New Zealand : Simply the Best

Day 1 arrive Auckland Transfer to your hotel in the city centre for an overnight stay.

Day 2 Auckland-Waitomo Caves-Rotorua (370 km) Collect your rental car and travel south to Waitomo and tour the magnificent subterranean caves by boat. Continue to Rotorua for two nights.

Day 3 Rotorua Explore Rotorua, joining a guided tour through Te Puia Thermal Reserve, visit Rainbow Springs, the Agrodome Leisure Park and take a gondola cable car ride to the Skyline Skyride complex and Polynesian Spa.

Day 4 Rotorua-Wellington (465 km) Travel south via Lake Taupo and continue through Tongariro National Park where the three volcanic mountains of Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro dominate the scenery. Carry on to Wellington for a two-night stay.

Day 5 Wellington Spend the day at leisure in New Zealand’s lively capital city with its thriving arts and culture scene.

Day 6 Wellington-Picton-Christchurch (370km) Return your rental vehicle and take the InterIslander ferry across Cook Strait to Picton boarding the wonderful TranzCoastal *** to Christchurch. You will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.  *** Please note:  during 11 April-14 August 2011 the TranzCoastal train will not be operating.  Any bookings made during this period will be confirmed on the Intercity coach from Picton to Christchurch and there will be a reduction of £23 per person for this self-drive package cost.  Coach timings will be advised at the time of booking.

Day 7 Christchurch-Greymouth Transfer to the train station and board the TranzAlpine taking a scenic journey via Arthur’s Pass to Greymouth for overnight stay. Collect your rental vehicle in Greymouth. A tour of Punakaiki is included this afternoon.

Day 8 Greymouth-West Coast Glaciers (205km) Head south to sweeping glaciers of Westland National Park and take a guided walk to the glacier terminal.

Day 9 West Coast Glaciers-Queenstown (420km) Travel over the Haast Pass and past Lake Wanaka to Queenstown for two nights.

Day 10 Queenstown At leisure to take advantage of the many optional excursions available in Queenstown from adrenaline charged activities to more sedate lake cruising.

Day 11 Queenstown-Milford Sound-Te Anau (420km) Drive to Te Anau for morning tea, before embarking on the spectacular drive through Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound. Join a cruise out in the sound, before returning to Te Anau for overnight stay.

Day 12 Te Anau-Invercargill (160km) Drive to Invercargill, New Zealand’s southernmost city.

Day 13 Invercargill-Dunedin (220km) Continue through the spectacular Catlins area to the charming, Scottish influenced city of Dunedin. Overnight.

Day 14 Dunedin-Christchurch (365km) Explore Dunedin before driving across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch for an overnight stay.

Day 15 depart Christchurch Drive to the airport.