Day 1 Arrive Auckland

On arrival at Auckland International Airport collect your rental car and drive to the Airedale Hotel for overnight.

Day 2 Auckland to Waitomo

Drive to Waitomo. On arrival check in at the Black Water Café for your Black Water rafting trip “The Sequel” – an exhilarating experience which involves a combination of abseiling, climbing and floating on an inner tube through a unique underground river system. Allow 5 hours for the entire trip with 2 hours underground. All aspects of the tour involve fun, mystery and adventure and are guided by professionally trained staff. Overnight Waitomo.

Day 3 Waitomo to Rotorua

Drive to Lake Rotorua and the thermal area. The Maori culture contributes greatly to the attractions of this holiday city. In the afternoon depart on the Mount Tarawera 4WD trip. Travel to the base of Mt Tarawera Volcano. 4WD 10kms up to the edge of the massive craters. Enjoy a short crater walk or for the more adventurous experience the famous scree slide into the crater, or hike to the summit at 1111 metres. Your experienced local guide will give a commentary on Maori legend, history and volcanology. Two nights Ibis Hotel.

Day 4 Rotorua

This morning experience rafting on the upper Kaituna, reputedly the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. This afternoon relax in the Polynesian Spa, an historical hot mineral water bathing spa on the edge of Lake Rotorua. This evening travel with a local guide to a Marae (meeting place) for a traditional Maori Hangi (feast) and concert including traditional welcome ceremony and haka’s (war dances).

Day 5 Rotorua to Taupo

Enjoy some free time in Rotorua this morning before departing for Taupo. From Rotorua you will shortly enter the Kaingaroa State Forest, among the largest man-made forests in the world. Stop to view the Huka Falls. Overnight Caboose Taupo Hotel

Day 6 Tongariro Crossing

The Tongariro Crossing is a challenging walk taking 7-8 hours covering a distance of 17 km one way.

Often described as the best one day walk in New Zealand, the Tongariro Crossing provides an opportunity to experience some of the most scenic volcanically active areas of the park.

Overnight Caboose Taupo Hotel.

Day 7 Taupo to Wellington

Follow the shoreline of New Zealand’s largest lake and pass through Turangi, hub of the giant Tongariro Hydroelectric Scheme. While travelling along the ‘Desert Road’ you will be able to see the snow-capped peaks of Mounts Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngaruahoe. You will enter the Capital City of Wellington through its hilly northern suburbs. Overnight Ibis Hotel, Wellington.

Day 8 Wellington to Picton to Nelson

This morning leave your car at the Wellington ferry terminal prior to boarding the Interisland ferry to Picton. On arrival in Picton collect your rental vehicle for the South Island. Depart Picton and drive via Blenheim, until you cross the Wairau River and rise steadily to the Rai Saddle. From Pelorus Bridge, with its beautiful bush setting, the road is hilly and sweeps up and over the Rai Saddle and Whangamoa Hill before running down to Tasman Bay. Overnight Mid City Motor Lodge, Nelson.

Day 9 Abel Tasman National Park

This morning drive to Kaiteriteri. Meet your guide and join the morning launch cruise to Torrent Bay. On arrival at Torrent Bay Lodge a full training session and safety briefing is delivered. Then onto the water, to discover the beautiful beaches, tidal estuaries and rivers of the most scenic kayaking area of the park – Anchorage Bay to Bark Bay. Snorkeling equipment is provided. Overnight Mid City Motor Lodge.

Day 10 Nelson to Greymouth

Depart your hotel and journey into the fertile farmlands of pine forested hills around Murchison. Pass through the mighty Buller Gorge which is the gateway to the West Coast and from there it is on to the incredible drive down the coast. Forty three kilometres north of Greymouth, you will find an outstanding natural attraction known as the Pancake Rocks, consisting of eroded limestone rocks which have the appearance of a pile of pancakes. It is an easy walk from the road through attractive bush before reaching the rocks and the associated blowholes. Overnight Charles Court Motel.

