Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Auckland today you will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in the city centre for overnight stay.
Day 2 Auckland (B) spend the morning at leisure before taking an afternoon cruise with Dolphin Explorer Tours to the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, considered one of the most biologically and geographically diverse maritime parks in the world. Opportunity to swim with the dolphins during October-April. Dolphin viewing only possible during May-September.
Day 3 Auckland-Bay of Islands (B) (235 km) collect your Hertz rental car from the city depot and drive north to Paihia in the beautiful Bay of Islands for a 2-night stay.
Day 4 Bay of Islands (B) join a morning Dolphin Cruise around the bay and, conditions permitting, swim with the wild dolphins. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the area.
Day 5 Bay of Islands-Coromandel (B) (365 km) drive south via Auckland to Pauanui on the east coast of the Coromandel for a two-night stay.
Day 6 Coromandel-Whakatane (B) (230 km) take a morning guided walk with specialist guide Kiwi Dundee, enjoy the scenic beauty and learn about the natural history of this area. In the afternoon, drive to Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty for a two-night stay.
Day 7 Whakatane (B) today choose from the following optional activities (at own cost): take a boat out into the Bay of Plenty where you may be able to swim with dolphins and view blue penguins and New Zealand fur seals at Whale Island. Alternatively you may prefer to visit New Zealand’s only active marine volcano, White Island.
Day 8 Whakatane-Rotorua (B) (100 km) drive inland to Rotorua and experience New Zealand’s foremost geo-thermal area that is also the centre for Maori culture. Spend the afternoon at leisure and perhaps enjoy a traditional Maori feast in the evening (at additional cost).
Day 9 Rotorua-Wellington (B) (472 km) drive to Wellington, via Lake Taupo and the volcanic landscapes of Tongariro National Park.
Day 10 Wellington-Picton-Kaikoura (B) (157 km) enjoy a morning of leisure, possibly visiting New Zealand’s National Museum Te Papa or Mt Victoria lookout. In the afternoon drop off your Hertz rental car at the ferry terminal depot and take the InterIslander ferry across the Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island. Collect another rental vehicle and drive down the East Coast to Kaikoura for two nights.
Day 11 Kaikoura (B) this morning join the Whale Watch Cruise for a unique marine experience providing the opportunity to see sperm whales against the dramatic backdrop of the Kaikoura mountains. Other species of whale may also be seen, as may dusky dolphins, Hector's dolphin, New Zealand fur seals and a wide variety of sea birds.
Day 12 Kaikoura (B) this morning enjoy a Dolphin Swimming encounter. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 13 Kaikoura-Methven (B) (303 km) today please make your way to Methven. Methven is surrounded by the chequerboard fields of the Canterbury Plains and dwarfed by a magnificent backdrop of mountains.
Day 14 Methven-Dunedin (310 km) drive south and follow the coast road to Dunedin for a two-night stay, perhaps stopping at the Moeraki boulders en route.
Day 15 Dunedin (B) spend the day at leisure in this very Scottish city, which boasts the country’s oldest university and some interesting architecture. The nearby Otago Peninsula is home to colonies of royal albatross and yellow-eyed penguin.
Day 16 Dunedin-Te Anau (B) (290 km) drive to Te Anau, the natural gateway to Fiordland National Park. Stay here overnight.
Day 17 Te Anau-Milford Sound (B,D) (120 km) drive to Milford along an amazingly scenic route and board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise on Milford Sound. Optional activities include kayaking and exploring the shoreline. Evening buffet dinner on board. ** Note the overnight cruise does not operate during June/July & August. During these months the itinerary takes you from Te Anau-Milford Sound-Queenstown and includes a nature cruise in Milford Sound with picnic lunch and an extra night in Queenstown.
Day 18 Milford-Queenstown (B) (291 km) return to Milford wharf and drive to Queenstown, situated along the eastern shores of Lake Wakatipu.
Day 19 Queenstown-Mt Cook (B,D) (263 km) drive to the alpine village of Mount Cook and see New Zealand’s highest peak. A wide variety of walking tracks are available to see the mountains and glaciers at their best. Overnight.
Day 20 Mt Cook-Christchurch (B) (331 km) drive to Christchurch and return your rental vehicle at the airport prior to your departure.
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