The All Over NZ Adventure Self Drive

Overview
This self-drive itinerary has been designed especially for those who want to incorporate a full quota of optional activities along the way. It’s perfect for those who like to ‘do’ New Zealand as well as see it, but still prefer to be accommodated in high quality lodges at the end of their high octane days.

Days 1 and 2 Bay of Islands
Fly straight from Auckland airport to the Bay of Islands, where you’ll pick up a car and settle into the comforts of Cliff Edge By The Sea. We suggest you spend your second day in the country sailing around the island-studded maritime park aboard the 50ft catamaran Carino which offers swimming with dolphins (£44) or charter your own yacht with skipper for a day (£229).

Day 2 Hokianga
Before driving across to the west coast there’ll be time for a morning scenic flight to Cape Reinga, northernmost point of NZ and the remote, mostly inaccessible east coast, with a jaunt along Ninety Mile Beach included in the £188 price. You’ll then head for the fiord-like Hokianga Harbour and Waipoua, NZ’s largest kauri forest. In the evening we’d recommend Footprints Waipoua, a popular twilight Maori cultural experience (£38) before retiring to your bed at Waipoua Lodge.

Day 4 Auckland
Your night’s accommodation is at Sebel Suites overlooking Viaduct Harbour, just a hop from a pair of America’s Cup yachts, the maritime equivalent to Formula 1 racing cars. Stripped to the barest of hulls and flying a skyscraping 100ft high mainsail, they offer 2hr tours around the harbour at awesome speeds (from £67).

Days 5 and 6 Rotorua
Drive down to Rotorua, perhaps with a stop off at Waitomo Caves for some gentle black water rafting along underground rivers (£52). Your roost for two nights is the Duxton Okawa Bay, on the shores of beautiful Lake Rotoiti and just 15 minutes’ drive from the town’s Maori cultural centre and bubbling themal springs. The menu of action here includes helicopter flights to the Tarawera volcano, touching down on the summit of the sacred mountain (£150), or you can choose a self drive 4WD safari into the bush (£40).

Days 7 and 8 Tongariro
Drive right into the heart of New Zealand’s volcanic centre. As well as scenic flights above the wild volcanic landscapes, the Tongariro National Park is one of the best places in the country to try white water rafting in relatively gentle conditions, combined with breathtaking scenery. Other river activities include jetboating and kayaking plus swimming in waterholes in the area around the Ruapehu volcanic plateau. You’ll spend two nights at Bayview Chateau Tongariro, which is also a convenient base for two great hikes, Tongariro Crossing or Crater Lakes, with both half-day (£64) and fullday (£93) guided options.

Day 9 Nelson
Drop your car at Taupo airport for your flight to Nelson (with a change of plane in Wellington), the St Ives of New Zealand and a magnet for artists and craftspeople as well as home to the ‘World of Wearable Arts’. You’ll be transferred to your accommodation at Cambria House, a restored homestead five minutes’ walk from the centre of town.

Days 10, 11 and 12 Abel Tasman
To get the most out of this remarkable and remote scenic corner of NZ we suggest you take an organised tour that offers participants a choice: either walk along the 38km coast track, or follow the crinkle-cut ins and outs by sea kayak - or even opt for a blend of both with the back-up of water taxis. After two nights in the park you’ll return to Cambria House for the third.

Day 13 Punakaiki
Pick up your hire car this morning and head through the Nelson Lakes National Park to New Zealand’s west coast and the famous pancake rock formation, with a night at Punakaiki Resort.

Days 14 and 15 Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier is the name of both a village and a glacier - the glacier descends from the Southern Alps into temperate rainforest just 300 metres above sea level. To see the glacier, you can walk to the terminal face, arrange a day ice-hiking adventure (£64) or book a heli hike (£179), equipped with crampons and poles, for a close-up of amazing formations and ice caves - safe in the knowledge that there’s a 200 metre thick wodge of compacted ice beneath your spikes. Or just take a scenic flight (£133). There are glow worm caves just a short walk from the town centre. Also nearby is beautiful Lake Matheson, one of the most photographed lakes in New Zealand, famed for its reflection of Mount Cook. Accommodation is at Te Weheka Inn, close to the village.

Days 16, 17 and 18 Queenstown
Ever since AJ Hackett introduced the world to bungee jumping at Queenstown, the town has reigned as its adrenaline capital. But active and adventurous experiences in New Zealand are by no means exclusively devoted to sheer terror. There are scores of easy walks, for example, through ancient forests unchanged for 80 million years, as well as cruising on the Milford Sound. Irrespective of age or bottle, however, a jetboat ride along the Dart River through the wilderness of the Mount Aspiring National Park is on most people’s agenda (£95). Accommodation is at Browns Boutique Hotel, three minutes’ walk from the town centre, with stunning views of the Remarkables mountain range from all 10 rooms. You’ll also have time to follow a section or two of the local hiking trails, including the Routeburn (£69 for a guided day’s walk).

Day 19 Home
Unless you’re planning to stay on and explore the southern reaches of the country you’ll be dropping off your car at the airport and heading back to the UK.

Your accommodation
2 nights in the Bay Of Islands at Cliff Edge By The Sea including breakfast

1 night in Hokianga at Waipoua Lodge including breakfast

1 night in Auckland at Sebel Suites

2 nights in Rotorua at Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay

2 nights in Tongariro NP at Bayview Chateau Tongariro

2 nights in Nelson at Cambria House including breakfast

1 night in Abel Tasman NP at Torrent Bay Lodge, including all meals

1 night in Abel Tasman NP at Meadowbank Homestead, including all meals

1 night in Punakaiki at Punakaiki Resort

2 nights in Fox Glacier at Te Weheka Inn including breakfast

3 nights in Queenstown at Browns Boutique Hotel including breakfast