|
Example
Self Drive Itinerary
This tour
shows off the very best of New Zealand and the diverse
scenery - one of the most beautiful countries in the World.
Visits are included to a range of farm types in the form of
farmstay accommodation, where you will have the opportunity
to meet and talk to farming families and enjoy genuine
"Kiwi" country hospitility. There are many opportunities to
pull off the road along the way, maybe for a walk in the
native forest, a game of golf, a swim, or perhaps to try
your luck at fishing. There are also some fascinating
leisure, historic and cultural attractions throughout New
Zealand that you may wish to see or participate in. This
tour includes many meals, high quality farmstay and motel
accommodation, rental car, and New Zealand touring
information.
|
- Day 1
Auckland - Coromandel (Breakfast = B Lunch =L Dinner =
D)
- Pick up
your rental car on arrival at Auckland airport. New
Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan City. Auckland is
affectionately known as "The City of Sails", and one
glance at the harbour on which the city is built will
explain that. Sailing and swimming are common pastimes
for Aucklanders, most of who live within short distances
of beaches. Travel to the Coromandel Peninsular, settle
into your accommodation for a two-night stay. Set beside
the sea, amidst native bush, this is one of New Zealand's
premier holiday spots. Evening: Coromandel Motor Lodge
(Alternatively stay in AKL one extra night before going
to Coromandel.)
-
- Day 2
Coromandel (B--)
- Coromandel
is one the premier beach areas in New Zealand. You will
have the option of many different activities today. Relax
on the beach near your hotel or take a short drive to
Hahei, where you may take the Hahei Explorer boat trip to
visit some of the beaches and coves that are unaccessable
to the public via land. You could also walk down a scenic
trail to Cathedral Cove - an idyllic spot! Drive a little
further to Hot Water Beach where you can dig your own hot
pool in the sand at low tide. Perhaps you would prefer a
round of golf, more bush walks, or strolling along the
marinas, -there are plenty of things to see and do. Kiwi
Dundee Tours provide interesting day trips in this area.
Evening: Coromandel Motor Lodge
-
- Day 3
Coromandel - Cambridge (B-D)
- A chance
to further explore the Coromandel before travelling to
Cambridge. 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, where you will become
acquainted with a typical New Zealand rural community and
friendly farming family on a dairy farm. After getting to
know your hosts and surroundings, take a short tour of
the farm and enjoy a home cooked dinner. Evening:
Farmstay
-
- Day 4
Cambridge - Rotorua (B-D)
- After
time spent with your hosts, travel to Rotorua, an
interesting thermal region and centre of native Maori
culture. The first thing that will hit you is the smell
of sulphur that pervades the area. Visit the Agrodome for
an entertaining exhibition of the New Zealand sheep
industry, Rainbow Springs for a peek at the native flora
and fauna, including large brown and rainbow trout and
Whakarewarewa thermal area where boiling mud pools and
spouting geysers can be seen. A great way to end the day
is to go to a Maori hangi (feast) and concert for a great
night's entertainment. Evening: Rotorua
Motel
-
- Day 5
Rotorua &endash; Napier - Waipukurau
(B-D)
- Depart
Rotorua and travel to the Central Plateau and the
township of Taupo. Passing the geothermal area of
Wairakei, stop to view the famous Huka Falls (where the
mighty Waikato River is confined to a narrow ravine, just
a few meters wide, forming a spectacular rapid), on the
outskirts of Lake Taupo. Then on to Napier, the "Art Deco
City" of New Zealand, which was rebuilt after a massive
7.8 richter scale earthquake in the early 1930's. Pass by
many of the restored buildings in the city to get a feel
for this unique town. The Hawkes Bay is the "Fruitbowl of
New Zealand", think of sun, surf, orchards, wineries,
cafes. Continue south to Waipukurau for a one-night stay
on a sheep and beef farm. Evening:
Farmstay
-
- Day 6
Waipukurau (B-D)
- After a
hearty farm breakfast and a look around your host's farm,
there will be time for you to have a good look around the
area. There is a fabulous trout fishing river close by,
as well as a beach. From Waipukurau's airfield you can
see gliders and hot air balloons soar skywards in the
warm thermals and you can visit potters, the art village
of Otane, painters, weavers and the centrally located
Electra Art Gallery. Evening: Farmstay
-
- Day 7
Waipukurau - Masterton (B&emdash;)
- This
morning travel to Masterton in the Wairarapa. Another
farming region on the east coast of the North Island.
Once you get to Masterton, there area some fabulous
wineries in South Wairarapa to visit, along with some
great beaches. If you take the main road, you may like to
stop at the Mount Bruce Bird Reserve to view some of New
Zealand's native wildlife. Evening: Masterton
Motel
-
- Day 8
Masterton - Blenheim (B&emdash;)
- Travel
over the Rimutaka Hill to New Zealand's capital city
Wellington. Wellington is a charming harbour city (known
for how windy it gets)! Here you will catch the
InterIsland Ferry through the tranquil and scenic
Marlborough Sounds, to Picton - gateway to the South
Island. Blenheim is the main township in the Marlborough
region and is ideally suited to wine production, with
thousands of hectares now devoted to attractive
vineyards. Take your time here to do a wine tour, and
sample some of the award winning wines, and enjoy the
fabulous vineyard restaurants. Evening: Blenheim Motel
-
- Day 9
Blenheim - Culverden (B-D)
- Head
south this morning travelling down the rocky coastline to
Kaikoura, a small town set in a picturesque location
between high mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Here you
can take a cruise to view the amazing marine life that is
found off shore and huge whales and playful dolphins.
