NZ tour
Day 1.
Travel Day: Auckland to Hahei Beach (The Coromandel)
Depart from Auckland between 7.45am and 8.15am. We go up Mount Eden (an extinct volcano) for one last look at the sights of the city. We then head south stopping at the Bombays to pick up your FREE cultural experience (kumara) before travelling towards the Coromandel Peninsula via the old colonial town of Thames. You have the afternoon to choose between the two hour + (return) walk to Cathedral Cove, or we strongly recommend you to do the sea kayaking trip which costs $60 (discount included); it takes in many of the area’s volcanic attractions. If the tide is right we go to Hot Water Beach for a chance to dig a hole in the sand to soak in the hot geothermal water. This evening we stay at a place with hostel, camp and cabin alternatives at the beach in Hahei. You have the option of chipping in and having your driver cook a Kiwi BBQ for the group tonight.
Travel Day: Hahei to Raglan.
Depart 8am. Optional stop for the Tairua trig walk then through the Waikato (famous for its cows), and on to the world renowned Raglan surf beach. This afternoon you have the option of lying on or exploring the beach, a bush walk around Mt Karioi, or the outstanding local option of surf school (surfboard, wetsuit and instruction for all levels included). Tonight’s accommodation is in a lodge surrounded by native bush near the beach. The optional meal and bush sauna are strongly recommended. Day 3.
Travel Day: Raglan to Rotorua.
Depart 8am. On to the rural town of Waitomo, famous for its caves and glow worms. You can do a free walk around Ruakuri Reserve or one of the caving options such as Tumu Tumu Toobing (pot holing or caving involving inner tubes and an underground river), Haggis Honking Holes (abseiling into caves), Spellbound (dry trip, glow worm spotting), or Lost World: outstanding full-on adventure involving abseiling and all of the above. You can also hop off the bus for a 24 hour caving/camping adventure. We then head across to Rotorua for its geothermal areas, smell and Maori culture. You have options of accommodation in central Rotorua tonight. Day 4.
Travel Day: Rotorua to Taupo.
Depart around lunchtime. Morning options include: a visit to Whakarewarewa where we have a specially developed guided walk through a historic Maori village and geothermal area; you get to make your own local style traditional meal and guidance for only $25; going zorbing, seeing a Kiwi bird at Kiwi Encounter, white water rafting or sledging. We do hostel pickups, then we head south to Taupo and its great lake (the world’s largest crater lake), via Huka Falls. You have the chance to take part in one of our most popular activities ‘skydiving’. This will cost around $220 depending how high you dare to go. We stay in central Taupo for the night. Day 5.
Travel Day: Taupo to National Park.
Depart 8am. We head around Lake Taupo, stop to explore the volcanic (floating) rock before heading to the active volcanoes of ‘Tongariro National Park’. Today you get a chance to do what is rated as one of the world’s best one day walks - the ‘Tongariro Crossing’. Those who are doing it are dropped off at the start of the track. The walk takes 6-8 hours and crosses the National Park’s scenically amazing volcanic plateau (complete with steaming craters). For those not doing the walk – or on days that the walk isn’t possible – we spend the day exploring the National Park. We take in a couple of shorter walks and visit the Volcanic Centre museum. We all meet up at the end of the crossing track, and head to National Park where we stay in a lodge for the night. Day 6.
Travel Day: National Park to Wellington.
Depart 9am. Head to Wellington via Ohakune, Taihape and Bulls. Sometimes we stop for gumboot throwing in Taihape but mostly it’s an express to Wellington for the sights of our capital. We strongly recommend walking ‘Oriental Parade’ to ‘Te Papa’, our national museum. We stay in central Wellington tonight. There is an optional evening tour for $45 to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to experience New Zealand native bush and birds at night, or a Lord of the Rings tour. Day 7.
Travel Day: Wellington to Marahau (Abel Tasman).
We catch the 8.45am ferry (the ferry will cost between $35-$65, your accommodation provider organises a transfer). We pick up our new coach in Picton then head through the famous Marlborough vineyard area. We stop at the coastal town of Nelson before heading onto Motueka to get supplies on our way to our night stop of Marahau on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park. You get options of sailing, skydiving, hiking, horse riding, flying your own aerobatic plane and kayaking in the National Park. We stay at Old MacDonald’s Farm where you have options ranging from cabins to permanent tent accommodation. Spend an extra day in Marahau (Abel Tasman).
Recommended Non Travel Day (additional to quoted Minimum Days):
You have the day at leisure to explore the National Park – try out the great full-day sailing trip, a day walk, horse riding, sky diving or just relax on one of the golden sand beaches. Day 8.
Travel Day: Marahau (Abel Tasman) to West Coast Cultural Stop.
We depart at 8am. Head south through the Buller Gorge to the ‘wild’ West Coast which stretches for over 400 kilometres. For the next night we stay in a historic hotel in Barrytown near Punakaiki, one of the most beautiful spots along the coast. We make stops on the way for the Westport seal colony; to explore the awesome Pancake rocks and their mighty blowholes; or take a hike into the temperate rainforests of the Paparoa National Park along the Truman Track. Enjoy the traditional Kiwi roast dinner option here tonight. Barrytown (Baz Vegas or just Barry – no town) is a great place to hop off the bus for a free day to explore the Paparoa National Park by walking or canoeing through it. You can also make your own bone carving; hike the Croesus Track (7-8 hours); learn about the area’s rich gold mining history – the home of the West Coast’s last gold rush in 1879; or walk along the beach and search for greenstone – it’s hard to find but a few Stray passengers have done ok. Day 9.
Travel Day: Barrytown to Franz Josef.
