Tailor-Made Itineraries | New Zealand's North Island Highlights |
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SELF-DRIVE ITINERARY
New Zealand

New Zealand's North Island Highlights

10 NIGHTS FROM £3,649 per person

New Zealand's North Island offers a truly diverse holiday experience, with lively cities, island sanctuaries and unique landscapes all playing their part. Start your self-drive in Auckland, a multi-cultural hub of food and wine, music, art and culture. Cruise the Bay of Islands, known for its stunning beauty, and learn about Māori culture at the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Appreciate the art deco architecture in Napier, before ending your self-drive in New Zealand’s capital city.

Itinerary

place DAYS 1 - 2 - Auckland

Auckland

Start your self-drive in Auckland, a multi-cultural hub of food and wine, music, art and culture. Cruise the Bay of Islands, known for its stunning beauty, and learn about Māori culture at the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua. Appreciate the art deco architecture in Napier, before ending your self-drive in New Zealand’s capital city.

place DAYS 3 - 4 - Bay of Islands

Bay of Islands

Collect your hire car and set out on the three hour drive along the Twin Coast Discovery Highway to the Bay of Islands, known for its stunning beauty and history. Your boutique accommodation is a private haven, set on a native bush reserve. It’s hard to believe that the tourist hub of Paihia is only a five minute drive away.

The next day you will experience the Hole in the Rock cruise. Admire the rock walls which soar above you and keep a look out for dolphins, whales and other marine life as you cruise out through the bay's pristine islands and along the Cape Brett Peninsula. See the historic Cape Brett lighthouse and majestic Motukokako, the Hole in the Rock, and hope for a lucky drip from above as you pass underneath it. Stop off at Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island to relax or soak up the views from the hilltops.

place DAY 5 - Auckland

Auckland

Enjoy a scenic drive back to Auckland and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure - why not visit Waiheke Island, known as ‘the island of wine’ for its many vineyards, just a 40 minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland.

place DAYS 6 - 7 - Rotorua

Rotorua

Journey to an authentic Māori village nestled in a Rotorua forest. Amidst crackling village fires, discover Māori art forms, take part in ancient rituals and learn fascinating Maori traditions. Te Pā Tū offers four hour seasonal evening events aligned with the Māori lunar calendar. Traditional hāngi joins seasonal Māori delicacies prepared with fusion cooking techniques.

place DAY 8 - Napier

Napier

It’s a three hour drive to Napier, known as the “Art Deco Capital of New Zealand” due to its beautifully-restored Art Deco buildings. The city also boasts fine wineries and fantastic eateries. Stop en route at Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake with mesmerising surroundings.

place DAYS 9 - 10 - Wellington

Wellington

Drive to Wellington, recently named ‘’the coolest little capital in the world’’ by Lonely Planet. Spend the next two nights at the QT Wellington, a stylish urban retreat with waterfront views. This compact city offers a powerful mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine. Relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach and delve into the many museums, art galleries and theatre shows that make up the city’s vibrant cultural scene.

DAY 11 - Depart Wellington

Depart Wellington

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10 NIGHTS FROM £3,649 per person

Price includes international economy flights, terms & conditions apply.

0141 955 4000