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| self drive tours > 15 Day New Zealand Nature and Wildlife New Zealand Self Drive Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Day 1: Arrive Auckland
Day 2: Wilderness Experience Depart around midday today on your guided tour and only 30 kilometres from downtown Auckland is the city’s largest regional park, the Waitakere Ranges. In just 30 minutes you leave behind the bustle of the city and step into the tranquillity of the rainforest. Travel to the Arataki Centre perched high on the ridge of the Waitakere Ranges and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Learn about and admire the magnificent traditional Maori carvings. Continue on to the lush rainforest where you can walk the easy bush tracks amongst New Zealand’s famous kauri trees and giant tree ferns. Unwind by spectacular cascading waterfalls or swim beneath them. Move on to experience the power of the wild and rugged West Coast. Feel the black sand beneath your feet as you stroll along some of the most awe-inspiring beaches the world has to offer. Day 3: Auckland to the Bay of Islands This morning you collect your rental vehicle. Also included for the duration of your car hire is the KRUSE GPS Travel Guide, which as well as offering GPS navigation also provides informative commentary on the regions you pass through as well as a 'Best of NZ' button which showcases New Zealand's award winning restaurants, wineries, cafes, pubs and hidden scenic gems. At the beginning of your journey today, you'll drive over the Auckland Harbour Bridge towards the bays and beaches of Auckland's North Shore. The motorway will quickly sweep you northward, until the suburban scenery gives way to peaceful farmland. You then enjoy spectacular scenery of native forests and sub-tropical bush as you make your way to Paihia in the Bay of Islands.
Day 4: Swim with the Dolphins This intimate half day cruise seeks out the many playful dolphins within the sheltered waters of the Bay of Islands. Join the crew in searching for those tell tale splashes as your boat gets in really close. Jump into the warmest waters in New Zealand and snorkel with these majestic and inquisitive creatures - an experience you will never forget! The purpose built dolphin vessel gets you closer - with a low viewing deck, water jet engines, underwater microphone and experienced crew with an intimate knowledge of dolphin behaviour. Afterwards the day is at your leisure. Day 5: Bay of Islands to the Coromandel Today drive back to Auckland via the East Coast of the North Island and through Auckland’s northern suburbs. You then follow the Pacific Coast Highway and traverse the spectacular east coast of the North Island. Linking Auckland and Coromandel, this is classed as one of the great touring routes in the world travelling through a unique region where land and sea intermingle. At Coromandel Town you may like to visit Driving Creek Railway, New Zealand's only narrow-gauge mountain railway along with a working pottery and wild life sanctuary. You then continue on to reach your accommodation.
Day 6: Cathedral Cove Kayaking The Cathedral Cove Classic half day kayaking trip has got it all. The Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve opens up a sea kayaking paradise full of beaches, islands and rock gardens that are just waiting to be explored. Paddle through sea caves, interact with the local marine life and discover the thrill of kayak sailing with the wind on your back. To top it off you land at Cathedral Cove where you will be treated to cappuccinos and hot chocolates on the beach! Day 7: Coromandel Peninsula to Taupo Today travel along the Bay of Plenty Coastline before heading inland across the volcanic plateau to the geothermal city of Rotorua, known for it's geysers and boiling mud pools, passing many of the regions crystal clear lakes en-route. You then continue south through the large Kaingaroa man made forest to reach the popular lake resort of Taupo, home to New Zealand's largest lake and the spectacular Huka Falls.
Day 8: Guided Walk in the Whirinaki Rainforest This full day guided tour provides a window-look into the uses of this ancient rainforest by the early Maori inhabitants of Te Urewera, the vast wooded mountain country between the Central Plateau and the East Coast of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Included in this tour is a leisurely walk of about 4.5 hours’ duration, graded easy and suitable for all ages. During your time, Maori guides will tell you something of the tribal history of this isolated region, and provide flora and fauna interpretation. A relaxing luncheon on the banks of the picturesque Whirinaki river is included, providing an opportunity to experience the solitude and tranquillity of one of the least-used wilderness areas in Aotearoa. Day 9: Taupo to Rotorua & onto Queenstown Drive to Rotorua this morning and return your rental vehicle to Rotorua airport in time to connect with your onward flight to Queenstown. On arrival, collect your new vehicle and make your way to your accommodation. Perhaps the most famous of all South Island cities, Queenstown’s pulse thumps to the beat of action, adrenalin and visual wonder. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with the towering peaks of the Southern Alps in the background, this is the place that is often referred to as the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’.