You have the morning to walk, canoe in the National Park (this trip has amazing scenery with some likening it to ‘Jurassic Park’) or make a bone carving with the locals (a unique, highly recommended activity). We depart at midday and head into the heart of the West Coast where time almost stands still. We stop in Hokitika to look at the greenstone factory where they can turn the greenstone that you found into a necklace or club if you were extra lucky. We then head to Franz Josef, a town squashed between the Tasman Sea and the mighty Franz Josef Glacier, the head of which can be seen from the town itself. We stay at a lodge in the middle of the rainforest. Spend an extra day in Franz Josef.
Recommended Non Travel Day (additional to quoted Minimum Days):
There are many excellent bush hikes up to the glacier face but we seriously recommend you consider a guided glacier walk or a ‘helicopter hike’ to get onto the glacier. You can warm up and relax after all this in one of NZ’s largest spa pools at your accomodation. Day 10.
Travel Day: Franz Josef to Makarora.
Depart at 9am. We head to Lake Matheson for some amazing upside down scenery viewing; we stop at Fox Glacier for pickups then travel through to the mountainous Haast pass. There are a number of walks to choose from including Ships Creek, Thunder Creek falls, Blue Pools and Gates of Haast – we’ll do a couple and then travel on to Makarora. We recommend the cheap group meal for only $8 around the bonfire. This is a great place to stay, nestled in between huge mountain ranges in Mount Aspiring National Park. Day 11.
Travel Day: Makarora to Queenstown.
A leisurely start with options of jetboating or walks in the morning for those who are keen. We pass by the beautiful lakes Wanaka and Hawea and stop briefly in the town of Wanaka for a look around before heading to Queenstown. Wanaka is a beautiful lakeside town to hop off for an extra day if you have time. Just before Queenstown we stop off at the famous A.J. Hackett bungy site, in the Kawarau gorge for the option of throwing yourself off a bridge (bungee attached!) Queenstown also offers an optional big (make that huge) night out with excellent restaurants, pubs and live music. Centrally located accommodation tonight. Spend an extra day in Queenstown.
Recommended Non Travel Day (additional to quoted Minimum Days):
Today is yours to explore. Options include: doing nothing, great local walks and any adventure activity that we mad Kiwis can dream up. Obviously you can break your journey in Queenstown for as long as you want. You should take the opportunity to do one of the many adventure activities or walks. If going straight to Christchurch, look at doing a one day trip to Milford before you go. Day 12.
Travel Day: Queenstown to Tuatapere.
Depart 8am. Then enjoy one of the most scenically amazing drives in the world on our way to Milford Sound. This involves; travelling around Lake Wakatipu, passing staggering waterfalls, and a magnificent descent from the Homer Tunnel 3,000 feet to Milford Sound at sea level. At Milford, you have the option of a boat trip to travel deeper into the Sound to really appreciate this stunning fiord for $75 (there’s a great combo deal for this and the Stewart Island ferry for only $149 – save $30!). In the afternoon we head out of the Sound and up to Lake Te Anau. Hop off at Te Anau for the Kepler Track, glowworm cruise and free bird centre (there’s a great place called the Lakeview Holiday Park to stay at) then on to Tuatapere, ‘Sausage capital of New Zealand’! You can stay longer here to hike the stunning Hump Ridge Track. We stay in a hostel in Tuatapere tonight and recommend the great cheap sausage meal. Day 13.
Travel Day: Tuatapere to Invercargill and Stewart Island.
We do a morning farm show where you can shear (not share) your own sheep! We then express to Bluff to meet the ferry at 11.30am to give you the chance to visit New Zealand’s third major island ‘Stewart Island’. We strongly recommend this. The ferry is only $104 return (see also the Milford Cruise combo deal). There are options of: great walks, Ulva Island to view birds existing free from predators; scooter hire and mountain bike hire to explore this remote oasis. We stay in cottages on the island and catch the first ferry back in the morning. For those not wanting to go to Stewart Island the bus will drop you off at our hostel in Invercargill (Tuatara’s - one of our best rating) on the way through to Bluff. Day 14.
Travel Day: Stewart lsland to Dunedin.
Depart 8am for the ferry, 10am from Tuatara’s. Today we explore the deep south (next stop Antarctica). We head along the southern coast to the remote Catlin’s wilderness area. Here we take in the petrified forest, heaps of wildlife including seals, sea lions, large seabirds (sometimes huge albatross with 6 foot wingspan) and penguins if we’re lucky. We cruise through this rugged area towards the Scottish town of Dunedin. We stay in a backpackers hostel in the centre of Dunedin tonight and have the opportunity to visit the famous Speight’s Brewery. Day 15.
Travel Day: Dunedin to Queenstown.
Depending on conditions in the morning we have the option of heading through the city and out to the Otago Peninsula to look at the wildlife. If the timing is right there is also an option to visit the Yellow Eyed Penguin conservation area. Otherwise you can spend the morning at leisure to have a look around the historic student town before we leave at 12pm. We express back to Queenstown over the scenic ‘pig route’ arriving at about 4pm. Day 16.
Travel Day: Queenstown to Rangitata or Christchurch.
Depart 8am. We head over the Lindis Pass through to the MacKenzie country to Lake Pukaki for the Mount Cook lookout (you can get off at Twizel to go to Mt Cook), and Lake Tekapo. Then on to Rangitata.
» Stay a night at Rangitata (additional to quoted Minimum Days):
Stay for the night in one of Canterbury’s original sheep stations for one of the best rafting trips in the country or a great horse trek. If you have hopped off the bus at Rangitata for the night, the bus departs 3pm after rafting. Then it is an express haul across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. We drop you at your accommodation in central Christchurch.
» Short on time?
If you are short on time you can stay on the bus and get to Christchurch from Queenstown in one day.