Day 11 Greymouth to Franz Josef

Travel through dense bush for many miles, with scattered milling and farming settlements, to the township of Franz Josef Glacier. 20 minutes North of Franz Josef Glacier you will find South Westland Horse Treks. Discover the beauty of South Westland on horseback – enjoy the stunning backdrop of Mountain Ranges, the Southern Alps, and Rainforests. Trek will be tailored to suit both the non rider and the more experienced horse person. Overnight Punga Grove Motor Lodge.

Day 12 Franz Josef

This morning depart from Franz Josef on the Glacier Adventure. A trip for the more adventurous! Suitable for people with an adventurous spirit and a reasonable level of fitness.

Departing at 9am, the trip is the same as the Half Day Glacier Trip until you reach the top of the terminal face of the glacier. You then continue on up the glacier for several kilometres spending 5 hours on the ice, weather permitting. Your guide is ‘free guiding’ once leaving the terminal face, picking a route by cutting steps through heavily incised and jumbled icefalls. You could find yourself squeezing through the blue ice at the bottom of a crevasse, or ‘Franz Shuffling’ down 60° ice faces. Overnight Punga Grove Motor Lodge.

Day 13 Franz Josef to Queenstown

Depart Franz Josef and travel to Queenstown via Haast and Wanaka.

Overnight Aspen on Queenstown.

Day 14 Queenstown

Today enjoy 5 hours of adventure and excitement. Combine jetboating with Shotover Jet, a helicopter flight over Skippers Canyon and white water rafting down the Shotover River.

Overnight Aspen on Queenstown.

Day 15 Queenstown

At leisure. There are over 70 different activities available: including the Shotover Jet, bungy jumping, horse riding, golf, parapenting, gondola and luge. Overnight Aspen on Queenstown.

Day 16 Queenstown to Milford

Drive to Te Anau, gateway of the Fiordland National Park then follow Lake Te Anau to the valley of the Eglinton River and on to Milford Sound. In the late afternoon depart from Milford Wharf and cruise the length of Milford Sound out to the Tasman Sea. After reaching the open sea, the vessel returns under sail (wind permitting) and anchors overnight in Harrison Cove. Dinner and overnight onboard the Milford Mariner.

Day 17 Milford to Dunedin

After breakfast on board depart Milford Sound. Ascend steadily through the Cleddau Canyon to the Homer Tunnel. From here, travel north through Milton, across the Taieri River and on into the city of Dunedin. Overnight Pacific Park Hotel.

Day 18 Dunedin

Drive out to Otago Peninsula. Embark on the Monarch at Wellers Rock for a guided cruise to Taiaroa to view nine species of nesting seabirds including Royal Albatross, breeding fur seals, seagulls, shags, and offshore species. Overnight Pacific Park Hotel.

Day 19 Dunedin to Twizel

On departing Dunedin, travel to Palmerston and continue on the Oamaru, a town which is noted for the predominance of white stone buildings. From here you will turn inland and follow the Waitaki River past Lake Benmore to the town of Omarama and on to Twizel. Overnight Mountain Chalets, Twizel.

Day 20 Twizel to Mount Cook to Christchurch

From Twizel drive south to reach Lake Pukaki. Follow the shores of the lake into the heartland of the Mt Cook National Park, which encompasses 15 peaks, all towering over 3,000m. Depart from Mount Cook village with Glacier Explorers to view the Tasman Glacier up close, and by boat explore the huge dripping iceface of New Zealand’s largest glacier. A series of flightseeing options are available in the Mt Cook region. Travelling from Mount Cook, follow the Tasman River to the shores of Lake Pukaki before turning eastward to Lake Tekapo and on to Christchurch. Overnight Elms Hotel, Christchurch.

Day 21 Depart

Return your rental car and checking in for your onwards flight.