1. Intercity Travel Pass & Sectors
2. Kiwi Experience
3. The Pacific Traveller Self-Drive
4. NZ Fly Drive
5. New Zealand Adventure
6. Pacific Escapade Tour
7. Go Kiwi Hotel Pass
8. Golden Chain
9. Choice Australia & New Zealand Hotel Passes
10. Coral Princess Cruise
11. The Kiwi Experience Self-Drive
12. The Best of the North Island Self-Drive
13. The Original 'Cream Trip' Supercruise
14. Cape Reinga by Air & 4WD
15. Cape Reinga Wanderer
16. Deep Water Cove Walk and Catamaran
17. Dolphin Adventure
18. Fullers Flexichoice
19. Excitor 'Hole in the Rock' Adventure
20. The Overlander

1. The Boatshed from £111.00
2. The Sands Apartments from £60.00
3. Okiato Lodge Call for rates
4. Paihia Beach Resort & Spa from £121.00
5. Pukematu Lodge from £69.00
6. Copthorne Hotel & Resort Bay of Islands from £24.00
7. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs Call for rates
8. Princes Gate Hotel From £66.00
9. Royal Lakeside Novotel from £29.00
10. Millennium Rotorua From £60.00
11. Peppers On The Point from £247.00
12. Ibis Rotorua from £23.00
13. Intercontinental Wellington from £102.00
14. Mercure Wellington from £26.00
15. Peppers Martinborough from £106.00
16. James Cook Grand Chancellor from £30.00
17. Ruby House Kelburne Call for rates
18. Duxton Hotel from £109.00
19. The Bolton Hotel from £102.00
20. Hilton Auckland £67.00

Experience Type: Self Drive
Valid Period:01/12/06 - 01/03/08

Go Back

Show on Map

To book this experience call us on

0800 804 8911

The Kiwi Experience Self-Drive

17 Days Auckland to Christchurch from £917

Highlights include:
• Spectacular Bay of Islands
• Scenic Interislander ferry crossing
• Milford Sound
• Vibrant Queenstown
• Overnight at Franz Josef Glacier

Day 1: Auckland – Omapere
Travel north along the eastern coastline, via Dargaville, to the beautiful region of Omapere where you will overnight. (285km / 178miles)
Accommodation: Standard & Superior: Omapere Tourist Hotel (Beachfront Room)

Day 2: Omapere – Bay of Islands
We recommend an early start today to allow plenty of time at the beautiful Bay of Islands. Explore the pretty villages of Russell and Kerikeri and take time to visit the Waitangi Treaty House. Check in to your chosen accommodation for the next two nights. (93km/58miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Pukematu Lodge (breakfast included), Superior: Paihia Beach Resort and Spa (Studio) (Breakfast included).

Day 3: Bay of Islands
Enjoy an early morning dolphin and whale-watching cruise, a must for all nature lovers. Take a cruise to see the famous ‘Hole in the Rock’, and enjoy superb views of the magnificent islands.

Day 4: Bay of Islands – Auckland
Head south to Auckland, known as the ‘City of Sails’. Explore the sights, such as Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter. For a superb view of the city take a harbour lunch cruise. (240km / 149miles)
Accommodation: Standard: SkyCity Hotel, Superior: Langham Hotel Auckland

Day 5: Auckland – Rotorua
Travel south to the Waitomo Caves. Take a barge to view the myriad glowworms overhead, or just admire the beauty and grandeur of the cathedral-like caverns. Check in to your hotel for the next two nights. (385km / 228miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Princes Gate Hotel, Superior: The Springs (breakfast included)

Day 6: Rotorua
Visit famous Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve to see the magnificent spurting Pohutu Geyser and the bubbling mud pools. A great way to see this region is by taking a scenic flight for a superb aerial view.

