Depart London Heathrow by Air New Zealand to Auckland.

In flight.

Arrive Auckland this morning and transfer to the Cotter House for 1 night in the Blue Provencal room. 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. (Early check in available at extra cost).

This morning proceed to Hertz City Depot to collect your rental vehicle. Travel north, across country to the beautiful Bay of Islands (approx. 230 km), one of New Zealand’s most picturesque regions, where some 150 glittering islands lie amidst the clear waters of the South Pacific. You may like to travel via the Waipoua Kauri Forest (approx. 385 km), one of the highlights of North Island’s western coast and the largest remaining Kauri forest left in the country. Stay 2 nights at Bay of Islands Lodge. The afternoon is at leisure.

A full day at leisure to explore the Bay of Islands. A Cape Brett ‘Hole in the Rock’ cruise is included today which can be taken in the morning or in the afternoon. The Bay of Islands is renowned, not only for its stunning coastal scenery, but also as one of the most historical parts of New Zealand. Site of the first permanent British settlement, it was here that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6th February 1840, when the Maori chiefs ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria, in effect beginning the long and sometimes bloody history of colonial involvement in the region. The Treaty House in Waitangi National Reserve is now an historic Museum. We can pre-book a range of optional sightseeing in the area, including scenic flights to Cape Reinga and a dolphin encounter which allows you to not only view these playful mammals but also (conditions permitting) enter the water and swim with them in their natural environment.

Return south today, heading towards the beautiful landscapes of the Coromandel Peninsula and the coastal town of Miranda (approx. 315 km) where you will overnight at Umaya Lodge in a luxury suite.

Continue your journey to Whangamata on the Coromandel Peninsula (approx. 110 km), a town famed for its long surfing beach. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Stay 2 nights at the Brenton Lodge in a Queen suite.

A full day at leisure to explore the surrounding area. Whangamata, itself is home to a beautiful beach and is a well-known surfing spot. There are a number of idyllic coastal walks which offer stunning ocean views, as well as mountain biking and walking trails in nearby Tairua Forest or Coromandel Forest Park. You can go for a round of golf, try some of the many water sports available or go for a scenic drive to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, just 50 minutes drive from Whangamata.

Continuing south you enter the sacred Maori lands around Rotorua today, your final destination being the sulphur rich landscapes of New Zealand’s most active thermal area (approx. 310 km). Stay for 2 nights at the Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay in a superior lake view room. In the evening enjoy a traditional Hangi Dinner and Maori concert at the Tamaki Village.

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 Wai-o-tapu (Sacred Waters) Thermal Wonderland, home to the famous Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Spouting Geyser, which erupts daily at 1015 hours. 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 by floatplane or helicopter over Whakaari (White Island), renowned still as New Zealand’s most active volcano. We would be happy to arrange any sightseeing activities that you may require.

From Rotorua travel via Taupo to Napier, a town of singular elegance, destroyed by an earthquake in 1931 and today filled with the stylish Art Deco architecture that makes it one of the most unique cities anywhere (approx. 215 km). Stay at The County Hotel for 1 night in a luxury room. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Depart Napier and make your way south, to Wellington (approx. 314 km). Stay 2 nights at Lambton Heights in a garden room.

A full day at leisure to explore Wellington and surrounding area. The city is home to the fascinating Te Papa Museum, as well as numerous gardens, cafés and restaurants and some superb shopping. For those that want to venture further a field, you could take a wine tour to explore the vineyards of Martinborough. Fans of the Lord of the Rings series might like to join the Middle Earth Filming Locations Tour, to see many of the sites made famous by the films themselves

Drop off your rental car at the Hertz Wellington Ferry Depot. Depart on the 1035 hours Interislander Ferry from Wellington to Picton to cross the Cook Strait, to the lovely scenic waters of the Marlborough Sound, your gateway to the beauty of the South Island. Arrive at Picton at 1335 hours and collect your South Island Hertz car. Drive to Blenheim (approx. 28 km). Stay 1 night at Marlborough Vintners Hotel in an executive suite.

