fish, wait for plump salmon get hooked, play golf, or drive a four-wheel car to be indulged in a car racing in the steep canyon. Then take a nearly 100-year-old TSS classic steam boat tour around Wakatipu Lake and enjoy BBQ buffet dinner and shearing performances in the island.
Day 11 Queenstown - Milford Sound - Queenstown
After breakfast, drive to the world’s wonder Milford Sound. The road to Milford Sound is known as you of highland roads with the best wonderful scene in the world. The road each side is covered with the original rainforest of cold temperate zyou in New Zealand, passing through the largest natural grassland Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lake, Knobs Flat, Homer Tunnel of 1.27 km in length, and etc. Milford Sound is a miracle of nature, a deep canyon due to the ice movement and cutting two million years ago. Sail in the cruise silently, having buffet while enjoying spectacular views along the way. You can see waterfall venting down on both sides of the snow mountain. In a very close place of the waterfall, you can feel cold feeling brought by the snow fog. Here, in addition to the natural wonders, you also may see seals, penguins in a lose distance. If lucky, you can also see the dolphins saying hello to you while swimming on both sides of the ship! After disembarking, you will drive to Te Anau, and then return to Queenstown.
Day 12 Queenstown - Franz Josef Glacier
After departing Queenstown in the morning, go to you of the World Heritages - the entrance of the Western Region National Park - Haster Pass along the shore of Lake Wanaka and Hawea. And then continue along the west coast, go through magnificent mountains, native forests and lakes, and finally arrive at Franz Joseph Glacier.
Day 13 Franz Josef Glacier - Greymouth
Here you will have endless opportunities to enjoy the unique charm of treasures on the west coast of South Island. You can take a walk or take a helicopter to overlook spectacular glacier wonders under the guide’s directions; experience an exciting flight with spectacular sceneries to print your footprints on mountain snow; experience breathtaking skyline in New Zealand. Visit the only white heron nest group in New Zealand; boat on Okalito Salt Lake to enjoy the beauty of surroundings, or visit the Lake Matthews to enjoy the image of Mount Cook and New Zealand's first peak Mountain Tasman reflected in the mirror-like lake.
Day 14 Greymouth - TranzAlpine Sightseeing Train - Christchurch
After you arrive in Greymouth, please return your leased vehicle to Greymouth Station and head for Christchurch to go through boarding procedures. "The TranzAlpine" is known as the "New Zealand’s extreme sightseeing adventure", you of six train lines with most beautiful scenery in the world. You will follow the way of the lush beech forest, go through the scenic Bonne Lake and the 737-meter high mountain village of Arthur Passageway, and then go across the magnificent Southern Alps. "The TranzAlpine "passes through the tall viaduct, magnificent valleys and the stunning Waima Kalili Valley, and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Day 15 Christchurch - Auckland
Back to Auckland, we will first have a short break. Please slow pace down today. Drink coffee or walk around shop with characteristics casually in the Queen Street and buy some gifts or souvenirs for family members. In the afternoon, you can enjoy a special Auckland’s food here which will bring different tastes. Besides, you can also take a good look at the different exotic scenery of Auckland. In the evening, you will return to Auckland Airport for your flight. We wish you safe and sound on your way home and hope that this New Zealand trip will leave you with many good memories.