Day 7: Rotorua – Wellington
Travel to Taupo, visiting the Waiotapu thermal area en route, or take an exhilarating ride on the Huka Jet for a fabulous view of the Huka Falls. Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Taupo before continuing south to Wellington where you will overnight. (460km / 288miles)
Accommodation: Standard: James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, Superior: InterContinental Hotel

Day 8: Wellington – Nelson
Drop off your hire car at the ferry terminal and board the Interislander ferry to Picton (ferry charge is included). The journey takes three and a half hours. On arrival at Picton collect your new hire car and travel east to Nelson, where you will spend the next two nights. The Nelson region is known as New Zealand’s sunniest spot and is the perfect place to experience the outdoors. (150km / 94miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Farmstay (dinner & breakfast incl.) OR Rutherford Hotel (Standard Room), Superior: Farmstay (dinner & breakfast incl.) OR Rutherford Hotel (Executive Room)

Day 9: Nelson
A full day to explore this delightful city surrounded by national parks. Some of the best walks in New Zealand are here to enjoy. Abel Tasman is known for its glittering gold sand beaches, turquoise water and spectacular ocean views. A range of wildlife inhabits the area, including penguins, and there’s a seal colony in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve.

Day 10: Nelson – Greymouth / Lake Brunner
This morning head for the west coast. Visit Punakaiki and see the Pancake Rocks and blowhole at the Paparoa National Park. (319km / 199miles)
Accommodation: Standard: The Breakers (breakfast included), Superior: Lake Brunner Lodge (dinner & breakfast included)

Day 11: Greymouth – Franz Josef Glacier
Travel south to Hokitika and visit the famous jade factory and local craft shops unique to this area. Continue south to Franz Josef Glacier. Westland/Tai Poutini National Park offers an extensive range of recreational opportunities, including glacier walks and heli-hikes. The small villages of Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier are on the park boundary. (189km / 118miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Punga Grove Motor Lodge, Superior: Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (Douglas Wing)

Day 12: Franz Josef Glacier – Queenstown
Travel over the Haast Pass through breathtaking scenery to the alpine town of Queenstown where you will spend the next two nights. (348km / 218miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Mercure Grand Hotel St.Moritz, Superior: Mercure Grand Hotel St. Moritz (Deluxe Lakeview)

Day 13: Queenstown
Enjoy a full day exploring around Queenstown and Wanaka, where the awesome environment is used to great effect. Lakes Wakatipu and Te Anau are picturesque venues for kayaking, jet boating and sailing, while the rivers deliver high excitement in the form of white-water rafting, river surfing, canyoning and bungee jumping, while the historical gold-mining townships of Central Otago lure you into horse-riding, exploring the golden hills by mountain bike or taking a 4WD safari.

Day 14: Queenstown – Te Anau
Travel on to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park for two nights. (186km / 116miles)
Accommodation: Standard: Kingsgate Te Anau, Superior: Te Anau Hotel and Villas

Day 15: Milford Sound
The silent grandeur of Milford Sound leaves many people speechless. Superlatives like ‘amazing, stunning, majestic’ rattle from their tongues, and then they go quiet, realising that words fall short of the scenery. Needless to say, an exploration of this World Heritage area (by boat, kayak or on foot) is a must. Famous walking tracks in the area include the Routeburn, the Milford, the Greenstone, the Hollyford and the Rees-Dart.

Day 16: Te Anau – Twizel
Travel inland and head north to Twizel, enjoying the scenic views en route. (370km / 231miles)
Accommodation: Standard: MacKenzie Country Inn (Standard Room), Superior: MacKenzie Country Inn (Deluxe Room)

Day 17: Twizel – Christchurch
From Twizel a sealed road leads right into the Mount Cook National Park. Glaciers cover 40 per cent of this breathtaking region and, with 19 peaks over 3,000 metres high, it is home to New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook, or Aoraki as it is also known. The park is also part of the South Westland World Heritage Area – in recognition of its outstanding natural value. Continue on to Christchurch. Your hire car is booked until tomorrow but must be returned no later than the time it was picked up on day one. (397km / 248miles)