Holiday Overview
With New Zealand resting on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ then the country is bound to be abundant with geothermal activity and a history of a long since passed ice age. This makes for spectacular scenery! From the Bay of Islands to the north to the ice-carved sounds of Milford Sound in the south you will discover that this country has a vast array of geological features and attractions to interest everyone. Your drive will open your eyes to the meandering rivers of Marlborough Sound and an assortment of native wildlife.
Start Auckland - End Queenstown
21 nights / 22 days
Islands visited: North and South Islands
Highlights;
Drive the Hibiscus Coast to the Bay of Islands
Maori cultural and geothermal area of Rotorua
Wellington cable car to the Mount Victoria
Explore Franz Josef Glacier on foot or by air
Cruise Milford Sound was carved out by glaciers
New Zealand’s Islands, Geysers & Glaciers includes:
- 3 nights accommodation Auckland
- 2 nights accommodation Bay of Islands
- 2 nights accommodation Rotorua
- 2 nights accommodation Napier
- 2 nights accommodation Wellington
- 2 nights accommodation Queenstown
- 2 nights accommodation Marlborough Sounds
- 2 nights accommodation Kaikoura
- 1 nights accommodation Christchurch
- 2 nights accommodation Franz Josef
- 1 night accommodation Wanaka
- Maori Cultural Experience
- Wellington Cable Car
- Compact Car Hire
- Inter-Island Ferry
- Hobbiton Tour at Matamata
- Whale Watching Kaikoura
- Milford Sound Cruise
- Transfer - Christchurch hotel to train station
- Tranzalpine train
Day 1 - Auckland
Arrive in Auckland, check into your chosen hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2 - Auckland – Bay of Islands
Collect your car and drive along the Hibiscus Coast to the Bay of Islands. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 3 - Bay of Islands
A full day of leisure to explore the Bay of Islands, enjoy the natural beauty of the area, comprising 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. Perhaps take an optional cruise to view the “hole in the rock” at Piercy Island
Staying at Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands
Day 4 - Bay of Islands – Auckland
Return to Auckland perhaps stop off La Nonna Italian Bakery in Kaiwaka for a coffee or stretch your legs at the Dome Valley or Byrnderwyns Scenic lookout.
Day 5 - Auckland
Free time in Auckland - "City of Sails"
Staying at Copthorne Hotel Auckland City
Day 6 - Auckland - Rotorua
Leave Auckland behind and journey to the Maori cultural and geothermal area of Rotorua. En route stop off at Matamata for a tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set, as featured in the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogies.
Day 7 - 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.
Staying at Millennium Hotel Rotorua
Day 8 - Rotorua – Napier
Continue to Napier on the east coast, stop off en route at Lake Taupo for a stroll by the lake.
Day 9 - Napier
Spend a full day at leisure in Napier, optional day tours include a walking tour of the art deco area or take a gourmet tour to sample the produce from one of the local vineyards
Staying at Scenic Hotel Te Pania
Day 10 - Napier – Wellington
Today drive to Wellington, dubbed 'The coolest little capital in the world'. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 11 - 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.
Staying at Intercontinental Wellington
Day 12 - Wellington – Marlborough Sounds
Take the ferry from Wellington to Picton and onto the beautiful Marlborough Sounds via water taxi. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 13 - Marlborough Sounds
A full day of leisure to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, perhaps walk a section of the Queen Charlotte Track, or take a kayak out onto the calm waters.
Staying at Furneaux Lodge
Day 14 - Marlborough Sounds – Kaikoura
Take the scenic drive from Picton via Blenheim to the costal town of Kaikoura. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 15 - Kaikoura
Enjoy a whale watch cruise. Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross.
Staying at White Morph
Day 16 - Kaikoura – Christchurch
Continue to Christchurch, either on the direct SH1 or detour via mountain spa town of Hanmer Springs. Then explore Christchurch at leisure.
Day 17 - Christchurch – Franz Josef via the TranzAlpine train
Take the spectacular rail journey through the Southern Alps from Christchurch to Greymouth, the train departs at 08:15 and arrives in Greymouth at 13:05, continue down the coast to Franz Josef.
Day 18 - Franz Josef
A full day of leisure to explore Franz Josef and its neighbouring glacier. Ask your consultant regarding options for a once in a lifetime helicopter trip to the glacier.
Staying at Scenic Hotel Franz Josef Glacier
Day 19 - Franz Josef – Wanaka
Continue to Wanaka, on the edge of the lake Wanaka affords stunning lake and mountain views. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Day 20 - Wanaka – Queenstown
Queenstown sits on the shore of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges and is a wonderful hub for this beautiful region. After checking into your hotel spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 21 - Queenstown
Take a full day tour to Milford Sound. Described by Rudyard Kipling as the 'eighth wonder of the world', Milford Sound was carved by glaciers during the ice ages. Breath-taking in any weather, the fiord's cliffs rise vertically from the dark waters, mountain peaks scrape the sky and waterfalls cascade downwards from as high as 1000 metres.
Staying at Heritage Queenstown
Day 22 - Queenstown
Today your epic journey concludes in Queenstown.
Staying at Heritage Queenstown
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Image Gallery
Glacier
Champagne Pool - Rotorua
Fox Glacier
Bay of Islands
Lady Knox Geyser - Rotorua
Bay of Islands
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2026, 2027 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 917 5742 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
New Zealand’s Movies, Mountains & Maori
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Christchurch
- Hokitika
- Fox Glacier
- Queenstown
- Lake Tekapo
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Visit Hobbiton
- Travel on the TranzAlpine train
- Climb the Fox Glacier
- Ride the Skyline Gondola
12 Nights from £3740pp
Natural Wonders of Australia & New Zealand
- Christchurch
- Lake Tekapo
- Queenstown
- Sydney
- Cairns
- Melbourne
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Stunning Mountain Scenery in New Zealand
- See Sydney and the Blue Mountains
- Visit the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Rainforest
- Get up close to Koala's and Penguins on Phillip Island
14 Nights from £4500pp
New Zealand’s Islands, Geysers & Glaciers
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Rotorua
- Napier
- Wellington
- Marlborough Sounds
- Kaikoura
- Christchurch
- Franz Josef
- Wanaka
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Hibiscus Coast
- Maori cultural experience
- Wellington cable car
- Cruise Milford Sound
21 Nights from £5680pp
New Zealand in Style
- Auckland
- Bay of Islands
- Rotorua
- Christchurch
- Twizel
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Boutique Accommodation
- Heli Hiking Tour
- Scenic Milford Flight
- Māori culture
15 Nights from £6795pp
Snapshot of North Island
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Tongariro National Park
- Martinborough
- Wellington
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Matamata for Hobbiton Movie Set
- Mount Victoria lookout
- Rotorua’s geothermal parks
- Tongariro National Park
9 Nights from £1300pp
Golf New Zealand
- Auckland
- Rotorua
- Taupo
- Christchurch
- Hokitika
- Franz Josef
- Queenstown
- Receive a free case of wine
- Save £300 per booking book by 31 October
- Jacks Point Queenstown
- Millbrook Resort Queenstown
- The Kinloch Club Taupo
- Explore Rotorua and its volcanic plateau
14 Nights from £1300pp