Arrive into Auckland early morning and transfer to the Stamford Plaza for one night in a superior room. (Early check in available at an extra cost). New Zealand’s spectacular ‘City of Sails’ is an enchanting mix of modern lifestyle, Maori culture and stunning location and the rest of the day is free to explore Auckland’s beautiful harbour front and parklands at your leisure.

At approximately 09.00 hrs a representative of Budget Rent-A-Car will deliver your Intermediate Automatic rental car to your hotel (note – delivery available weekdays only excluding public holidays, at weekends it would be necessary to make your own way to the car depot). Heading south you drive to Rotorua (approx 234 kms) and enter the sacred Maori heartlands and sulphur rich landscapes of New Zealand’s most active thermal area. Stay for 2 nights at the A-Kahu House in a Super King Room. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

A free day to explore Rotorua. Settled during the 14th century and a region traditionally revered by the Maori, Rotorua is littered with a seemingly endless collection of steaming hot springs, spurting geysers and bubbling mud pools. Be sure to visit one of the region’s thermal reserves, like the Waitotapu (Sacred Waters) Thermal Wonderland, home to the famous Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Spouting Geyser, which erupts daily at 10.15 hrs Alternatively you could visit the town’s impressive Museum of Art and History, explore the area on foot or pamper yourself at the Polynesian Spa, which has been dispensing its rejuvenating waters since the 1880s. Another alternative is a scenic flight over Mount Tarawera (Burnt Spear) and Whakaari (White Island), renowned still as New Zealand’s most active volcano.

Depart Rotorua today and make your way south, across New Zealand’s Central Plateau to the lakeside town of Taupo, lying besides the shores of the country’s largest lake (approx 85 kms). Stay 2 nights at Point View Lodge in a Lakeview Room. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Spend the day at leisure. Located on the North Eastern shore of Lake Taupo, the town lies within the caldera of one of the most violent volcanic eruptions ever recorded. Spectacularly located, it is home to some of the North Island’s most diverse adventure activities, presenting you with a wealth of options. You can take a cruise around the majestic setting of the lake itself, taking in some of the beauty of its expansive 606 sq km, hire a bike or visit the nearby geothermal wonder of the Wairakei Terraces. You can jetboat down the Huka Falls and enjoy the panoramic views from a scenic helicopter ride, or drive to the nearby Tongariro National Park.

Drive to Napier today (approx 143 kms), the North Island’s elegantly stylish Art Deco city and one of the most unique cities in the country Stay 2 nights at the County Hotel in a luxury room. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Spend the day at leisure. Explore Napier’s Art Deco architecture, taking a walking tour through the city’s elegant past, or perhaps enjoying a 4-wheel drive Gannets safari tour to Cape Kidnappers, where you can find huge colonies of nesting gannets. You can sample some of Hawke’s Bays world-renowned wines on a wine tour of New Zealand’s most abundant wine growing region, and even enjoy a bird’s eye view of the area from a hot air balloon. We would be happy to arrange any sightseeing tours that you may require.

Depart Napier and drive south to Wellington, New Zealand’s charming capital, set amongst the steep hills overlooking a quite magnificent harbour (approx 314 kms). Stay 2 nights at the Duxton Wellington in a deluxe room. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

A full day at leisure to explore the ‘Windy City of the South’. As well as being the seat of government, Wellington also prides itself on being New Zealand’s cultural centre, with an array of fascinating museums, eclectic galleries and an astounding number of restaurants, cafes, shops and theatres. Be sure to check out the Te Papa museum for a fascinating look at all things Maori (for many, the country’s finest museum) and ride the cable car from Lambton Quay up to the 25-hectare landscaped Botanical Gardens for some spectacular views of the city and the bustling harbour below. Alternatively you may prefer to take a walking tour of the historic heart of the city, or perhaps explore the city’s volcanic coastline.

Make your way to Wellington Airport or Ferry Terminal and return your rental car to the Budget Depot. Depart Wellington for your onward destination.