Day 10: Explore Queenstown Surrounded by majestic mountains, Queenstown boasts adventure activities in all forms, from extreme to relaxed exploration. Today is free for you to experience some of the many activities on offer. Here you can take a thrilling jet boat ride, pan for gold, raft the white water rapids, take a wine trail, fish for trout, play golf or 4WD sheer canyons. Day 11: Dart River Wilderness Safari The ‘Wilderness Safari' is a diverse adventure exploring spectacular 'World Heritage' wilderness within Mt Aspiring National Park through a combination of exhilarating wilderness jet boating, informative guided ancient forest walk and back-country 4WD safari vehicle. Surrounded by awe-inspiring peaks and mysterious hidden valleys shrouded in native Beech forest, your specialist guides will bring to life the variety of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife within this unique area, as well the captivating stories of the original Maori and early pioneers. Day 12: Queenstown to Doubtful Sound Depart Queenstown this morning and travel to Manapouri. Your Doubtful Sound adventure begins as you cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri. Then it's over Wilmot Pass, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland’s densest rainforest and to view the colourful alpine moss gardens. On reaching Deep Cove, you will board your overnight cruise to enjoy the stunning views and to discover the hidden arms of Doubtful Sound. Fur seals and bottlenose dolphins are often seen and at times, rare penguins can be observed. There is also time for you to kayak around the shoreline or go exploring in the tender craft with your nature guide. As the shadows lengthen you drop anchor at a favourite mooring for the night. After the days activities, enjoy a delicious evening buffet meal in the spacious dining saloon.
Day 13: Doubtful Sound to Wanaka Today you retrace you steps to Queenstown before heading to Wanaka. Trout fishing rivers and high country scenery are some of the features of your drive today. The small towns of Mossburn and Lumsden can be explored for unique shopping opportunities. Leave time to take a break in Kingston, the home of a remarkable vintage steam train. Then it’s onto Wanaka where crystal clear lake waters lap the shores of Wanaka town and the feet of the Southern Alps.
Day 14: Siberia Wilderness Experience Today drive around 45 minutes before enjoying a 4 hour wilderness adventure in Mount Aspiring World Heritage National Park. Begin with a 25 minute unforgettable scenic flight followed by a 3 hour walk beginning in the remote Siberia Valley in Mount Aspiring National Park. Then it’s on to a 30 minute exciting jet boat ride on the Wilkin River. Your Siberia Experience leaves from Makarora at the head of Lake Wanaka and allows you to enjoy some of New Zealand's untouched scenery from the air, on land and from the water. Mountains, rivers, glaciers, alpine lakes, rain forest, waterfalls and more - this is your chance to see it all. Afterwards you return to Wanaka. Day 15: Wanaka to Queenstown & Depart Sadly your time in New Zealand comes to an end as you make your way to Queenstown and return your rental vehicle to the airport in time to join your onward flight. Here, we bid you a fond farewell to your homeland and hope you leave with many happy memories of your stay in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Please note that this self drive package can be taken in reverse order and the prices remain the same. If you are interested in receiving further details about this package, please complete the enquiry form below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Package Inclusions
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Package Prices EARLYBIRD SPECIAL Hotel B&B Boutique $5,478 $5,810 $7,887 $5,487 $5,818 $7,896 $5,623 $5,954 $8,032 $5,750 $6,082 $8,159
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| Enquire Now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To receive more information about this package, please complete the below enquiry form. Once received, one of our specialist travel consultants will be in contact by the next working day. In addition Luxury Vacations take your privacy very seriously and you can be assured that we will never distribute, sell or rent your information to anyone else. Fields marked with a * are required. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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