New Zealand
Holidays in New Zealand
New Zealand is an incredible country of contrasts. People come for its incredible scenery, vibrant culture and outdoor lifestyle and the unique geothermal activity that has shaped the land.
Auckland, is a waterfront city lying on the Hauraki Gulf on the North Island, With the beautiful islands of Waiheke and the distinctive volcanic dome of Rangitoto resting just offshore, and wild beaches to discover alongside it’s urban experiences. The North Island is incredibly diverse and whilst many visitors skip south at speed, it’s deserving of your time. Take the opportunity to explore properly and you’ll find a wealth of treasures. The dramatic coastlines of the Bay of Islands, the rain forest ares and geo thermal activity in Caromandel Peninsula. Wine in Hawkes Bay and the capital city Wellington at the bottom.
The South Island is dramatically different to its North Island counterpart. The top of the island boasts the highest hours of sunshine in the country world class vineyards, and stunning ocastlines of Abel tasman. The West Coast of the island is punctuated by dense rainforest, a wild, rugged coastline and two of the oldest glaciers in the world; Franz Josef and Fox. take boat trips on Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound, soar over them on a scenic flight or stay overnight, for a truly memorable experience after the visitors have left.
The east coast of the South Island is renowned for it’s marine life, in particular Kaikoura, which translates to ‘where the whales are’ known for whale watching and dolphins and much further south, the Otago Peninsula, home to penguins and albatross. In between the two is the city of Christchurch is rebuilding stronger than ever after the devastating earthquake in 2011 and is a diverse and intriguing place to spend a few days.
Best of New Zealand Self-Drive
Explore New Zealand from top to bottom, visiting iconic landmarks, savoring exquisite wines, and embarking on mini adventures along the way.
Auckland
After a long flight, you’ll be glad to finally check into The Sebel, apartment-style accommodation overlooking the yachts in Viaduct Harbour. It’s an excellent location for getting around the city, and you have a full day here to get to know its highlights, whether you want to peruse Auckland’s art galleries or spend time around its two harbours.
Days 3-4 Coromandel
You’ll collect a hire car from Auckland and make the three-hour drive to the Coromandel, a famously scenic area on the North Island comprising lovely towns, beaches with natural springs, and pretty coves for kayaking. You’ll stay in Coromandel Town, a city that boomed in the 1860s gold strike and leaves behind a legacy of its mining history.
Days 5-6 Rotorua
A three-hour drive brings you to Rotorua. Plan a break in your journey to visit Hobbiton Village to tour the movie set featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. When you arrive at Rotorua, a classic lodge waits to welcome you. You have a full day to explore Rotorua, a geothermic area known for its fizzing geysers, searing hot springs, and bubbling mud pools. It’s also where you can get to know Maori culture better and spend an evening trying hangi cooked in the ground.
Days 7-8 Napier
Swap Rotorua’s geothermal wonderland for the art deco charms of Napier. A three-hour drive takes you south to this fascinating town, where an incredible array of beautiful Art Deco buildings make it feel like a movie set. You can decide how to spend your time here: perhaps you’ll visit Hawke’s Bay wineries to try the local Pinot Gris and Syrah, or maybe you’ll take the opportunity to see the incredible gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.
Days 9-10 Wellington
Pick a great playlist for your four-hour drive to Wellington at the southern tip of the North Island. The Martinborough wine region is the perfect place to stop en route (particularly for the non-driver!), and the QT Wellington is a quirky boutique hotel to look forward to at the end of the journey. Time in Wellington is best spent indulging in the city’s gastro scene and riding the Wellington Cable Car for city panoramas. Many consider the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa unmissable, revealing plenty about the area’s environment, Maori culture, and art.
Days 11-12 Blenheim
South Island awaits. You’ll take the Interislander Cook Strait Ferry and continue the drive to Blenheim, a town in the pre-eminent Marlborough wine region, for a two-night stay. Enjoy the mountain scenery, pop into excellent wineries to sample the excellent Sauvignon Blanc, and stroll around the pretty town.
Day 13 Kaikoura
Take the coast road to Kaikoura for a memorable overnight stay at Hapuku Lodge. Stay in a treehouse or lodge as part of an accommodation concept that has a clear eco-vision that mirrors its surrounding area. The township of Kaikoura was the first local authority in the world to become a Green Globe-certified community.
Day 14 Lake Tekapo
You could spend the morning whale watching before embarking on a scenic five-and-a-half-hour journey to Lake Tekapo, perhaps paying a quick visit to Christchurch on the way (although you’ll visit it properly before you depart New Zealand). A milky blue lake and New Zealand’s Southern Alps await as South Island begins to reveal its scenic drama.
Days 15-17 Queenstown
A beautiful three-hour drive brings you to Queenstown — New Zealand’s epicentre of outdoor adventures. You’ve got three nights here, enough time to join a Lord of the Rings tour, visit the Central Otago wine region, or soar above the scenery on a gondola. You could also take a day trip to Fiordland National Park.
Days 18-19 Glacier Region
Take the scenic route via Haast Pass through the Southern Alps to the west coast and the glacier region — either Fox Glacier or Franz Josef Glacier. You have a full day in the area to take an ice-hiking adventure or visit the ethereal glow worm caves. You may also want to see Lake Matheson, one of the most photographed lakes in New Zealand.
Days 20-21 Christchurch
Drive a couple of hours north to Greymouth on the South Island’s west coast. You’ll return your hire car here, then board the TranzAlpine Express to cross to the east coast on a four-and-a-half-hour train journey through the mountains. When you arrive in Christchurch, you’ll check into a hotel for your final two-night stay where you can explore the world-famous botanic gardens before your return journey home.