This site is also good for a view of large numbers of sea
birds. Travel on to Culverden a small farming district
for the night, where you will enjoy the hospitality of
another New Zealand farming family. Evening:
Farmstay
-
- Day
10 Culverden - Christchurch (B&emdash;)
- Christchurch
is the South Island's largest city, situated on the level
plains of Canterbury that attracted the original Church
of England settlement, and then the great runholders.
There is an array of sights and activities to occupy your
time this afternoon. Take a walk along the attractive
Sumner Beach, visit a nearby pier which reaches 400meters
out into the Pacific Ocean. Visit the Arts Centre,
Botanical Gardens, play golf, or go for a drive out to
Lincoln University, one of New Zealand's premier
Agricultural colleges and take a look around the
attractive campus. Evening: Christchurch
Motel
-
- Day
11 Christchurch (B&emdash;)
- Time to
explore Christchurch and the surrounding farming
districts. Some options for today would also be to catch
the famous "Tranz Alpine Express" from Christchurch to
Greymouth on the West Coast, take a drive to Akaroa
Harbour on Banks Peninsular or Hanmer Springs for a soak
in the thermal pools set amongst the forests and
mountains. Take a sights tour up the Port Hills for a
panoramic view of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps,
coastline, Pacific Ocean, and Lyttleton Harbour.
Evening: Christchurch Motel
-
- Day
12 Christchurch - Dunedin (B&emdash;)
- Travel
south to Dunedin. You may like to stop on route in Oamaru
to see the stone buildings in the old part of town, and
to look at the Moeraki Boulders just off the main
highway. Dunedin is the city of New Zealand with the
richest Scottish influence. Settled by Scottish pioneers,
it now boasts New Zealand's only kilt shop, and our only
whisky distillery. The central plaza, known as "The
Octagon", features a statue of the Scottish poet Robbie
Burns, whose nephew, the Rev Thomas Burns, was a
religious leader of the early settlers. Spires, towers,
gables and solid stone buildings lend Dunedin a Victorian
air, and the centrally located University adds its bit to
the overall character of the city. A great dinner spot in
Dunedin is the Speights Ale House known for its fabulous
traditional New Zealand cuisine and beer. A popular spot
with the locals! Evening: Dunedin
Motel
-
- Day
13 Dunedin - Gore (B-D)
- You may
spend some time exploring the Dunedin area this morning.
The Otago Peninsula has an abundance of wildlife with an
amazing colony of Royal Albatross where you can see
chicks in their nests and these huge birds (wing span of
up to 3 meters), flying in their natural habitat. You can
also see a Penguin Colony, and many seals have also made
this area their home. You can chose your mode of
transport to view these areas, -foot, sea kayak or boat
ride. Heading on to Gore, in the heart of the Southland
Plains, you will meet your hosts for a farmstay.
Evening: Farmstay
-
- Day
14 Gore &endash; Te Anau (B&emdash;)
- After
time with your hosts travel to Te Anau in the heart of
Fiordland for a two-night stay. Te Anau and Manapouri
literally provide the gateways to the Fiords, with access
to both Milford and Doubtful Sound being via these
departure points. An excellent base to explore the
Fiordland area. An option tonight would be to cruise on
Lake Te Anau to view the glowworm caves. Evening: Te
Anau Motel/B& B
-
- Day
15 Te Anau (BL-)
- This
morning you will be picked up by coach, for a cruise on
Milford Sound. Milford is by far the best known of all of
the fiords and the only one that can be accessed by road.
It is approximately 16km from the head of the fiord to
the open sea, which means visitors can comfortably travel
the length of the fiord to open ocean and return on one
of the many cruise options available. Return late
afternoon. Evening: Te Anau Motel/B&B
-
- Day
16 Te Anau - Queenstown (B&emdash;)
- Travel
to Queenstown, the most popular tourist resort in the
South Island. It has a magnificent setting on the shores
of Lake Wakatipu, and is very geared up to the needs of
its transient tourist population, with a wide range of
eating places, nightlife and leisure attractions.
Evening: Queenstown Motel /B&B
-
- Day
17 Queenstown (B-D)
- There is
plenty to see and do here today. Perhaps a drive to the
old gold mining village of Arrowtown. A stop at
Queenstown's dried flower barn, or a game of golf at the
exclusive Mill Brook Resort, a cruise on the old steamer
boat Earnslaw or for the more adventuresome a 'Bungy
Jump'. Tonight a ride up the Gondola for dinner and
magnificent views over the Lake and Mountains.
Evening: Queenstown Motel/B&B
-
- Day
18 Queenstown - Fairlie (B-D)
- Depart
Queenstown and travel through the wide-open spaces of the
Mackenzie Basin. A stop at Lake Tekapo, one of the
region's vibrant aqua blue lakes. Here, you can view New
Zealand's highest peak, Mount Cook, and visit the Church
of the Good Shepherd and the statue of the infamous sheep
rustler - James Mackenzie's dog, before travelling on to
Fairlie. This township rests in the Fairlie Basin,
surrounded by the beautiful high country of the Two Thumb
Range. Here you will have the opportunity to experience a
final taste of New Zealand farming life whilst on your
farmstay. Evening: Farmstay
-
- Day
19 Fairlie (B-D)
- A day to
explore the farm and the region including the local
lakes, rivers etc.
- Evening:
Farmstay
- Day
20 Fairlie &endash; Christchurch (B--)
- After
time with your hosts drive to Christchurch for a restful
night and any last minute shopping before your departure
tomorrow. Evening: Christchurch Motel
- Day
21 Christchurch - Onward Travel (B--)
- Depart
NZ
|
