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Ultimate Explorer Tour of New Zealand

This 30 day tour starts in Auckland and finishes in Christchurch.

From Cape Reinga, the tip of New Zealand all the way south to Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound, this tour has something for everyone.  You’ll begin your adventure in Auckland, where you travel north to the beautiful Bay of Islands.  From there you will gradually journey south, enjoying an amazing range of included activities all the way. Highlights of the North Island include snorkelling in the Coromandel Peninsula, a scenic flight in the Bay of Islands and a wine tour in the Hawkes Bay.  In the south, there is plenty of adventure and multiple wildlife encounters, including penguins, whales and seals to name a few of the unique creatures you’ll meet.

Accommodation type on this tour is: Motels.

Rental car insurance included

Rental car inclusions: Unlimited kilometres,airport/ferry terminal fees, additional drivers.

Tour pack: Includes detailed driving instructions, maps, guide books and much more.

This tour can be customised to suit you precisely - just request here.

This tour also features:

Included activity: Electronic Travel Guide and In-Country Support App

Included activity: Private Transfer Auckland Airport to Auckland accommodation with Tourcorp

Included activity: Hawkes Bay Wine Experience half day tour

Included activity: Zealandia By Night Wildlife Sanctuary Tour

Included activity: Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton

Included activity: Seals, Beach Cruise and Walk Includes Lunch

Included activity: Ocean's Cabin with Whale Watch Kaikoura

Included activity: Christchurch Gondola

Included activity: Glacier Explorers

Included activity: Wildlife Peninsula Encounter Tour Including Wildlife Cruise with Monarch

Included activity: Milford Sound Cruise and picnic lunch with RealNZ

Included activity: Dart River Wilderness Jet

Included activity: Franz Josef Glacier Helihike

Included activity: TranzAlpine Scenic Train: Greymouth to Christchurch

Included activity: Shared Transfer from the Railway Station to a City Hotel with Christchurch Touring Company

Included activity: Private transfer accommodation to Christchurch Airport

Included activity: Cape Reinga Scenic Aeroplane Flight and Guided Tour

Included activity: Driving Creek Railway & Potteries - EyeFull Tower Tour

Included activity: Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruise

Included activity: Original Ziplining Experience with Rotorua Canopy Tours

Included activity: Te Ra Daytime Experience at Te Puia

2 lunches

Itinerary summary for: Ultimate Explorer Tour of New Zealand

Day 1: Arrive into Auckland City
Accommodation: Nesuto Stadium Hotel and Apartments

Day 2: Explore Auckland the 'City of Sails'
Accommodation: Nesuto Stadium Hotel and Apartments

Day 3: Cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge, then venture north to the balmy Bay of Islands
Accommodation: Sea Spray Suites

Day 4: Take a spectacular scenic flight to the top of New Zealand
Accommodation: Sea Spray Suites

Day 5: Cross Northland following the aqua blue waters of the Hokianga before travelling down the Kauri Coast
Accommodation: Snells Beach Motel

Day 6: Pass through Auckland and the Hauraki Plains before the coastal climb to Coromandel
Accommodation: Aotearoa Lodge

Day 7: Explore the Coromandel Peninsula and the marine sanctuary at cathedral cove
Accommodation: Aotearoa Lodge

Day 8: Travel along the Bay of Plenty before turning inland towards the lakes of Rotorua
Accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Day 9: Experience the Maori culture at Te Puia and in the afternoon take a thrilling zipline forest tour
Accommodation: Silver Fern Suites & Spa

Day 10: First head to Lake Taupo before travelling east to the Hawke's Bay
Accommodation: Bella Vista Napier

Day 11: Discover the wineries of the Hawkes Bay, home of New Zealand's oldest vineyards
Accommodation: Bella Vista Napier

Day 12: Journey from one wine region to another
Accommodation: The Claremont, Martinborough

Day 13: Travel over the Rimutaka Ranges to Wellington
Accommodation: Bella Vista Wellington

Day 14: Today you'll cross the Cook Strait on the Interislander Ferry. Approaching Picton you'll cruise through the spectacular Marlborough Sounds
Accommodation: Ocean View Chalets

Day 15: Explore Abel Tasman National Park with a magical cruise on the aqua waters
Accommodation: Ocean View Chalets

Day 16: Pass through the Nelson Lakes region and onto the seaside town of Kaikoura
Accommodation: The White Morph, Kaikoura

Day 17: Explore Kaikoura home to an abundance of marine wildlife
Accommodation: The White Morph, Kaikoura

Day 18: It's a short drive south to the ever-changing city of Christchurch
Accommodation: Terra Vive Luxury Suites and Apartments

Day 19: Explore Christchurch City and take a gondola ride to the Port Hills Crater Rim for amazing views
Accommodation: Terra Vive Luxury Suites and Apartments

Day 20: Today you'll enjoy a scenic drive through Canterbury and the MacKenzie Country to Mt Cook National Park
Accommodation: Mt Cook Motel

Day 21: Leaving the MacKenzie Country you'll follow the Waitaki River to the coast, where you'll turn south for Dunedin
Accommodation: Motel on York

Day 22: Explore Dunedin and meet the wonderful wildlife of the Otago Peninsula
Accommodation: Motel on York

Day 23: Travel through the rich farmland of South Otago and Southland to reach Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland
Accommodation: Lakefront Lodge

Day 24: Journey along the magnificent Milford Road to Milford Sound for your cruise
Accommodation: Lakefront Lodge

Day 25: Travel through rolling Southland countryside then follow Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown
Accommodation: Blue Peaks Lodge

Day 26: The day is yours to discover all the scenic spots and fun activities on offer in Queenstown
Accommodation: Blue Peaks Lodge

Day 27: Take the Crown Range Road to Wanaka before travelling the spectacular Haast Pass to the West Coast
Accommodation: Aspen Court Franz Josef

Day 28: Explore Franz Josef Glacier with a scenic flight and glacier walk
Accommodation: Aspen Court Franz Josef

Day 29: Drive north along the stunning West Coast Road and take the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch
Accommodation: Terra Vive Luxury Suites and Apartments

Day 30: Depart Christchurch today