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Suggested Itineraries > Touring Vacations > New Zealand Highlights New Zealand Touring Vacation
(8 days/7 nights) North Island: The Waitomo Caves lie beneath the rugged hills and expansive farmland known as the "King Country". Part of an ancient seabed that was lifted then eroded into a spectacular landscape of limestone formations, caves and underground rivers, the Caves are part of 50 kms of amazing underground passages, many of which are still unexplored. The lakeside city of Rotorua and its surrounds offer a complete thermal wonderland. Sitting on an active faultline, it's nickname 'Sulphur City' comes from the pungent odour of the natural gas hydrogen sulphide which pervades the city. Bubbling mud, explosive geysers, hot mineral springs and multicoloured silica terraces draw visitors year round. The city is deeply rooted in Maori tradition with approximately one third of New Zealand's Maori population living there. Visitors can enjoy such traditions as wood, bone and greenstone carving, dance concerts and hangi feasts( food cooked in earth ovens). The surrounding region of beautiful lakes and dense virgin forests offers a range of outdoor activities including bush walks, white water rafting, hot air ballooning and world famous trout fishing. South Island: The South Island is where natural wonders never cease! Around every corner a new highlight, a new experience. Spectacular mountain peaks, starring New Zealand's highest Mount Cook. At 12,283 feet and surrounded by dazzling glaciers, it was first scaled in 1894 and ever since has been the ultimate mountaineering challenge of the South Pacific. A fixed wing scenic flight from Tekapo around the soaring peaks of the Mount Cook National Park is a far more comfortable option! The resort village of Queenstown, nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, is New Zealand's jewel. Famous for its spectacular setting, it is also renowned for its adventuresome outdoor activities. Scenic flights over crystal clear lakes and jagged peaks, thrilling river jetboating, helicopter/jetboat combinations, the gondola cableway to Bob's Peak ... these are on the "must do" list! The Fiordland National Park is New Zealand's largest and most remote National Park - some areas have never even been explored! The highlight is Milford Sound, dominated by the 5560-foot pinnacle of Mitre Peak rising sheer from the sea. Transport Options This itinerary is perfect for travel by self drive rental car or seat-in-coach on scheduled motorcoach services. Vacation Highlights
Touring Itinerary Day 1: Auckland/Rotorua via Waitomo Caves (363km). Self drive: after picking up your rental car, enjoy the drive south to Rotorua (driving time approx 4-5 hours). Seat in Coach: depart Auckland 9.00am on Newmans Coach Lines, arriving Rotorua 4.30pm. Depart Auckland's southern suburbs, through the horticultural farmland of the Bombay Hills to the dairy district of Waikato. Visit the Rangariri Battle Site Heritage Centre for an audio-visual presentation about Maori warrior's heroic stand in 1863. Pass through Ngaruawahia, home of the Maori Queen to arrive in Hamilton, Waikato's main industrial and business centre. Through it flows New Zealand's longest river, the Waikato, full of plump trout and perfect for canoeing. Continue past the centre of Te Awamutu with its pretty rose gardens to the world famous Waitomo Caves, renowned for spectacular limestone formations and million year old caverns. Here a stop is made to enjoy a boat trip along the underground river to the Glowworm Grotto to view thousands of glowworms at close proximity. (Seat in coach: entry fee included; Self Drive: entry fee additional). Travel through the racing horse stud area of Cambridge, over the Mamaku Ranges to arrive in Rotorua. Seat in Coach option includes:
Self drive: a free day to enjoy the many sights and attractions in Rotorua. Seat in Coach: The Rotorua Grand Experience with Newmans Coachlines. Departs at 8.00am and returns at 12.30pm. Enjoy a morning sightseeing excursion of New Zealand's thermal wonderland, rich in Maori culture and heritage and famous for its geothermal reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and fascinating landscape. Highlights include: New Zealand Maori Arts and Craft Institute, Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, Paradise Valley Springs and the Agrodome Show (admission fees included). Central accommodation pick ups and drop-offs available on request. Homestay Option: Tonight you will stay with a New Zealand family and experience real New Zealand hospitality. Includes return transfers, dinner and breakfast. Day 3: Fly Rotorua/Christchurch Catch a late morning flight to Christchurch. Please make your own way to your overnight accommodation. Your afternoon is free to explore Christchurch. Please Note: Cost of flight NOT included in tour package price. Please add this sector to your international airfare. Day 4: Christchurch Self drive: a free day to enjoy the many sights and attractions in Christchurch. Seat