Touring the North
6 day Self Drive – from £559
With flights from £1659
A well-planned self drive tour from Auckland to Wellington via Napier, Lake Taupo and the steaming geysers and springs of the Rotorua thermal region.
Highlights:
- Explore the harbour city of Auckland
- Marvel at the mud pools, geysers and hot springs of Rotorua
- Visit New Zealand’s capital, Wellington
- Gaze across Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake
- Try the local vintage in the Napier wine region
Your Itinerary
Expand AllYou can customise your North Island road trip by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Arrive into Auckland International Airport and get a private car transfer to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Auckland.
Situated on a narrow isthmus between two beautiful harbours, Auckland the ‘city of sails’ is New Zealand’s largest city with a population of over 1 million. Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, so aptly named by the Maoris as the ‘ sea of sparkling waters’, has brought prosperity to the city. Besides being New Zealand’s main shipping port, Auckland is also the main terminal for overseas traffic. The warm sunny climate, with its generous and evenly distributed rainfall is ideal and there are beautiful parklands and garden reserves throughout. The many miles of coastline provide Aucklanders with the means to enjoy their favourite sport of yachting.
Standard: Skycity Hotel
Deluxe: Fable
Day 2 – Rotorua
Collect your car this morning to make your way to Rotorua. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Rotorua, the centre of the intense thermal activity in New Zealand. The city itself is situated on the shores of Lake Rotorua and excellent stream and lake fishing abounds. Geysers, pools of boiling mud, crystal springs and hot mineral water and richly coloured craters make Rotorua one of the world’s great tourist attractions.
Standard: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua
Deluxe: Regent of Rotorua
Day 3 – Taupo
More thermal wonders today as you make the short drive to Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake, and the dramatic Huka Falls nearby. There’s time to stop en route at the bubbling champagne pools of Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland or the more remote Orakei Korako with its colourful silica terraces.
Standard: Lakeland Resort Taupo
Deluxe: Acacia Cliffs Lodge
Day 4 – Napier
Make your way to Napier. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Napier. The centre of the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand, Napier is renowned for both its Art Deco architecture and also for its wine industry. It is said to be one of the warmest regions in the country with warm summers and mild winters. There are many activities from adventure seeking, wine tasting to just browsing around the local art deco shopping areas.
Standard: The Nautilus, Napier
Deluxe: The Crown Hotel
Day 5 – Wellington
Make your way to and spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Wellington. Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand lies at the southern end of the North Island. On the shores of a magnificent harbour and surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills, it is one of the most scenic cities.
Some of the best views are obtained from the hilltops especially from Mt Victoria lookout, which can be conveniently reached by a short taxi ride. Public buildings of interest are the Dominion Museum and National Art Gallery, parliament buildings and the Alexander Turnbull library. The newest attraction in the ‘capital’ is New Zealand’s National Museum. Named ‘Te Papa’ (our place) it contains a wealth of information on New Zealand’s past, present and future, many interactive exhibits, multi-media databases and fascinating collections. A must see while in Wellington.
Standard: Travelodge
Deluxe: QT Museum Hotel
Day 6 – Farewell from Wellington
This part of your holiday ends by returning your rental car to the airport or city or ferry depot ready for you to depart Wellington and continue the next stage of your holiday..
Your Itinerary
You can customise your North Island road trip by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Day 1
| Welcome to Auckland
Arrive into Auckland International Airport and get a private car transfer to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Auckland.
Situated on a narrow isthmus between two beautiful harbours, Auckland the ‘city of sails’ is New Zealand’s largest city with a population of over 1 million. Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, so aptly named by the Maoris as the ‘ sea of sparkling waters’, has brought prosperity to the city. Besides being New Zealand’s main shipping port, Auckland is also the main terminal for overseas traffic. The warm sunny climate, with its generous and evenly distributed rainfall is ideal and there are beautiful parklands and garden reserves throughout. The many miles of coastline provide Aucklanders with the means to enjoy their favourite sport of yachting.
Standard: Skycity Hotel
Deluxe: Fable
Day 2
| Rotorua
Collect your car this morning to make your way to Rotorua. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Rotorua, the centre of the intense thermal activity in New Zealand. The city itself is situated on the shores of Lake Rotorua and excellent stream and lake fishing abounds. Geysers, pools of boiling mud, crystal springs and hot mineral water and richly coloured craters make Rotorua one of the world’s great tourist attractions.
Standard: Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua
Deluxe: Regent of Rotorua
Day 3
| Taupo
More thermal wonders today as you make the short drive to Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake, and the dramatic Huka Falls nearby. There’s time to stop en route at the bubbling champagne pools of Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland or the more remote Orakei Korako with its colourful silica terraces.
Standard: Lakeland Resort Taupo
Deluxe: Acacia Cliffs Lodge
Day 4
| Napier
Make your way to Napier. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Napier. The centre of the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand, Napier is renowned for both its Art Deco architecture and also for its wine industry. It is said to be one of the warmest regions in the country with warm summers and mild winters. There are many activities from adventure seeking, wine tasting to just browsing around the local art deco shopping areas.
Standard: The Nautilus, Napier
Deluxe: The Crown Hotel
Day 5
| Wellington
Make your way to and spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Wellington. Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand lies at the southern end of the North Island. On the shores of a magnificent harbour and surrounded by the rugged beauty of green hills, it is one of the most scenic cities.
Some of the best views are obtained from the hilltops especially from Mt Victoria lookout, which can be conveniently reached by a short taxi ride. Public buildings of interest are the Dominion Museum and National Art Gallery, parliament buildings and the Alexander Turnbull library. The newest attraction in the ‘capital’ is New Zealand’s National Museum. Named ‘Te Papa’ (our place) it contains a wealth of information on New Zealand’s past, present and future, many interactive exhibits, multi-media databases and fascinating collections. A must see while in Wellington.
Standard: Travelodge
Deluxe: QT Museum Hotel
Day 6
| Farewell from Wellington
This part of your holiday ends by returning your rental car to the airport or city or ferry depot ready for you to depart Wellington and continue the next stage of your holiday..
This Self Drive Includes
Flights & More
Ask your FREEDOM Consultant to include Economy, Premium or Business Class flights for a complete ABTA and ATOL protected package.
They can also add extra nights and experiences in places you choose, to create the exact holiday you are looking for. Popular options include:
- An upgrade to deluxe hotels
Next Step
Please get in touch with our New Zealand Experts to start planning your holiday. You’ll have a single point of contact from your first enquiry through booking.
Touring the North
6 day Self Drive – from £559
With flights from £1659
Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a double or twin room. Flights, hotels and tours are subject to availability and seasonal variations may apply. Please call Freedom Destinations for details.
A one way fee of $150 will be charged locally for your car hire.
Map
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