10 Day New Zealand Self Drive
Sample Itinerary

Day 1      Arrive Auckland
Arrive Auckland and collect your rental car.
Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is known as the City of Sails. It lies between two harbours (the Waitemata and the Manukau) and provides visitors with one of the most beautiful aquatic playgrounds.
Balance of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation:          Crowne Plaza Auckland

Day 2     Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula (Whangamata) – 2.5 hours
Drive south over the Bombay Hills heading east to Thames, the gateway to the Coromandel. From here drive to the popular seaside resort of Whangamata. Its ocean beach attracts thousands of holidaymakers over the summer period. Behind the town, the hills and forest offer many interesting bush walks and picnic spots. Optional half day “wilderness’ treks are available with Kiwi Dundee.
Accommodation:         Brenton Lodge - Room and Breakfast

Day 3     Whangamata to Rotorua – 2.75 hours
Leave Whangamata and travel south passing through Waihi and the popular summer seaside spots of Tauranga and Mount Manganui before turning inland. Continue south along the shores of Lake Rotoiti and Rotorua before arriving in the city itself.
Accommodation:         Millennium Rotorua

Day 4     Rotorua at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 5     Rotorua/Christchurch
Drop off rental car at Rotorua Airport and fly to Christchurch (flight not included)
Upon arrival collect your rental car. Christchurch is known as the Garden City with its neat hedgerows, parks and beautiful gardens. Drive to your overnight bed & breakfast
Accommodation:         Centra Christchurch

Day 6      Christchurch/ Greymouth/ Hokitika – 4.25 hours
Leave Christchurch crossing the Canterbury Plains before winding through spectacular gorges and river valleys before driving across the country’s greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps. Descend through the lush beech forest into the town of Greymouth and a short distance away, Hokitika.
Accommodation:     Kapitea Ridge - Room and Breakfast

Day 7     Hokitika to Franz Josef – 3.25 hours
Before leaving Hokitika you may like to stop to visit the glassblowing factories. Continue on along the rugged Tasman coastline to the glacier region of  Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.
Accommodation:         Franz Josef Glacier Hotel – Douglas Wing

Day 8     Franz Josef  to Queenstown – 7.75 hours
Travel south to Haast then over the Southern Alps at their lowest point, the Haast Pass, and follow Lake Hawea and Wanaka to the the popular summer resort of Wanaka. Continue alongside the Clutha River and the Kawarau Gorge to the resort town of Queenstown.
Accommodation:         Copthorne Lakefront Resort

Day 9     Queenstown at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 10     Depart Queenstown
Drop off your rental car at Queenstown Airport prior to your departure.
From Queenstown you can fly to one of several New Zealand cities (flight(s) not included)

 

Day 1     Arrive Auckland
Arrive Auckland and collect your rental car.
Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is known as the City of Sails. It lies between two harbours ( the Waitemata and the Manukau) and provides visitors with one of the most beautiful aquatic playgrounds.
Balance of the day is at leisure.
Drive to Auckland’s North Shore for your overnight accommodation.
Accommodation:     Stafford Villa - Room and Breakfast

Day 2     Auckland to Bay of Islands – 4.25 hours
Travel north over the Harbour Bridge and follow the coastline along the northern suburbs of Auckland and through the farming communities of Warkworth and Wellsford. From here you will continue north through Whangarei to the beautiful Bay of Islands. Take time to visit the Waitangi Treaty House, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Take the Opua car ferry across to Russell, one of the oldest towns in New Zealand, for your overnight stay.
Accommodation:         Okiato Lodge - sea view  room, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 3     Bay of Islands at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation:     as above

Day 4     Bay of Islands to Coromandel Peninsula (Pauanui) – 6.5 hours
Retrace your steps south to Auckland & continue over the Bombay Hills before turning east to Thames, the gateway to the Coromandel. From here drive to the popular seaside resort of Pauanui. Its ocean beach attracts thousands of holidaymakers over the summer period. Behind the town, the hills and forest offer many interesting bush walks and picnic spots. Optional half day “wilderness’ treks are available with Kiwi Dundee.
Accommodation:     Mercure Grand Puka Park Resort - Room, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 5     Pauanui at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 6     Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua – 2.75 hours
Leave Pauanui and travel south passing through Whangamata, Waihi and the popular summer seaside spots of Tauranga and Mount Manganui before turning inland. Continue south along the shores of Lake Rotoiti and Rotorua before arriving in Rotorua.
Accommodation:         The Springs - Room and Breakfast

Day 7     Rotorua at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 8     Rotorua to Auckland – 3.5 hours, then to  Christchurch
Return to Auckland and drop off your rental car at Auckland Airport.
Fly to Christchurch (flight not included).
Upon arrival collect your rental car. Christchurch is known as the Garden City with its neat hedgerows, parks and beautiful gardens. Drive to your overnight boutique hotel stay.
Accommodation:         Crowne Plaza Hotel

Day 9     Christchurch to Lake Brunner – 4 hours
Leave Christchurch and travel over the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains continuing through the spectacular gorges and river valleys before driving across the country’s greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps. Skirt lakes and rivers before arriving at Lake Brunner.
Accommodation:         Lake Brunner Lodge - Room, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 10     Lake Brunner to Lake Moeraki – 5.75 hours
Drive south to Hokitika where you may like to stop to visit the glassblowing factories. Continue on along the rugged Tasman coastline to the glacier region of  Franz Josef and Fox Glacier and then further south to Lake Moeraki.
Accommodation:         Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge -  Room, Dinner and Breakfast

Day 11     Lake Moeraki at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 12     Lake Moeraki to Queenstown – 5.25 hours
Travel south to Haast then over the Southern Alps at their lowest point, the Haast Pass, and follow Lake Hawea and Wanaka to the the popular summer resort of Wanaka. Continue alongside the Clutha River and the Kawarau Gorge to the resort town of Queenstown.
Accommodation:     Millennium Hotel

Day 13     Queenstown at Leisure
Full day at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the sightseeing activities available.
Accommodation: as above

Day 14     Depart Queenstown
Drop off rental car at Queenstown Airport prior to your departure.
From Queenstown you can fly to one of several New Zealand cities (flight(s) not included)