in Coach: Christchurch Highlights Sightseeing Tour with Pacific Travel. Departs at 9.00am and returns at 12.00pm. Visit the central city, the many parks and gardens for which Christchurch is internationally acclaimed and the Cashmere Hills for panoramic views over the City. Highlights include: Avon River, Cathedral Square, Christ's College, Provincial Government buildings, Arts Centre, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Hagley Park and Mona Vale. As a finale visitors are taken up the Port Hills to the Sign of the Takahe, built to commemorate the construction of the Summit Road. Here spectacular views can be seen of the city, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps in the distance. Accommodation pick ups on request. Your afternoon is free for further sightseeing. We provide an Action and Attraction Pass, which allows you to visit:
Self drive: depart at leisure for your drive south (driving time approx 8-9 hours). Seat in Coach: depart Christchurch 8.20am on Newmans Coach Lines, arriving Queenstown 6.40pm. Traverse the Canterbury Plains, the largest area of flat land in New Zealand; a patchwork of cropping and sheep farms and some of New Zealand's finest pastureland. The higher region of the plains is sheep station country, tamed by hardy settlers more than a century ago. Cross the Southern Alps at Burkes Pass and reach the Mackenzie Country where high country tussock grassland sprawls across high plateau, with the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps as the backdrop. The extraordinary blue water of Lake Tekapo with the Church of the Good Shepherd cradled on its shores must be one of New Zealand's finest and most spectacular icons. The statue of the collie dog pays tribute to the hardships of both the shepherds and their dogs in past times. Continue on to Mount Cook Village, surrounded by the Mount Cook National Park. Home to 22 peaks over 10,000 feet, the king of them all is still Mount Cook, in spite of losing a chunk from its summit in the summer of 1991! We suggest lunch at The Hermitage (own cost). The remainder of the journey includes highlights of the manmade hydro lakes, cross the Lindis Pass, through the rugged Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown. Day 6: Queenstown Sightseeing You will be spoilt for choice today by the wide range of activities and attractions offered in Queenstown. If you want views, hiking, cruising, 4WD excursions or indulging in wine and food, it's all here! Optional Must Do - Scenic Flights with Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters: The spectacular lakes and mountains are all within easy reach by helicopter and Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters know all the best places. From 20 - 50 minutes, the choice of flights offers The Remarkables, Skippers Canyon, Queenstown Basin, Shotover Gorge, snow and glacier landings. Charter flights are available for scenic flights, trophy hunting and wilderness fishing. Local transfers included and gourmet picnic lunches can be arranged. (purchased locally). Day 7: Self drive: a free day to explore Queenstown. We suggest a day trip to Milford Sound with a cruise on the sound. You have the option of driving or taking a flight (own expense). Seat in Coach: Milford Sound Day Excursion with Newmans Coach Lines Departs Queenstown 7.50am, returns approx 7.30pm. Skirt the shores of Lake Wakatipu, through the rural towns of Kingston and Mossburn to Lake Te Anau, the largest lake in the South Island. The Fiordland National Park World Heritage Area, encompassing nearly 1.2 million hectares, is one of the largest national parks in the world. See nature on a very grand scale from glaciated hanging cliffs to forested valley floors, and, of course, New Zealand's most visited fiord, Milford Sound. Take a catamaran cruise for 1½ hours on Milford Sound, with lunch on board (lunch cost additional). Return to Queenstown late afternoon. Day 8: Queenstown or optional Return to Christchurch Your tour arrangements conclude this morning upon check out from your hotel. Optional Extension: Return to Christchurch. Self drive: depart/arrive at leisure. You have the choice of retracing your steps via Mount Cook or drving via Dunedin and the East Coast. Driving time for both routes is approximately 5 - 6 hours. Seat in Coach: Return to Christchurch via Tekapo with your InterCity coach departing Queenstown at 7.30am (arriving Christchurch 3.15pm) or alternatively via Dunedin, departing Queenstown 7.45am and arriving Christchurch 6.30pm. Your tour arrangements conclude on arrival in Christchurch. Your Accommodation Options Choose from:
The self drive itineraries are based on use of a self-drive rental car. Other Options -Travel by Motorhome This itinerary can be comfortably travelled by motorhome, stopping when you like, where you like. For more information about the operators and services included in these suggested itineraries, please refer to the accommodation, transport and sightseeing pages in this site.
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