Description
The Tour
15 days/14 nights - a self-drive tour exploring New Zealand's highlights with Millennium Copthorne hotels, with a choice of standard or superior accommodation.
Day 1: Auckland
On arrival into Auckland, collect your Thrifty rental car and drive to the Copthorne Harbour City Hotel, Auckland for a 2-night stay. (RO)
Day 2: Auckland
Spend the day at leisure exploring this unique city. Perhaps visit some of Auckland's famous attractions. Climb Harbour Bridge or ascend the Sky Tower (extra cost) - the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. Both provide magnificent views of the city and its surroundings. Back at ground level, enjoy the array of harbourside restaurants, bars and shops. (RO)
Day 3: Auckland - Bay of Islands (240km - approx 3 hours 30 min)
Make your way north to the beautiful Bay of Islands for 2 nights at the Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort in a Standard Room. Try some water sports or fishing. Maybe explore further north to Cape Reinga, New Zealand's most northerly point. (RO)
Day 4: Bay of Islands
A full day at leisure. Perhaps visit the Waitangi National Reserve and Treaty House for some New Zealand history - this was the site of the treaty signing between the British and Maori leaders. (RO)
Day 5: Bay of Islands - Auckland (240km - approx 3 hours 30 min)
Make your way south back to Auckland, to overnight at the Copthorne Harbour City Hotel, Auckland. (RO)
Day 6: Auckland - Rotorua (235km - approx 3 hours 30 min)
Travel south to the Maori heartland Rotorua, perhaps via Waitomo to visit the glow-worm caves (extra cost). Stay at the lakeside Millennium Rotorua in a Run of House Room for 2 nights. Be sure to catch the Maori show and avail yourself of the spa with its exotic treatments. (RO)
Day 7: Rotorua
A day at leisure to explore Rotorua with its erupting geysers and boiling mud pools. Perhaps visit the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, Te Puia and learn about kiwi farm culture at the Agrodome (extra cost). (RO)
Day 8: Rotorua - Queenstown
Return your Thrifty rental car at Rotorua airport depot and fly with Air New Zealand to Queenstown (flight cost not included in tour price). On arrival into Queenstown, collect your Thrifty rental car and make your way to the Copthorne Lakefront Resort, Queenstown for 4 nights. (RO)
Days 9-11: Queenstown
Time at leisure to enjoy the spectacular landscapes around Queenstown, including those used in the filming of Lord of the Rings. Drive through magnificent alpine landscape to Milford Sound to take a cruise on the fjords among cascading waterfalls and lush tropical rainforest. (RO)
Day 12: Queenstown - Christchurch (486km - approx 7 hours 15 min)
Leave Queenstown bound for Christchurch. Perhaps travel via Mount Cook for breathtaking alpine surroundings. In Christchurch make your way to the Copthorne Durham Street Hotel, Christchurch for 3 nights. (RO)
Days 13-14: Christchurch
Time at leisure in Christchurch to explore the many outstanding attractions of the area. Perhaps board the TranzAlpine train for one of the world's great train journeys to Arthur's Pass (extra cost), or drive through the snow-capped Southern Alps towards Otira Gorge for fantastic photo opportunities at the viaduct lookout. (RO)
Day 15: Depart Christchurch
Return your Thrifty rental car to the city or airport depot, and leave Christchurch with some unforgettable memories. (RO)
Superior Accommodation
- Auckland - Copthorne Harbour City Hotel
- Bay of Islands - Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort (Water View Room)
- Rotorua - Millennium Rotorua (Superior Lake View Room)
- Queenstown - Millennium Queenstown
- Christchurch - Millennium Christchurch