Depart London or your local airport for your journey to the North Island of New Zealand. Arrive into Auckland and spend the next couple of days at leisure.

Collect your rental car to begin your self drive adventure. Enjoy the drive through farmland, lakeland and forest until the distinctive smell of sulphur and constant steam drifts let you know you are in tempestuous, geothermal Rotorua. Tonight enjoy a memorable night of culture, song and dance followed by dinner cooked the traditional way on hot stones underground at a Maori hangi feast and concert.

Auckland > Rotorua | 235 kms

Distinction Hotel Rotorua

Dinner

Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore Rotorua to enjoy the many sights and activities on offer.

Distinction Hotel Rotorua

Enjoy the scenery as the road changes from forest to rugged mountain ranges and then to fertile vineyards as you continue on to Hawke’s Bay, known for its Art Deco architecture, gourmet food and world-class wineries.

Rotorua > Napier | 220 kms

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Today is free to enjoy the local sights and activities. Recommended Optional Extra: Visit Elephant Hill, a stunning and innovative winery estate and restaurant located on the idyllic Te Awanga coast, 30 minutes’ drive away.

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Enjoy the clean, green Wairarapa scenery as you drive south through to Martinborough, home to over 25 boutique vineyards. Take your time and stop to enjoy the various cellar door experiences available.

Napier > Martinborough | 334 kms

Martinborough Hotel

Today’s half day gourmet food and wine tour takes you to viisit 3 boutique, family owned wineries where you will taste a wide range of wines from Martinborough’s famous Pinot Noir, Syrah, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. A platter lunch is also included.

Martinborough Hotel

Lunch

Travel to Wellington where cafe culture and fine dining city restaurants await. Enjoy an overnight stay in the nation’s capital.

Martinborough > Wellington | 80 km

Rydges Wellington

Board the Interislander ferry and travel across the Cook Strait to the South Island.

On arrival into Picton you will board a water taxi through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds to your beautiful accommodation in the heart of the Sounds. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Queen Charlotte Track with seemingly endless bays and coves to explore.

Furneaux Lodge, Marlborough Sounds

Enjoy a full day at your leisure on the Marlborough Sounds.

Furneaux Lodge, Marlborough Sounds

Take the water taxi back through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. On arrival collect your rental car and travel down the East Coast to Kaikoura. You may wish to travel via Blenheim – well known as a centre of New Zealand’s wine industry. Follow the ruggedly beautiful coastline between the surging Pacific Ocean and the steeply rising Kaikoura ranges. Kaikoura is renowned for its seafood dishes.

Local specialties include grouper, cod, mussels, paua (abalone) and the town’s namesake – Crayfish (lobster). Other delights such as oysters, scallops and whitebait are available when in season.

Picton > Kaikoura | 160 kms

White Morph Motel

Continue down the coast, across broad, braided rivers and the rich patchwork farming landscape of the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Kaikoura > Christchurch | 160 kms

Crown Plaza Hotel, Christchurch

Travel south along the coast to the historical town of Oamaru. The rest of your day is at your leisure to explore this delightful township.

Christchurch > Oamaru | 249 kms

Poshtel, Oamaru

Light breakfast

Enjoy a full day at your leisure. Be sure to visit the Oamaru Penguin Colony which make an appearance every night.

Poshtel, Oamaru

Light Breakfast

Journey in-land today to the beautiful gold-mining town of Cromwell. The rest of your day is at your leisure.

Oamaru > Cromwell | 274 kms

Marsden Lake Resort

Make your way to the airport for your flight to the tropical paradise of the South Pacific on our 5 day Cook Island Explorer. Arrive into picturesque Rarotonga to spend four nights with a memorable visit to neighbouring Aitutaki.

Spend the last days of your holiday taking in the warm Polynesian hospitality and palm fringed beach views.