Independance

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland

Arrive Auckland Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Note -tour documentation will be handed over by your driver.
Accommodation: 1 night at the Copthorne Anzac Ave

Day 2: Auckland / Bay of Islands

This morning collect your rental car. Make your own way to the beautiful Bay of Islands. You may like to travel via the Waipoua Kauri Forest (approximately 385kms).
Accommodation: 2 nights in the Bay of Islands at the Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge

Day 3: Bay of Islands

Full day at your leisure - time for swimming with the dolphins, golfi ng at scenic Waitangi or exploring this historic area.

Day 4: Bay of Islands / Coromandel Peninsula

Make your way to the Coromandel Peninsula.
Accommodation: 2 nights in Coromandel at the Peninsula Grand Mercure Puka Park Resort

Day 5: Coromandel Peninsula

Full day at your leisure - time to explore the bush and beaches on the Peninsula.

Day 6: Coromandel Peninsula / Rotorua

Make your way to Rotorua. This afternoon time is available to explore this thermal wonderland. Included tonight is a Maori hangi dinner and concert.
Accommodation: 2 nights in Rotorua at the Ibis Hotel

Day 7: Rotorua

A full day Rotorua sightseeing activities including the following attractions and activities. A guided tour through Te Puia Thermal Reserve to see roaring geysers and boiling mud pools. Paradise Valley Springs where you will see New Zealand native bird and animal wildlife plus crystal clear pools teeming with trout. The Agrodome Leisure Park famous for its entertaining sheep show, a gondola cable car ride to the Skyline Skyride Complex and the Polynesian Spa, which is New Zealand’s leading thermal bathing complex.

Day 8: Rotorua / Tongariro National Park

Make your way via Lake Taupo to the Tongariro National Park.
Accommodation: 1 night in the Tongariro National Park at the Skotel Alpine Resort

Day 9: Tongariro National Park / Wellington

Make your way via Lake Taupo to the Tongariro National Park.
Accommodation: 1 night in Wellington at the Mercure Hotel

Day 10: Wellington / Picton / Nelson

This morning return your rental car to the Ferry Terminal Depot. Board the Interislander Ferry for your journey across Cook Strait to Picton. On arrival in Picton collect your rental car and make your way to Nelson.
Accommodation: 1 night in Nelson at the Trailways Hotel

Day 11: Nelson / Greymouth

Make your way to Greymouth. Enroute you may like to stop at Punakaiki and visit the famous “Pancake Rocks”.
Accommodation: 1 night in Greymouth at the Kingsgate Hotel

Day 12: Greymouth / Franz Josef

Make your way down the West Coast to Franz Josef. At Franz Josef you may like to take a guided walk on the Glacier or enjoy a scenic flight.
Accommodation: 1 night at the Scenic Circle Franz Josef Hotel

Day 13: Franz Josef / Wanaka

Make your way to Wanaka.
Accommodation: 1 night in Wanaka at the Mt Aspiring Hotel

Day 14: Wanaka / Queenstown

Make your way to Queenstown.
Accommodation: 2 nights in Queenstown at the The Aspen Hotel

Day 15: Queenstown

Full day at your leisure to select your optional sightseeing: Thrilling jet boat rides, vintage steamer lake cruises, visit to high country sheep stations, mountain gondola rides - the list is endless and you also have time to relax and simply marvel at the beautiful scenery. Included is a gondola ticket so you can make your own way at your leisure to the Skyline Gondola and enjoy spectacular views over Queenstown.

Day 16: Queenstown / Te Anau

Make your way to Te Anau. We suggest you travel via Milford Sound where time is available to enjoy a cruise on the scenic sound.
Accommodation: 2 nights in Te Anau at the The Luxmore Hotel

Day 17: Day at leisure - Te Anau

Full day at your leisure - time is available to visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves or Doubtful Sound - the “Sound of Silence”.

Day 18: Te Anau / Dunedin

Make your way to Dunedin - the “Edinburgh of the South”. This afternoon in Dunedin time is available to explore - you may like to visit the Otago Peninsula - home of the Royal Albatross Colony, the Yellow Penguins or historic Larnach Castle.
Accommodation: 1 night in Dunedin at the Kingsgate Hotel

Day 19: Dunedin / Mt Cook

Make your way to Mount Cook. Time is available to take an optional scenic ski-plane or helicopter flight over the Tasman Glacier.
Accommodation: 1 night at Mt Cook at The Hermitage Hotel

Day 20: Mt Cook / Christchurch

Make your way to Christchurch - the “Garden City”.
Accommodation: 1 night in Christchurch at the Copthorne Hotel Durham St

Day 21: Christchurch

Tour ends with returning your rental car to the city or airport depot