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The Essential New Zealand

This 28 day tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Christchurch.

The ultimate 28 day essential tour. Visit and experience the very best of New Zealand. From the top of the North Island to the deep south enjoy superb hospitality while staying in a fantastic range of hotels, luxury lodges and boutique accommodations.

Accommodation type on this tour is: Boutique lodges & hotels.

Rental car insurance included

Rental car inclusions: Unlimited kilometres,airport/ferry terminal fees, additional drivers.

Tour pack: Includes detailed driving instructions, maps, guide books and much more.

This tour can be customised to suit you precisely - just request here.

This tour also features:

Includes: All breakfasts

Includes: 1 dinner

Includes: Private train station transfers

Includes: Private airport transfers

Includes: Interislander ferry crossing

Includes: TranzAlpine Train from Greymouth to Christchurch

Includes: Discover the Bay Hole in the Rock cruise

Includes: Twilight encounter Waipoua Forest

Includes: Coast and Rainforest full day tour, Auckland

Includes: Mitai Maori Village Concert & Buffet Dinner, Rotorua

Includes: Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

Includes: Hawkes Bay Wine Experience Half Day Tour

Includes: LOTR Film Locations Tour, Wellington

Includes: Whale Watch Kaikoura tour

Includes: Discover Christchurch Double decker Highlights Tour

Includes: Mt.Cook Ski Plane glacier highlights flight & glacier landing

Includes: TSS Earnslaw cruise and dinner at Walter Peak high country farm, Queenstown

Includes: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

Includes: Franz Josef Glacier Helihike

Itinerary summary for: The Essential New Zealand

Day 1: Welcome to Auckland, transfer to your accommodation and rest of day at leisure
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Windsor

Day 2: Enjoy a full day exploring Auckland's wild side
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Windsor

Day 3: Collect your rental car then head north to the 'big trees'. This evening enjoy a twilight tour
Accommodation: Waipoua Lodge

Day 4: Cross to the east coast and the wonderful Bay of Islands
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge, Russell

Day 5: Explore the bays today
Accommodation: Arcadia Lodge, Russell

Day 6: Enjoy a scenic drive from Bay of Islands to Auckland
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Windsor

Day 7: Today head south to the limestone caves of Waitomo
Accommodation: Kamahi Cottage

Day 8: Cross the central Plateau to the cultural centre of Rotorua
Accommodation: Peppers on the Point

Day 9: Enjoy a full day exploring Rotorua's geothermal attractions. This evening visit Mitai Maori Village
Accommodation: Peppers on the Point

Day 10: Continue your journey south through Lake Taupo and onto the art deco city of Napier
Accommodation: McHardy Lodge

Day 11: Explore the city this morning and then sit back and enjoy a tour of some local wineries
Accommodation: McHardy Lodge

Day 12: Explore the Wairarapa as you head towards the capital city of Wellington
Accommodation: QT Wellington

Day 13: Spend the morning strolling the capitals streets. This afternoon venture out on a Lord of the Rings tour
Accommodation: QT Wellington

Day 14: Take the Interislander ferry to the South Island
Accommodation: McCormick House

Day 15: Travel the Pacific Coast Highway to Kaikoura
Accommodation: Manakau Lodge

Day 16: Take a whale watch tour and explore Kaikoura
Accommodation: Manakau Lodge

Day 17: Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs for some hot pool relaxation
Accommodation: The St James

Day 18: Its a short drive through Canterbury countryside to Christchurch
Accommodation: Orari & Orari Apartments

Day 19: Explore Christchurch with an open top double decker bus tour
Accommodation: Orari & Orari Apartments

Day 20: Christchurch to Mt Cook National Park via the turquoise waters of the alpine lakes
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium

Day 21: Explore the park including a flight with Mt. Cook Ski Planes
Accommodation: Hermitage Hotel, Aoraki Wing Premium

Day 22: Mt Cook to Queenstown, this evening visit Walter Peak Station for dinner
Accommodation: The Dairy Private Hotel

Day 23: The day is yours to discover all the scenic spots and fun activities on offer in Queenstown
Accommodation: The Dairy Private Hotel

Day 24: Sit back and enjoy a full day trip to the remote untouched wilderness of Doubtful Sound
Accommodation: The Dairy Private Hotel

Day 25: Take the Crown Range Road to Wanaka before travelling the spectacular Haast Pass to the West Coast
Accommodation: Westwood Lodge

Day 26: Experience the glacier with an exhilarating heli-hike
Accommodation: Westwood Lodge

Day 27: Head north to Greymouth and board the Tranz Alpine scenic train to Christchurch
Accommodation: Orari & Orari Apartments

Day 28: Depart Christchurch today