Scenic New Zealand Sightseeing Tours
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scenic new zealand sightseeing tours
- with accommodation and rental car
- Hot Water Beach, Kauri Forest
- White Island Volcano, Thermals, Geysirs
- Te Puia Cultural Experience
- Abel Tasman National Park
- White Heron Hour / Okarito Lagoon
- Guided Walk Routeburn Track
- Overnight Cruise Doubtful Sound
- Albatross and Penguin colonies
- Note, this example can be amended to your needs
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> costing bronze option
> Costing Silver option
> Gold option
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Day 1.
- Arrive in Auckland and transfer to your accommodation in central downtown Auckland.
- Take a walk around the waterfront and yacht marina, a boat trip across to Devonport or catch the ferry to Waiheke island, a 30 minute trip away. Famous for wine, art and a relaxed atmosphere, Waiheke has hundreds of safe, sheltered beaches for swimming, snorkelling and scenic sightseeing tours. Visit for a couple of hours then catch the ferry back to downtown Auckland, right beside the Sebel Suites.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Sebel Suites (Studio) / Silver: Sebel Suites (Suite) / Gold: Mollies
- Dinner Recommendations: The French Cafe, Symonds St, Soul Bar and Restaurant, Viaduct Basin or Cibo in Parnell.
Day 2.
- Leaving Auckland City today drive to Coromandel and your accommodation at the Coromandel Peninsula along with for scenic sightseeing tours on the way.
- Take the scenic coastal road via Clevedon and Orere Point and the Seabird Coast to Miranda with it's 8500 hectare intertidal sanctuary for migratory birds. The Miranda Shorebird Centre and the Miranda Hot Springs are worthwhile stops.
- Coromandel Town has a couple of great design stores and some good cafes - green lipped mussels are a speciality.
- Driving Creek Railway and the Waiau Waterworks are both fun places to visit in Coromandel Town.
- At Driving Creek enjoy the sound of birdsong in the surrounding bush and soak under the stars in the Japanese Hot Tub.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Thorold B&B / Silver: Driving Creek Cottage / Gold: Villa Toscana.
- Driving Time Today : Around 3 hours
Day 3.
- Leave early to explore over the Coromandel Peninsula. Head for Whitianga first, then drive to Cooks Beach, a great spot for swimming and walking then onto Hahei for lunch. Hahei is a 35 minute drive from Whitianga.
- At Hahei join Cathedral Cove Kayaking (optional) for a seakayaking adventure, exploring the volcanic coastline and snorkelling in the marine reserve.
- If the tide is low, carry on to Hot Water Beach, another 7 minutes on from Cathedral Cove, and dig your own hot spa pool in the sand.
- Alternatively drive onto Tairua, a coastal resort town and take the short walk up Mt Paku for views of the peninsula. Return to your accommdation with stops for beaches or bush walks along the way or take a local sightseeing tour.
- Accommodation: Same.
Day 4.
- Drive to Rotorua via Waihi and Tauranga. Take a short drive from Tauranga up to Mt Manganui. This is a lovely swimming beach and the walk up 'The Mount' gives great views of the Pacific Coastline and offshore islands.
- Travel down the coast to Whakatane where you may get a glimpse of White Island then head inland to Rotorua for a scenic sightseeing tour.
- Stop at Hells Gate in Tikitere and walk on platforms over a mud volcano and the largest hotwater falls in the Southern hemisphere. Adjacent is the Wai-ora Spa where you can cover yourself with detoxing mud, wash it off and soak in the thermal pools.
- Stay on the edge of Lake Rotorua, a short drive from the centre of this attractive thermal resort. Take a stroll around the town this evening and visit the old Edwardian Bath House and Museum.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Ngongotaha B&B / Silver: Koura Lodge / Gold: Kawaha Point Lodge
- Dinner Recommendation : Bistro 1284 in Eruera St, Rotorua.
- Driving Time Today: Allow just over 3 hours
Day 5.
- This morning join Volcanic Air Safaris for a flight over the geothermal valleys or out to White Island by helicopter. The White Island helicopter trip is 3 hours and lands on the island and takes you right into the active volcano crater.
- This afternoon drive over the hill to the beautiful Lake Tarawera for a scenic sightseeing tour, stopping at the Blue and Green lakes and the Buried Village on the way. Return to Rotorua, visit the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where you'll see trainee weavers, carvers and greenstone artists at work then enjoy a relaxing massage and a soak in the rock pools at the Polynesian Spa.
- Experience Maori culture and hospitality firsthand tonight at Te Puia Reserve where you'll be welcomed onto the Marae with a traditional powhiri, tribal songs, dances and a hangi meal cooked on hot stones underground.
