New Zealand’s Best of Both Islands

  • Auckland
  • Rotorua
  • Napier
  • Wellington
  • Abel Tasman
  • Punakaiki
  • Christchurch
  • 13 nights from
  • £3,525 per person
  • Trip Code: MC-1115

Holiday Overview

New Zealand’s Best of Both Islands

 

This trip brings you some of the true highlights of both north and south islands. This wind-swept trip through New Zealand allows you to touch upon the natural splendour and unusual vistas of this small but mighty country. With so much history, culture, cuisine and landscapes to take in this will be the ideal way to discover New Zealand’s North and South Islands.  

Start Auckland End Christchurch (V.V)

13 nights / 14 days

Islands visited: North and South Island

Highlights;

Visit Te Puia geothermal park in Rotorua

Enjoy the Art Deco town of Napier

Hawke's Bay's internationally acclaimed wine

Wellington “the world’s coolest little capital”

Explore Abel Tasman National Park

Travel on the Tranzalpine in South Island

New Zealand’s Best of Both Islands includes:

  • Flights
  • 2 nights accommodation Auckland
  • 2 nights accommodation Rotorua
  • 2 nights accommodation Napier
  • Hawkes Bay Wine Tour
  • 2 nights accommodation Wellington
  • Interislander Ferry
  • 2 nights accommodation Nelson
  • 1 night accommodation Punakaiki
  • Tranzalpine Train
  • 2 nights accommodation Christchurch
  • Intercity Coach Transfers
1

Day 1 - Auckland

Arrive in Auckland, check into your chosen hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Why not extend your New Zealand trip with an 'unmissable experience' to the Bay of Islands before starting this itinerary?

Featured accommodation

Copthorne Hotel Auckland City

Unmissable Experiences

Bay of Islands Extension

2

Day 2 - Auckland

A full day of leisure to explore Auckland.

Featured accommodation

Copthorne Hotel Auckland City

3

Day 3 - Auckland – Rotorua

Take the intercity coach from Auckland to Rotorua. The journey takes around 4 hours with stops en route. Spend the rest of the day exploring Rotorua.

Featured accommodation

Pullman Rotorua

4

Day 4 - Rotorua

Visit Te Puia a 70-hectare geothermal park right on the edge of Rotorua. It's home of the world famous Phutu geyser and the national carving and weaving schools. They also house the kiwi, New Zealand's most well-known bird and have daily Maori cultural performances.

Featured accommodation

Pullman Rotorua

Unmissable Experiences

Te Puia

5

Day 5 - Rotorua - Napier

Take the daily intercity service to the Art Deco town of Napier. n 1931 a massive earthquake rocked Hawke's Bay for more than three minutes, destroying the commercial centre of Napier. Rebuilding began almost immediately, and new buildings reflected the architectural styles of the times - Stripped Classical, Spanish Mission and Art Deco. Napier is often referred to as a 1930s film set.

Featured accommodation

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

6

Day 6 - Napier – Hawkes Bay – Napier

Savour some of Hawke's Bay's internationally acclaimed wine and food on this fabulous Odyssey. Relax where art meets science and take a behind the scenes look at a winery learning how the wine evolves from vine to glass. Travel from the country's oldest wine making road through the acclaimed Gimblett Gravels area from which we taste award winning wines throughout the day. Learn about Wine & Food Matching while indulging in the finest local produce including meat, seafood, cheese, marinated vegetables, olives, breads and dips.

Featured accommodation

Scenic Hotel Te Pania

7

Day 7 - Napier - Wellington

Catch the coach to the city dubbed “the world’s coolest little capital”.  Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Featured accommodation

Intercontinental Wellington

8

Day 8 - Wellington

A full day of leisure to explore Wellington, perhaps take the cable car to the Mount Victoria lookout for a panoramic view of the city, make sure you visit Hannah’s Laneway, to sample some of the local gourmet produce.

Featured accommodation

Intercontinental Wellington

9

Day 9 - Wellington – Picton – Nelson

Take the scenic ferry journey to the South Island and connect onwards to Nelson on the doorstep of the Abel Tasman National Park.

Featured accommodation

Cambria House

10

Day 10 - Nelson

Enjoy a full day tour to cruise around the coast of the Abel Tasman. Your coach travel from Nelson to Kaiteriteri and return to Nelson is included. Sit back and relax as you depart from picturesque Kaiteriteri Beach on a scenic cruise into the majestic Abel Tasman National Park as far north as Totaranui. View world-famous Split Apple Rock, fur seals, golden sands and the crystal-clear waters of Anchorage and Medlands Bay beaches before you return to Kaiteriteri.  A great cruise for all ages

Featured accommodation

Cambria House

11

Day 11 - Nelson to Punakaiki

Take the early morning coach down the West Coast to Punakaiki. Spend the rest of the day exploring the pancake rocks, blowholes and beach or just relax at your hotel.

Featured accommodation

Punakaika Resort

12

Day 12 - Punakaiki To Christchurch via the Tranzalpine

Continue down the West Coast by coach to Greymouth. Transfer here onto the Tranzalpine. Travel past beautiful Lake Brunner through sub-tropical rainforest and emerge from the long Otira Tunnel before stopping at Arthurs Pass. Then descend the alpine scenery through a series of spectacular viaducts, follow the Waimakariri River and cross the patchwork farmland of the Canterbury Plains and on to Christchurch.

Featured accommodation

BreakFree on Cashel

Unmissable Experiences

TranzAlpine Train

13

Day 13 - Christchurch

A full day to explore Christchurch at leisure.

Featured accommodation

BreakFree on Cashel

14

Day 14 - Christchurch

Your itinerary concludes today in Christchurch.

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