Depart Blenheim and drive along the scenic coast road to Kaikoura (approx. 129 km). Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Stay 2 nights at Hapuku Lodge in a one bedroom Treehouse.

Kaikoura has long been a mecca for marine wildlife and seabirds and today you have an opportunity to enjoy a Whale Watch Excursion by boat (duration 3½ hours). Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring the regions fine coastal walks and abundant wildlife, including its plentiful seal colonies.

Depart Kaikoura and continue along the coast to the historic city of Christchurch (approx. 185 km). Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Stay overnight at the Charlotte Jane in a deluxe room.

Depart Christchurch today and drive to Dunedin (approx. 362 km), nestling amidst the scenic splendours of the Otago Peninsula. Spend the reminder of the day at your leisure. Stay 2 nights at Fletcher Lodge in the Arran room.

Spend the morning at your leisure. Dunedin has often been referred as ‘The Edinburgh of the South’ and presents a wealth of alluring 19th century architecture, historic museums and trendy cafés to keep you occupied, as well as boasting the distinction of the word’s steepest street, the impressively vertiginous Baldwin Street (1 in 1.266). Later this afternoon make your way to the end of Otago Peninsula, to the Yellow Eyed Penguin Conservation Centre, home to one of the world’s rarest penguins and venue for your afternoon tour of the breeding habitats of this fascinating flightless sea bird (duration 1½ hours).

Depart Dunedin and make your way to Queenstown (approx. 362 km), one of New Zealand’s most visually stunning regions and most popular year round destinations. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Stay 3 nights at The Dairy Private Luxury Hotel in a standard room.

Enjoy a cruise this morning on the steam-powered TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu, enjoying the breathtaking backdrop and heading up to Walter Peak for a High Country Farm Tour (duration 3½ hours). Afternoon at leisure. Nestling in Queenstown Bay, along the eastern shores of the sparkling blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown lies in the stunning shadow of the towering Remarkable Mountains range. Whilst the town’s spectacular natural beauty presents the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the surrounding area, perhaps taking in some of its exceptional walking opportunities, or some genteel sightseeing from its Skyline Gondola. It is also renowned as New Zealand’s ‘adrenaline-activity capital’. You can try you hand at any number of exhilarating activities, including sky diving, jet boating, hang gliding, paragliding, rock climbing, kayaking, sailing and horse riding. For the serious adrenaline junkie you could try the terrifying Nevis High-wire bungy jump, a 134 metre high plunge over the Nevis River.

Day at leisure. There is an option today to take a tour out to the captivating landscapes of Milford Sound, renowned for its ‘out-of-the-world’ scenery of pristine, shimmering waters and meandering fiords, set before the imposing heights of Mitre Peak (1692 metre). You can choose from a popular coach tour that travels via Te Anau and includes a scenic cruise of the momentous sound, or opt for a tour that includes a return scenic flight back to Queenstown, affording an altogether different view of this stunning region. We will be happy to arrange any sightseeing trips you may require.

Depart Queenstown and drive to the town of Franz Josef, set amongst the glacier country of Westland Tai Poutini National Park (approx. 404 km), for your 2 night stay in a suite at Westwood Lodge.

Nowhere else at these latitudes can you find glaciers so close to the coast and today you enjoy a half-day guided hike on Franz Josef Glacier. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Drive to the historic gold-mining town of Greymouth, overlooking the waters of the Tasman Sea (approx. 179 km). Drop your hire car at the railway station and board the award-winning TranzAlpine Express, taking the 1345 hours departure to the beautiful ‘Garden City’ of Christchurch in the east. Renowned as New Zealand’s ‘great rail adventure’, the TranzAlpine journeys from coast to coast, travelling from the Tasman to the Pacific and crossing the mighty Southern Alps, taking in spectacular gorges and lush river valleys en route. On arrival in Christchurch at 1805 hours you will be met and transferred to the Charlotte Jane for 1 night in a deluxe room.

You will be transferred to Christchurch Airport, today for your flight with Air New Zealand to London Heathrow.

Arrive at London Heathrow.