- Accommodation: Same.
Day 6.
- This morning fly from Rotorua to Nelson via Wellington. Total travel time is just over 2 hours. At Nelson airport pick-up your rental car and transfer to your accommodation in the Abel Tasman National Park region.
- Explore the wetlands around the lodge, beach and bush walks.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Bayview B&B / Silver: The Resurgence / Gold: Eden House
Day 7.
- Abel Tasman is sea kayaking country - join a tour 2-6 hours long depending on how energetic you are feeling - visit the Tonga Marine Reserve, go snorkelling and take a 2 hour return walk over the headland to Totaranui
- Enjoy a meal tonight on the outdoor verandah overlooking the wetlands - specialities include vegetables from the Awaroa's organic garden, fresh seafood, meat, local wines and beers. Change for local sightseeing tours.
- Accommodation: Same.
Day 8.
- This morning continue to drive to Punakaiki on the West Coast via Murchison.
- Take a short detour just south of Westport to the Cape Foulwind seal colony and The Bayhouse Cafe, highly recommended for a late lunch stop or coffee with a view of the wild west coast beaches.
- Just down the road at Charleston, join Norwest Adventures for the short open topped train trip up the Nile River through the West Coast rain Forest to the Limestone Caves.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Rocks Homestead B&B / Silver: Hydrangea Cottages / Gold: Punakaiki Hotel.
- Total driving time today: 4.5 hours
Day 9.
- If you didn't get a chance to see the Blowholes in action yesterday, take a walk to the Pancake rocks at high tide this morning and the Truman Track to the beach for a sightseeing tour and walk.
- Drive from Punakaiki to Fox Glacier, stopping off at Whataroa to join White Heron Tours for a trip to Okarito and the bird sanctuary.
- If time allows, stop off in Franz Josef before travelling onto Fox Glacier and your accommodation. Take an evening stroll around Lake Matheson and see the reflections of Mt Cook, the Glacier and bush in the lake.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Ropatinis B&B / Silver: Misty Peak Lodge / Gold: Te Weheka Inn
- Total driving time today: 4.5 hours
Day 10.
- You may want to take an early morning flight up onto the glaciers (optional) before leaving or fly across both glaciers with views to Mt Cook - stunning and memorable.
- Drive Fox Glacier to Queenstown, a beautiful drive through rainforest, across rivers, past lakes and through the gorge to Queenstown
- Plenty of places for photographs and short walks along the way - make sure you stop and walk to the Blue Pools for a scenic sightseeing tour,
- Accommodation: Bronze: Arrowtown Lodge B&B / Silver: Browns Boutique Hotel / Gold: Matakauri Lodge.
- Total Driving time today: 5.5 hours
Day 11.
- Join Guided Walks for a full day guided walk experience into the Routeburn Valley.
- Dinner recommendation tonight - Amisfield Bistro at Lake Hayes or Saffron in Arrowtown.
- Accommodation: Same.
Day 12.
Day 13.
- Returning to Manapouri after your overnight cruise, drive to Dunedin via Mossburn and Balclutha with scenic sightseeing tours.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Cargills Hotel / Silver: Hyland House / Gold: Corstophine House
- Total driving time today: allow 6 hours
Day 14.
- Join Nature Guides Otago (optional) for the Sunrise Penguin Walk this morning or/and
- Join Monarch Wildlife Cruises for a half day tour of the peninsula, rich in bird and sea life including the Royal Albatross and yellow-eyed penguin
- Accommodation: Same.
- Dinner Recommendation tonight - Bell Pepper Blues in Princes Street.
Day 15.
- Travel from Dunedin to Christchurch (5 hours drive) and stop at Moeraki for Lunch at the famour "Fleurs' Place" fish restaurant. Continue to Christchurch and stay in the central city, a short walk from the botanical gardens, Canterbury Museum and the Arts centre.
- Accommodation: Bronze: Elizas B&B (Room) / Silver: Elizas B&B (Suite) / Gold: The George Hotel
- Dinner Recommendation tonight - The Curators House in the botanical gardens, Hays Restaurant in Victoria Street or 'Cooking with Gas'.
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Just wanted to thank you for what we deemed a perfect week on the North Island. Our hosts were warm, & welcoming and the accommodations were perfect. Helen in particular was beyond gracious and when we left we felt we were leaving behind a dear, dear friend. You were right about the helicopter ride to White Island. It indeed, was one of the trip's highlights. Your attention to detail, responsiveness to questions, and all around professionalism deserve special merit. I will certainly not hesitate to recommend you to anyone who plans to visit. So, again our many thanks for all of your excellent advice and planning.
Shelley & Solon Holstein, USA, 17 April 2006
